FIT:
The fit if you have the size best for your foot is amazing. The sizes are different then you'd normally see. You can try them on at the retail stores and they have a size chart for the fivefingers there. There are 4 types of the Five Fingers the one I will be reviewing are the Sprints. The Fivefingers can be used in Barefoot Running::Water Sports:: Trecking/Traveling::Yoga/fitness.
Vibram FiveFingers is different than any other footwear on the planet. Not only do they bring you closer to your environment, FiveFingers deliver a number of positive health benefits—by leveraging all of the body’s natural biomechanics, so you can move as nature intended.
6 Reasons to Wear Vibram FiveFingers:
1. Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs - wearing FiveFingers will stimulate and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improving general foot health and reducing the risk of injury.
2. Improves Range of Motion in Ankles, Feet and Toes – no longer ‘cast’ in a shoe, the foot and toes move more naturally.
3. Stimulates Neural Function Important to Balance and Agility - when wearing Vibram FiveFingers, thousands of neurological receptors in the feet send valuable information to the brain, improving balance and agility.
4. Improves Proprioception and Body Awareness – those same neurological receptors heighten body awareness, sending messages about body mechanics, form, and movement.
5. Eliminates Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture – By lowering the heel, our bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spine alignment.
6. Allows the Foot and Body to Move Naturally, Which Just FEELS GOOD.
FLEXIBILITY:
These are the most flexible shoes I have yet to try and fit amazingly with any foot type.
WEIGHT:
The VFFSprints are the lightest shoe I have ever set my eyes upon well besides ballet shoes. I train up to 2 hours each day of the week for the past year and half with these and I forget I am wearing shoes. Vibram designed them to be lightweight to maximize the feeling of being barefoot.
GRIP:
The VFF Sprints use Razor-siped soles to maximize your grip on a wide variety of surfaces. These shoes have the best grip out of any shoe I have tested. When I first slipped on my VFF I managed to get a couple feet off of my wall runs and tic tacs. They Also help tremendously for Cat Grabs making climbing up walls easier then 1 2 3.
BREATHABILITY:
I train in a climate which averages 80-90 degrees throughout the year and my feet don't sweat in them. And when the breeze comes a long your toes can feel the nice air. The shoes have toe sockets allowing air to reach the insides of the toes.
CUSHIONING:
These shoes contain almost no cushioning but the sole does prevent scrapes etc. It is designed that way to be a bare-footing experience allowing you to walk on the sharpest of rocks, without getting hurt but you can feel the rocks under your feet. The shoes take a while to get used to because there is no cushioning but it trains your body not to rely on the padded heels.
Durability
I have had these for a year and a half and train for 2 hours a day 5 days a week out of the year and I don't see one bit of wear on the soles. These shoes are very very very durable and are great for doing almost everything.
Price
The Price is a bit high for a shoe considering that there isn't much shoe in it. If you are looking for a long term investment then these are the shoes for you.
GENERAL COMMENTS:
These shoes are perfect for parkour and other activities. They are healthy to wear too! They are my favorite shoes I have ever purchased and I am switching completely over to VFF. I bought a pair of the VFF Classics for normal wearing. The Classics don't contain a strap which goes over the top of your foot but they are perfect for walking around town in. The VFFSprint Strap helps a lot by allowing you to adjust your feet inside the shoe and also just having a nicer fit. I know some people have had problems with the stink but I have only washed my VFF once or twice and they smell brand new. It just depends on how much you sweat. Also if they do get stinky they are easy to wash so no worries.
The Bottom Line:
They are a great buy for some nice shoes, very healthy for the body, and the grip and comfortability are amazing. They maximized my experience in training.
Pros: Very lightweight. Comfy. Healthy for the Body. protects your feet while you can enjoy a barefooting experience.
Cons: Expensive.
