Vibram Five Fingers

[iacas]

Anyone here own a pair? Run in them?

Since I just started in running, and since I like my TRUE Linkswear shoes (they're all zero drop) so much, I jumped right into a "minimalist" path. Not the low end, but the upper end of minimalist stuff. My Shoes (Pure Connect, Pure Flow, Kinvara 2) all have 4mm drop and a low to moderate amount of cushioning. Very little support.

Anyway, I've been working on my form. A fair amount at first (which led to some calf soreness). I'm sure my form is better now, but it's probably still a bit too far back. So I'm looking forward to doing some of my runs over the winter indoors on the track in the Five Fingers.

I picked up the Komodosport LS because the lacing system will help them fit better. I'll wear them sockless. The traction is supposed to be awesome and this model seems to be the most flexible.

Who else here has some Five Fingers shoes? How do you like them? What do you use them for?

[Double Bogey]

Erik-

I have three pair.  I have the Trek in brown kangaroo leather and they are one of favorite shoes period.  I am lucky enough to wear them at work and they look just fine with jeans and khakis.  I used to wear them on the course until TRUE came into my life.  The five fingers are awesome walking on the course but they are not waterproof and that gets messy.  Bunkers are no fun in them either.

I have a pair of bikilas and they are my running shoe.  I do nothing but run in the via the street.  While they are like walking on clouds, you better have your gait worked out because you can still heel strike in them without too much pain.

My third pair is the classics and are the pair used the least.  They are just hanging out around the house shoes and while they are great... I tend to just go barefooted instead.  If I need to run to the store or a quick errand I will throw them on, but it is easier to get into my new balance minimus for everyday use.

I wear all of the above with no socks, as they are intended.  If I were you I would pick up a couple of pairs of injinji socks.  They are worth the price.  They come in handy in the winter.  I really like them with the TRUEs.  Really frees your feet and toes to do their thing.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Double Bogey

I have three pair. I have the Trek in brown kangaroo leather and they are one of favorite shoes period. I am lucky enough to wear them at work and they look just fine with jeans and khakis. I used to wear them on the course until TRUE came into my life. The five fingers are awesome walking on the course but they are not waterproof and that gets messy. Bunkers are no fun in them either.

The TRUE are great. I was pleasantly surprised when I wrote to them and the CEO asked me if I'd read Born to Run . :)

Originally Posted by Double Bogey

I have a pair of bikilas and they are my running shoe. I do nothing but run in the via the street. While they are like walking on clouds, you better have your gait worked out because you can still heel strike in them without too much pain.

Yeah, heck, I can run barefoot and heel strike if I force myself to without a ton of pain too, but it's definitely not the way your body wants to do it.

Originally Posted by Double Bogey

I wear all of the above with no socks, as they are intended.  If I were you I would pick up a couple of pairs of injinji socks.  They are worth the price.  They come in handy in the winter.  I really like them with the TRUEs.  Really frees your feet and toes to do their thing.

I have some Injinji. I've always worn just socks or gone barefoot in my house and even when I worked I'd often wear sandals or something. As I type this I noticed that I've interlocked a few of my toes together, as I'm often doing. I don't want to say I play with my feet a lot, but I probably do. My wife hates it but I'm always wrapping my toes around things or putting things between my toes to stretch them out a little or something. :)

Injinji, like most high end socks, are just so expensive! :)

I'm planning to wear the VFFs barefooted, no socks. I'll just run in them indoors for now and so the warmth won't be a concern.

Here's a photo of my running barefooted versus in TRUE Tour shoes. It's not perfect form but it's much better than the heel striking pattern I naturally had. I'm working on it. :)

[Double Bogey]

You can easily tell that you are landing much "softer" bare than you are in the TRUEs, although you do still have pretty good midfoot strike form.  You are still a bit "out in front" on your landing.  Focus on midfoot striking directly under your body by using a bit more forward lean.  I am not a huge runner, but have done  a few 5k and 10k.  Becoming free of shoes was the best thing I ever did.  It stopped many issues including IT Band issues.

And if you have not read Born to Run is is a good read.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Double Bogey

You can easily tell that you are landing much "softer" bare than you are in the TRUEs, although you do still have pretty good midfoot strike form.  You are still a bit "out in front" on your landing.  Focus on midfoot striking directly under your body by using a bit more forward lean.  I am not a huge runner, but have done  a few 5k and 10k.  Becoming free of shoes was the best thing I ever did.  It stopped many issues including IT Band issues.

And if you have not read Born to Run is is a good read.

I have read it, yeah.

I'm not sold on the "landing more under my body" thing. I think that's a "feel isn't real" thing. MOST people over-stride like crazy, so if they "feel" like they're landing with their foot directly under their bodies it'll shorten their stride. I can't think of a single elite runner that actually lands with their feet so far back as to be "directly under" the center of their body. I think it's purely a "feel" that isn't "real" (as with many things in golf).

I wasn't running very fast in these videos. 9:00 mile pace roughly.

[Double Bogey]

Good deal... sounds like you are well on your way.

Another site that has some good info and a good forum is birthdayshoes.com.  Some of the folks there are a bit over the top, but that can be said for any forum

[Grins]

How long have you had the KSO Treks in Kangaroo leather?  Are they holding up well?  I could not find anyplace that carried them & was reluctant to order online without trying them, so I got the plain black KSO's.  Now it looks like the Treks are discontinued (not listed on Vibram site) - did you happen to try both out?

[Grins]

I own a pair of KSO's (the black "Gorilla Feet") - but hav not run in them yet.  I'm still getting used to them - walking around the house, etc.  I got them because I had severe plantar fasciitis for 2 years & my brother gave me Born To Run & figured  "What the heck?"   I do like the feel of them.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Grins

I own a pair of KSO's (the black "Gorilla Feet") - but hav not run in them yet.  I'm still getting used to them - walking around the house, etc.  I got them because I had severe plantar fasciitis for 2 years & my brother gave me Born To Run & figured  "What the heck?"   I do like the feel of them.

Check out this thread Grins: http://thesandtrap.com/t/55204/true-shoes-barefoot-and-more/ . There are companies making awesome footwear for golf with the same idea, too.