I am female, 44 years old, 5'6, 50 lbs. overweight, but fairly strong. I have tried every "regular" running/walking shoe on the market and have had problems with every one. Every time I walk or jog, I end up with blisters on the pad of my foot behind my toes. An orthopedic doc told me I needed a custom insert made because I have high arches. That was a waste of time and money. These shoes have completely eliminated the problem. I have been wearing them for a little over a month. I started out with short walks on a treadmill, then longer walks in the neighborhood, and now am walking/jogging for an hour a day. I have definitely had some sore muscles within my feet I'm assuming from muscles that have never been used but nothing painful. No blisters. Mine are a size 40 and they fit fairly snugly. I almost returned them because my big toe felt a little too snug in the beginning. I'm glad I didn't because now they are perfect. I've even gotten used to the look of them. I thought my teenagers would laugh at me, but they thought they look cool (my husband, of course, did laugh however!) Maybe they worked well for me because I hate shoes and go barefoot whenever possible. I wear flipflops until the snow starts to fall. I have the Sprint in a grey/hawaiian ocean and like the look of them. They were $80. They are easy to put on and I love not having to mess with socks. I never write reviews of things (although I rely on them when I buy things) but feel so strongly about these that I felt I had an obligation to report my success with these.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I purchased the Women's FiveFingers Sprint shoe two weeks ago and am completely thrilled by these shoes. If you are a person that likes to go barefoot, this is definitely the shoe for you. The shoes are like a second skin, giving you an almost barefoot feel, but with protection for your feet. I purchased the Sprint shoes because they have a forefoot strap as well as adjustable straps on the heel so that the foot fits snug into the shoe. I've tried the shoes on a number of surfaces and here are some of the pros/cons of the shoe.
Pros :
Excellent traction! I have worn the shoes on asphalt, concrete, dirt trails, rocky terrain, wet rocks and mud. The only place where the traction failed was when I slipped in a puddle of mud...but any shoe would do that.
Develops Muscles in the Feet/Lower Legs: The FiveFingers shoes spread the toes, which is nice since most other shoes (especially high heels) smash the toes together. Also, the shoes change the foot strike when walking and I definitely felt it in my lower legs the first time I wore them.
Feel great even when wet: I went hiking in my FiveFingers just after a big rainstorm and I was dreading getting my feet wet. I was surprised that even after getting wet, the shoes still had great traction and were still really light. The fabric dries quickly and the shoes don't hold water so they feel great even when they are wet.
Machine Washable!! I was sad to get my pretty blue shoes muddy, but these babies are machine washable (don't try drying them in the dryer though). After a quick rinse, just hang them out and they'll be dry in no time.
Great Multi-Purpose Shoe: If you are an outdoorsy person, the FiveFingers shoe can be a really versatile shoe. Since I've owned my shoes I've used them:
As hiking shoes: FiveFingers do ok. If you are going to be on dirt trails they will be comfortable enough, but if any part of the trail is gravel or has a lot of small rocks, the shoes don't have a ton of cushioning so it might hurt.
As running shoes: I haven't run a lot in my FiveFingers, but the great thing about them is they encourage you to run correctly. I'm a mid-foot striker to begin with, so running in FiveFingers wasn't much of a shock. If you are a heavy heel striker...you won't be after running in the FiveFingers. It hurts to strike on the heel, so you have to learn to run differently, which encourages you to use your muscles differently.
Yoga: As a person who constantly combats sweaty palms/feet in yoga, the FiveFingers shoes definitely give you great traction (especially in down dog). I know some people think this takes away from working on balance, but for me it was just nice not to have my feet slipping around everywhere.
Cons:
Very little cushioning: This may or may not be a con for you. Because I already go barefoot a lot, wearing the FiveFingers didn't bother me too much. I noticed after 2-3 hours of hiking that my heels hurt, but other than that it wasn't too bad. Vibram recommends that you break yourself into the shoes by just wearing them for a little while at first, and doing this should keep the soreness to a minimum.
