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Vibram Shoes - the new running/hiking/climbing shoe?

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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
For those of you who are into hiking, climbing and running you might heard of the vibram shoe. Its a pretty interesting idea for a shoe. Heres a video about them and discuss.

Tim Ferriss on Vibram Shoes from Kevin Rose on Vimeo.








A great review on the 3 different kinds of Vibram shoes by Tim Ferriss: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/05/07/vibram-five-fingers-shoes/







I do a lot of running and was thinking about picking up a pair of the KSO's. Does anyone ever tried a pair out?
Jul 29 2009 9:23PM
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skivt12
Posts: 239 - Karma: 33

i have a pair of hiking shoes with a vibram sole  except it doesnt have the toes seperate

the sole is really good but i dont no if i would like the whole toe thing

Jul 29 2009 9:54PM
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bangarangmules
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 84
One of the assistant coaches on my xc team had a pair of those last year. He used them sometimes for barefoot training. Didn't really hear much about them, except when he complained that he got blisters on his heel from them haha.
Jul 29 2009 9:57PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
my ski boots have a vibram sole, i've never used the shoes tho
Jul 29 2009 9:59PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
which ones did he have?
Jul 29 2009 9:59PM
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Magnetic
Posts: 845 - Karma: 229
these look great i am definitely going to get the "sprint" model to protect me from all the shells when I skim board. I have been looking for something like this thank you.
Jul 29 2009 10:14PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
If you read the review- it says the sprint are uncomfortable, at least they were for the reviewer
Jul 29 2009 11:23PM
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anxju
Posts: 9371 - Karma: 61
my friend has those!
Jul 29 2009 11:26PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
that looks stupid as hell
Jul 29 2009 11:30PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
Cause having stronger ankles and better posture is so uncool- read the write up.
Jul 29 2009 11:31PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
i highly doubt those shoes give you stronger ankles or better posture, but my posture is perfect and my ankles are exceptionally strong so i'll stick with converse
Jul 29 2009 11:33PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
Do you run with your converse's?
Jul 29 2009 11:36PM
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ski_DC
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 58
5 fingers are real sick. theres a book out called Born to Run about ultra long distance running and how humans are made to run. anyway, one of the characters was a barefoot ultramarathoner and he used the 5 fingers. awesome book, read it if you can. it talks alot about how much better running barefoot is and how running shoes have exacerbated running injuries ever since they came out instead of preventing them, as they are advertised to do.
Jul 29 2009 11:43PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
i dont run, but i do everything else in them, i just dont think this guy's opinion is valid as to what these shoes will or will not do to your posture/ankles, and im not saying it might do something minimal, but the effects are probably minimal at most and not worth it
Jul 29 2009 11:43PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
ok? you clearly know nothing about this. try balancing on one foot in your converses. now take the shoes off and balance one foot barefoot.
Jul 29 2009 11:50PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
haha i know i know nothing but its NS in the summer so im sharing my view on the issue, regardless of whether i know what im talking about
Jul 29 2009 11:54PM
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Pow.yuHdig*
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 146
my bosss bought a pair and looked ridicolous in them but hes a fat out of shape fool
Jul 29 2009 11:58PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
Yea vibram is an Italian company that started up making soles for hiking boots
Jul 30 2009 12:25AM
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Che~
Posts: 2108 - Karma: 296
i have vibram soles on almost everything, my hiking boots (Asolo), sandals (Chaco=the best) and on my turnout gear boots
Jul 30 2009 12:34AM
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Avifarer
Posts: 5926 - Karma: 598
The first time i saw tim ferris with them he had his foot up on his knee and i thought he had frost bite or some shit
Jul 30 2009 12:38AM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
my friends dad, who is also the cross country coach, has got a pair of the sprints. he seems to really like them. i really want to get a pair of the kos's. but haha i was talking to him about them and he told me he literally wants to get good enough at running in them that he can run down a deer and kill it barehanded or with a knife or something.
Jul 30 2009 2:50AM
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Mr.Capone
Posts: 1227 - Karma: 109
running in racing flats accomplishes the EXACT same thing but you don't look like a giant faggot

