Vibram fivefingers

Jamiebaby05

I bought a pair of vibram fivefingers in March to train and run my Half marathon in. I absolutely love them and they are the most comfortable shoe i have ever owned....i have alot of people tell me that i shouldn't run in them or they are a rip off . Im just wondering how many other people run in them and what they think about them...

leftymac

I have them, and love them. Takes a while to build up the endurance to run in them as you need to retrain your body, but they're great. Stick with them!

Loko_Ino

I have plenty of friends who use them to run and workout in. I am tempted to get some myself but they are sinfully ugly to me..

AggieCass09

i LOVE them! but i alternate them with traditional shoes on my runs over 7 miles

they are great for trail runs, especially!

i used to have knee pain but since using these, my knee pain has been eliminated!

Shalimarmandy

My boyfriend wears them constantly and runs in them all the time... He absolutely LOVES them!! The only small complaint I have even heard him say is that on longer runs it hurts a bit because of no padding but he'll run 10+ miles without batting an eye...


Good luck to you@

Myobi

For me, they're a bad idea because I have high arches and thus have a higher risk for stress fractures if I don't have the full support. However, a friend of mine uses them, and he loves them. He runs about 8-10 miles per run, and he likes them a lot more than regular running shoes.

littleleisha

I really want to get a pair!! I think they are super cute! plus I've heard they help with posture & mine is the worst!

scottppa

Just started running again after nearly 30 years off and 2 knee arthroscopies. I wear Vibram KSO's and feel GREAT! I'm training for a 5K initially - I feel VERY comfortable running in them! I got a pair initially for the gym and for using my kettlebells outside, but running in them has been a lot less stressful on my knees than my old crosstrainers were. I do get some funny looks, though!

jenwrath

Have you read "Born To Run"? If not, it might answer some of your questions. The author of that book has since changed his opinion a little bit. He was formerly more of a proponent of 5-finger shoes but has since converted completely to barefoot running. There's interesting information out there about it. Some of it is pretty convincing. I haven't run long distances in my Vibrams. But I have noticed that when I do run in them, my knees hurt less than when I run in my running shoes. So, that makes me feel good about continuing to wear them.

LovingMe19

My friend is a Marine and she said they all use them to run. If the Marines do it, they've gotta be good right?

Sj20fame

it's not so much the looks of the "shoe" it's the fact that there is no padding that freaks me out! OUch! They look like they would hurt to run in!

LMStark

I think it depends on your feet. If you are not getting pain from them, they are probably okay for you to use. I need a lot of cushion and arch support, so I can't wear them, but I have heard some good things about them from people who can wear them.

melizerd

There have been people having issues with them for half and full marathons because you're running on concrete. I'm going to see if I can find the article where a runner told some of the issues he had.

YAY! didn't think I would find it that quick.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/01/09/youre_crazy/

Even the Kenyans thought he was nuts

just4peachy

My dr actually recommended I try transitioning into them after my first half marathon in October. She believes they'll help with some of my hip pain.

gargoyle999

I use them for jogging. It's all I've been wearing for working out since I started at the end of March. I'll be doing my first 5k in two weeks and first 10k at the end of Aug wearing them.

I am still trying to work out my technique since I believe landing on your heel is not the best with these on. I'm working on landing further up my foot.

chelekaz

I have to say I just googled them and they are scaring me! I don't think I could ever where those...

Dragonwolf

I absolutely love my Vibrams!

Whether they're a good idea or not depends largely on medical conditions. For most people without foot conditions in which being barefoot is detrimental (high arches, fallen arches, etc), then it's not recommended, at least without consulting a doctor.

If you don't have a medical condition that prevents you from walking barefoot, then Vibrams are just fine! The key is to make sure your running/walking form is correct. If you walk like you're in padded tennis shoes, then you're going to be hurting really quickly. However, if you walk like you're supposed to (soft, mid-foot strike), then you should be fine. So many people run barefoot or in Vibrans like they do in other shoes (hard, heel strike) and then wonder why they're in pain.

It can also take a while to build the muscles and endurance, so you also can't slap on a pair of Vibrams after a lifetime of running in thick running shoes and expect to run the same distance at the same speed right away.

ak_in_ak

I use them for work out videos and at the gym. i feel super heavy footed on the treadmill when I use them, but they are amazing on all the other machines. I got them becasue I was having intense arch pain after 5 minutes of a video. That is completely gone now.

Jamiebaby05

Thank you all for your imput.....i believe as long as i am enjoying them and they arent causing me any pain that i will stick with them.....I will let you all know how they perform durring my marathon on August 27th....

HollyMcCaw

I want them so badly! I have high arches though and worry they might not be good for me. Does anyone know it that matters?

HollyMcCaw

I absolutely love my Vibrams!

Whether they're a good idea or not depends largely on medical conditions. For most people without foot conditions in which being barefoot is detrimental (high arches, fallen arches, etc), then it's not recommended, at least without consulting a doctor.

