08-20-2009, 02:30 PM | #1 (permalink) |
I'll ask when I'm ready....
Location: Firmly in the middle....
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So I just found out about Five Fingers.....
After borrowing a friend's Men's Health magazine with an article on barefoot running, one thing lead to another and I found the Vibram Five Fingers website. This led to other Googling and I was immediately intrigued and found a pair nearby the next day. I ended up with these, the VFF KSO's in Black/black.....
After wearing them for a few hours, I can say that I am absolutely AMAZED at how natural and comfortable these things feel. I even walked around out back in dirt, rocks, sticks, stickers, grass, brush and so on and it felt so.....right. Even walking on gravel and river rocks wasn't a trying experience. Absolutely amazing feeling! My feet are a bit tired, but as I've come to understand it takes time for your feet to get used to using all those muscles it hasn't used wearing normal shoes. About the only drawback I can see is that my feet got a bit toasty in the sun, and I can imagine that I'll need to be washing these often to fend off stink. I know that there are at least a couple people here who have them, anyone else enjoy these "shoes"?
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"No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me- "Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown- DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer- |
08-20-2009, 02:42 PM | #2 (permalink) |
Let's put a smile on that face
Location: On the road...
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My brother owns a pair of them and absolutely swears by them. I think they are really sweet and would love to get a pair someday, I am just horrible at buying shoes. I have been meaning to buy a pair of shoes for over a year now. I just walk around in my dirty ass work boots.
And yes they do stink pretty bad, my brothers stunk up the house the second he took them off! |
08-20-2009, 04:09 PM | #4 (permalink) |
Soaring
Location: Ohio!
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I have a pair of Five Fingers. Crompsin does, too, and he'll probably squee when he sees this thread.
I've been running in mine a few times, and they're awesome on pavement. My calves get REALLY sore from running in them. I don't walk about in them very much, but have worn them to the beach and out on trails a few times. Do NOT run in them on a gravel road - especially at night. Bruised soles aren't fun. My feet don't get sore wearing them, but I spend a lot of time barefoot.
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"Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel |
08-20-2009, 04:20 PM | #5 (permalink) |
Please touch this.
Owner/Admin
Location: Manhattan
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There's a guy on the ground floor of my apartment building who leaves them outside his door all the time. Must be because of the smell.
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08-20-2009, 04:22 PM | #6 (permalink) |
has a plan
Location: middle of Whywouldanyonebethere
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Two people I know have them and love them. I don't think I will ever be able to own a pair since I have "double-E" wide feet. As my podiatrist said, they aren't so much feet as they are boat oars with five wiggly things at the ends, really. Plus it seems the maximum length for this brand is 12, and I need a 12 1/2 really wide.
I would love a pair, since these would be the natural evolution of the paper-thin flip-flops I sport around, but I have inconvenient feet. )-:
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08-20-2009, 04:39 PM | #7 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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This thread totally made me happy. Haha. Did anybody reference TwistedMosaic's original FiveFingers thread? Spinelust showed me these a while back.
Yeah, Five Fingers are totally gnarly. I use them for all sorts of activities. Running, beach trips, martial arts, SCUBA diving, etc. I don't run in them a whole lot because I run too fast to feel comfortable with no sole support... the first time I rolled my ankle on a walnut-sized rock did it for me. They're perfect for karate... great for sparring because they're so low profile (unlike karate shoes like Ring Stars or those cheap ass Bruce Lee Kung Fu shoes) and you can really get some ground torque with the added rubber (good for kicking people in the head). They also prevents tearing skin off your paws during grappling. The KSO model, with Velcro strap and enclosed foot, is the only one to get if you're gonna be active in them. The original "Classic" model is like a ballet slipper and that's totally a bad idea for something you want to stay on your feet while you're acting like a bipedal mountain goat on crack. Who's bitching about the smell? Febreeze them lightly if you wear 'em repeatedly during the week and they're machine washable for your day off. I keep 'em in my karate bag and they're not funky if you treat 'em like socks (let them air out before putting them back in your bag). They have Velcro straps and rear pull rings... secure them to the outside of your bag when you leave the gym so they can breathe to avoid the hoof stank. Proper fit is absolutely crucial. These things don't fit like shoes. I wear a size 43 (my shoe size is typically a 10.5R). I have narrow feet so I have to cinch down the instep straps pretty good. Based on my experience with them over the last year, your real toes should feel hugged by the front end (not baggy in the rubber toes), and you'll get a little gap on the back in the heel cup (to allow for walking flex) if you're sized correctly. Although expensive, the Injinji company makes high quality toe socks compatible with Five Fingers if you prefer to have a liner to your rubber foot-shoes. Last edited by Plan9; 08-20-2009 at 04:54 PM.. |
08-20-2009, 06:00 PM | #10 (permalink) |
Insane
Location: I'm up they see me I'm down.
