New VFFs!!! I am soooo getting a pair

[roguerower]

I absolutely love my VFFs. I jumped on the band wagon in the Winter of '08 before they started getting out there and ended up introducing a lot of my friends to them. While at first they laughed at me, they became intrigued and one after another they started getting them and loved them too. My current collection is my first pair of Black KSOs and my new pair of red Sprints. I've been using my sprints more and more because I like the feel of them and because my feet sweat and the open tops let them air out.

AND NOW THEY INTRODUCE THESE: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_bikila_m.cfm!!!!!

THESE THINGS ARE FREAKIN' AWESOME!!! Finally a pair of VFFs actually made for running. All the other ones do it well, but this one was designed from the ground up with it in mind.

I AM SO GETTING A PAIR (probably the green ones)!!!

 

[Capt Caveman]

From what I've read, they're getting mixed reviews.

 

[brikis98]

From what I've read, they're getting mixed reviews.

Got any links? I'd love to see some reviews.

 

[rocadelpunk]

I have a pair. They do what they're supposed to, but I'd much prefer to go barefoot than with them on.

 

[mcveigh]

Got any links? I'd love to see some reviews.

http://birthdayshoes.com/

 

[MJinZ]

I want these for the next time I am called to a top secret mission sanctioned by the NSA, where I will support Sam Fisher in order to save the other.

Otherwise, I'd rather go barefoot (I have awesome sexy feet) or run with something that will not cause a nail to go into foot.

 

[StageLeft]

How can they be "made" for running? The point of the original VFF was to do as little as possible while giving puncture protection and they do it well.

I've read some impressions on runnersworld forums and they don't seem fantastic. They are a little thicker even than KSO (i.e. they are getting AWAY further from the barefoot/minimal idea). I think some were having fit issues, but these could just be preliminary reports.

I have a pair of sprints and I've run a decent bit in them but they are no panacea and GROSSLY overpriced. I was just the other day "admiring" the $6 aquasocks at walmart that frankly are quite similar to the sprints. The current ones have velcro strap, too. If you remove a simple part of the liner they are very close to flat and offer better grip than the sprint VFFs and they actually don't look as stupid anyway. I like minimal shoes but they're almost universally overpriced. I've run in aqua socks without a strap and they were good, the main issue being that they got loose--but now that they have straps I intend on picking up a pair.

BTW Merril and Vibram are teaming up to make some trail shoes coming out in the fall or next year. They look like trail shoes with only a subtle (I think) identification of toes, so by this I mean they look a lot less stupid than VFFs.

 

[kalrith]

They are a little thicker even than KSO (i.e. they are getting AWAY further from the barefoot/minimal idea).

I was just the other day "admiring" the $6 aquasocks at walmart that frankly are quite similar to the sprints. The current ones have velcro strap, too.

I thought the same thing when I first saw these. These VFFs are getting closer to running with shoes rather than closer to barefoot running.

I bought a pair of the $6 aquasocks at Walmart with the strap. When my feet get sweaty, I'm extremely thankful for the strap. I can imagine that my feet would slide all around if it weren't for the strap. I'm just getting into minimalist running, so I'm still in the walking phase.

The $6 aquasocks feel great, and I'm quite glad that I didn't spend $80 on the KSOs just to try them out. I might eventually get a pair of VFFs, but that's a pretty steep price just to test out a new running method that I may or may not stick with.

 

[roguerower]

Some people like them, some people don't. Since I got my new pair of sprints I can say that I've used my running shoes a handful of times, the VFFs are just so freakin comfy. I've put my VFFs through the ringer and they've always come up as the winner.

While I do agree with you that a thickening of the sole is definitely a departure from their barefoot idea, anyone running on black asphalt can say that any of the current shoes based off of the very thin sole design get very hot soles after a while.

I'm not dismissing the aquasocks, but I'm of the train of thought that if I pay good money upfront for a product that I've thoroughly researched (looked around for 2 months before buying first pair) and thoroughly tested (on my 2nd pair of VFFs, almost 2 years of combined use) then I will be thoroughly satisfied. Same thing goes to buying PC components, a car, or any household item.

 

[EvilYoda]

Haven't been on AT for a while...hi all. Anyway, I picked up a pair of Bikilas when I was in Chicago (Fleet Feet) and I love them. That said, they're my first pair. Plenty of people at my CF box have Sprints, KSOs, and Treks, so I'm plenty familiar with Fivefingers.

I guess we'll see how they compare as I buy other "models" in the future, but for now I'm very glad that I picked up the Bikilas.

 

[Jinru]

If anyone is interested, there was a good deal for a knock off pair of VFF's.

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=2074248

 

[kalrith]

I'm not dismissing the aquasocks, but I'm of the train of thought that if I pay good money upfront for a product that I've thoroughly researched (looked around for 2 months before buying first pair) and thoroughly tested (on my 2nd pair of VFFs, almost 2 years of combined use) then I will be thoroughly satisfied. Same thing goes to buying PC components, a car, or any household item.

It's great that you've used the VFFs and know that you really like them. For me the aquasocks are a cheap way to venture into minimalist running, testing the style rather than a specific product.

If I like it, then I'll go to the local store that carries VFFs and try them out. They said I could run around the parking lot in them, and after putting a lot of miles on the aquasocks, hopefully that will be enough time to know whether I prefer them a lot more than the aquasocks.