Why Toe Shoes got sued for $3.75 million (Vibram) 

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I was working in a speciality running shoe store around the time they become popular for running. We had many people come in to purchase them and only return them after a week because they hurt their feet. I was instructed by my boss to make it clear to tell customers to run half a mile the first day and slowly build up. Too many people thought you could just wear them and go running like you normally would.

It should be against the TOS to promote gambling on RU-vid.

As a poor person I had a lot of THIN shoe soles. I recently bought a pair of casual puffy sneakers and I actually fell a few times because I could not really feel the ground underneath my feet. I ended up hurting my feet with the really thick soles because I did not transition to get used to the "squish"

I wore these for like three years starting in like 2008. I absolutely loved them while I had them, then completely forgotten they existed after they wore out. Now, with my knee issues from the army, I am considering going back to wearing them, because they were absolutely amazing on my joints compared to sneakers.

2 years ago I was thinking of buying a knee brace because I was limping by the end of every day. My hips and knees were going bad fast. I saw some stories of barefoot shoes and figured why not try it out, I could always go back. 8 months of transitioning later I was pain free with the added bonus of less lower back pain as well. Best wellness choice I have ever made.

The reason people get hurt is that the heal strike. These are meant to be used as a front of foot strike using your arch as the "spring" it was meant to be. I used these to train years ago and was running 3-10 miles regularly. When I first got these, I ran about 3/4 of a mile before I was so sore I couldn't take it. I was using muscles I hadn't used in a while. After getting used to them, my running changed, and I was a better, more efficient runner. I never did long runs in them, only 5k or shorter. I still run like I have them on even though I have not had a pair for 10 years. I also thought they had stopped selling them after they were sued. They make great river shoes too...

I switched to toe shoes for running about ten years ago. I went from easily running 2 miles regularly, to barely being able to run .5 miles. It took about 6 week to build up my leg muscles correctly. Now even when I do have to wear a regular shoe my muscle memory keeps my stride correct. Our legs were built to be springs. But when u heel strike, even with all the padding and cushions in the world, all the pressure shots straight up your bones. Ancle, knee, hips, back. When I run, it's almost floating or bouncing. For a video like this you should do some side by side comparison of the shoe being used vs ordinary sneaker. With someone that uses them correctly. Your videos are very interesting though. It's cool to see what's inside.

You’re right, They were hurting people because they put them on and wore them all day after years of of having their feet deconditioned their entire life from wearing traditional shoes. You have to ease into them slowly conditioning your feet. I can tell you I didn’t change anything in my life and I gained a lot of strength and ankle mobility in lifts after wearing them. From personal experience they are very beneficial.

Yeah, lots of caveats 1. You should ramp up to full barefoot, especially if you plan on running in them and are a trained runner. Would get injured quick if you want to keep the same miles 2. I switched last year, and the toebox area of my feet widened so much none of my other shoes fit anymore. Edit: 3. If you plan on heel striking, that’s essentially incompatible. Basically all of the foot benefits come from switching to toe striking

Regarding the stank-foot: Vibram did make some models with wool or hemp for odor reduction, and leather options that are mostly discontinued. It’d be interesting to see an episode about how much difference shoe and sock material makes when it comes to bacteria, fungus, and smell

Did a significant portion of the Appalachian Trail in knockoff vibrams. An especially rocky portion too. Pretty impressive how much your foot can mold around rocks. Any kind of foot pain/fatigue I felt was from actually walking on concrete due to repeated pressure points (not an issue on uneven terrain). I would also note that it was near impossible to twist my ankle because the shoe has no lip (stack height) for my foot to roll against. Been wearing barefoot shoes ever since. Easily can do 10+ miles a day in barefoot shoes. For sure there is 2+ week adjustment period but overall my feet, ankle, and calves are much stronger, more flexible, and less prone to injury than they’ve ever been.

I had a pair of these and honestly I enjoyed them for hiking. Being able to feel textures on the ground was interesting. It did cause you to shift weight to the balls of your feet instead of the heel which took some muscle training to get used to. Biggest downside was getting tall grass inbetween the toes absolutely horrible feeling lol.

I bought some in 2011. They honestly helped a lot. My arches improved, my overall flexibility and strength went up. I eased into wearing them, though. I could definitely see people doing damage to their feet/legs if they don’t take the time to get properly acclimated. I started by just wearing them for walks to nearby coffee shops, parks, etc.