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You wear shoes during karate huh? We used to kick the shit out of each other barefoot at my old dojo. Huh.
Anyway, these look kind of dumb to me. Alot of people here seem to like them, but I dunno. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
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Free will lies not in the ability to craft your own fate, but in not knowing what your fate is. --Me "I have just returned from visting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." --Douglas MacArthur |
08-20-2009, 07:24 PM | #12 (permalink) |
Currently sour but formerly Dlishs
Super Moderator
Location: Australia/UAE
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can you wear orthotics in them?
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08-20-2009, 07:31 PM | #13 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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You might be able to cram 'em in there, Dlish... but I think the idea is to just cover your foot with a thin layer of rubber.
... No, really? Yeah, I use Febreeze because it's what I've got. I suppose you could carry a can of Lysol around with you. |
08-20-2009, 07:35 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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According the their website's FAQ... no. Orthotics defeat the purpose of these shoes.
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08-20-2009, 07:39 PM | #15 (permalink) | |
I Confess a Shiver
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Quote:
So do socks, I suppose. Stop playing by the rules! Last edited by Plan9; 08-20-2009 at 07:44 PM.. |
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08-20-2009, 07:43 PM | #17 (permalink) | |
Sitting in a tree
Location: Atlanta
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Quote:
Febreze isn't anti-bacterial. So before anyone runs out and buys Febreze thinking it'll work, halt. I'm not sure if Lysol will work but I don't see why not - kills everything else. |
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08-20-2009, 07:58 PM | #20 (permalink) | |
I Confess a Shiver
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Quote:
... Or rubbing it between the toes of your Five-Fingers. That way they'll smell like "Victory!" instead of funk. |
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08-20-2009, 08:07 PM | #21 (permalink) | |
Insane
Location: I'm up they see me I'm down.
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Quote:
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Free will lies not in the ability to craft your own fate, but in not knowing what your fate is. --Me "I have just returned from visting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." --Douglas MacArthur |
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08-20-2009, 08:44 PM | #22 (permalink) | |
Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator.
Location: Windiwana
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Quote:
we were barefoot, even for the outdoor running. looks like i should have went with karate instead of TKD.
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First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller |
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08-21-2009, 12:24 PM | #25 (permalink) |
Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator.
Location: Windiwana
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i would shamelessly rock the fuck out of those toe-toes.
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First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller |
08-21-2009, 02:14 PM | #26 (permalink) |
Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It!
Location: Southern England
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So it's NOT a fisting thread?
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08-22-2009, 02:32 AM | #29 (permalink) |
Crazy
Location: Virginia
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wow... these have been alot of hilarious comments... thank god i'm able to keep quiet or i'd wake up those two
those shoes... they look weird... but at the same time i'm wildly curious at them... i'm left with the wondering what they'd be like but at the same time i'm wondering why would i wear something that will more like grab people's curiousity and have to talk/deal with them. I'm not so much anti-social, As long I'm around people I know really close or some family members. It's the people in stores/etc that I feel very anxious, want to get the list done, and get out asap. Strange? Yeah, it makes for interesting times when the S/O goes with. but, am i looking right at the sizes of them? like they go from 8 1/2 inches to 42 inches. I know some said about a size problem for them. I have very small feet. kinda the one in the family does, and my dad ... it's a tough call to see diferences. i'd need a 6.