newest fad in running that is just another company trying to make a buck....guarantee there is not a single sub 13:40 guy out there who is wearing these
Jul 30 2009 3:08AM
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MacMahoooon
Posts: 9009 - Karma: 3,305
Those have been used by kayakers for years as there is very little room in the boats to have any type of shoe. Just make you there fit perfectly as there are lots of places to rub and blister
Jul 30 2009 9:03AM
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Flowsion
Posts: 1461 - Karma: 11
they are by far the most popular shoes that we sell at my work. the fit is a little weird at first, but you get used to it. you can totally tell how they strengthen your toes and ankles. at first, they are damn near impossible to get on because of how weak untrained toes are. i'm getting a pair, i'm just waiting for a fresh shipment first. next year's are gonna be ballin. they have a full-on running version with a sole better suited for running. you can't get it wet like the other kinds, but it looks pretty sweet
Jul 30 2009 9:29AM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
When are next years coming out?
Jul 30 2009 11:29AM
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ECski
Posts: 976 - Karma: 13
i dont know what these shoes will do or not do, but running barefoot really does strengthen your ankles and the muscles in your foot so if someone likes to run barefoot better than in a shoe than these would probably be perfect.
Jul 30 2009 11:30AM
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hanksy
Posts: 659 - Karma: 265
We sell these in the outdoor retail store I work at. They do improve your posture and strengthen your ankles, as well as improving your balance (I believe the balance trick is because the "fingers" spread your toes out a little, distributing your weight perfectly). My friend climbs in these all the time and he loves them.

I think I'm gonna try and demo them during my shift today, I'll report back after.
Jul 30 2009 11:48AM
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skivt12
Posts: 239 - Karma: 33

that must be extremely painfull climbing in climbing shoes hurt, but in barefeet hurt 10times more

Jul 30 2009 1:00PM
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little_boo
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 231
friend does parkour in these and absolutely loves them.
Jul 30 2009 2:19PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
Report?
Jul 30 2009 10:53PM
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
Some woman came into my gym with them on.. needless to say she couldn't climb very well with them.

It's seriously trying to climb barefooted, which is insanely hard. They have climbing shoes for a reason, haha.
Jul 30 2009 11:07PM
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hanksy
Posts: 659 - Karma: 265
Tried out a pair today. Unfortunately didn't get to do any climbing with them (which seems to be the only main concern) but they are definitely comfy, and i could tell my feet had gotten a little stronger after walking around for a few hours in them. I might try and buy a pair, they're obviously nothing extremely special but I like them mainly based on the fact that they're comfy and free like being barefoot, but have a sole and stuff so you can be outdoors and hiking or whatever in them

Sparknotes: nothing special, I like them just because I like being barefoot but don't have to worry about what I'm walking on (rocks etc).

As far as climbing, my friend might not really know what he's talking about so I'd probably take the other people's advice in this thread in that category.
Jul 31 2009 12:27AM
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brickerenator
Posts: 316 - Karma: 10
THREAD REVIVE

HA

Got a pair yesterday, freaking awesome. I used to go barefoot 24/7 as a child (sprinting on gravel, running through the woods, soccer, etc).

I'm getting a calf workout just wearing them while sitting here at my office desk.


I'm not saying to get a pair, just saying they are worth consideration.
Mar 15 2010 9:40AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
I remeber these things from when I did Parkour.
I Always used the K-Swiss Ariakes but one day a friend who conviently had the exact same size foot bought these.
I tried them on for a while and in the beginning they are really strange.
You shouldn't see this as a shoe but more as an extra thick grippy layer of skin which protects your feet from sharp stuff.

Word of advice if you are using them for parkour: you have basically no shock absorption  so doing a precision on a sharp ledge like you would do with your regular parkous shoes will hurt.

Extra note: people will give you really weird looks if you wear them.
Mar 15 2010 11:01AM
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Ian.Ham
Posts: 1687 - Karma: 1,153
I have a pair of the KSO's and I fucking love them.  I have bounced on tramp, ran long distances, and swam in them and they are sick.  The best river/cliff jumping shoe ever.  And they just feel cool as fuck on your feet.
Mar 15 2010 12:16PM
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