Why Toe Shoes got sued for $3.75 million (Vibram)
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
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VIDEOS MENTIONED:
Top 5 Barefoot Hiking boots review - • Top 5 barefoot boots C...
Top 5 Barefoot Sneakers review - • Clown or cool? TRUTH a...
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Top 4 Barefoot Gym shoes review - • Ranking best gym shoes...
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
0:43 History
4:52 Vibram Claims
5:30 Five Finger Culture
6:21 The Provo Study
8:11 Burn Test
8:54 Puncture/Bar Test
10:13 Cut In Half
10:55 Reveal
11:44 Mo’ Barefoot Mo’ Problems?
12:53 The Verdict
14:30 WPS Scale Rank
#vibram #vibramfivefinger #toeshoes #barefootshoes
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Why are you promoting sinful and destructive addictions?
Boo total bullshit sponsor
A little disappointed you are selling on-line betting.
I can sell you the most natural shoes ever.
They are transparent but really good.
Honest.
Online gambling is a scourge on society. If you wanna gamble in Vegas or Atlantic City, etc fine, go ahead, but making it soooo easy to ruin your life from your smartphone anywhere you are is problematic at minimum.
I was working in a speciality running shoe store around the time they become popular for running. We had many people come in to purchase them and only return them after a week because they hurt their feet. I was instructed by my boss to make it clear to tell customers to run half a mile the first day and slowly build up. Too many people thought you could just wear them and go running like you normally would.
Just goes to show, you don't know what you don't know.
I’m pretty sure the pair I bought came with instructions that said the same!
A big problem I think stems from the trend of super cushiony heels on running shoes over the past half century. Most people run with a heel strike, which is really only possible to do without injury because of cushioned heels. Naturally, a fore foot strike is better for your body (heels and knees mostly) because it's not as sharp an impact (and there are studies on this aspect). I saw more than a few people still running with a heel strike in these, and that sends the impact straight up through your leg, and is likely a major cause of many injuries, not actually the shoes themselves.
The running store I bought mine from made everyone run a lap around the parking lot before they’d sell them to you, because you needed to KNOW.
It's funny how people will try something radically different than their norm and blame the equipment. Also, it's a bit amusing that it would be the feet instead or the calves and ankles, as it doesn't take a genius to realise that you have to switch up the technique, after you feel that sting in the heel on your first step.
It should be against the TOS to promote gambling on UA-cam.
Mass glorification of gambling is an indicator of a collapsing society
🙄
Amen
@@puffymarshmellow3149 do you have an example?
Yep
As a poor person I had a lot of THIN shoe soles. I recently bought a pair of casual puffy sneakers and I actually fell a few times because I could not really feel the ground underneath my feet. I ended up hurting my feet with the really thick soles because I did not transition to get used to the "squish"
¿Did you end up sueing?
I cannot wear those squishy shoes either as they goof up my balance bad. Plus the arch support makes me walk crooked as in overpronating! The arch support feels like a big rock under my foot.
Just shows you, you gotta take time to transition to anything new!
I won't wear anything but original Chuck Taylors for everyday use. I can't stand thick padding, thick heels. I also don't believe in the whole idea of arch support. If anything, shouldn't it make your arches _weaker_? Like, you don't put on knee braces and wrist braces "just because". Why are we supposed to brace our arches?
We are strong were they are weak 😂
I wore these for like three years starting in like 2008. I absolutely loved them while I had them, then completely forgotten they existed after they wore out. Now, with my knee issues from the army, I am considering going back to wearing them, because they were absolutely amazing on my joints compared to sneakers.
yo, SAME. I still have my pair from when I was in he Navy in 2011! I still use mine to this day! lol
Agree. Those stupid combat boots gave me bunions 😢. These shoes are amazing!
2 years ago I was thinking of buying a knee brace because I was limping by the end of every day. My hips and knees were going bad fast. I saw some stories of barefoot shoes and figured why not try it out, I could always go back. 8 months of transitioning later I was pain free with the added bonus of less lower back pain as well. Best wellness choice I have ever made.
I changed 4 y ago.🙂
Heel stack of the boot also can effect your back, some shoe are junkers they will hurt you.i like my whites and hawthorns both and fischer rc3 xc too in february.
I think I should try this. I've had some hip/lower back injuries when I was running frequently, and they tend to come back. If it genuinely can transform your body then I really want to try it.
What happened to EarthShoes? I liked mine.
what brand did you go with? I'm wanting to try XeroShoes
The reason people get hurt is that the heal strike. These are meant to be used as a front of foot strike using your arch as the "spring" it was meant to be. I used these to train years ago and was running 3-10 miles regularly. When I first got these, I ran about 3/4 of a mile before I was so sore I couldn't take it. I was using muscles I hadn't used in a while. After getting used to them, my running changed, and I was a better, more efficient runner. I never did long runs in them, only 5k or shorter. I still run like I have them on even though I have not had a pair for 10 years. I also thought they had stopped selling them after they were sued. They make great river shoes too...
Exactly. Run like you're not wearing shoes and you'll be fine.
Most of the time you shouldn't heal strike anyway, regardless of the shoes.
@@D_Jilla, I question the mental capacity of heel stompers. It's like every step they take is reactionary, and catching themselves from falling, instead of just being able to walk around like a human.
Not always. My running form was spot on - never any heel strike. The problem was from landing too much on the balls of my feet and it over stretched my tendons in my ankles. Fantastically painful.
@@ericcarabetta1161 Yep, everyone should shorten their stride and actually pick up and place their foot down. It makes way more sense to actually land on the forefoot and heel almost at the same time for stability anyway.
You’re right, They were hurting people because they put them on and wore them all day after years of of having their feet deconditioned their entire life from wearing traditional shoes. You have to ease into them slowly conditioning your feet. I can tell you I didn’t change anything in my life and I gained a lot of strength and ankle mobility in lifts after wearing them. From personal experience they are very beneficial.
They are not traditional shoes. They are foot prisons.
100% agree. And the careful transition is key. The benefits make sense to me so I made sure I worked up to the level of strength and comfort I needed.
After using them for a year now, I realized stronger feet allowed me to wear any shoe with comfort the entire day (I used to not be able to wear chucks. It felt like torture just malling in them. After training carefully in the 5-toe barefoots, footwear strain is practically gone).
Mine are fricken awesome and haave lasted 11 years. Love them. Your feet are so much lighter when you're used to using shoes all day. Hiking, swimming etc. Fuggin love em. It's like we forgot how to use our feet lol
@@SensSwordskill issue.
@@TurboDodgeXVII wear mine every day working in the ortho floor at my hospital. The little kids love them as well as the old folks.
Contraversial hot take: The "Five fingered shoes" fell out of favor around the same time people realized they could sell feet pics.
Nah, feet pics have been popular since dialup
Hold up...let em cook@@dhoffnun
Regarding the stank-foot: Vibram did make some models with wool or hemp for odor reduction, and leather options that are mostly discontinued. It’d be interesting to see an episode about how much difference shoe and sock material makes when it comes to bacteria, fungus, and smell
It's all about the materials. I bought an pair of expensive Ecco sandals a while back that stank so bad within a few weeks that I literally threw them away and bought some Keens while on vacation. It was embarrassing to think my bare feet could smell so bad in sandals but the new pair cleared the problem up immediately.
This was my concern before I bought mine, so I ended up with a pair that was nylon and machine washable. Never had issues with stinky feet, always washed on gently cold cycle. I considered leather but wasn't sure how it would respond to washing. The nylon ones are amazing.
I only wear leather shoes. Leather reduces the possibility of smell incredibly well. Running shoes, well, are plastic, but i wear those shoes only for the purpose of physical activity.