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Quantum Cat Theory: Upon hearing the sound of a can being opened, it becomes possible for a cat to travel faster than the speed of light. |
08-22-2009, 08:03 PM | #30 (permalink) | |
I'll ask when I'm ready....
Location: Firmly in the middle....
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Quote:
Yes, you will be answering questions out in public, (but IMHO, these shoes are WORTH it...) so you may limit their use to walks around the block. But for me, they are much too comfortable to not wear out and fully expect to develop an entire catalog of comebacks, retorts, and replies after a few outings. The world will become your living room carpet with these shoes.
__________________
"No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me- "Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown- DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer- Last edited by Push-Pull; 08-22-2009 at 08:08 PM.. |
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08-23-2009, 07:43 PM | #34 (permalink) |
Banned
Location: The Cosmos
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@Crompsin Yes, haha, ninjas wear them. Your ethnocentrism is appalling. Non ninjas wear them too, they're much bigger in Japan than the US. The Japanese have long known about using and developing the muscles that result from barefoot activities. Longer than the US has known about the Huarache.
Last edited by Zeraph; 08-23-2009 at 07:45 PM.. |
08-23-2009, 07:49 PM | #35 (permalink) | |
I Confess a Shiver
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Quote:
The benefit of buying Vibram Five Fingers is that the product is durable... probably because the Vietnamese slave children putting them together get paid more than those that make tabis. I've seen Kung Fu flats, tabis, and Five Fingers. Five Fingers make the rest look like bad 6th grade home ec projects. ... One of the best ways to toughen up your paws is to run on the beach as a part of life guard training. The sand and shell fragments will toughen you up right quick. I got blisters the size of Gary Coleman the first time I did it and I spent 4 years as a mother ruckin' para. Shit is way tough on your tootsies. Last edited by Plan9; 08-23-2009 at 07:57 PM.. |
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08-23-2009, 07:56 PM | #36 (permalink) |
Banned
Location: The Cosmos
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Yeah, I guess I should have known by the inclination of the smiley face's eyebrows and cheek muscles . Maybe post with actual information then instead of subtly making fun of my posts.
And yeah, US clones are a knockoff. Big surprise. Order them from Japan. My orders are only like ~$60 for a pair with reinforced toes, like 6 pairs of socks, and the shipping fees. And wikipedia? What does that have to do with anything? |
08-31-2009, 12:43 PM | #37 (permalink) |
The sky calls to us ...
Super Moderator
Location: CT
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There was a huge thread about these shoes on Something Awful, and after a few idiots threadshitting, it turned out that dozens of people had them and all loved them. The only problem was the smell. I'm curious, but I also have a bad ankle and flat feet.
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09-01-2009, 07:52 AM | #39 (permalink) |
Upright
Location: SW Fla
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I have two pairs and love them!!!
I'm a barefoot type of person. I find myself feeling unstable in regular shoes. With these I can climb a ladder and feel stable. They are great for working in the yard and boating. Their website has measurement directions for proper sizing. I used that chart when I bought the KSO and found the shoes to be a little bit small. Agreed that it's best to try them on in a store before ordering online. |
09-04-2009, 03:49 PM | #40 (permalink) |
Addict
Location: P-Town, WA
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My fiance and I went to check those out at REI before our vacation. We ALMOST bought some but I couldn't get past the feeling of having stuff between my toes while walking.
Other than that... they were great. =)
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Old signature just wasn't doing it for me anymore, so now I have this new one. It's equally as stupid but at least it looks really long. I'm probably just going to keep typing until I run out of things to babble about and see how many people actually read this. I once ran down a hill, fell down and hurt my elbow; my mom said I would be ok, she kissed it and made it all better. I've run out of things to say now, so if you have read this whole thing, congratulations you get a gold star! |
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