Apparently, we aren’t the only one that find the Vibram FiveFingers an interesting and potentially foot pain and injury prevention device.  We here at FuncFash have scoured the four corners of the internet to find the most best and most useful reviews and resources for the Vibram FiveFingers barefoot running shoes.

Apparently there’s a hot summer sale at RockCreek, a seller of Vibram five fingers:

• Click HERE

In-Depth Reviews/Opinions

• Wired Magazine: To Run Better, Start by Ditching Your Nikes (summary: barefoot running is good, look into Vibram)
• Wired Product Reviews: Vibram FiveFingers KSO and Classic Running Shoes (7/10, surprisingly comfortable, but ugly)
• Barefootrunner.com: Review: Vibram FiveFingers Classic (5/10, look better than they feel)
• Timothy Ferris: Vibram Five Fingers Shoes: The Barefoot Alternative (10 years of lower back pain disappeared)
• justinowings.com: My Bare Feet. Vibram Five Fingers Review (if you like being barefoot you’ll like Vibram)
• Ryan Kano: Got Toes? The Vibram FiveFingers Review (surprisngly comfortable, but did develop blisters)
• GadgetReview: Vibram 5 Fingers Flow BareFoot Shoes (solid build and quality, pain to get on at first)
• nateluzod.com: Gear Review: Vibram Five Fingers (hip/IT-Band injury is now almost history)
• GearJunkie: Vibram FiveFingers Running Shoes (100 miles ran and a Vibram convert)

Video Reviews and Demonstrations

• Backpacker Magazine Review of Vibram FiveFingers KSO
• Legendary Strength Review (watch shoes in action)
• Wired Magazine Reivew
• StandUpPaddleAndSurf Review of Vibram FiveFingers KSO
• Pose Tech Review and Test (watch reviewer put the shoes on)
• Brad Rourke Review (not for everyone, but he loves them)

All Things Vibram FiveFingers

• Vibram FiveFingers Shoes: Site with reviews, information, and pictures of Vibram FiveFingers
• BirthdayShoes:  A site dedicated to Vibram Fivefingers; reviews, pictures, etc…
• Twitter Search Results:  Search results for “Vibram” (lots of happy customers)
• Yahoo Answer Search Reults:  Questions and answers regarding “Vibram”

Misc and Other Info

• Begin to Dig: Fitting Vibram FiveFingers – And Injinji Socks – review
• Keith-In-Training: An Avid User of the Vibram FiveFingers Line Answers Questions

Where to Buy:

• Vibram FiveFingers: Classic $75, Sprint $80, KSO $85, and FLOW $90 (price updated 7-22-09)
• RockCreek.com: Men’s– Classic $74.95, Sprint $79.95, KSO $84.95, and FLOW $89.95; Women’s– Classic $74.95, Sprint $79.95, and KSO $84.95 (price updated 7-22-09)
• REI: Men’s– Classic $75, Sprint $80, and KSO $85; Women’s– Classic $70, Sprint $80, and KSO $85 (price updated 7-22-09)

Features:

• Thin flexible sole and individual toe pockets help strengthen feet and improve balance and agility
• Razor-siped soles increase flexibility and slip resistance
• At the rear is a pull-tab that helps you position your foot to get the best fit
• All are machine washable (and recommended as you don’t wear socks with these shoes)
• Antimicrobial microfiber footbed (prevents germs from chilling in your shoes)
• Various upper materials that mostly comprise of neoprene (different models have slightly different materials)
• Weight varies from 4.25 oz – 6.6 oz per shoe (depending on size and whether male/female)

Special Deals:

For a great variety of running shoes of all popular brands. We found this store.  They have free shipping for a limited time.

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Related posts:

1. New Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek Uses Kangaroo
2. Vibram Five Fingers Barefoot Running Shoes are Awesome
3. VivoBarefoot Shoes: Stylish and Good for Your Feet

[Via barefooted.com]

The barefooted.com’s ted was lucky enough to try on a pair and had this to say about them:

When I first put these shoes on, I knew that I had finally felt the most comfortable VFF yet. The kangaroo skin’s soft side is INSIDE the shoe…so your foot is encased in smoothness. Under 6 ounces. Rugged. Breathable. Thank you Gawd!

What’s new with the Kangaroo KSO Trek?  It’s a more rugged version of their popular KSO (Keep Stuff Out model) and according to Vibram they say it is great for: Light Trekking, Trail Running, Fitness Walking, & Travel.  Expect the Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek to launch in the Fall of 2009 and retail for approximately $125.  Can’t wait?  You should check out their other FiveFinger Models.

**UPDATE**

Found some more information on the Trek and other new Vibram FiveFingers models coming out this fall. Definitely check out this post if you want to learn more about the new shoes coming up.

Or Stop procrastinating and hop on the barefoot revolution NOW!!  Check out RockCreek.com below where they have Vibram as well as other barefoot running tools:

RockCreek.com: Men’s– Classic $74.95, Sprint $79.95, KSO $84.95, and FLOW $89.95; Women’s– Classic $74.95, Sprint $79.95, and KSO $84.95 (price updated 7-22-09)

Update (Hot summer sale at RockCreek):

• Click HERE

On a side note.. we spotted a great deal on athletic shoes at this store.  Free shipping as well until september.  I like how it’s easy to exchange shoes even though it’s online.  That was one of my main beef with buying shoes online before.

If you like this kind of stuff subscribe to the RSS feed or get it delivered through email Or follow us on Twitter.