@@DerpEye Unless they are made of Ground/Pressed Leather as then the glues prevent the Leather from doing its job.
Easy to eat those Japanese toe socks.
Yeah, lots of caveats
1. You should ramp up to full barefoot, especially if you plan on running in them and are a trained runner. Would get injured quick if you want to keep the same miles
2. I switched last year, and the toebox area of my feet widened so much none of my other shoes fit anymore.
Edit:
3. If you plan on heel striking, that’s essentially incompatible. Basically all of the foot benefits come from switching to toe striking
Yeah the fact they claim your feet dont change is absurd. My foot in 10 months has gained almost an inch in width
Oh the toe widening! Yah! I already had a wide foot. Then I switched to 5 Fingers and my feet spread by probably an inch. I no longer can put on any normal width shoe without almost instantly being in pain.
Ohhhh toe striking makes sense. In considering buying Vivo because getting cheap pair
I switched to toe shoes for running about ten years ago. I went from easily running 2 miles regularly, to barely being able to run .5 miles. It took about 6 week to build up my leg muscles correctly. Now even when I do have to wear a regular shoe my muscle memory keeps my stride correct. Our legs were built to be springs. But when u heel strike, even with all the padding and cushions in the world, all the pressure shots straight up your bones. Ancle, knee, hips, back. When I run, it's almost floating or bouncing. For a video like this you should do some side by side comparison of the shoe being used vs ordinary sneaker. With someone that uses them correctly. Your videos are very interesting though. It's cool to see what's inside.
Same, VFF Speed in 2013. ♥
You can run without heelstriking in normal shoes and get better performance and fewer injuries. It's about form
That's not really within the scope of this channel. It's great that you had a positive experience, but the point of the vid is not to say that no one saw benefits from the shoe. It's tangential to the exercise of analyzing its composition for such a test to be conducted. Whatever you experienced, there were still enough folks who were hurt that the shoe gained that reputation. I feel he was pretty fair in presenting info without inserting much bias. Enjoy what you'd like, but please be aware of what you're critiquing and why. Have a great day!
@@topwomble Is there actual data saying there are less injuries? I've had a better time with barefoot myself, too. I only hear either is better anecdotally. Makes me suspect this is very much a matter of personal preference.
@jht3fougifh393 I wasn't claiming that, I was just saying that you can run in cushioned shoes without heelstriking, as plenty are designed for forefoot runners. I don't think the data is all that great, but I do think that whilst most top athletes prefer more cushioned shoes, I'll probably stick with what they do
I had a pair of these and honestly I enjoyed them for hiking. Being able to feel textures on the ground was interesting. It did cause you to shift weight to the balls of your feet instead of the heel which took some muscle training to get used to. Biggest downside was getting tall grass inbetween the toes absolutely horrible feeling lol.
Flowers. I always get wild flowers between my toes and it feels so weird!
@@stanman70e So do I. It looks pretty though. Like natural versions of the little Crocs ornaments...
That grass between the toes…glad I’m not the only one 😂😂 I love these shoes, but that’s one (and a minor one) con…those dandelions 😂
Get it out get it Out 😂😬
I bought some in 2011. They honestly helped a lot. My arches improved, my overall flexibility and strength went up. I eased into wearing them, though. I could definitely see people doing damage to their feet/legs if they don’t take the time to get properly acclimated. I started by just wearing them for walks to nearby coffee shops, parks, etc.
I switched years ago to barefoot shoes because of knee and plantar fasciitis pain when I run. Over the last 10 years, I have learned that proper stretching and rotating my barefoot shoes with regular cushioned running shoes is the best for me.
I have the same condition and what I find works really well, at least for me, is using an arch support insert on any shoe. These things look like they would only make the pain worse if it's like wearing no shoes at all. I cannot go barefoot anymore on hard surfaces without bad pain spiking up.
I wear barefoot for daily wear and run in regular shoes. Lol.
I second the rotation thing. I wear barefoot shoes for work and lifting and then I wear a cushioned shoe for rocky trail and a minimal cushioned shoe for track and road running. I feel like the barefoot all day at work makes my foot strong while the cushion over the rocks helps me prevent injury.
@azteacher26 hahaha idk what you do at work, but at mine you'd be absolutely toast in these things (12hrs of standing/walking on hard floor and metal grates, plus hazards). But for lifting I bet they're great! I've always found the sodt cushion in trainers/running shoes make it harder to get a solid foundation for lifting.
Yup, it depends on what you're doing. I like the wider toe area for anything, but if it's rainy, I'm around horses, or doing garden work, I don't usually wear them. The best places are at the beach/lake/river, areas with large rocks but not gravel, or areas with something that feels nicer like carpet or grass. Although I gotta say, my city has some bumpy metal things on the ground at crosswalks so visually impaired people can feel them and know to stop, and those are like free foot massages if you're wearing thin shoes.
I like being barefoot, so I’ve tried on dozens of these things. I have quite normal feet, and I couldn’t find a single pair that weren’t totally uncomfortable and weird; none of them fit every toe well. I’ve since found plenty of minimalist shoes that are comfortable, but they all simply have wide toe boxes.
That is just the nature off mass produced shoes they are just a generic fit. But the problem is no one's feet are the same which is why I think the cobbler trade need to come back so your shoes are made for your feet so they fit properly
Shamma, Earthrunners and Luna. Have a look. Then look at Xero Shoes. Let me know when you did. I dislike wearing regular anythings. 2008, I started with Veebrums, Body Glove, Füt Gloves, Merrells and finally Xero Shoes. We have fire ants and ticks in Florida. They hurt like hell so we need protection. Today, 7/8/23, we bought two pair of Veebrum 5 Fingers with N-Oil gum rubber soles. Super thin. 4.5 ounces per shoe. $115 plus sales tax per pair. Veebrum 5 Fingers do fall apart due to the glue China and Vietnam uses. Toe caps fall apart. My wife has nasty callouses that have deformed her feet but she loves them. Kinda like the women that wear 6" Spiked High Heeled Shoes with very pointy toes. Their feet and toes are emaciated and ugly. Very sad.
Sounds like you have narrow feet or something. Maybe shop around for discounted VFFs, because every pair of discounted VFFs I've ever gotten had an uncomfortably snug fit. Maybe those ones would fit you better. Even if the toe lengths aren't perfect for you, a lot of times the discounted ones have snug toe sleeves/pockets or whatever... so maybe they will secure your toes in place better. I've heard a of people whose second toes are longer than their big toes... and they tend to have issues with their other toes slipping out of place. I've also heard of people with extremely wide or fat feet not being able to fit into VFFs... so they're not for everyone. The main complaint I have is that they don't list their discounted shoes as defective, ill-fitting shoes... and they make YOU (the consumer) pay the return shipping. If you're new to VFFs, it can definitely take some trial and error to get the right size/model/fit, so I can understand that Vibram wouldn't want to cover all the return shipping... but they should definitely cover it on the defective ones
Did a significant portion of the Appalachian Trail in knockoff vibrams. An especially rocky portion too. Pretty impressive how much your foot can mold around rocks. Any kind of foot pain/fatigue I felt was from actually walking on concrete due to repeated pressure points (not an issue on uneven terrain).
I would also note that it was near impossible to twist my ankle because the shoe has no lip (stack height) for my foot to roll against.
Been wearing barefoot shoes ever since. Easily can do 10+ miles a day in barefoot shoes. For sure there is 2+ week adjustment period but overall my feet, ankle, and calves are much stronger, more flexible, and less prone to injury than they’ve ever been.