I switched years ago to barefoot shoes because of knee and plantar fasciitis pain when I run. Over the last 10 years, I have learned that proper stretching and rotating my barefoot shoes with regular cushioned running shoes is the best for me.

I like being barefoot, so I’ve tried on dozens of these things. I have quite normal feet, and I couldn’t find a single pair that weren’t totally uncomfortable and weird; none of them fit every toe well. I’ve since found plenty of minimalist shoes that are comfortable, but they all simply have wide toe boxes.

Contraversial hot take: The "Five fingered shoes" fell out of favor around the same time people realized they could sell feet pics.

My husband started to wear these a few years ago when he couldn't find minimalist shoes wide enough for his feet. He went from having flat feet to EVEN WIDER more muscular feet with good arches. His feet got too wide to wear them, so now I make him shoes.

I was wearing a pair once and went running into a Costco during a rainstorm and the door keeper chased me down because looking at my wet prints it looked like I wasn't wearing shoes haha Mine came with an insert in the box telling you how to break them in safely; that was in 2007. I only stopped wearing them everywhere because I switched jobs and they required dress shoes. Which really sucked to change in to.

In my 15 years of wearing them, I've gone through phases of wearing more or less. I have come to the conclusion that wearing them on natural surfaces helps me a lot. I don't wear them to walk in concrete and asphalt. But if I'm on a trail or beach they're phenomenal. I tried not really being barefoot ever for a while and it really hurt after about 6 months. Walking around in the forest in five fingers really helped. And I wouldn't recommend running in them unless you are great at running and are already used to wearing them. Also I guess my experience is different because I got those warnings at the local store I bought my first pair from.

In my honest opinion they’re the best. I transitioned carefully, now I wear them all the time. It’s clear my feet became much stronger. My physiotherapist also confirms that. My muscles are much more developed in comparison to people who only wear regular shoes. And they’re so grippy! I can run fast on wet grass without slipping.

I ran my own study on my own feet. 5 years ago I had flat, weak, inflexible feet. I started wearing five finger shoes (except during winter) and my feet have actually improved immensely. I have developed a substantial arch, my foot strength has gone way up, my ankle and knee stability is superb, and my foot dexterity and mobility has improved. Also, I notice a huuuge difference in my feet when I switch between boots and 5 fingers each year during winter. My feet feel like stiff boards after wearing boots for a whole season. Listen, nobody wears these shoes for the fashion….. It’s for the way they work. Damn the looks, get something that makes you feel good. That’s just my experience though.

I love these shoes. They completely healed my persistent plantar fasciitis because they forced my foot muscles to work properly. I could only wear them for half an hour at first, and I ramped up slowly. They are absolutely not a shoe you can just put on and do your normal routine right away in.

Don’t tell my husband but I just ordered a pair of these 😂 never tried them before but I’m on a journey to find some comfort & help my toe alignment after dancing in 6-7in heels for the past decade. I have worn strictly toe socks for the past few years & was like hmm…toe shoes? Yes! Let’s try! I am really hoping for some great results; less back pain, less foot pain, better alignment, & more. I have been trying toe stretches & after just a few minutes the tops of my feet hurt so I know they’re weak & I need some aid in strengthening. This video has been so helpful! Thank you 😊

I've used these shoes for years in various forms, and they've been great (I think I'm on my 6th pair since ~2010). I switched to them after recovering from a knee surgery which meant that heel strike running was a total no-go for me due to pain, and risk of re-injury. I transitioned slowly (like the card included in every box suggests) and found them to be a much better running experience than traditional runners, even managing to run greater distances than I'd ever done before (possibly a combination of running style change and more consistent training). No trouble running multiple half marathons. Much less force transfers to the knee joint with a toe strike, compared to a heel strike. My knee still gets angry with me if I even do small amounts of running in regular shoes. I also prefer them for hiking due to being able to feel unstable terrain better and preventing (at least for me) ankle rolling type injuries. I had one injury on a party boat where some dumb drunk person wearing stilettos stomped on my foot and I developed a march fracture in the same spot a week later.... I definitely wouldn't wear them in the shop where a steel-toe give protection and waterproofing for outdoor work. But they are great for keeping up with all four of my kids on the playground, running, hiking, and general walking. Cheers!

