I just received my Vibram Five Finger shoes or shall i say foot gloves...check out http://vibramfivefingers.com for more info. I am very excited and will give my initial impressions so far to be updated with more information either on this blog or on twitter.
INTRO - these shoes are designed to protect ones feet while allowing as much of a barefoot feeling as possible. It also allows the foot to spread out naturally rather than be confined to a typical narrow shoe.
DESIGN - As seen in the photo I purchased the Vibram Five Fingers (VFF) Classic in Black. I paid $74.95 with free shipping from Kayakshed.com. That is a typical retail price. It is their original Five Fingers model and i choose black to help me be less self conscious. Maybe in the future I can get orange ones! Upon unwrapping my first impression was that it looked like ballet shoes with toes. High quality construction from an overseas manufacturer. The Vibram soles overlap the top of the toes and parts of the foot like the ball for additional protection. the heel cup has some similarities to a climbing shoe. The rubber on the forefoot and heel have a siped pattern to aid in sole flexibility and wet traction. There is a drawcord at the heel to tighten the opening of the shoe to improve the fit. However I was somewhat surprised that the cordlock was not attached to the shoe somehow. this would allow you to pull the cord one handed to tighten the shoe. as it is one must pull the draw cord with one hand and hold the cord lock with another. one handed drawcords have been in the outdoor industry for ages.
FIT - as excpected it was harder to slip on this shoe. I constantly was putting two toes into one section...of course sometimes i put both legs in the same pants leg too. The fit can be very hit or miss on a product like this. On my right foot the heel cup is a little loose. While my left foot is a fraction longer than my right, my right foot feels tighter in the toes and loose in the heel. I probably would go to a store and try several sizes on and maybe even the womens size to dial in this fit. The pull tab at the heel is rather high and somewhat annoys my Achilles. I may cut this off later. I have this issue with some climbing shoes as well.
COMFORT, USE AND OTHER SHOES - since it has only been an hour since i got them i will comment on comfort later. it is recommended to only wear them for 1-2 hours at a time to get used to the fit and decreased cushioning. My footwear usually does not have much support so i think i will adapt quickly. I typically wear sandals, driving shoes, and lightweight running shoes.
I prefer sandals when possible due to sun and air exposure but they are lousy for running, wet weather, variable terrain, and often driving when heel toe pedal action is required. I like driving shoes except they are often narrow and again poor for running, wet weather, and variable terrain. My lightweight running shoes are great all around except a little narrow and no foot exposure. I plan to use the VFF's as a casual shoe, running and driving. It would be interesing to see if I decide to phase out any of my other footwear for this. Updates to follow