My husband started to wear these a few years ago when he couldn't find minimalist shoes wide enough for his feet. He went from having flat feet to EVEN WIDER more muscular feet with good arches. His feet got too wide to wear them, so now I make him shoes.
Thats cute
Can you make a video on how you make his shoes?
look into the south african shoemaker jim green, they make some slightly wider shoes/boots that avoid the clown-look and they might still fit his feet. Or crocs, or maybe even a shoe like altra
I had the same thing happen with gaining an arch. It's actually a researched thing, part of an arch is caused by foot muscles.. increase the muscles and yah; gain an arch.
Also, you make his shoes? HOW?!??!
PLEASE PLEASE share!
@@tacticalcenter8658 , yes yes please!
I ran my own study on my own feet. 5 years ago I had flat, weak, inflexible feet. I started wearing five finger shoes (except during winter) and my feet have actually improved immensely. I have developed a substantial arch, my foot strength has gone way up, my ankle and knee stability is superb, and my foot dexterity and mobility has improved. Also, I notice a huuuge difference in my feet when I switch between boots and 5 fingers each year during winter. My feet feel like stiff boards after wearing boots for a whole season. Listen, nobody wears these shoes for the fashion….. It’s for the way they work. Damn the looks, get something that makes you feel good. That’s just my experience though.
Have you tried minimalist boots for the winter? There are several brands available now. I live in Florida so I rarely get a chance to really push their limits but I have worn Vivo Barefoot boots designed for winter in the DC area and Connecticut when visiting family. They did well for my limited time wearing them.
I've had so many people ask me where to get them, I have to disagree about the fashion statement. Besides, they have actual black leather ones if you want them for full style casual wear (someone would have to look close to see the toes are separate); I've got a couple hemp pair that look fine and I got a pair of the wool 3/4 ice boots before they stopped making them which are toasty and have special Vibram ice grip soles that have traction on ice like you're walking on sandpaper.
As measured by you personally or in a medical study with thousand of participants?
@@erinmccreery9781 How my own feet feel in and respond to shoes/boots are the most important criteria for me. Thousands of others may disagree, and that’s awesome for them since their feet and wearing environments are different.
@@tumadre50 Even with barefoot boots, the difference to Fivefingers is enormous. You get so much more barefoot feel in Fivefingers than in any barefoot boot I have tried, and I have tried many. It's the wide toebox/separation of toes in combination with really thin sole. I use FF or thin huarache sandals when warm enough and I also notice a huge difference in my feet in the spring/summer, compared to when I wear my closed "normal" shoes/boots in autumn/winter.
In my 15 years of wearing them, I've gone through phases of wearing more or less.
I have come to the conclusion that wearing them on natural surfaces helps me a lot. I don't wear them to walk in concrete and asphalt.
But if I'm on a trail or beach they're phenomenal.
I tried not really being barefoot ever for a while and it really hurt after about 6 months.
Walking around in the forest in five fingers really helped.
And I wouldn't recommend running in them unless you are great at running and are already used to wearing them.
Also I guess my experience is different because I got those warnings at the local store I bought my first pair from.
In my honest opinion they’re the best. I transitioned carefully, now I wear them all the time. It’s clear my feet became much stronger. My physiotherapist also confirms that. My muscles are much more developed in comparison to people who only wear regular shoes. And they’re so grippy! I can run fast on wet grass without slipping.
Honestly the biggest issue for me was the way the seams were turned inward so they cut into your skin. After trying some other brands, I ended up just becoming a barefooter because I realised the phrase “barefoot shoe” was hilariously oxymoronic.
Oxymoronic I like that word
lol yeah. I prefer calling these "minimalist shoes"
toed socks
*contradiction
shows you how ingrained wearing shoes is in our culture, the word barefoot now means wearing barefoot shoes.
I was wearing a pair once and went running into a Costco during a rainstorm and the door keeper chased me down because looking at my wet prints it looked like I wasn't wearing shoes haha Mine came with an insert in the box telling you how to break them in safely; that was in 2007. I only stopped wearing them everywhere because I switched jobs and they required dress shoes. Which really sucked to change in to.
Look into minimalst footwear. There's some nice shoes out there with wide toeboxes and no heel rise.
@@sloesty yeah I have a couple pairs of Altra 5 trail runners that I trade between that I enjoy.
😅😅😅 I'm picturing the scene: "door keeper chased me down".
@@irenemax3574 it was hilarious. Poor older gentleman chasing after me hahaha
I think the biggest problem is that people don’t walk around barefoot enough. It was pretty normal to walk barefoot around the house and in your yard, where I grew up, and I think that’s why wearing these or going barefoot are almost the same for me. Granted I’m not a real runner - just trying to learn to run. So training in these is a good way to do it right hopefully.
Don’t tell my husband but I just ordered a pair of these 😂 never tried them before but I’m on a journey to find some comfort & help my toe alignment after dancing in 6-7in heels for the past decade. I have worn strictly toe socks for the past few years & was like hmm…toe shoes? Yes! Let’s try! I am really hoping for some great results; less back pain, less foot pain, better alignment, & more. I have been trying toe stretches & after just a few minutes the tops of my feet hurt so I know they’re weak & I need some aid in strengthening. This video has been so helpful! Thank you 😊
I've used these shoes for years in various forms, and they've been great (I think I'm on my 6th pair since ~2010). I switched to them after recovering from a knee surgery which meant that heel strike running was a total no-go for me due to pain, and risk of re-injury. I transitioned slowly (like the card included in every box suggests) and found them to be a much better running experience than traditional runners, even managing to run greater distances than I'd ever done before (possibly a combination of running style change and more consistent training). No trouble running multiple half marathons. Much less force transfers to the knee joint with a toe strike, compared to a heel strike. My knee still gets angry with me if I even do small amounts of running in regular shoes. I also prefer them for hiking due to being able to feel unstable terrain better and preventing (at least for me) ankle rolling type injuries. I had one injury on a party boat where some dumb drunk person wearing stilettos stomped on my foot and I developed a march fracture in the same spot a week later.... I definitely wouldn't wear them in the shop where a steel-toe give protection and waterproofing for outdoor work. But they are great for keeping up with all four of my kids on the playground, running, hiking, and general walking. Cheers!
I love these shoes. They completely healed my persistent plantar fasciitis because they forced my foot muscles to work properly. I could only wear them for half an hour at first, and I ramped up slowly. They are absolutely not a shoe you can just put on and do your normal routine right away in.
I was told by a Dr that some people aren't meant to run and that I should get these big, clunky orthotics to help with my constant shin splints.
I went out and got leather KSOs and had a bit of upper metatarsal pain. After looking it up. I found that was quite common but pushing it could have severely injured me.
So I backed off, took it easy and trained slowly. After working up the distance, I ran my first 10K in VFFs - the longest I'd ever ran up until that point.
They were a godsend to this person who was told to give it up, I wasn't meant to run.
@@MitchDussaultif you have two legs, you were meant to run. You could strengthen your lower legs, tibia raises are the best for shin splints, there are other joint specific strength and stability exercises, but like most people you choose the easy way out.
@@selfemployed1338 lol "he strengthened his lower legs through a much more functionally efficient method" is now "he took the easy way out." What a bozo thing to say. If I didn't start running fast, I was on my way out of the military. Doing what I did allowed me to serve for 20 years vs 5.
I grew up having to wear inserts to correct flat feet, in my early 20s it was corrected to the point where I could walk fine but couldnt run 10 yards without pain. I read about barefoot running, bought a cheaper alternative to the fivefingers and VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY got into running, building up the speed and distance in baby steps. I think it did me a lot of good because I went into it with limited expectations of just strengthening my feet, not with the intention of running marathons.