Honestly the biggest issue for me was the way the seams were turned inward so they cut into your skin. After trying some other brands, I ended up just becoming a barefooter because I realised the phrase “barefoot shoe” was hilariously oxymoronic.

I grew up having to wear inserts to correct flat feet, in my early 20s it was corrected to the point where I could walk fine but couldnt run 10 yards without pain. I read about barefoot running, bought a cheaper alternative to the fivefingers and VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY got into running, building up the speed and distance in baby steps. I think it did me a lot of good because I went into it with limited expectations of just strengthening my feet, not with the intention of running marathons. I think the limitations of the fivefingers is your toes are strapped too tightly to a strip of hard rubber to move naturally, you're better off with a minimalist trainer with a wide footbed and thin sole, like vivobarefoot or xero shoes.

I had a pair of these when I was a kid and honestly I found them to be more restrictive for your toes than most shoes. They probably do give you more side to side motion but the way the sole wraps up over the toe made them sort of hold your toes down. Also yeah your feet would definitely hurt after wearing them, I think the big thing “barefoot” types miss is that yes being barefoot may have certain benefits or be more natural but most people spend most of their time on concrete or other hard surfaces, even when running.

I still wear vibrams. I remember when the lawsuit happened. I refused to try to cash in on it because i supported the company. What I realized i like the most about them is the spacing of the toes serves as toe spacers in a way that stretches the facia.

Since a lot of people, especially young ones, don't play outside often any more, I guess you should explain that the heel to toe kind of walking wouldn't be possible on concrete for a long duration. Those shoes are called bare foot shoes for the reason that you have to move in them as if you were bare feet. If you want to heel strike, kick rocks or kick doors get boots not gloves, which is what those were supposed to be as I understand the concept.

This is why I do my research before going all in on something. For me I went for barefoot shoes due to having a lot of foot pain that just would not go away. It took a while to get used to and I still can't run in them completely but I can definitely say it was a game changer as far as foot pain goes. Even before I got into them I just felt that modern shoes were just too stiff and did not have enough toe room.

As someone who has bought a lot of them over the last 10 years, I have noticed that at least for a while, they had a paper in the box that said how to transition into them. It took me a few weeks of wearing them around the house to get used to them and feel comfortable wearing them outside, but I'd also been a fan of toe socks ever since my first pair with Tigger on them as a child. I eventually worked up to the point where I would wear them every single day, at least every single gym class at school for the last 2 years of high school. I'm not sure if this is just bad doctors, but I was told I had flat feet one time, and I did have to wear insoles for a while, but after wearing something more minimal, I haven't really had that issue, although I suppose my feet might be flatter than usual as they fit those perfectly, although tightened quite a bit. I have two complaints about them, and that's that the vast majority of styles except for the most rugged sole option, can't comfortably be worn on that coarse gravel used on certain trails (the kind where rocks are about a cubic inch and quite sharp), and that they need to be worn with socks or else they don't smell good. I used to machine wash mine every week before I found a few good pairs of toe socks (Smartwool, Injinji whenever I could get to the USA, and Lee Valley sells some good bamboo/cotton ones). Now I know more about my body, and that I have a condition called POTS where I get dizzy if I stand too long, as well as hypermobility. For POTS, compression socks are the main treatment, and ToeSox compression are super comfy in those shoes because they're thin, and tight, but don't squish my toes. I find that whatever they're made of keep me cooler too, where the shoes without socks can get pretty sweaty. And with the hypermobility, there are two camps from all the research I've read. One side says that the more support, the better. Like thick arch support, boots with a lot of ankle support, and wearing braces and compression garments often. The other side says that minimal is better as it allows the body to work for itself, to get stronger to compensate for the joint laxity, and allow those who don't have as extreme pain from it to take advantage of the extended range of motion. I'm somewhere in the middle, as sometimes I need more support, but I find it in the form of socks (Injinji trail socks are fantastic if anyone wants toe socks with extra cushion and support), and making sure I keep up with exercising. My physiotherapist said he used to wear the same shoes running, so it's nice that he doesn't see them as being bad, just encourages me to keep up with stretches and be careful not to push myself too much. At this point they've become my brand, and some people are shocked when I'm not wearing them! Usually it's just in snow and rain that I don't. And honestly, the Trek Ascent Insulated pair I have are the best grip on ice I've ever seen, even on other Vibram boots! I can walk at about 5km/h on solid black ice in them, and that's impressive as even spikes can't do that. They're not waterproof so they're only good for about -5C to 5C, but I just soaked them in waterproofing solution made for canvas, so I'll see if that works. Even the ones they used to sell as waterproof aren't. I've been eyeing the Xero Shoes Gracie rubber boot for when it rains and gardening, but they're quite expensive when my Canadian made rubber boots were half that price, and just for a bit of extra toe room, it's hard to justify. I'm thinking I might try Japanese jikatabi as they have one toe separate like a mitten, and are often used by people who work outside in Japan.

