Barefoot Running & Vibram Five Fingers Review

From the first time I Unshod my feet in 2005 and started running barefoot, to the alternative Unshod Running of Vibrams Five Fingers, I have been there from the start of the Vibrams, to the current. Here you will find my personal reviews of the Five Fingers and other products I use on a daily basis!!
So onto the reviews!!

Vibram Five Fingers Classic

These were my first pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I remember hearing about these as I was increasing my miles and thought how neat it would be to be able to increase my miles and not have to slow down soo much. I remember waiting and waiting for these and finally they came. The first run I did in these was a 10 miler and they were like soft butter, a dream come true.. I was in heaven EXCEPT the fact that they had this hard reinforced part that rubbed into the achilles tendon. This was very annoying and everyone that was in the barefoot/unshod running were quick to point this out as well as everyone else that was interested in Five Fingers. They heard the masses and made the necessary changes to the several lines that they have out today! Overall these were a dream come true to all of us that were wanting the benefits of barefoot / unshod running without loosing the ability to go where we wanted to go!! Way to go Vibram! Little did I know what they had in store would be the answer that so many were searching for!!!

Vibrams KSO

It had been two years since I had even thought about Vibrams website or progress. I had just gotten used to the classics and rotating barefoot to unshod classic days. One day while in Runners Corner, Golden (A guy who knows his crap) told me about the Vibrams KSO’s that were just out… He told me that they started carrying vibrams after seeing me wearing them at some of the races  runs (true story lol). So he got me a pair to try on! WOW WOW WOW! They took out the Achillies splint and made then a bit softer top to cover the top of the foot! These are currently my all time favorites. When they are new they are a little bit too thick on the bottom but after putting in a hundred miles or so it wears down to a comfortable thin layer of Barefoot Running!! These are my current KSO’s that have close to 300 miles on them now. They are still holding up well (alot better than the Classics). Golden even told me about some “trail running” vibrams coming out. So I did some research. Come to find out there are some KSO TREKS coming out. Seems like they are for trail running but I may be using them for the winter running as some of the places I run it is -10 many mornings (Vernal UT when visiting family). So we will have to wait and see!! I give the KSO’s a Two big toes up!!! Way to go Vibram! Keeps getting better!!

Vibrams KSO TREK

These are great! I got these from my wife this last Christmas and love them for the winter / trail running. The kangaroo leather helps protect the tops of my feet just enough in the subzero temps.. Keep in mind the toes still turn blue then to purple then transparent (jk about the transparent, but they do turn purple) but there is still just enough coverage to help keep the cold just a bit off. The bottoms of these are just a bit thicker. I will post the side by side comparison of the KSO’s VS the KSO TREKs below. I have only run in these about 10 times as I still prefer the KSO’s but for colder days and trail runnings in the rocky hills by the house, these will be my chosen barefooters for the day!! I also did a video review that I will include on here a week or so ago!! These are a great addition to anyone that is running barefoot  / unshod!! Keep safe and keep running!!!

Vibrams KSO vs KSO TREK