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Five Finger FAQs

by Tyler Hurst » on Jan 31, 2011 6

I get a lot of questions every time I wear my Five Fingers, which is every single day. Inquiries about their comfortableness, ability to handle extreme weather and how long it takes to break them in are oft repeated, so here’s a list of the top questions and my answers.

Note I own Bikilas, Sprints, Classics and KSOs. I’ve had them all around a year and run three half marathons in the Sprints. I wear the Classics and KSOs every day.

Photo courtesy of RailLife.com

1. Are they comfortable?
Yes, but they weren’t at first for more than a few hours. Like anything new, there was a break in period, but now that I run and wear them 24-7, my feet have never felt better. In fact, I wore normal track shoes to a conference in 2009 at the Anaheim Convention Center and my feet hurt for two days. I wore my KSOs in 2010 and after a brief rest in my hotel room, I walked around AND got in a run that night. My fitness level was the same, too.

2. Can you wear them in the cold?
The Five Fingers I have aren’t built for temps much below 40, but with Injinji socks I was fine walking around Manhattan in the mid to low 20s. They have better options for cold weather, so if you don’t like in central AZ like I do, go ahead and look into something like the KSO Treks.

3. What happens when you step on rocks?

It hurts, but only a little. As anyone becomes more comfortable walking barefoot or Five Finger type shoes, their foot loosens up and adjust to impact much, much better. In fact, out feet were DESIGNED that way. Or evolved that way.

4. Do you get a lot of questions about your Five Fingers?
Yes, usually from interested people who have yet to buy or even try them on. I would LOVE if Five Finger manufacturer Vibram gave me some sort of discount card to hand out that shows people where to buy them, but alas, they have done a poor job in marketing themselves to the every man. Not that it matters, as they seemingly can’t keep anything in stock.

5. Do you run in them?
Yes. Almost every day. I’ve run three half marathons in them and my recovery time is in hours, not days.

6. How long did it take to get used to them?
I ran my first half marathon seven months after I bought my Sprints and I was pretty sore afterward. I came down with ITBS in my next one last October, but finished the race. My last half, about two weeks ago, was run nearly pain free. As far as wearing them every day, that took me a few weeks.

7. Where will I be sore?
Top of your feet and the outside of your feet for me. Tops of my feet lessened considerably after I stretched them out, the outside stopped hurting once I learned to stop overpronating.

8. Was it worth it?
Yes. Real shoes hurt my feet now and I have no idea why so many of us accepted this as long we did.

9. What advice would you give?
Start slow. Shin splints and calf pulls hurt and that’s what’s going to happen if you’re not running with proper form and/or going too fast.

10. What advice do you have?
Be prepared to relearn your running form. Listen to your body. If it hurts, you’re probably doing it wrong.

Submitted Comments

  1. Lucas David-Roesler says:

    Do you have a preference between the KSOs or the Classics for casual wear? I have KSOs and I want another pair for casual wear, but I can’t decide what to get.

  2. Corey says:

    I prefer Classics for casual wear (especially in warmer weather). They don’t look quite as silly with shorts. As for pants, I flip between KSO’s and Classics. Just depends on the mood/weather.

  3. Lucas David-Roesler says:

    I guess I will just have to get both. That is the only way to be certain. Since it is winter here I should probably get another KSO. I can wait until late spring to get a pair of classics.

  4. Tyler Hurst says:

    I’m right with Corey. I much prefer my Classics, but break out the KSOs in cooler weather or when I feel like looking dressy.

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