I think the limitations of the fivefingers is your toes are strapped too tightly to a strip of hard rubber to move naturally, you're better off with a minimalist trainer with a wide footbed and thin sole, like vivobarefoot or xero shoes.
I still wear vibrams. I remember when the lawsuit happened. I refused to try to cash in on it because i supported the company. What I realized i like the most about them is the spacing of the toes serves as toe spacers in a way that stretches the facia.
As someone who has bought a lot of them over the last 10 years, I have noticed that at least for a while, they had a paper in the box that said how to transition into them. It took me a few weeks of wearing them around the house to get used to them and feel comfortable wearing them outside, but I'd also been a fan of toe socks ever since my first pair with Tigger on them as a child. I eventually worked up to the point where I would wear them every single day, at least every single gym class at school for the last 2 years of high school. I'm not sure if this is just bad doctors, but I was told I had flat feet one time, and I did have to wear insoles for a while, but after wearing something more minimal, I haven't really had that issue, although I suppose my feet might be flatter than usual as they fit those perfectly, although tightened quite a bit.
I have two complaints about them, and that's that the vast majority of styles except for the most rugged sole option, can't comfortably be worn on that coarse gravel used on certain trails (the kind where rocks are about a cubic inch and quite sharp), and that they need to be worn with socks or else they don't smell good. I used to machine wash mine every week before I found a few good pairs of toe socks (Smartwool, Injinji whenever I could get to the USA, and Lee Valley sells some good bamboo/cotton ones).
Now I know more about my body, and that I have a condition called POTS where I get dizzy if I stand too long, as well as hypermobility. For POTS, compression socks are the main treatment, and ToeSox compression are super comfy in those shoes because they're thin, and tight, but don't squish my toes. I find that whatever they're made of keep me cooler too, where the shoes without socks can get pretty sweaty. And with the hypermobility, there are two camps from all the research I've read. One side says that the more support, the better. Like thick arch support, boots with a lot of ankle support, and wearing braces and compression garments often. The other side says that minimal is better as it allows the body to work for itself, to get stronger to compensate for the joint laxity, and allow those who don't have as extreme pain from it to take advantage of the extended range of motion. I'm somewhere in the middle, as sometimes I need more support, but I find it in the form of socks (Injinji trail socks are fantastic if anyone wants toe socks with extra cushion and support), and making sure I keep up with exercising. My physiotherapist said he used to wear the same shoes running, so it's nice that he doesn't see them as being bad, just encourages me to keep up with stretches and be careful not to push myself too much.
At this point they've become my brand, and some people are shocked when I'm not wearing them! Usually it's just in snow and rain that I don't. And honestly, the Trek Ascent Insulated pair I have are the best grip on ice I've ever seen, even on other Vibram boots! I can walk at about 5km/h on solid black ice in them, and that's impressive as even spikes can't do that. They're not waterproof so they're only good for about -5C to 5C, but I just soaked them in waterproofing solution made for canvas, so I'll see if that works. Even the ones they used to sell as waterproof aren't. I've been eyeing the Xero Shoes Gracie rubber boot for when it rains and gardening, but they're quite expensive when my Canadian made rubber boots were half that price, and just for a bit of extra toe room, it's hard to justify. I'm thinking I might try Japanese jikatabi as they have one toe separate like a mitten, and are often used by people who work outside in Japan.
👌
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W2 7:24
Since a lot of people, especially young ones, don't play outside often any more, I guess you should explain that the heel to toe kind of walking wouldn't be possible on concrete for a long duration.
Those shoes are called bare foot shoes for the reason that you have to move in them as if you were bare feet.
If you want to heel strike, kick rocks or kick doors get boots not gloves, which is what those were supposed to be as I understand the concept.
I think you can walk heel to toe just fine. If you run on your heels your legs are going to be pretty hurt regardless.
This is why I do my research before going all in on something. For me I went for barefoot shoes due to having a lot of foot pain that just would not go away. It took a while to get used to and I still can't run in them completely but I can definitely say it was a game changer as far as foot pain goes. Even before I got into them I just felt that modern shoes were just too stiff and did not have enough toe room.
Let me guess you driving most reliable car too?
It’s too bad there is no where to try them on, at least not in my area. I finally broke down and ordered a pair of Lems, can’t wait to try them out.
@@MichaelWilliams85 I've never tried any of the 5 finger shoes but most of the barefoot shoes I've tried feel like water shoes. I do really like barefoot shoes for some things but they will never replace my boots.
Try hystoric accourate Landsknecht shoes, I'm a reenactor and here in Italy I can find a hand made pair for 70/80€. They are the real barefoot shoes!
@@repairvehicle Toyota 😍
I had a pair of these when I was a kid and honestly I found them to be more restrictive for your toes than most shoes. They probably do give you more side to side motion but the way the sole wraps up over the toe made them sort of hold your toes down. Also yeah your feet would definitely hurt after wearing them, I think the big thing “barefoot” types miss is that yes being barefoot may have certain benefits or be more natural but most people spend most of their time on concrete or other hard surfaces, even when running.
the fact no one even think about this as an issue it really make me mad, been barefoot on hard surfaces is one of the worst thing u can experiment, like sure "mrs jimbo here is a runner and he loves using them" what about the casual walker who walks all day on the city,..
I have similar thoughts on bare foot trend. It does seem interesting and I do like the flatter zero drop stuff since arches in shoes always feel uncomfortable. But i don’t feel the need to “feel everything below your shoe” and rather have a normal tenis shoe amount of sole. It just doesn’t feel protective enough nor durable enough for regular wear and tear when you got like 5 mm of sole. It kind of seems silly when my sandals have more protective sole than a pair of shoes.
I work in retail so need cushioning as I’m standing and walking on hard floors for much of the day. We also have mats at each register to help as well. And these shoes also would not be good if you’re out getting carts and accidentally roll them over your toes.
My feet can also be sensitive as I hate very rocky/pebbly sand at the beach (same with lots of broken shells) and it hurts my feet to walk on it. I need the smooth sand.
I do usually go in just socks or barefoot at home. Sometimes I’ll wear slippers if it’s cold or I just showered.
I've had at least one pair of Vibram Fivefingers since 2011. Mostly I've had their running style shoes. When I wore them consistently, they were great for my feet and especially my knees. When I would run or jog I did have to change my footstrike from a heelstrike to a toe strike, but it ended up making me able to run longer distances without having massive knee pain.
Early adopter too, hiked miles actually barefoot with homemade foot balm previously. I feel like the most noticeable benefit is not in my feet, but in my legs, I really felt all the muscles working in a way that they don't with an immobilized foot. That said, I did move to Vivo and am about to add so more to my closet because I feel like they are better for my feet. I still wear my Five Fingers, especially driving because I am prone to cramped feet, but I think the direction "regular" barefoot shoes have gone is better for feet without giving up the barefoot benefits. Oh yeah, I have a really high arch, still haven't collapsed it! That was one of the scare mongering tactics back in the day.
I have a pair of these that I use for when I'm doing water activities. It's as close to being barefoot as I can get without burning my feet on concrete or sand.
Toughen your feet up and take them off
I’ve used these for hikes along a river and they were great. Couple hours along a dirt trail, then another hour switching between swimming sections and slippery rocks down a river. They were near perfect for that. My friends would be taking on and off their shoes for certain sections and I could just keep going, plus with the flexibility of the toes, I had better grip on the moss-covered and loose boulders in the river. A+. Would recommend.
@@JBaughb yeah, I've got a pair of vivobarefoot shoes for that type of situation. Actually used them last year for a 15 mile mountain bike day. Had to walk through a couple creeks and they dried out pretty quick since there's no insole. Ultimately, the toe shoes are weird take some getting used to, but they're just another version of barefoot shoes.