Easy to get sand/grit inside the shoe: This model has an open top to it, meaning that sand and grit can easily get into the shoe. The KSO model (~$10 more) has more coverage over the top of the foot, which will keep more stuff out. (Having socks helps too).
Blisters: The good news is, I have yet to get blisters on my toes (unlike before with my hiking/running shoes). Having the toes isolated makes a difference, in my experience, even when the shoes are wet. I have; however, gotten some rub on my heels, but I am hoping that adjusting the foot straps will help with that.
I definitely recommend buying a pair of the Injinji socks to go with your FiveFingers--especially if you are going to run in them. Also, socks keep out sand and grit which is SO nice. Don't buy the micro socks (like I did), because they will slip into the heel of the shoe and make blisters worse. Get the crew or mini-crew socks. $10-12 bucks a pair is cringe-worthy, but they really do make a difference if you are wearing the shoes for a long time.
Overall: great shoes, I have very few bad things to say about them. The quality of the shoe makes them worth the price. They are comfortable, unique and fun to wear.
**Update**
I have now owned these shoes for 5 months and am even more in love with them than before. I love the feel of the shoes and very much appreciate that I can feel every surface that I walk across. The shoes have proven very durable (especially since I wear them pretty much every day). Last week I washed them for the first time in the washing machine. They came out of it just fine, but I don't think I'll machine wash them very often. Other reviews have noted that the fabric of the shoe can get a little worn if machine washed too often. They do sometimes smell since I usually wear them barefoot (and after wearing my stinky rock-climbing shoes), but a quick scrub seems to remedy that. So far, they are holding up great--I just ordered my second pair, a pair of the classics, in a more demure black so I can wear them to work :).
Best Deals on Vibram FiveFingers W's Sprint
The best advice I can give is to go to the store and try these on. Even if you measure your feet, the shoes will still fit differently and varies by design. I went to the store and the first measured my foot. They said I needed a 39 (normally, I am a size 7, with an average to narrow width). Before going to the store, I read on the Vibram website about the various styles. From the site, I had narrowed it down to the Sprint. I was looking for the most versatile shoe, which as described on the site, it fit. I am 35 years old female, average weight, and have diagnosed degenerative disc disease in my back, aka lower back pain. Any kind of shoe with a heel, kills my back after a very short while. I am traditionally a Crocs, Uggs, and Birkenstocks, kind of girl. I only wear what is comfortable.
At the store, I tried on the Sprint, size 39. They seemed a little snug in the toe, but the sales person that is how they are supposed to fit, little snug, but not tight. They seemed comfortable enough and not knowing what they were supposed to feel like, I bought them. I went home and then went for a 20 minute, slow-average walk. I am not an athelete by any stretch of the imagination, but I wanted to break them in a little. About half way into the walk, I started to feel some pain in the bottom of the heel of my foot and on the bottom of my big toe. Of course, I was 10 minutes from home, so it took another 10 to get back. These blisters were at the bottom of my foot, not the backs or sides, where blisters normally occur on new shoes. By the time I got home, I had large (2 inches) on the bottom of both of my heels and 1/2 inch on each big toe. It hurt so much to walk! Plus, my toe area got tighter as I walked, going from a little snug to tight.
On the plus side, I had to start jogging on this walk home (lightly), because my heals hurt so much, I couldn't stand the impact of them on the ground. I am not a runner, jogger, or speed walker. I found for the several blocks I jogged, it was fairly easy (minus where the blisters hurt), so I knew this type of shoe had potential.
I called the store and luckily they had a great return policy. I went back the next day, sore feet and all, and tried on the Classics (too loose, felt like they would fall off without straps and inside felt like the Sprints, the Trek Sport (nicer, more solid shoe than Sprint and Classic, still had some rubbing on inside), the Bikila (same weight and feel as the Trek, but slightly better interior than the previous mentioned) and Komodo Sport and Komodo Sport LS (which were more solid than all the previous with a much better interior).