If you don't have a medical condition that prevents you from walking barefoot, then Vibrams are just fine! The key is to make sure your running/walking form is correct. If you walk like you're in padded tennis shoes, then you're going to be hurting really quickly. However, if you walk like you're supposed to (soft, mid-foot strike), then you should be fine. So many people run barefoot or in Vibrans like they do in other shoes (hard, heel strike) and then wonder why they're in pain.

It can also take a while to build the muscles and endurance, so you also can't slap on a pair of Vibrams after a lifetime of running in thick running shoes and expect to run the same distance at the same speed right away.

haha this wasnt posted yet when I started my reply.. good to know though. Thanks

Dragonwolf

I have to say I just googled them and they are scaring me! I don't think I could ever where those...

What's so scary about them?

Dragonwolf

I absolutely love my Vibrams!

Whether they're a good idea or not depends largely on medical conditions. For most people without foot conditions in which being barefoot is detrimental (high arches, fallen arches, etc), then it's not recommended, at least without consulting a doctor.

If you don't have a medical condition that prevents you from walking barefoot, then Vibrams are just fine! The key is to make sure your running/walking form is correct. If you walk like you're in padded tennis shoes, then you're going to be hurting really quickly. However, if you walk like you're supposed to (soft, mid-foot strike), then you should be fine. So many people run barefoot or in Vibrans like they do in other shoes (hard, heel strike) and then wonder why they're in pain.

It can also take a while to build the muscles and endurance, so you also can't slap on a pair of Vibrams after a lifetime of running in thick running shoes and expect to run the same distance at the same speed right away.

haha this wasnt posted yet when I started my reply.. good to know though. Thanks

Honestly, I've seen stuff from both sides. Some people say it's helped with the arch problems (it forces you to strengthen parts of your feet that don't get used in other shoes), while others say it makes them worse. Ultimately, you're probably best off talking to a doctor (or three) and gauging by how you do walking around barefoot around the house.

zenchild

I adore mine. I used to use a good running shoe but my knees and shins would burn the whole time. With my vibrams I feel great. One big thing though: allow a long break-in period. If you don't, you will hurt. You will get blisters on top of blisters. Trust me. One blister would peel off and there would be another one underneath. If you allow a long, slow break-in period, the muscles in your feet will adapt and feel amazing. If you want to be a real badass and go barefoot, Vibrams are a good in-between step.

kwaz29

i want them so badly! so many of my crew teammates have them and love them, im just saving up the money now!

Jamiebaby05

i guess part of the reason i love them so much is because im a barefoot junkie.....i wear flip flops in the dead of winter....lol! So apparently my arches are acustom to being barefoot.....Thanks for all the feedback

Dragonwolf

There have been people having issues with them for half and full marathons because you're running on concrete. I'm going to see if I can find the article where a runner told some of the issues he had.

YAY! didn't think I would find it that quick.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/01/09/youre_crazy/

Even the Kenyans thought he was nuts

Honestly, it sounds like the author ignored an injury that had been forming for some time. Had he not, things may have turned out differently. It's not really much different than getting a stress fracture in any other footwear.

The author also doesn't mention how long he trained and whether he did so properly. As I mentioned before, so many people seem to think they can just put them on and run the distance, speed, and (most important...and detrimental of all) way they did in other shoes, when you simply can't do that, and I think that's the main problem with this "rash" of injuries associated with the shoes.

I think his mindset reflect that attitude ("I can just put these on and I'll be golden, even without proper training.") when he complained about the issues he had with the rocks and other ground clutter. Part of running barefoot or in minimalist shoes is being aware of your environment and knowing where, and on what, your feet are going to land.

SDMHudson

I have a pair and I'm in the process of breaking my in. I guess I'm in the "keep pushing" phase, because right now after I run for awhile, my shins start BURNING. I don't say that to scare anyone away, but I think I'm still learning how to run correctly (form wise).

I'm going to keep with it though. I will say that I have significantly decreased my run time.

Selena

Dragonwolf

I have a pair and I'm in the process of breaking my in. I guess I'm in the "keep pushing" phase, because right now after I run for awhile, my shins start BURNING. I don't say that to scare anyone away, but I think I'm still learning how to run correctly (form wise).

I'm going to keep with it though. I will say that I have significantly decreased my run time.

Selena

How far and how fast are you running? If you're trying to go the distance and speed that you did in your old shoes, you're more likely to hurt yourself, especially if your form is wrong.

Remember -start out slower and for shorter distances and slowly build your way back up. You're using a lot of muscles that haven't been used before (or haven't been used the way they are now), you also have a lot less cushioning than what you had before, so poor form will be more likely to hurt you.

rybo

I've had mine over a year now. I've gone as far as 10 miles in them. I find them very comfy and enjoyable to run in. And they have really made my lower legs stronger.

I have fairly high arches and this is the 1st I've heard where it's bad for me. I have experienced no ill affects, and I certainly don't plan to stop running in them either.

Collinsky

I can't wait to get some... I've been running barefoot for a few weeks, and I love it. I'll keep going fully barefoot, but I want them for trail races and for when it starts getting too chilly to go without something on my feet.