I wore them in Cancun Mexico on a trip in the mid 2000s and the entire open market thought it was the funniest thing they’ve ever seen… if I can survive +40 people laughing, pointing and talking about my shoes in another language… I’ll be ok 😂 I wore mine occasionally and really did like them! When they wore down I didn’t buy another pair because I didn’t love them THAT much! The ability to just toss them in the washer machine was awesome…

Early adopter too, hiked miles actually barefoot with homemade foot balm previously. I feel like the most noticeable benefit is not in my feet, but in my legs, I really felt all the muscles working in a way that they don't with an immobilized foot. That said, I did move to Vivo and am about to add so more to my closet because I feel like they are better for my feet. I still wear my Five Fingers, especially driving because I am prone to cramped feet, but I think the direction "regular" barefoot shoes have gone is better for feet without giving up the barefoot benefits. Oh yeah, I have a really high arch, still haven't collapsed it! That was one of the scare mongering tactics back in the day.

I have a pair of these that I use for when I'm doing water activities. It's as close to being barefoot as I can get without burning my feet on concrete or sand.

I've had at least one pair of Vibram Fivefingers since 2011. Mostly I've had their running style shoes. When I wore them consistently, they were great for my feet and especially my knees. When I would run or jog I did have to change my footstrike from a heelstrike to a toe strike, but it ended up making me able to run longer distances without having massive knee pain.

So as an experienced runner barefoot and otherwise I just need to say: Never ever under any circumstance land on your heel. Even if you're wearing the thickest shoes known to man. If you are running you should be landing on the ball of your foot so that any shock is absorbed by muscles to the greatest degree possible.

I have 3 pairs acquired over the last 4-5 years. One I use specifically for sprinting in a controlled environment such as a treadmill. Never run in them on concrete. I play soccer and have another pair I wear to the pitch. It builds neuro connection with the muscles in the bottom of the feet to help dribble in cleats later. Not everyone can wear these shoes. I did a lot of product research and realized my arches and foot strike matched with what these shoes were already trying to do. Even still as an athlete it took time to build the muscles in my feet and keeping my strike from overextending. Cramming my feet into cleats my whole life my pinky growth was stunted in my later years this is my knowledgeable attempt to develop those muscles and structures and prevent misaphen foot and toe problems from getting worse. These shoes are about proper form, strike efficiency, and mobility

For the bar drop test, I think you can keep the same arrangement but make the bottom bar free-floating and measure with a peak force meter underneath it instead of measuring bounce height. It would also be nice to cap the bottom bar with a rigid foot form.

My anecdotal experience is that you have to run differently when you use them. Without cushioning heel striking becomes immediately painful, and you have to swap to running on the balls of your feet. Everyone I've seen sustain injuries from using minimalist running shoes continued to run in the manner they were accustomed too because it "felt right" and assumed the pain from heelstriking would eventually subside. this inevitably resulted in shin splints or stress fractures.

i've been wearing barefoot shoes for years but it makes me so frustrated when these companies don't make it clear that it can be dangerous to just dive right into them with no transition. my first barefoot-style shoes were altra trail shoes and they made it pretty clear on the packaging that you need to transition slowly and be careful, and i'm really grateful because that kept me from hurting myself. anyway, i love these videos and how you review so many kinds of shoes in an unbiased way. i think some people get really pro- or anti- barefoot shoes in a really radical way which can put people off one way or another or make people choose something that might not be the best option for them personally, so these videos are a really nice change.

