I went to REI a couple of days ago to pick up a pair of KSO’s and they didn’t have my size and apparently don’t make my size in mens. I have a 8 1/2 shoe size. He told me I could wear the womens. I told the dude I wasn’t interested(pride thing). Now I have to order womens shoes online 
They are the same thing luckily.
I’ve talked to a bunch of people now who have these- it’s funny, they come out of the woodwork when they see you wearing the VFF’s.
They all say how much of an adjustment it was. Some runners, others just wear them around, some just gym rats.
I have to say other than the first day of doing the StepMill with them (just felt a little harder at first), I didn’t really have any kind of extra pain or DOMS (maybe a little after training calves), or anything. Certainly nothing like other people seemed to have had.
Maybe it’s because I walk around barefoot most of the time anyway. Hell, I don’t even get dressed (work from home in boxers) unless I’m going out.
Maybe it’s because people like to complain.
Dunno.
I can’t wait to do some sprinting in these bad boys.(or girls in my case)
Phil Heath tweeted this picture yesterday, saying he was just about to put on his “uniform” to train, then he said he was doing incline treadmill cardio. Somebody asked him what he thought of the Vibrams. “Good for squatting”, he said.
Vibram FiveFingers… Mr. Olympia-approved. Ha.
He’s got good taste in style also.
I wonder how much sales have increased.
Sat I did the Airforce marathon and saw a number of people running in Five Fingers, including at least one guy that walked/jogged the full 26.2. I cannot imagine putting my feet and legs through that sort of punishment in unpadded shoes with no socks. I ran in a nearly new pair of Brooks running shoes and my feet and ankles are still trashed two days later.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
He’s got good taste in style also.
I wonder how much sales have increased.[/quote]
I bet sales shot up quite a bit. They’re already VERY popular but I bet all kinds of “gym rats” went out and picked up a pair after he tweeted that pic. They should sponsor him lol.
I was buying my NB Minimums the other day and there were 4 different people trying on VFF’s. They were all 40+ years old and looked relatively untrained… It was weird to see cause when I first got mine no one knew what they were and it was only CrossFit guys who had them (almost the reason why I didnt buy them. Every time I wore them someone would ask me “Do you do crossfit?” and I almost stopped wearing them cause it was so annoying lol)
I actually like Vibrams because it allows me to do leg work without hurting my shin much. The Oly shoes always push my knees forward over my toes to the point that my shin issue prevents me from squatting, but today I could squat in Vibrams just fine w/ no pain.
Still loving them. About to wash one pair for the first time.
The KSO’s feel very different from the ones with the traction on the soles. They feel closer to being barefoot.
guys, you have to try out the New Balance Life. I’m becoming the biggest barefoot shoe-whore ever. I just picked me up some and holy crap, I like them 10x better than the Trails or Vibrams. HOWEVER they are not shoes to do squats with or anything, they aren’t stable enough.
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
HOWEVER they are not shoes to do squats with or anything, they aren’t stable enough.[/quote]
Burn them.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
HOWEVER they are not shoes to do squats with or anything, they aren’t stable enough.[/quote]
Burn them.[/quote]
They are called ‘LIFE’ for a reason, not New Balance !!SQUAT!!
ih8u
:]
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
guys, you have to try out the New Balance Life. I’m becoming the biggest barefoot shoe-whore ever. I just picked me up some and holy crap, I like them 10x better than the Trails or Vibrams. HOWEVER they are not shoes to do squats with or anything, they aren’t stable enough.[/quote]
they look comfy as balls (that means really comfy)
but they are complete rip offs of Nike Frees. They look almost exactly the same but with the big N on the side.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[photo]34165[/photo]
I like my feet. I like women’s feet even better…but only if they trim their toe nails and don’t look like someone switched their toes with those of a grizzly bear.
I have decided I shall buy shoes that show I actually have all of my toes…because I am worried that some may not be aware of this.
I also would like to walk barefoot even if I just had a pedicure or not without shame.
I am off to buy my new shoes.
Don’t worry, Nike Frees…you will always be my first love.[/quote]
Got 3 pair and love them all.
[quote]gregron wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
guys, you have to try out the New Balance Life. I’m becoming the biggest barefoot shoe-whore ever. I just picked me up some and holy crap, I like them 10x better than the Trails or Vibrams. HOWEVER they are not shoes to do squats with or anything, they aren’t stable enough.[/quote]
they look comfy as balls (that means really comfy)
but they are complete rip offs of Nike Frees. They look almost exactly the same but with the big N on the side.[/quote]
they are way better than the Free’s though. No laces, much smaller sole with much less heel height, and still comfy as balls
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
HOWEVER they are not shoes to do squats with or anything, they aren’t stable enough.[/quote]
Burn them.[/quote]
They are called ‘LIFE’ for a reason, not New Balance !!SQUAT!!
[/quote]
Well, they’re missing out on a niche market, then!!!
I dont know if I mentioned this earlier in the thread but Gold Bond MEDICATED foot powder on the feet and in the vibrams is real good for controlling odor. Even just that stale smell, if not the foul smell that some people produce. I havent washed mine yet and they dont smell at all. 2 months old.
My gym lets me train in my socks.
Vibrams still worth it?
[quote]therajraj wrote:
My gym lets me train in my socks.
Vibrams still worth it?[/quote]
Lucky you; can’t be a Goodlife Fitness then… although some of the staff are cool & look the other way when I chalk up.
Socks are good but VFFs are for when you forget your socks.
Kidding. They’re still worth it (myself being a multiple VFF pair owner) the grip and tread is better than socks, unless you like sliding through your workouts.
[quote]therajraj wrote:
My gym lets me train in my socks.
Vibrams still worth it?[/quote]
?
Socks are cloth. They slide. They have no grip. They get dirty easily. Would you walk into the men’s restroom in your socks?
VFF are like wearing socks with a really form grip on the sole and just enough protection to keep shit off your foot. I have honestly worn these in the gym since I got them. I would wear them more often if I didn’t think I would get them dirty. Right now, these are just gym shoes for me…but yeah, separating your toes does help with stability.
In situations where I might have made a miss-step or “half tripped” I have seen myself stabilize on my toes where I couldn’t before…so I don’t trip.
I have three pairs right now. The KSO’s feel the best.