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Anyone wear the Vibram Five Fingers?

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fuzzybabybunny

fuzzybabybunny

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How do you like them? I hike and backpack and do practically everything short of running in my Crocs, and was looking into the VFF as a lightweight, minimalist, impervious to water option that would stay on my feet better than Crocs and allow for a wide range of activities like ocean kayaking, fording streams, backpacking, jogging, etc.

I tried a pair at REI and I was immediately surprised by how warm and unbreathable they were. I heard that a lot of people get sweaty feet with them and at the end of the day they smell.

Any thoughts or reviews?
 
If you do a search, you'll find several threads detailing the answers to your questions. That'll give you way more info than what you'd get in this thread alone. Hope that helps.
 
SociallyChallenged said:
If you do a search, you'll find several threads detailing the answers to your questions. That'll give you way more info than what you'd get in this thread alone. Hope that helps.
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This and anything are better than crocs. There are different versions of VFFs, some are more breathable than others.
 
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I hike and backpack too... never in a million years would I take a pair of crocs on a twenty mile, 3,000ft gain hike. Do you have a screw loose or do you have caveman feet which are impervious to the elements?

In fact, never would I wear the VFF's either. After carrying 30-40lbs on your back for 10 hours through various terrain, I would prefer something with some support/protection.

Now if you are into the whole 'trail-running' thing, these might be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Personally, I stick with Merrell Chameleon's for the best comfort-to-protection ratio.
 
Smoove910 said:
I hike and backpack too... never in a million years would I take a pair of crocs on a twenty mile, 3,000ft gain hike. Do you have a screw loose or do you have caveman feet which are impervious to the elements?

In fact, never would I wear the VFF's either. After carrying 30-40lbs on your back for 10 hours through various terrain, I would prefer something with some support/protection.

Now if you are into the whole 'trail-running' thing, these might be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Personally, I stick with Merrell Chameleon's for the best comfort-to-protection ratio.
Click to expand...

For trailing running, I use my VFF Treks. As long as you're not dealing with lots of leaves(hiding rocks) and or small rocks, they're great. But hit a rock and you'll be crying in pain.
 
Smoove910 said:
I hike and backpack too... never in a million years would I take a pair of crocs on a twenty mile, 3,000ft gain hike. Do you have a screw loose or do you have caveman feet which are impervious to the elements?

In fact, never would I wear the VFF's either. After carrying 30-40lbs on your back for 10 hours through various terrain, I would prefer something with some support/protection.

Now if you are into the whole 'trail-running' thing, these might be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Personally, I stick with Merrell Chameleon's for the best comfort-to-protection ratio.
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*shrugs*

I've done hikes like that before in my crocs. Many in the snow too. On the way down I have to rely a good deal on my hiking poles though. I wish Yaktrax would fit on Crocs.

When I first started hiking I used real boots, then to lightweight boots, then to waterproof shoes, then to ultralight breathable trail runners.

And finally I said "screw it" to all of them and got crocs, and I've been hiking in them for 4 years or more. I only use my trail runners for anything that requires jogging or running.

I use crocs for scuba diving too - good shoe for hiking to and from the beachhead with gear on.
 
I do pretty much the same thing. I like to ball up some newspaper and duct tape it to my right foot, then dip my left foot in glue and step in kitty litter. Then I'm ready for a hike. This is my intermediate step between ultralight breathable trail runners and crocs.
 
Smoove910 said:
I hike and backpack too... never in a million years would I take a pair of crocs on a twenty mile, 3,000ft gain hike. Do you have a screw loose or do you have caveman feet which are impervious to the elements?

In fact, never would I wear the VFF's either. After carrying 30-40lbs on your back for 10 hours through various terrain, I would prefer something with some support/protection.

Now if you are into the whole 'trail-running' thing, these might be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Personally, I stick with Merrell Chameleon's for the best comfort-to-protection ratio.
Click to expand...

I went up Mt. Adams (elevation 12,281 ft, prominence 8,116 ft) in VFF KSOs while wearing a 45lb pack, up to the glacier anyways. They were fantastic. That particular trail is 5.7 miles long and climbs 6,676 ft. The vibrams were much more comfortable than the god awful plastic boots I had to wear from then on. Actually, they were even better than the boots on the snow, and my feet never got cold.
 
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Smoove910 said:
Now if you are into the whole 'trail-running' thing, these might be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Personally, I stick with Merrell Chameleon's for the best comfort-to-protection ratio.
Click to expand...
I am ate up with trail running and vibrams are almost as far from my mind as barefoot is. I do like minimalish shoes like the MT101 and maybe eventually the Minimus though. The MT101 has some rock protection, the Minimus has none, and that poses a mental barrier to me. I personally don't see the value in vibrams unless you are running on smooth, groomed trail with nary a sign of rocks, roots, and ruts.
 
Megatomic said:
I am ate up with trail running and vibrams are almost as far from my mind as barefoot is. I do like minimalish shoes like the MT101 and maybe eventually the Minimus though. The MT101 has some rock protection, the Minimus has none, and that poses a mental barrier to me. I personally don't see the value in vibrams unless you are running on smooth, groomed trail with nary a sign of rocks, roots, and ruts.
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I've found that running in my VFF treks on the trails are fine as long as you're don't have to deal with leaves. You do have to be a little more careful and pay more attention. I'm guessing we have similar trail conditions here in MA as you do in NY.

Wearing VFFs for day/light hiking would be fine but I would never where them if I had to carry a heavy pack. I'd want the stability and protection that a hiking boot is going to provide.

Don't understand why anyone would want to wear crocs for anything especially outdoor activities.
 
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