I am a really big fan of ZEMgear and their efforts to develop great barefoot footwear. I have used and reviewed several models of their original Ninja style models. These have very thin soles, providing the best under foot feel of any shoe, only the Sockwa Dojo meant for indoor use is similar. They have a wear-through and occasionally a puncture-through problem if you hit a sharp small stone on an otherwise soft surface. I crave maximum foot-feel and have found several ways to maintain the originals and I have hundreds of miles on each of my pairs.
However, the O2 Oxygen, part of this year's second generation of designs by ZEMgear has a far more robust and resistant sole, with only a tiny bit less foot sensation. I own VFF Classics and Moccasins and neither has the feet-directly-on-the-ground feel of the O2. The thinnest VFF is 3X as thick as these new ZEM soles. I run and hike in the southwest and have hit patches of glass and goatheads (a nasty thorn that can flat mountain bike tires!). While you can easily feel these thorns embedded in the sole, (I can tell how many there are from feel alone) they have never penetrated my foot.
I recently used the O2s to run and rock scramble to the top of a volcanic plug mountain on very sharp and rough stone with no noticeable wear despite very heavy use. The other reviewer complained of the heal on his slipping down and off, which is new to me, I have never had this problem in any of my pairs. Nor have any of my friends who have started using ZEMs. I would guess that his heal anatomy must be a little different. I know that VFFs always have a tightening cord across the heal tendon to secure them and I find it constantly irritating unless loosened. I would suggest sewing on a similar modification to his ZEMs if his heal-slip persists.
Bottom line, if you are looking for a great "barefoot" shoe, with zero heal rise, no artificial arch support, and no toe rise, these are perfect and cost 1/3 of their only competitors from Vibobarefoot. I personally like the split-toe ninja models because this helps stabilize the shoe laterally without needing a tight size. This isn't so important if just using these shoes to run, but in the gym and martial arts studio it's very important.
Go to their facebook page to find a community of people exploring minimal footwear sports to get a sense if these shoes are for you. I feel everybody should experience barefooting but your initial footwear is critical, if your first experience is painful you will give up before you get to the pleasures of touching the earth. Enjoy the barefoot experience for yourself.
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I am a longtime barefoot enthusiast/runner and have been wearing Vibram Five Fingers since early 2008. I love my Vibrams BUT, I have somewhat odd feet. My left is almost a whole size larger than my right, and I have long second and third toes on both feet. Sizing is always a compromise for me, and with my Vibrams it is particularly tough. If I wear the ideal size for my (larger) left foot, my right fifth toe tends to very uncomfortably slip out of it's place in the shoe and jam. I have to compromise with a smaller size, which actually feels like a perfect fit initially, but after a couple miles of running the pressure on the second and third toes of my left foot gets increasingly uncomfortable. I wanted so badly for them to be the perfect shoe, but with my feet, they just aren't.
I bought a pair of Merrel Trail Gloves when those came out, and love them, too. Toe feel is surprisingly good, the soles are made by Vibram, but I missed the 'freer' feel of the Five Fingers.
Then I bought the Zems. PERFECT. These are now my everyday shoe and I run in a mix of these and my Trail Gloves. They fit like a glove and the flex of the shoe keeps my toes from ever getting jammed, even on long runs. Lateral stability is surprisingly good for such a simply constructed shoe, and ground feel is AWESOME, actually better than my thinnest Vibrams (Classics). They're super light, and the split toe is as easy to put on as a round toe. I have never had any issues with the heel slipping off.
I prefer to wear these without socks, but I do recommend buying some Injini toe socks or other flip flop/ split toe socks for longer runs. I find that when my feet sweat a lot they can get slippery inside and start to feel loose (the also loosen a bit as they warm up, so if it feels a bit snug at first, it's probably a good fit), particularly noticeable when running hills. Socks help. I actually found I like the toeless Injinji yoga socks on long runs (as long as the pads of your toes are fairly tough); they don't slip and I get great toe feel, especially nice on hilly trails.
When the do get nasty inside (as any shoe worn without socks will), they're super easy to clean. Machine wash and air dry. I flip them inside out and wash them with my clothes. I've done it half a dozen times so far with no noticeable ill effect.
If you have 'normal' feet, meaning equal size and with each toe shorter than the last, definitely try on a pair of Vibrams (NEVER buy Vibrams without trying on, even if you own a pair in a different model, the sizes are NOT the same in all models). For the right foot, they're great. But for me, the Zems are perfect. And cheaper, too!
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I'm not a runner, but I do go on very long walks with my dog, and also am starting a weight training program. I have always found tennis shoes uncomfortable, and lately I've even begun getting sore knees anytime I wear them (I'm 25 and completely healthy, so that isn't normal). I was looking for an alternative active shoe when I found Vibrams, and then Zems. I ultimately went with these due to Vibram's complicated sizing system, and I am very happy with my decision. I wore them all weekend, and despite some slight soreness in my calves initially, these have been incredibly comfortable to wear when walking/jogging with the dog and running errands. I haven't started weight training yet, but I'll update my review once I've started so any lifters out there who are also interested in the barefoot movement can get a tailored review.
Also good to note: I purchased the all black split toes, and haven't noticed any stares or received any questions about the shoes. Seems the split toe isn't as noticeable as I initially feared (although those who I've shown the shoe to have exclaimed that it looks like I have faun feet!) If you're worried about getting weird looks or comments, I would say stick with the all black combination.
EDIT: Decided to update this, and let everyone know that after 5 months of hard wear, these were done :( I loved my Zems, and wore them all over -a trip to San Diego put many many miles on these shoes! I did begin weight training with them, and they were fantastic in that arena as well. Unfortunatly, the toes on both shoes got holes worn through where the seams lay. It is possibly just the way I walk that caused this wear, so I don't discourage others from purchasing.
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I purchased these to replace my Vivobarefoot Ultra's, which I like a lot. Vivobarefoot was my go-to barefoot brand, but they are expensive. For the price, you could get two or three pairs of these Zem's. The Oxygen's offer an even closer to barefoot feeling with just enough protection on the bottom. I'm not certain they would be durable enough for heavy outdoor use, but they are perfect for indoor workouts. I use them for kettlebell practice on a rubberized surface.
Fit is great for me. I have a narrow heel with wide forefoot. I also have a longer second toe, so Vibram Five Fingers don't work well for me. The lycra hugs my heel perfectly and there is plenty of give around the toes to allow for splaying without any pinching. The bands offer subtle support that keeps the shoes from slipping around.
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These shoes are light weight, comfortable, and really fun to run in. I've been using them for a few months now and they hold up pretty well. The thin soles are perfect for that barefoot feel while protecting your feet from sharp rocks and such. Overall an quality product.
