Vibram Five Fingers
Review
The Vibram Five Fingers arrived in my life as a godsend
that allowed me discover a better way of running.
With
two injured feet, a marathon training regime wasted, and an exercise
physiologist and chiropractor telling me I needed more support for my
over-pronating, flat feet, I took a left turn and embraced an idea that
everyone seemed to think was unwise: less shoe, more skin.
The
Vibram Five Fingers certainly played a huge part in allowing me to
adopt a barefoot running style without needing to build up the
tolerance of my soles over the course of years.
The results
were tremendous, and I'm now running as much as 20 miles at a stretch
without injury. I would recommend them to anyone wanting to end the
cycle of running injuries and try something unique and fun.
Vibram Five Fingers: What
Are They?
Imagine
a mix between a slipper and a glove, and you've got a pretty good
idea
of what the Vibram Five Fingers look and feel like.
They don't
appear anything like your average running shoe, and you're likely to
attract attention when you take them out for a spin.
But the
advantage is they don't feel a bit like an average footwear either.
Although flexible leather soles protect your feet from abrasions and
the filth of the road, two of the primary issues stopping people from
giving true barefoot running a try, your foot is exposed to a whole new
world of sensation that will dramatically change your running
experience for the better.
Many of the common running injuries
that disable runners every year are caused because we can't tell
through our shoes' padding our bodies are not happy.
Many
runners take large strides and land on their heels, but a few minutes
running barefoot this way will show you your body doesn't like the
idea, and the messenger will be carried in the pain that spikes up
through your feet with every heel strike.
Guided by the pain which
tells us what not to do, most people wearing Vibram Five Fingers
develop a short stride, land on their fore or mid foot, and start
getting injured a lot less, if at all.
Vibram Five Fingers: The
Freedom
After
a few months in five fingers, regular running shoes feel like coffins.
Rather than letting your muscles support your body naturally, most
running shoes attempt to impose order on nature, and largely fail. 
Shoe
designers think they know more about creating a foot than the dynamic
process of million of years of evolution. When you start running
barefoot or semi barefoot, you'll feel the muscles building up in your
legs, and new abilities of perception and balance developing.
At 5.3 oz per shoe, they're light as
feathers, and a true joy to run in.
You
can feel every dip in the terrain and the little details of every
terrain you
run over. The sensation of striding over the world is a joy.
The flow, KSO, classic, and sprint are also vegan-apropriate, for those
who are not a fan of leather.
Vibram
Five Fingers: The Versatility
Although I originally bought the five fingers for running, I quickly
started using them for an all-purpose sports shoe.
On
one recent day in the Shawangunk Mountains of New York, I spent the
morning biking around the scenic trails in my five fingers. I then went
onto a main road and noticed an intriguing waterfall running beside me.
I hopped off my bike and scrambled down to the bottom on a series of
fantastic rock outcroppings. Later I hiked, and finally finished the
day with some great rock scrambling at the Mohonk Preserve.
Through
all this my five fingers gave me the protection I was looking for
without sacrificing the high degree of balance and sensation we get
from being barefoot.
Vibram
Five Fingers: The Flavors
All the various models offer the same minimalist experience, but each
specializes in something different.
The
KSOs

The
KSOs -Keep Stuff Out- are my favorite variety, and just seem to fit my
feet more comfortably than any of the others. They have a mesh upper
section to them, which offers good ventilation. They're nice for trail
running because they'll keep dirt and rocks out.
The Classics
These
are certainly the most open version of the five fingers, and the most
freeing. Unlike the KSOs, sprints, and flows, which use one or more
Velcro straps, the classics rely on a cord which can be tightened
around the heel.
I find it a bit uncomfortable. I
should caution,
however, that I need to tighten the strap a lot because, although I
have a wide forefoot, I have a smaller heel, and need the strap tight
to secure the shoe.
I know plenty of people who wear these and love them.
The
Sprints
The Sprints are just like the
classics but rely on a strap across the forefoot. I haven't tried these
yet.
The
Flows

I
live in chilly Connecticut, and just purchased the flows, which feature
extra insulation, so I could continue running outside in minimalist
footwear during winter. They're quite comfortable, and look forward to
pitting them against the cold.
Where To Find Vibram Five Fingers
If
you're like me, and there's no store that stocks the Vibram Five
Fingers near you, you're stuck ordering them off the internet. That can
be tricky because, although very good fitting directions are provided,
you never know how they'll feel on your foot until you try them.
Because
of the free shipping, price, excellent service, and generous
return policy, I've been buying mine from pegasusshoes.com. I sent back
a
pair that didn't fit without issue, and they were very
cooperative.
I've
arranged for raw-food-health.net to recieve a small portion of the
purchase price, and so buying through pegasusshoes.com helps what you
love here to grow.
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