For the bar drop test, I think you can keep the same arrangement but make the bottom bar free-floating and measure with a peak force meter underneath it instead of measuring bounce height. It would also be nice to cap the bottom bar with a rigid foot form.
So as an experienced runner barefoot and otherwise I just need to say: Never ever under any circumstance land on your heel. Even if you're wearing the thickest shoes known to man. If you are running you should be landing on the ball of your foot so that any shock is absorbed by muscles to the greatest degree possible.
Just thought it should be mentioned, I bought some recently and it came with a card explaining how you should transition.
I was yelling this at my screen the entire time
Absolutely love my Five Fingers. Definitely agree that a careful transition is a good idea. I think one of the reasons that Five Fingers feel so good to my feet is that I am flat footed so the lack of built in arch support/padding lets my feet rest in what is a natural state for them. More conventional shoes can be uncomfortable on my arches.
Awesome watch, very honest and I really liked how you said the consumer was responsible for the things that they do to their body but also while the manufacturer was responsible for their "claims" but ultimately it's the user responsible for how they use a product.
i've been wearing barefoot shoes for years but it makes me so frustrated when these companies don't make it clear that it can be dangerous to just dive right into them with no transition. my first barefoot-style shoes were altra trail shoes and they made it pretty clear on the packaging that you need to transition slowly and be careful, and i'm really grateful because that kept me from hurting myself.
anyway, i love these videos and how you review so many kinds of shoes in an unbiased way. i think some people get really pro- or anti- barefoot shoes in a really radical way which can put people off one way or another or make people choose something that might not be the best option for them personally, so these videos are a really nice change.
Yeah, and I get really frustrated with people who think that companies can somehow predict how every person is going to react to their product and then cater to them. Like, it's just a shoe. It goes on your foot. You don't need a damned instruction manual, if your feet hurt that's a good clue it's not for you. As for me, I've been barefoot my whole life for financial reasons and with these shoes instead of wearing size 12 or 11W that were too big, caused nerve pain, crushed my arches, and smashed my toes, finally I had a shoe that was comfortable. When I go to a shoe store and they measure my foot they say "oh no, you're a 10.5, here's a 10.5 size shoe." But I don't listen to them, because they don't understand shit, and I know my foot will be in agony if I even manage to get a 10.5 on at all. But gee thanks lawyers, thanks for destroying the only brand that actually made shoes to fit my feet, I hope your milk gives you listeria.
I think the manufacturers wisely assume that purchasers have a responsibility to inform themselves fully about their purchase. It's not really the responsibility of the shoe maker to cosset customers. Self responsibility is a good thing. It works in most countries of the world, except, of course America, where everything that could ever go wrong is always somebody else's fault and they should be sued for presuming that individuals might be able to engage their curiosity and intellect to make responsible choices, which is a major bonus of having such a big and complex brain.
@@1unsung971 I wouldn’t say that assumption is wise. If the goal is good PR and repeat purchases, not warning new customers about the risks of doing too much too quickly seems counterproductive to me. They create the product, reasonable expectation is for them to give the necessary information and instructions to people who don’t know anything about that type of shoe.
@@gorkyd7912 No one is expecting companies to predict how every person is gonna react, that’s just being hyperbolic. It’s a common sense thing that they should include instructions for transitioning for first time buyers. There’s no harm in them providing that information to consumers about their own product.
@@Feverm00n No it's common sense that if you're used to wearing cushy shoes you might be less comfortable wearing shoes that aren't cushy. We don't put instructions on motorcycles for people who are used to driving cars to help them transition to two wheels.
Shoes remind me of Japanese outdoor boots typically worn on construction sites that I observed in 1980s around Yokosuka and probably existed for years before
Tabi boots! I've seriously considered buying a pair to try.
Taba boots exist. Can buy on the 'zon.
@@jdlackey88 - Thanks, couldn’t recall name
Americans wear Red Wing
The editing in your vids are nothing short of amazing, I laughed out loud at many places.
Hi
Just stumbled onto your channel recently, fascinating stuff to be honest. subbed.
Just switched to barefoot shoes about a week ago due to constant hip soreness when running in Brooks and Hokas. Bought a pair of Merrell Vaporglove 6’s. Hip pain totally gone but my calves are CRAZY SORE. So I can definitely feel my lower leg muscles working in ways they haven’t in a long time. You have to ease your way into barefoot running and let your lower leg and foot muscles gradually become stronger or you’ll DEFINITELY get injured. Barefoot shoes also force you to learn a barefoot strike as opposed to a heel strike.
I like that there are so many positive experiences on these shoes, since they really are great in many use cases. The thing I'll add is that the study that was used for the lawsuit was very small and as mentioned not very well done. They likely settled because like many companies it was cheaper to do so than to fund massive, long term studies. As for the videos comments that there should be warnings, they would be similar to what all shoes and boots would have to have: you must properly fit your shoes, you must break them in, you can get hurt with any boot or shoe by not using them in the proper way.
Well said, to be honest the person in the video should have said barefoot running is not for everyone. I love vibram five fingers, do I run outdoors with them, not at all but only for the treadmill. But I walking outdoors with them feels just fine
Most shoes really should warn that they don’t fit feet well at all. So many people would be able to avoid pain, surgeries, all kinds of needless struggle if we only knew. I’m just now learning why I have been dealing with foot pain, why I have some misalignment forming..& if I’d known the consequences of wearing stylish, cool, trendy, heeled, uncomfortable shoes I wouldn’t have worn them.
You can get hurt using them the proper way too. If they warn people, they should warn about that too
My husband has a pair of these. They are the water shoes version. We kayak a lot and are in a lot of different rivers. These are actually great for helping him negotiate over slippery rocks or other riverbed terrain
My anecdotal experience is that you have to run differently when you use them. Without cushioning heel striking becomes immediately painful, and you have to swap to running on the balls of your feet. Everyone I've seen sustain injuries from using minimalist running shoes continued to run in the manner they were accustomed too because it "felt right" and assumed the pain from heelstriking would eventually subside. this inevitably resulted in shin splints or stress fractures.
Thanks for reviewing the research on these. I had a couple pairs of these a decade ago (the warnings that you talked about came on a slip of paper in the box). I spend a lot of time barefoot, so I began walking with a midfoot strike when I was wearing these (as opposed to a heel strike with regular shoes). I had no physical issues from wearing these for a whole day right after I got them, even after long walks, but I wasn't running in them.
The whole smell thing was an issue, and I learned two tricks to help with that. One was to freeze them, which helps to kill off the microbes. The second was to get some toe socks, because without socks, the shoes became my socks and the shoes started to smell like socks worn multiple days in a row.
Have you ever tried throwing them in a washing machine? If so, did the materials get damaged?
@@usedblazers, I didn't try that. The one pair that I have are leather and probably won't do well in a washing machine. The previous pair that had were suited to wetter environments and would have done better in a washing machine, but you still need socks if you don't want to be washing them every few days.
I have 3 pairs acquired over the last 4-5 years. One I use specifically for sprinting in a controlled environment such as a treadmill. Never run in them on concrete. I play soccer and have another pair I wear to the pitch. It builds neuro connection with the muscles in the bottom of the feet to help dribble in cleats later.
Not everyone can wear these shoes. I did a lot of product research and realized my arches and foot strike matched with what these shoes were already trying to do. Even still as an athlete it took time to build the muscles in my feet and keeping my strike from overextending.
Cramming my feet into cleats my whole life my pinky growth was stunted in my later years this is my knowledgeable attempt to develop those muscles and structures and prevent misaphen foot and toe problems from getting worse.