Related posts:

1. Best Reviews, Opinions, and Information on Vibram FiveFingers
2. Vibram Five Fingers Barefoot Running Shoes are Awesome
3. VivoBarefoot Shoes: Stylish and Good for Your Feet

For the past 40 or so years shoe manufacturers have been putting an increasing amount of “technology” and “innovation” into shoes.  Shoes that promise to make you play basketball like Michael Jordan or shoes that cushion your foot on a pocket of air as you run.  All great stuff, right?  Here’s the thing that I didn’t know until recently… for all the technological improvements that have gone into modern day shoes there’s little evidence that these shoes do anything to decrease the number of foot related injuries.

“People have been running barefoot for millions of years and it has only been since 1972 that people have been wearing shoes with thick, synthetic heels,” — Daniel Lieberman,  professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University.

When you look at it from an evolutionary standpoint (that is if you agree with evoloution) it kind of makes sense why we get hurt while wearing our fancy Nike Super Duper Force XL 2000’s.  We just weren’t built to walk and run in shoes the way they currently are designed. Personally I’ve sprained my ankle numerous times, had my fair of shin splints, and in general have had lots of aches in pains in my lower joints.  I’ve tried new shoes, orthotics, tai-chi, you name it…and still eventually have some kind of problems.  The only culprit (besides blaming my poor running form) I can point to is my damn shoes.  My alternative is to throw away my shoes and go barefoot, which surprisingly as I learned makes sense.

3 Reasons Why Barefoot Running Makes Sense

1)  Barefoot feels good.  How often after a long day of hiking or some other activity where you wear shoes do you come and can’t wait to keep your shoes on?  Never, right?  The first thing you want to do is take your shoes off and chuck them as far as way as possible because being barefoot relieves pressure and just feels better.

2)  Strengthen muscles. There are over a 100 muscles and tendons in the foot.  Each of those muscles and tendons contributes to your overall balance and body awareness.  However, when you wear a shoe you prevent those muscles from developing which makes you more at risk for injury (which is why I’ve probably sprained my ankle numerous times).  Take the shoes off and now you can start pumping up those feet.

3) We were born barefoot. Modern humans have been around for over 150,000 years.  Nikes have been around for 30 years.  Do you need Nike’s to become a world class athlete?  No, Ethiopian Abebe Bikila ran the 26 mile marathon in the 1960 Rome Olympics in 2:15:17 winning the gold and setting a world record…all while barefoot.

Meet the Vibram FiveFingers Barefoot Running Shoes Family…

Vibram FiveFingers is perfect for people who want the benefits of barefoot walking or running without the consequences of going barefoot in modern urban society.  There are 4 different product lines that Vibram offer which accommodate a variety of activities and users.

FiveFingers Classic – no frills simple version of the FiveFingers design.  Dries quickly and perfect for Running, Fitness Training, Martial Arts, Yoga, Pilates, Travel.

FiveFingers Sprint – extra loop and hook enclosures add additional fit and snugness making it great for a variety of activities like Light Trekking, Climbing, Canyoneering, Running, Fitness Training, Martial Arts, Yoga, Pilates, Sailing, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Surfing, Flats Fishing, Travel.

FiveFingers FLOW – extra covering on top of shoe provides additional insulation for cold weather envrionments which makes it great for Cold Weather Running, Light Trekking, Climbing, Canyoneering, Sailing, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Surfing, Flats Fishing.

FiveFingers KSO – the KSO stands for “keep stuff out” and that’s what it was intended to do.  The extra mesh on the top of the shoe keep out dirt, gravel, and other nasties and make it good for Light Trekking, Climbing, Canyoneering, Running, Fitness Training, Martial Arts, Yoga, Pilates, Sailing, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Surfing, Flats Fishing, Travel.

FuncFash-ness:  7/10

• Functional: 4.5/5 (prevents used heroin syringes from impaling your foot, but more importantly prevents foot injuries)
• Fashionable:  2.5/5 (you definitely will get stares from wearing it, but probably not the kinds you would like, but hey no more foot pain!)

Learn More:

• Barefoot Running Shoes: Site with reviews, information, and pictures of Vibram FiveFingers

Where to Buy:

• Vibram FiveFingers: Classic $75, Sprint $80, KSO $85, and FLOW $90 (price updated 7-22-09)
• RockCreek.com: Men’s– Classic $74.95, Sprint $79.95, KSO $84.95, and FLOW $89.95; Women’s– Classic $74.95, Sprint $79.95, and KSO $84.95 (price updated 7-22-09)
• REI: Men’s– Classic $75, Sprint $80, and KSO $85; Women’s– Classic $70, Sprint $80, and KSO $85 (price updated 7-22-09)

Features:

• Thin flexible sole and individual toe pockets help strengthen feet and improve balance and agility
• Razor-siped soles increase flexibility and slip resistance
• At the rear is a pull-tab that helps you position your foot to get the best fit
• All are machine washable (and recommended as you don’t wear socks with these shoes)
• Antimicrobial microfiber footbed (prevents germs from chilling in your shoes)
• Various upper materials that mostly comprise of neoprene (different models have slightly different materials)
• Weight varies from 4.25 oz – 6.6 oz per shoe (depending on size and whether male/female)

Related posts:

1. New Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek Uses Kangaroo
2. Best Reviews, Opinions, and Information on Vibram FiveFingers
3. VivoBarefoot Shoes: Stylish and Good for Your Feet