I walked around in the store in each pair and realized that in the Sprint and Classics, where the seams come together, the company left that exposed. This caused rubbing. Compared to the other shoes, this was more cheaply built. Where the bed lining and sides coming together, it wasn't smooth. In the toe area, there were similar seams, but a lot more of them. Also, in the Sprint, I needed a size up, a 40, where as the other styles, I needed a 39.
As I moved up in price range, the seams were less and less noticeable. With the Bikila's, they were fairly seamless in feel and I didn't seem to notice the blisters on the bottom of my feet when I walked as much. When I put on the Komodo Sports, the shoe was much more solid and I can honestly say, that I didn't even feel the blisters on my feet when I walked (which I did feel when I walked barefoot!). Between the two types of Komodos, I have to say I like the regular Sports better than the LS. The strap on the LS didn't give me the ability to tighten as well around my arch (I have slightly higher arches).
The Bikila's felt more like barefoot walking. It is a less substantial shoe, as compared to the Komodo's, but more substantial than the lower priced styles. The Treks were more substantial, but I notice there was a little more rubbing (very mild difference, although these cost more than Bikila's). When I say substantial, you really have to just try them on to understand. There isn't a huge difference, but a noticeable difference between the styles. Just put one on each foot and compare. If I didn't already have blisters on my feet, I might have gone with the Bikila's. But since my feet where so sensitive at this point, the Komodo's were my choice. It doesn't feel quite as much like barefoot walking, but it is still awfully close! I spent the day wearing these and have not noticed a single sore or pain. My blisters even feel better in them, than out of them! And as of today anyway, no back pain! I will update as time goes on...
Of course, this is just all my opinion and my experiences. The best thing is to go and try them on! You can then order them online if you want. Make sure though that you are getting authentic Vibram's. Visit their website to learn how to identify fakes. Obviously, everthing I just wrote won't matter if they aren't authentic Vibrams. Not all the retailers selling on Amazon are listed as authorized retailers of these shoes, so careful!
Honest reviews on Vibram FiveFingers W's Sprint
I run for exercise and for fun. Been running for over two decades. Long/short, I always thought I needed an extremely well-padded shoe. Thought my running days were ending couldn't bend my right knee after a run, and couldn't walk barefoot around the house after a run. Especially after a run, walking barefoot around the house was painful. It felt like the bones of my feet were jabbing down into the floor. But why were my kids running around the house barefoot with no trouble? Age, I thought. But they're teenagers now.
Started eliminating padding from my shoes and running completely barefoot on grassy fields a mile or two before or after runs. Ran a mile or two barefoot on my treadmill. I concentrated on not landing on my heel, really listened to how it felt to run. I realized I needed to build up all kinds of muscles I hadn't been using.
Barefoot started to feel so good and so right that I started taking off my running shoes mid-run. Switched to my daughter's water shoes because they have so little padding. In the water shoes I could go my regular 5-6 mile route. I realized that my padded shoes let me cheat when I got tired. I worked to build up calf, thigh, and even abdominal muscles that I don't think I was using properly before.
Then my daughter went off to camp and took her water shoes.
I went out completely barefoot on the pavement and it felt great! Until I got about 3 miles out and the skin on the bottom of my feet started to blister.
I wasn't interested in taking the time to build up callouses on my feet, so I went out that day and bought the Fivefingers.
I saved money and avoided buying socks. If you want to keep stuff out, just grab a pair of your old running socks you don't need them anymore and cut two holes one smaller one for your big toe and a longer one for the other four toes leaving a thin stretch of fabric for in between your big and second toe. You'll have to stretch the sock back to make it all fit comfortably in the fivefinger, but it works. Some day I'll invest in the socks but right now my cutouts work perfectly.
Also, I don't recommend buying these online. Best to try them on at the store. They're hard to size.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Vibram FiveFingers W's Sprint
They are great. I got a good amount of blisters to begin with, but as soon as my feet toughened up a bit they have been great. I have torn cartilage in one of my knees and haven't had any knee pain since running in these shoes.