These shoes are about proper form, strike efficiency, and mobility
that was very useful in helping to understand both the shoes and the situation
I loved these. I prefer to be barefoot, and these were a great alternative. I have balance issues, and these made it so I could feel the ground better and helped my balance.
But I walk differently than most people. Ball of my foot first. I’m convinced that that is why they didn’t hurt me like they hurt others.
You could adjust the rebar test measurements by subtracting the total bounce by the bounce when nothing is on the rebar. That way you get a comparison that doesn’t include the natural bounce of the steel.
Nice idea, but subtracting total bounce won't work either. Bounce height has nothing to do with impact force. Think of it this way. If you put a billiards ball on the test rig it would bounce really well, but we don't want to wear billiards balls on our feet. To measure impact force you will probably need a load cell (dynamometer scale) under the "ancle" of your test rig to measure peak force exerted. The other thing that might work is to pack some clay into the shoe, do the drop test, then measure how deep the clay was indented
Maybe a real foot? & A cement rod?
When I used to run marathons I always wore my 990s. Before a race I got a deal on some flats and ran about 10 miles before I tapped out and limped home with shin splints. I think I had built up my muscles and tendons to conform to the 990s and hurt myself by going right to the flats without a transition period. So, basically what this video says seems true to me.
I love my five fingers- great rock hopping and river shoes. Draw back is getting grass blades stuck in between the toes when walking through natural areas.
I bought a pair of Five Fingers when they first hit the market, but I could not wear them.
The toe box is NOT particularly wide - I had to size up to fit my wide feet, and the empty space at the heel makes walking difficult.
My toes are also a poor fit for their toe geometry. My little toe is set farther back than usual, so never made it into the toe space for it.
I wore them occasionally as at-home toe spacers, but that was all.
FYI, for anyone who wants to wear barefoot shoes, start walking barefoot in your home. That will get you started.
Yeah, I stopped wearing shoes around the house a few years ago. Definitely seeing some benefits, and all without having to re-learn how to run or buying some weird looking shoes.
I've never tried these shoes - but just looking at them....my little toe starts to hurt. Five finger socks don't even feel good on my last 2 toes, and that minimal spacing of fabric is uncomfortable between every toe. I just don't get how the shoes are comfortable for anyone. Maybe it's my small feet and matching small toes? I'll just keep going barefoot barefoot - which I do when I'm home and whenever else I can. And which I'm not even supposed to do at all because my feet are weird and shouldn't be walked on flat at all. (Don't tell my doctor!)
Word of advice for sizing, I'm not sure why, but it seems like the men's ones are slightly wider. A lot of the styles are made in men's and women's sizes, so if you find the women's ones are a bit too narrow, sometimes the men's ones work better. And that's for just about any brand, as Xero even says on their site. But I have longer toes than usual (at least the first 3) and that took me a while to get used to.
@@arnoldd7073 How about slippers? If "shoes" are only worn indoors, they function exactly like slippers.
People, especially the elderly, with balance problems and slippery floors might need shoes with good traction to prevent falls.
Also, there are some women who are so used to wearing high heels that their feet hurt when they walk barefoot. In the 1950s and 60s, they actually sold slippers with high heels for just this reason!
I'm not saying any of these are deal ... I think barefoot is much better ... but these are the reasons some people wear shoes inside.
I was a early adopter. I blew through the synthetic fabric on top of the big toe. Warrantied them at least once and gave up. I wanted to love them. Had some hot spots-particularly when any grit was involved. The build quality sucked but that was like a decade ago so YMMV. For the record I’ve been comfortable walking and hiking barefoot my whole life so I’ve never experienced the ‘get into barefoot shoes slowly’ but I’m sure many people really hurt themselves. I also have followed the trends going from minimalist huaraches to hi-tech ‘barefoot’ shoes. Xero shoes started out selling a kit with thin vibram sole and cordage. It’s really interesting to observe considering the history between capitalism and shoe ‘improvements’. Don’t get me wrong there have been improvements since a rubber sole was made in a waffle iron, but plenty of ‘advancements’ are just new and cool and largely not based on research. Regardless of the shoe technology or if I’m barefoot I find running to be unnecessarily high impact and my body prefers biking or hiking. Personally if I wore a top of the line running shoe the arch support and heel would hurt and be detrimental.
Xero still sells that kit ... it's on my "to buy" list. [But not the Xero shoes - not wide enough.]
Switching to shoes with no padding for running does require a different running foot strike than what a wedge with lots of padding encourages. Without a slow change and correct form you will probably hurt your feet. I don't wear 5 fingers anymore because you can't easily wear socks with them and they start to smell really bad after a short time. Right now I typically wear either minimalist sandals or heavy duty work boots. Either I need foot protection for what I am doing or I don't. 👍
This explains why I stopped wearing them but I tried it to see if it was any good. But they weren’t comfortable. Now I know why.
I had a really nice pair of kangaroo leather version of these back about a decade ago and I'll tell you what I noticed. First- my feet really did get stronger. Especially my pinkie toes. My balance improved greatly- I think both because my toes (I have a very wide toe box) could spread out and because of the increased strength of my smaller toes which in normal shoes, don't get used very often. Another weird thing I noticed is that my feet stopped getting cold- I think because there was increased circulation in my feet.
The downside- and why I ultimately returned them, is because they stank to high hell. Like, they got REALLY funky. Also, they were pretty ugly. They looked alright with gym clothes, but looked atrocious with pretty much every other outfit. Also, once I got used to them, normal shoes felt terribly uncomfortable.
They also weren't good for walking on cement and hiking trails, but were very good for walking on natural terrain like grass, forest floor, and granite boulders- terrain I suspect the human foot was designed travail.
I would have probably bought another pair but I never found that model again in my size. (16)
Overall though, I thought they were good and would buy another if I found the kangaroo leather ones in my size.
if you wear in winter ?
@@justdonis1891 My feet were fine in winter. They were cold at first, but the more I wore them, the better the blood circulation got to my feet until finally my feet never felt cold at all.
I'm getting the impression that Weston isn't a fan of the whole barefoot shoe thing 🤣
He has talked about his favorite pair of Lems a few times
@@MichaelWilliams85 those are the exception, I think. But the overall vibe I get from his comments about the other barefoot shoes.. Generally I think he gravitates toward heritage boots. Which is fine, I do too honestly. It's just an observation.
As Michael Williams said he has definetly mentioned how much he likes his Lems (barefoot style shoe) on several videos.
@@tumadre50 and as I mentioned, those are the exception. 🧐
@@not-a-raccoon that’s why I chose the Lems, he gave them honest reviews and most of barefoot style shoes did seem lackluster in the quality department. The Lems definitely aren’t the same quality build as some of the nicer options presented but top notch in the barefoot department
I got them and back in 2010 and I followed some really good transition info and it greatly improved my running and such. They actually did exactly what they said they would do.
I used to have a pair back when they first came out and wore them quite often for workouts and hikes; they were great! My roommate at the time like them and got a pair too, then went off for a five mile run and wrecked his feet because.. he just ran like he always did. Completely agree with your analysis.
I actually bought some around 2010 to use as trail running shoes. I am used to barefoot shoes so the feeling didn't bother me. What did bother me is the lack of protection from anything between your toes.
After two seperate incidents where I got stabbed with a piece of glass and a sharp piece of mulch I was done. Plus they really can't be worn anywhere else.
They were fun for a while, But, I got tired of getting rocks and pine needles and stuff stuck between my toes. Plus I like easy slip on slip off, and lining up my toes was too much work. 😁 So I went back to minimalist huaraches and sandals.
