Some design concepts break the mould and have influence over a wide spectrum of activity, with the Vibram FiveFingers shoes falling squarely into that category. Designed by Robert Fliri and released in 2006, the shoes quickly became something of a cult hit, but the publication of books like Born to Run by Christoper McDougall last year have pushed their popularity through the roof.
There are currently seven models of the FiveFingers available, with more planned, and the uses that people put them to continue to grow. They are used for water sports, yoga, climbing, walking, martial arts and trekking, but it is perhaps the barefoot running community that has embraced them with the most passion. On any website or forum about running barefoot, you are sure to find discussion of Vibram's FiveFingers (VFFs). One site, birthdayshoes.com, is dedicated to them. Even Wired magazine featured them.
So what's all the fuss? Why would you want to wear a funny-looking, not inexpensive pair of shoes with a wafer-thin sole and no support? The main reason is that these shoes mimic the sensation of going barefoot, which many people – especially runners – are claiming not only cuts down on injuries, but also leads to a more efficient, less stressful style of running. Without going into a lot of detail, there is evidence that suggests the built-up heel on modern running shoes could actually lead to the injuries they claim to prevent. At the very least, putting a pair of these on your feet is bound to get you noticed.
The delay in writing about the FiveFingers is mainly because your intrepid editors have been trying these shoes out for the last few months – Richard is currently running up to 15km a time in them and enjoying running for the first time in his life, while Ryo is sporting them on the streets of Paris, Milan and New York. We're loving them. And that's the point.
These shoes may represent a paradigm-shift in footwear design, they may change the way we think about running, they may look crazy and they may be tricky to get on an off (at first), but at the end of the day, the one thing that all their owners seem to agree on is this: they're great fun.
There are a ton of good reasons to wear VFFs (particularly for running even though barefoot is likely best), but for me, the number one reason I keep returning to is that they are just comfortable. They don't constrain your feet in anyway and they are extremely versatile. Wear them casually. Wear them to run sprints or for parkour. All while your feet are protected.
If only the aesthetic would become acceptable, we could all be having more comfortable all the time.
Thanks for the mention by the way ( http://birthdayshoes.com )!
Posted by: Justin | 09 January 2010 at 01:21
I think these shoes look wonderful and the design is brilliant, from the concept to the finished product.
They do look a little funny, but they are as you say: great fun. Also, as Justin says, there are so many reasons to wear them.
Posted by: Anthony | 09 January 2010 at 17:56
Awesome information. Thank you for posting and keep up the good work. I'll be following your blog closely from now on! :-)
Posted by: Puma Golf Shoes | 28 June 2010 at 13:00