In this introductory post, I’m going to cover some basics to help people get started with these foot-friendly, super-minimalist, power-house shoes.
What are VFFs?
Vibram is an Italian company that has been making shoe soles for over 80 years. Traditionally, the soles are quite thick and appear on numerous very heavy, and very non-minimalist shoes. Just over 15 years ago they launched the first Vibram FiveFingers, which were originally marketed to yachters and they took off from there. The company also makes the soles for many minimalist shoe companies that don’t use molded soles, including Softstar, Tikki, and Drifter Leather.
Why are Vibram FiveFingers good for you?
VFFs are extremely minimalist shoes with pockets for each of your toes. They are have numerous models that vary in materials, thickness, and fit. Some are insulated, some are made of hemp, some have laces, some don’t. The styles feel endless.
What’s common between them is letting your feet be feet. And along the way they challenge the rest of you to work and perform optimally.
Do I need to transition into VFFs?
Yes and no. There are clear instructions that come with Vibram FiveFingers telling you how to slowly transition. This is probably partially for your benefit and partially for theirs, since they were sued about 10 years after launch.
The real answer probably depends on your current footwear choices, gait, and so much more, as well as the model and your intended use. I am not a runner, so I don’t have to worry about that level of stress, but I can tell when I’m wearing them a lot, especially the hemp model (which may be too narrow, jury still out in that). I think the important thing to consider is your personal experience. Do you get really sore wearing them for while? Then back off. Listen to yourself. Take care of yourself. Check your gait. If you’re getting really sore in your calves and tendons, it’s a good bet it’s gait, not shoes. Do self-assessments, research, and take it easy. Injuring yourself can set you back.
Like usual, though, I didn’t really transition into them. I got my first pair about 8 months into minimalist footwear and try to work them in frequently for the toe-spreading benefits.
This post references a study and talks about strike required to help prevent running injuries. I also highly recommend that if you are doing an intensive exercise like running and you’re coming from mainstream footwear, dig into the information available on r/barefootrunning. Be your own advocate and research, research, research.
Socks or no socks?
One debate that comes up in fans of Vibram FiveFingers is whether you should wear them with socks or not. Like most things, it’s really up to the wearer, but there are things to consider with both choices.
First, is sizing. Vibrams are sized with very small tolerances and even the thinnest socks affect fit. If you want to wear socks, factor that into your sizing, especially if you have wide feet. (Also a note on sizing – the shoes tend to align with EU sizes but the men’s and women’s do not align, so proceed by checking sizing carefully).
Second, is smell. If you’re working your VFFs hard and sweating in them, you can quickly develop a serious funk. Socks can definitely help prevent this. If you decide not to wear socks, I highly recommend you check out this old but extremely thorough post that covers both prevention and management of shoe funk.
Why do Vibram FiveFingers get so much hate?
Societal conditioning is strong, y’all. And it’s still often perfectly acceptable to put down other people’s choices. I’ve straight up been laughed at and told I’m obviously not having any more children because I’m wearing “Five Finger Birth Control.”
Not.
Cool.
Make healthy cool, okay? Even if it doesn’t look like your ideal, just shrug it off and move on. Don’t put someone else down and call their shoes weird. That’s what people in mainstream shoes can feel justified doing to people wear any foot-shaped shoe. Don’t be like that.
Where can I get VFFs?
There are so many ways to get Vibram FiveFingers I couldn’t possibly even list them all. But here are a few options:
This has the benefit of their extensive technical details and model comparisons. But I find the prices may be the highest.
Benefit here is finding Prime models for free returns. However, you may find the prices higher than other options. Compare. Compare. And compare some more.
Ebay
Ebay is not just the place to buy used goods. Many official VFF resellers use Ebay as a platform to reach more buyers. I have bought 2 brand new pairs here and 2 others that I ended up returning. Many of them offer that for free, and if you pay with PayPal you can take advantage of their return shipping program (sign up first!) to cover return shipping when needed.
In-store
Stores like REI and Dick’s Sporting Goods carry some models in stores. There is a huge benefit to this in being able to try on different models in person and see what you like the most, but the drawback is potentially facing some of the highest prices. If you want to go try them on in store (recommended) then be prepared to price-check before committing.
Resales
Due to the variety of models and fits, resales are quite common. Mercari, Poshmark, and Facebook can easily land you new or nearly new VFFs at a good price. The Minimalist Shoe Buy/Sell/Trade and Vibram Five Finger Buy…Sell…Swap… groups are both good places to look, as well as the main marketplace.
Love VFFs? Have questions? Drop a comment here or come chat on Instagram. For a look at the first models I tried, check out the video on IGTV.