I wore these all the time in high school. Maybe it was because I started with the Fila Skeletoes, which are quite a bit thicker and don't separate the last two toes, but I really never had issues. I wasn't super athletic, but I did do gym class and marching band (practice, because of dress code) and walked all around school every day without issues. It definitely makes sense that you would have issues though. It's like lifting 200 pounds the first time you ever go to the gym.
For the drop test, using wood inside the shoe would work similar to a foot, it won't rebound like metal will, so it should give a more accurate test.
I also interviewed a guy at a running store during the hype of these and he loved them but also said the majority of customers would come back saying their heels and toes hurt after wearing them regularly, he would have to consult each person on how to transition to them properly to avoid injury. They definitely are not the shoe for the average person but do have a purpose
I agree. I have a pair and I think everyone should give them a try. That being said I only use them when weather conditions are ideal and though I have ran and hiked in them you need to condition your feet just like you would any other part of your body before doing something demanding. My complaints are that they don’t use enough natural materials and -probably because of the former- they get smelly really quickly. At least you can use a merino wool sock liner but that helped me only a little. Something about the material used gets really smelly.
Yes, extremely smelly. I had the suede ones. I ran and hiked rocky mountains in them all the time. No "slowly" conditioning crap, the day I got them I did a 21 mile hike. It's a barefoot shoe, there's obviously no padding you can feel it the moment you wear it. I don't understand why people need an instruction manual. Like, do you need a manual telling you not to wear flip-flops when you're mountain climbing too?
I cured my flat feet with these shoes in the mid-2000’s. It took awhile to build up my foot strength but eventually I was able to run well and didn’t need orthotics anymore. I use zero-drop running shoes now which works well for me since I am heavier than I was back then.
I wore these a few years ago for weight training to do squats and deadlifts. They are actually really good for that. I did wear them casually before and you really need to ease yourself into them. What I didn’t like was the toe stitching where you could feel the stitching around each toe. I now train with Xero Shoes.
I’ve worn Vibrams exclusively for eight years now. They’re the most comfortable footwear I’ve ever worn.
I’ve got the exact ones shown in your video, with the green laces. Love them.
Gotta be clown shoes, calling it now.
Only reason to wear these is to separate your toes if you have issues
I’m 2 minutes in and have to agree
I was half right.
Nah, the orientalism of previous centuries makes you think your nature is ugly
so in 2010 I went hard core in on these and I loved them. No transition from military boots to these. They made my feet feel like I was barefoot. I was just too insecure to wear them, I think they look rediculous. I still wear minimalist shoes 24/7. But I don't feel like they even come close to the feel of 5 fingers.
I have several pairs of barefoot shoes/ sandals/ runners. I just love them, love the tactile experience of walking like barefoot, but without the pain of burrs and prickles.
I'm on my 6th pair of five fingers. I only wear them in the summer and for lifting. I try to avoid the brightly coloured ones as you do get funny looks from people, but I absolutely love them. The first pair took a while to get used to and I wouldn't wear them for too long to start with, then gradually build up.
I definitely get some funny looks wearing them, especially from kids :)
I never thought of training or running in these; I bought a pair some years ago and I wear them when traveling by airplane: usually a day filled with a lot of either walking, standing or sitting around, and I found these shoes to be supremely comfortable for that. I wear them to conferences and trade shows as well, when I expect to be on my feet all day. The funny looks I can deal with.
I wore them for years and really loved them! The only issue I had with them was that they don't last long. I would get maybe a year out of a pair. I have had a couple go significantly sooner around 5-6 month as well. I switching to the Merrell glove and they have lasted quite a bit longer for me. If it is cooler outside I can wear a regular pair of socks which is nice.
Oh Yea and they do stink!
Several years ago I injured one of my big toes - I couldn’t wear shoes or sliders without intolerable pain. I bought a pair of Five Fingers to try as I could walk in bare feet with only slight discomfort. The Five Fingers worked. I wore them for several weeks until I could wear standard shoes again. I tried running in Fingers but every pebble or sharp stone was felt through the sole.
I never had a issue with these shoes. I've been wearing them for over 18 yrs. I love the whole outlook of the show.
I love the five-fingers, I have rather wide feet, and for me these are the most comfortable shoes period. But yeah, there def is a breaking in period where not just you but your body adjusts and if you skip that step you can hurt yourself since modern shoes as said encourages us to walk and run in ways we were not designed for, you have to 'learn to walk before you can run'
In my own experience I wore 3 pair of barefoot/minimalist shoes exclusively for about 8 months. One of them was a pair of 5 fingers. Toward the end of the 8 months i had severe pain in both feet. It was so bad that upon getting out of bed one morning i had a massive jolt of pain in both feet that was so severe i had to quickly sit back down. I went back to regular sneakers (Solomon speed cross 4, i think) and within a month my feet were pain free. And yes I did transition into them correctly taking about 2 months to make the transition into wearing them exclusively.
Not everything works for everybody.
My problem is shoes with arch support hurt my feet, namely, my arch as it tries to flex and bend it hits the "support" and causes pain.
Find what works for you.
Ive been wearing the speed cross 3's and they are one of the most uncomfortable shoes I own, theres like zero flex to them.
Tried a pair of VFFs a long time ago. Even asked in email on how they handled extra wide feet. The response was to size it up. So either I had shoes too long, or ones that were too tight. Eventually wore them out, but it kinda did wreck my feet for a while. That my main environment was concrete and asphalt probably did not help.
I got a pair of these back in 2008. Comfortable and I tend to walk and run on the balls of my feet, so never any injury issues with them.
The issue was the damned toe bits. It was always a huge hassle to put them on and take them off. I switched out for ones with a similar sole, but a single continuous toe-box instead of separate bits for each toe.
I was an early adopter of these shoes and loved them. I used to work out at the gym in them and go hiking in the mountains around my house all the time. I never had issues wearing them, no knee pain or foot pain. If anything it helped my knees due to having both of them scoped in college (football and baseball injuries). I never experienced any ridicule or laughter due to my fashion faux pas, maybe a few side-eyed looks. I only wish I could wear them again. Unfortunately, due to an auto accident a few years ago, I lost my lower right leg and I am unable to wear these.
Between my husband and I, we have prob 20 pairs. Def do not go full blown on trying to run in them right away!! I wouldn’t consider us crunchy at all. We still love them years later but they aren’t for everyone.
I was in the Army and some guy had these before a run. He said, African people run barefoot, so the shoes help support some kind of competitive edge in running almost barefoot. After the run he went to medical for a profile and shin splints.
My first minimal sandals had a 4mm sole, the kit from Xero shoes. I started running at the time I bought them, so I’d go for a 20 minute walk, run 30 seconds every 5 minutes, and worked up from there. On dirt roads, so no pavement and an uneven surface.
I LOVE them.
The one con is that it takes weeks to figure out the right way and the right tensión to tie them on.
But once you have it down, they were just great.
I’ve had flat feet until going minimal.
I remember I tried to wear them all day when I first got them, I lasted maybe an hour😂
One thing that I think helped, but I can’t prove it… I put on Chacós after my runs. Then the tendons and muscles had support, while my feet recovered.
Worked great for me, now minimalist is all I wear.
For people with bunions, these shoes are incredible. Separation of the big toe from the others is crucial.
I wore these working at a hair salon until my boss said I couldn’t… they weren’t considered “appropriate” 😮
Not appropriate?? Reeediculous
I guess time to get the toe socks + normal shoe
Thats petty af. I love toe socks
hate crime I say
Been watching the videos for a while now. Calling BYU kids “goobers” sealed the deal…you gained a subscriber outta me😂 Love the boot content. Poorly made junk kills me and it’s nice to find out what’s inside shoes these days!
I call them Zoobies. But they truly are goobers as well.
