Gear Review: Vibram Five Fingers

I’m pleased to report that the hip/IT-Band injury is now (almost) history. For now. Got a few good trails in last week but am ready to step it up and hopefully make a good showing at the Running Fit Trail 1/2 this Sunday. Will be practicing the Poto this week after work and I’m exceptionally excited to do a few runs in my new Vibram Five Fingers.

If you’ve picked up a copy of Trail Runner in the past year, you’re probably familiar with them. I’ve been awaiting them with anticipation but have been unable to find them anywhere local. Because of the odd concept, I was reluctant to get them via mail order and pay money without first trying them on. Luckily, we stopped in Holland on the way back from our break this weekend and stumbled upon Gazelle Sports, which had just gotten a few in stock. I ran to the car to grab my Injinjis for fitting and fell in love with the first pair I tried on, the Five Finger KSO’s (the mesh cover ‘keeps-stuff-out’).

I should note that getting these on is not nearly as onerous as some reviews have led me to believe. If you’ve tried Injinis, it takes roughly as long. Perhaps another 30 seconds to work the toes comfortably into their respective compartments, but definitely not the pain and agony I’ve been reading about. And once you get them on, you’ll see it’s worth the effort.

I got my first test today on my home trail – Heritage Park in lovely Farmington Hills. Admittedly, the first few minutes feel odd. No cushioning, and you’re virtually unable to heel-strike (a poor form habit I’ve been trying to break). These literally force you into decent form, since not doing so hurts immensely. After the first mile everything felt pretty good. I felt like I was running more in tune with my body’s mechanics, doing things more efficiently. Quiet strides, less head movement. I even felt faster than normal – and Mae noted this as I kept speeding away from her. Obviously these are as light as a pair of sandals, so your feet feel free from anything. This is, surprisingly, more energizing than you might think.

One of the more interesting things – and this should seem obvious but never occurred to me before actually trying them – is that you feel everything below you. When the ground changes textures from wood chips to packed dirt to soft mud, you feel everything. The softness of the earth, the temperature changes, the dry or moist – every sensation is there (just be careful for jagged stones – the sole isn’t thick enough to protect). Of course these changes are identifiable with regular trail shoes, but the sensations you get wearing these is magnified way beyond that. It’s a very cool feeling and I wish I could equate it to something easy to relate to. At any rate, if there is an ounce of tree-huggerness in you, I think you’ll enjoy these.

Kept it limited to a 5 mile fartlek but am excited to give these more and more time. I’m waiting until I’ve done a few more runs to form a solid opinion, but here and now, a few hours later, only my calves are a touch sore from the form adjustment and everything else feels great. Best of all, I’m excited to get back out there to try them again. The IT-Band injuries seem under control and I’m hoping running with better form will help keep them away longer. Don’t know that I’d make them an everyday thing just yet, but we’ll see how it goes. I’m interested to see what true barefoot running would be like, now.