[quote]gregron wrote:
did you get them already? they’re a little funky feeling when you first wear them but after a couple times you’ll get used to it and forget that you’re even wearing them.
they SUCK though for lunges/split squats IMO. With the way that the toes are they are very uncomfortable on your back foot during a lunge. [/quote]
I have this pair and I really like them for lifting in general. And ditto Gregron about getting used to them. They feel normal after the first couple of times you wear them. I haven’t had any problem with lunges or split squats.
I don’t like to run in them. It’s soo different. I think you could see some hypertrophy to your calves with sprints or if you wear them a lot.
I got those exact ones about a month ago. Training legs is much better wearing them. Switched from chucks and theres a big difference. Training barefoot in a commercial gym is disgusting.
I would ease into running and jogging in them. Give your feet a few days to get used to the impact
I’m never ever going back to regular shoes again. Even with my foot issues (two major wrecks have led to two reconstructive surgeries on my right foot) I run about 15 miles a week in my VFFs. It’s wonderful; I’ve been told I have the nicest calves ever seen on a runner. I’ve had them over two years now, and that’s not something you can do in most other running shoes.
I also wear them for all weight training. I love hearing the slap of my feet on the floor when doing cleans, and I feel really good and grounded during squats and deads.
I never tried any other minimalist shoes so I might have some bias here.
I think I’m going to get some of these. I tear the soles of my shoes up squatting (and just walking around), I prefer to go barefoot…but that’s kind of raunchy to go bare foot while dead lifting or squatting.
Edit: Plus the whole running up hills thing has torn up my shoes.
If I didn’t have to wear business shoes, I wouldn’t wear anything else. I love my Vibrams, particularly for squats and deads. You feel the ground so much better. For me, it is much easier to stay on the outside of my feet and on my heels while squatting and wearing Vibrams.
Been wearing them for hours now. They don’t take that long to get used to if you were already used to wearing the Nike Free’s. I will say there is no way in hell I would run on hard surfaces in these unless I weighed about 140lbs or less. If I do, I will stick to the grass. This is the closest thing to being barefoot that I have worn. They are great for lifting in.
It’s like wearing socks with a firm well made thin rubber sole.
They have great traction also.
I will probably wear these to lift in from here on out.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Been wearing them for hours now. They don’t take that long to get used to if you were already used to wearing the Nike Free’s. I will say there is no way in hell I would run on hard surfaces in these unless I weighed about 140lbs or less. If I do, I will stick to the grass. This is the closest thing to being barefoot that I have worn. They are great for lifting in.
It’s like wearing socks with a firm well made thin rubber sole.
They have great traction also.
I will probably wear these to lift in from here on out.[/quote]
I’m not sure how people run on hard surfaces in them, myself. Aside from the general impact, if you step on a rock or something, you’re fucked.
Not to mention the back part always dug a half inch into my achilles tendon.
Im a fan. I currently sport the black KSO’s that you posted earlier, but also have a pair of originals. I like the originals because if I need a little help getting my toesies in the right pocket, I can.
-Wash them often. I throw mine in the washing machine.
-If you run in them, allow time for your body to adjust.
-Even though they seem like they are all the rage, people are still going to stop you (and your workout) and ask you about them.
I still deadlift in chucks because I am pretty religious about wearing tall socks during deads. I am so done having scraped up shins. Thats probably more a chick issue, though.
[quote]Dasher wrote:
I still deadlift in chucks because I am pretty religious about wearing tall socks during deads. I am so done having scraped up shins. Thats probably more a chick issue, though.[/quote]
Lol, definitely a chick issue. I love getting some good gashes going up and down the shins, haha.
About the whole running/acclimation issue, a few days ago I wore them when I took a walk around the neighborhood. The route is about 3 miles long and when I got back I could definitely feel the difference in my entire legs, from my ankles through my hips.
…then, like a genius I did Prowler sprints later wearing them. It was crazy how much of a difference there is with the toe mobility when doing something like those.
[quote]SSC wrote:
I love getting some good gash, haha.[/quote]
I concur.
I always put off getting Vibrams because I wanted to try them on first to be sure they fit/felt right. A few weeks ago, I found Fila Skele-toes (pic above) in a shoe store, tried them on, and really kinda dug them. I’ll probably go back and grab a pair.
Supposedly the only real differences are that the Fila have a slightly thicker sole and the fourth and fifth toe (pinky and, um, ring toe?) share one larger toe pocket together while the rest of the toes are individual.
Anyone familiar with the Skele-toes?
(Fun fact: Vibram is currently suing Fila for patent infringement.)
I’m going to have to disagree with everyone about washing them super frequently. They start out with some sort of coating that keeps odor at bay for quite a while. Once you wash them once, THEN you have to wash them often.
Prepare for total calf domination the first several times you run/jog in them.
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
I got those exact ones about a month ago. Training legs is much better wearing them. Switched from chucks and theres a big difference.
[/quote]
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
I got those exact ones about a month ago. Training legs is much better wearing them. Switched from chucks and theres a big difference.
[/quote]
Intriguing, how so?[/quote]
My feet actually grip the floor in these. They dont matter doing leg extensions but squatting feels different. Maybe it’s that theres no foam supporting the arch and the muscles have to do that instead. Squatting is not a very natural movement for me but my hips feel better wearing vibrams compared to chucks.
Kinda reminds me of these socks with an adhesive plastic underlay that we used in gym class when I was 7. Nostalgia ftw. I’m sure they cost $150 less then the vibrams.
[quote]Quick Ben wrote:
Kinda reminds me of these socks with an adhesive plastic underlay that we used in gym class when I was 7. Nostalgia ftw. I’m sure they cost $150 less then the vibrams.
[/quote]
I don’t know how much you’re joking or not, but Vibrams are not particularly expensive… at all.
Mine were $85. My Nike frees cost about 110. No, these were not that expensive considering how they are made.
The closest comparison are the water socks…with the huge differences between them like the fact that the vibrams conform to the bottom of your foot, they are made of much stronger material, and they have enough grip on the soles to really hold you in place.
Also, the fact that each toe is separated feels funny at first but feels better as you wear them.
those Fila skeletoes are clearly a rip off of the design. It is difficult sometimes to get the smaller toe in the last hole so I can see why they joined those toes together.
However, by doing that, it also defeats the purpose of trying to separate all toes for greater stability.