I'm a personal fitness trainer, have very flat feet, and always have had problems finding a comfortable shoe. About six years ago, I purchased an Altra zero drop shoe, and that changed my life. A few years ago, however, I think Altra was purchased from another shoe company, and they changed the stack height to a minimum 22 mm. Thus, rendering them not true minimalist. Then I tried a pair of Xero Shoes, and I love them. They're the only brand I now wear. I have seen the British shoe company, Vivobarefoot, and they look like they'd also be great for feet. It's too bad that Vibram didn't stress the need to break in those shoes gradually--over weeks--or months.
Great video as always. After owning a pair until they fell apart, I think it's absolutely insane to use this as an everyday shoe. I loved my 5-fingers for light hiking on established trails, especially with riverbeds. It's also an excellent beach shoe, more varsatile than others. It was not an everyday shoe, but it was great for this specific purpose. The sole is thin, but tough, so it's easier to feel what you're doing when walking over rocks, and you can even grip onto them with your toes. I would never run long distances in it, and it's too fragile even for walking around a city. It's especially irritating to have to fit the toes in every time, more difficult than gloves.
I have wide feet and I usually feel like my toes are really crammed in standard athletic shoes. This might be TMI, but I have a deformed toe, a tailor's bunion, and a really small big toe bunion forming. I bought a pair of these when they were popular because it seemed like a nice way to spread out my toes...and it was! They worked really well for me, especially because I tend to balance on the balls of my feet all the time anyway, so I didn't have any issues with painful heel strike.
There's a couple reasons why I didn't buy another pair of these. First, I felt like I needed to wash them every time I wore them. It's hard to find toe socks and without socks they get funky fast. Second, the more I washed them, the more the little insole moved around. I would start the day with it properly in the shoe, but eventually the heel of the little pad would be up my achilles and I could feel the stitching holding the upper to the sole on my toes and that wasn't comfy. Also the constant washing caused the fabric on the insoles to roll off the base and that wasn't comfy either. Third, there did seem to be this cult-like belief around them and I would frequently have weird conversations about my shoes. I was really just wearing them because they're comfy, and I didn't have any claims about anything other than being happy I can wiggle my toes around, but folks were either way too on board with them or super weirded out by them. When I wore a hole through the sole of them (that's always how my shoes go), I didn't buy a new pair for those three reasons.
I’ve got some awesome five finger hikers made of kangaroo leather and hemp fabric, which is anti-microbial and odor-resistant. I’ve broken my foot a couple times in the past and these shoes have been kind to them while allowing my favorite activities. I kayak in some too.
PS: the problems aren’t so much related to the use of barefoot shoes, but more so to our dependence upon modern, foot-forming footwear. When I got my Anthro degree, we examined a lot of human foot bones, learning much about how our locomotion changed from that of primates to walking erect, on two feet. Modern humans who prefer to walk with bare feet most of the time will have very little problem adapting to this footwear, crunchy granola or not. ;)
I gotta say, I’ve had two pairs of the five fingers shoes. I loved them. They were really good for the river.
I wore these shoes for years in my 20s when I was working out a ton and running in them. They made my feet hurt initially like you said, but my toes straightened, I got better at landing in my stride correctly, and my arch and feet ended up getting much stronger. I could also use them to grip much better in hiking and bouldering. Honestly I think they are great, I think many people should have a pair to use in the summer, they have a place like sandals. But for work, heavy hiking, and general use good shoes are still a must.
I think the foam shoes make your arches weaker I have found. The natural arch muscles were far stronger with the five fingers, and my toes stretched was really good at helping my balance as well.
I always wondered if the problems associated with barefoot shoes would be different if used on dirt, sand or other surfaces that have more give than the hard concrete ground most of us usually walk on
My guess is that many dont realize your walking and running gate have to change. I used to run with a heel strike in traditional running shoes and that would cause serious damage in a minimalist shoe. Walking would be a little less obvious but a heel strike would still be damaging. Most of us have worn padded and thick heeled shoes our entire lives and so have developed a stride and gate that seems natural now but in reality is only possible because of the crazy thickness and padding of modern shoes.
There are no "problems" with concrete use. I walk 6-8 hours a day in all urban terrains for my job and after my feet got stronger it's an amazing experience.
Concrete is just another hard surface like you constantly find in nature and is in fact much easier to walk on that most natural surfaces because it's smooth and predictable.
Much like how road cars have thin tires and a weak construction compared to offroad cars.
I bought two pairs of these in highschool and i still have them. Durable as hell. Usesful for some occasions and great if you have a hard time finding shoes that are actually shaped like feet.
But now people are going back to making shoes right so the gimmick is pointless.
May I ask how long ago that was
@@C18H19NaO5S 2011. Still got them.
@@C18H19NaO5S I've had mine since 2011 and still use them. Not on a daily basis, obviously, but functionally there are no issues whatsoever, no loose stitches, pieces of sole or glue coming off. They have been washed on a gentle cycle to maintain the odor-free experience :)
Best protective garment ever, helped me to identify people I want to avoid immediately since it's exsistence. Thank you vibram!
Personally I was 100% skeptical of these. Very expensive considering you dont know if you will like them ect. I spent the money and after a few times trying to figure out how to get each toe in the correct spot I figured it out. Now if I know I wont be working or needing protection I always default to these shoes. Love them and almost dont know they are there. Never going back.
I have one pair, bought them in 2011 and they are still OK for walking/hiking. Despite all the "pain" of putting them on, I've actually enjoyed my pair A LOT for many reasons. First, they are machine washable. I'm not sure about the stinky feet you mentioned in the video, mine were 100% nylon upper, had some kind of antibacterial treatment (which I am sure wore off after so many washes) and they did not stink. The second reason I loved them is because they allowed me to run in wet weather/rain. I ran in the city, 8-9 miles from Inman Sq in Cambridge, past MIT, to Boston and then back. This was a paved path and a mix of concrete and asphalt, with some cobble stones. Put them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, along with sweaty running clothes, never in the dryer. They were ready the next day. The third reason - comfort. I am not a heel striker and they worked REALLY WELL for me. I did a lot of research before buying them to understand whether my style of running can cause additional injuries after I switched to these. I also have a broken toe and some of the 'mainstream' heels/shoes actually hurt a lot but not these. The fourth reason - how compact they were. Super convenient for traveling, great for day hikes when you want to wear something else after a day in the woods. And lastly - durability. Obviously, I didn't leave in them and only wore for an hour or so on the days I ran and longer on hiking days. But, man, these are now 10+ years old and still intact, in a perfectly functional shape. Please show me a pair of running shoes that can survive this long.
The negatives - tripping in these, whether it's a pinky or big toe, really hurt. I was lucky it only happened once or twice a year - probably less frequently than in other shoes because I was more careful. Second negative - you have to do proper pedicure and by that I don't mean fancy nail polish but making sure your toe nails are trimmed, otherwise it's very easy to end up with micro-blisters around the sharp areas where your nails grow fastest. I don't think this would be as much of an issue for walking, because pressure distribution is different, but for running I had to trim my nails twice a week. Third negative - not all styles fit the same, it depends on the model and on the materials/fabric used. I tried on 8 or 9 pairs in my size before landing on the perfect fit and was never able to find another one that would be as comfortable as the first pair, so I never repurchased. If I could go back in time, I probably would have bought 10 pairs of the same style.
The tripping hazard is real 😂 the number of times my pinky toe has caught on the hem of my pants and nearly sent me down a flight of stairs is ridiculous. But maybe for folks less clumsy than me this isn't as big a deal 😂
Finally! 😁 You better not be too harsh on those or those who wear them! 😁😉
He destroyed us in the intro 😅