The Caffeinated Penguin

Posted By matt on November 9, 2010

So, Vibram Five Fingers are totally worth it. My back feels better, my feet hurt when I put them in normal shoes or slippers, so I just wear these most of the time.

That said, it’s *not* the same as going barefoot. You still lose some sensation, but you can still grip with your toes.

I went to EMS, tried on a KSO. I liked them very much, but they came in one color – hideous, and I really wanted some smartwool ones to replace my winter slippers (tile floors get cold). So, I noted my size and ordered the correct ones from EMS online.

I got them, tried them on, and immediately realized that they didn’t fit.. classics need to be bought one size larger than KSO’s. So, I gave them to Liz, whom they fit perfectly. I then ordered a second set one size larger.

Liz loved hers, and pretty much hasn’t taken them off since. My wearing them for a couple of hours stretched them just enough to fit perfectly, and they didn’t even tear up her Achilles tendon, like ever other pair of shoes she’s ever bought.

Of course, my new ones did just that for me – which *never* happens. New shoes just work for me.

So, I took a page from this fellow, cut off the elastic, carved off the rubber bit at the back, and all of sudden, they’re quite perfect.

Come spring, I’ll likely be grabbing some KSO treks for daily wear (possibly sooner, as replacement for my office loafers) and further likely a KSO flow for mucking about in the stream. I like the look and idea of the moc, but can’t really come up with a reason, so likely won’t get a pair.

Moral of the story: Make sure to read the sizing instructions correctly, else your wife gets a free pair of VFFs.

Side note: As an unexpected corollary to this, I’m finding that I have a lot more stability. See, I have somewhat smallish feet for a man, and I inherited my mother’s weak ankles. Step wrong, and you’ve got a sprain. So, I tend to wear stout boots with lots of ankle support, especially in the winter time. When walking barefoot, I don’t have the issue. I can usually recover, my ankle doesn’t buckle, I remain upright. In loafers or sneakers, I go right over. Somewhat surprisingly, with the VFFs, I had a misstep on the stairs. However, my toes gripped, my ankle did not collapse, I did not fall, and all I did was spill a few drops of coffee. I am further hoping that, as I wear them more, my ankle muscles won’t atrophy over winter, as is typically the case.

Category: General
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