Posted at 10:37AM, 21 Jun 2011. Permalink.

I haven't tried them but would like to.The people I have spoken to swear by them. I have always enjoyed the sensation of walking/running in barefeet but it is a little too dangerous with sharp stones /glass etc.

The problem is weighing up the cost of trying something different. I tried those "Shape Up " walking shoes thought they were very uncomfortable,always felt like you were going to roll your ankle.

Amazing though what marketing does especially when you mention weight loss,apparently everyone thought they would be the magic cure.

happy walking.

Posted at 11:35AM, 21 Jun 2011. Permalink.

I have a friend who uses VFFs for (short-distance) running and loves them, and I've been curious about trying them out myself: I already wear Injinji technical "toe socks" when I'm walking / running, and absolutely love those for the way they protect my feet and keep my toes warm, dry and comfy... so VFFs aren't that far a stretch. But I also know that my various pairs of Asics 2160s have, between them, successfully taken me through nearly 2000km of training/events over the past 12 months(and wow, how crazy is that????), so I don't have any compelling reason to change at this stage beyond curiousity.

PLUS I also know a lot of people on the online running community I'm part of (5,600 members who range from casual 10k a week folk right through to lifestyle ultradistance runners) are also very anti-them, claiming that they can actually cause more knee and back stress injuries than they solve; and noticed that very few people in that community have said they've used them long-term and had positive results - the ones who are really enthusiastic about VFFs seem to have had them only a few months or less, so there may possibly be something to that claim.

I think, like Susan, I'd like to try them, but given the mixed reviews I've heard from other runners out there, I feel as though the cost is prohibitive for something I have no way of knowing will work for me. Of course if I happened to be given a pair to trial and review; or won one in a competition, that would be TOTALLY a different matter ;-)

Posted at 10:04PM, 27 Jun 2011. Permalink.

Thanks for the feedback
Something new like this is always a bit of an uncertainty and these VFFs shoes (footgloves or whatever you wanna call them) are really something you and your feet need to get used to. There is a definite transitional period from your old runners or walkers to the Five Fingers while your muscles (made weak from regular shoes) start to strenghten. I think this concept will be around to stay. Apparently the return to barefoot technology is huge and is going to be followed by other companies such as Merrell and of course already exists in Nikes. The Merrell range are called trail gloves but they don't have the toe bits so if you have been put off by the 'toe look' but have still want the barefoot idea you might want to consider these. They will be available this september so ill remember to pop back and put a link in. They look pretty awesome!
In the meantime if you like to walk in Merrell footwear and want to see a current range click http://www.hikoi.co.nz/shop/brand/Merrell we boast one of the biggest ranges of Merrell in NZ
Thanks

H.M

Posted at 03:29PM, 30 Jun 2011. Permalink.

Thanks Hikoi man - I have a friend who also likes Merrell for short walks.

TBH though, I'm really a fan of my Asics - so far, they're the only shoe manufacturers I've found that seem to realise that lots of women have wide feet - up until I found my 2160s (OK, they were 2140s back then) and Trabuccos (which I keep calling "trebuchets"), I kept having to wear men's shoes because all the women's ones I tried on were just too narrow for my feet!

Posted at 12:00AM, 2 Jul 2011. Permalink.

Yes Merrell are our biggest brand they are popular with men and women but especially the women!
For those interested, Merrell footwear have something called Q-form, it's a specific womens fit, strategically placed cushioning with a specially aligned midsole to compensate for a woman’s pronounced Q Angle.
Q Angle is the angle between hip and knee, which can cause a cycle of supination and pronation during walking and running.
Whether you believe it or not it the sales speak for themselves, lots of women just love Merrell and rave about the comfort and im sure its got a lot to do with this specific fit.?

For wider feet we normally offer the Keen brand of footwear as they offer a nice wide fit especially for our Kiwi feet!
If you want to have a look at a Keen range you can see one here http://www.hikoi.co.nz/shop/brand/Keen

thanks
H.M

Posted at 08:51PM, 25 Apr 2012. Permalink.

Hi there, I am new here. I have Vibrams and just love them for walking! makes bush walking much easier and are great on rough terrain making you balance more. The only problem with them is that they can get a bit smelly.....

Posted at 06:46PM, 4 Jul 2012. Permalink.

Hi. I hadn't seen them until the other day, and I saw someone wearing them. Very odd looking. Otherwise not nothing about them. I did read one comment saying they are very comfortable. Can't afford to try them at present. Good walking.