Vibram FiveFingers Review

After a couple of years of running in a simple huarache-style lace up sandal with only two sparse millimeters of protection between my foot and the road surface, I needed a change.

While there’s nothing wrong with sandals--once you master the tying method--they have a nagging tendency to allow stones to become trapped between the instep and the soles beneath, requiring multiple stops for adjustment.

Socks are necessary for the sandals (it took a fair amount of blood and skin for me to conclude this), making any long, hot run over wet surfaces miserable. And the look is ridiculous. Which didn’t stop me, but kept me open to another solution. I decided I wanted a change.

I chose the Vibram FiveFingers KSO model because it best fit the conditions I face--various road surfaces, occasional trail running, wet and dry surfaces and environments.

Getting started, you should understand that these shoes should not fit as regular shoes do, with extra room. They are more like gloves for your feet.

The fit should be comfortable, not too tight and with no pressure points, but not sloppy. Getting the toes seated first is the key to getting the shoes on. It can take a couple of tries to get your toes used to sliding separately into the toe pockets. When they’re new, double check that you have one toe per pocket. You may not be able to tell by feel that they’re situated incorrectly.

Runners who experience swelling in their feet will want to keep the cross-strap loose and consider going up a size, especially if you’re between sizes.

The soles are a good thickness for rocks and debris, offering greater protection and padding than sandals, but they still require a level of pain tolerance, an awareness of body mechanics and foot placement. They in no way spare you from the full brunt of contact. You’ll still know it if you hit too hard or without thinking, as you can see here. 

The biggest issue I’ve found with the shoes is one for which I can’t completely account and one that didn’t start till a few weeks into wearing the KSOs.

I was on a run and began to get a nagging pain in my left ankle. It felt like a stress fracture and got worse as I went on. Once able to get out of the shoes and assess the damage, I found it was the top lip of the stretch upper catching me across the ankle bone. I was shocked that the fabric could cause that sort of pain.

I thought, hey, lesson learned. I figured next time I’d be careful, check that the “sock” was pulled all the way up before I headed out. Except the following run, there seemed to be no good placement. The upper hits and snags an area of thin skin, vein and nerve right where the material crosses the bone.

The problem isn’t friction, it's more an issue of pressure. On my third attempt to circumvent the dilemma, I added a super-sized band-aid to the area before putting on the shoes. The same old pain was there and not muted a bit, but this time it did fade during the first mile.

Wearing a perfect size for my foot, I find the shoes difficult to both get on and remove. Even with my toes seated and my foot as far forward as possible in the KSO, the shoe resists my efforts to pull it over my heel. The thumb tab is helpful but, due to the manner in which the toes have to enter, ends up buried deeply beneath my heel.

Sometimes everything will go right and there is no struggle. More often than not, getting into the shoes is a protracted battle. Users of the Classic and Shoe Boot models won’t have to face these issues because they are constructed differently.

The shoes would be better if they were made with zipper access. If the integrity of the system could be retained, this would be an excellent upgrade for future models.

I personally don’t like having to handle shoes or to walk into the house with feet coated in road debris and whatever has soaked through the material. And there is plenty of dampness. Hit a puddle first thing out and you will run with wet feet for the duration.

The shoes have plenty of airflow potential, but especially on the underside of the foot and in the toe pockets, moisture will accumulate. And if you run, there is no need to explain what any surface rubbing against wet skin will yield.

In this way, running in socks is slightly better--if they are made of a wicking material. With open sides and movement allowing occasional airflow up under and between the foot and the sole, they dry more quickly than the KSO.

Vibram FiveFingers are Euro-sized and, at least for me, ran a little small. I’d definitely suggest you find somewhere to try a pair on before purchase or ensure there’s a liberal return/exchange policy if you buy online. A conversion chart is included on the Vibram site.

These are great shoes for everyday wear around town. They may be one of the best options for lightweight backpackers, weighing in at 10.6 to 13.4 oz (for those designated for outdoor use). They dry fast once you take them off, breathe nicely and grip. You can head in and out of water without worrying about ruining a pair of boots or trail shoes and save yourself the headache and water weight of soaked footwear.

Vibram FiveFingers are machine washable and will air dry. If this doesn’t deal with any accumulated odor, some runners have had luck with using denture tabs to work it out.

Vibram FiveFingers Models:

The Sprint has a versatile grip made for climbing, running, boating and physical training. The features include ployamide stretch fabric, Hypalon straps, Vibram TC-1 rubber soles and an antimicrobial microfiber footbed.

The Performa is designed for indoor fitness training. The features include kangaroo leather uppers and footbeds and a 7 part, TC-1 rubber sole.

The Classic is made for running, martial arts and general fitness training. It rides low on the foot. Features include polyamide fabric uppers, TC-1 rubber soles and an antimicrobial microfiber footbed.

The Flow is a cold weather version for outdoor training, climbing and water sports. It comes with a 1.2 mm Neoprene upper with Hypalon straps, heel straps and an antimicrobial microfiber footbed. The camo versions include TC-1 rubber soles, while the black models have IdroGrip rubber soles.

The KSO is for running and water sports. KSO stands for Keep Stuff Out. This model uses a stretch polyamide upper to enclose the foot around the ankle area. The sole is Vibram TC-1 performance rubber with razor striping for better grip and a 2 mm EVA midsole for added protection. The shoe also offers Hypalon straps and an antimicrobial microfiber footbed.

Men’s styles include the KSO, the KSO Trek, Flow, Classic and Moc. They’re all essentially unisex, and the company encourages you to jump to the shoe of either gender for an improved fit, if need be.

Two models are available in men’s sizes only. The KSO Trek is a trail running shoe with a 4mm EVA midsole, TC-1 rubber base and kangaroo leather upper and footbed. The Moc is an indoor piece of sport footwear, with features similar to the Performa.

The color combinations available and form of the sole varies among the models.