I like that there are so many positive experiences on these shoes, since they really are great in many use cases. The thing I'll add is that the study that was used for the lawsuit was very small and as mentioned not very well done. They likely settled because like many companies it was cheaper to do so than to fund massive, long term studies. As for the videos comments that there should be warnings, they would be similar to what all shoes and boots would have to have: you must properly fit your shoes, you must break them in, you can get hurt with any boot or shoe by not using them in the proper way.

I have worn five fingers almost exclusively for the past 6 years, no injuries at all. I wear them because they feel so good.

Just switched to barefoot shoes about a week ago due to constant hip soreness when running in Brooks and Hokas. Bought a pair of Merrell Vaporglove 6’s. Hip pain totally gone but my calves are CRAZY SORE. So I can definitely feel my lower leg muscles working in ways they haven’t in a long time. You have to ease your way into barefoot running and let your lower leg and foot muscles gradually become stronger or you’ll DEFINITELY get injured. Barefoot shoes also force you to learn a barefoot strike as opposed to a heel strike.

Shoes remind me of Japanese outdoor boots typically worn on construction sites that I observed in 1980s around Yokosuka and probably existed for years before

Switching to shoes with no padding for running does require a different running foot strike than what a wedge with lots of padding encourages. Without a slow change and correct form you will probably hurt your feet. I don't wear 5 fingers anymore because you can't easily wear socks with them and they start to smell really bad after a short time. Right now I typically wear either minimalist sandals or heavy duty work boots. Either I need foot protection for what I am doing or I don't. 👍

Best protective garment ever, helped me to identify people I want to avoid immediately since it's exsistence. Thank you vibram!

Just thought it should be mentioned, I bought some recently and it came with a card explaining how you should transition.

You could adjust the rebar test measurements by subtracting the total bounce by the bounce when nothing is on the rebar. That way you get a comparison that doesn’t include the natural bounce of the steel.

0:21 As early as 12,000 years before our era, people wrapped their feet with leather cloths and pieces of fur to protect them from cold, moisture and sharp stones. These were the beginnings of footwear.

Awesome watch, very honest and I really liked how you said the consumer was responsible for the things that they do to their body but also while the manufacturer was responsible for their "claims" but ultimately it's the user responsible for how they use a product.

When I used to run marathons I always wore my 990s. Before a race I got a deal on some flats and ran about 10 miles before I tapped out and limped home with shin splints. I think I had built up my muscles and tendons to conform to the 990s and hurt myself by going right to the flats without a transition period. So, basically what this video says seems true to me.

Gotta be clown shoes, calling it now.

Absolutely love my Five Fingers. Definitely agree that a careful transition is a good idea. I think one of the reasons that Five Fingers feel so good to my feet is that I am flat footed so the lack of built in arch support/padding lets my feet rest in what is a natural state for them. More conventional shoes can be uncomfortable on my arches.

I was in the Army and some guy had these before a run. He said, African people run barefoot, so the shoes help support some kind of competitive edge in running almost barefoot. After the run he went to medical for a profile and shin splints.

I'm getting the impression that Weston isn't a fan of the whole barefoot shoe thing 🤣

I was a early adopter. I blew through the synthetic fabric on top of the big toe. Warrantied them at least once and gave up. I wanted to love them. Had some hot spots-particularly when any grit was involved. The build quality sucked but that was like a decade ago so YMMV. For the record I’ve been comfortable walking and hiking barefoot my whole life so I’ve never experienced the ‘get into barefoot shoes slowly’ but I’m sure many people really hurt themselves. I also have followed the trends going from minimalist huaraches to hi-tech ‘barefoot’ shoes. Xero shoes started out selling a kit with thin vibram sole and cordage. It’s really interesting to observe considering the history between capitalism and shoe ‘improvements’. Don’t get me wrong there have been improvements since a rubber sole was made in a waffle iron, but plenty of ‘advancements’ are just new and cool and largely not based on research. Regardless of the shoe technology or if I’m barefoot I find running to be unnecessarily high impact and my body prefers biking or hiking. Personally if I wore a top of the line running shoe the arch support and heel would hurt and be detrimental.

The editing in your vids are nothing short of amazing, I laughed out loud at many places.

My husband has a pair of these. They are the water shoes version. We kayak a lot and are in a lot of different rivers. These are actually great for helping him negotiate over slippery rocks or other riverbed terrain

I cured my flat feet with these shoes in the mid-2000’s. It took awhile to build up my foot strength but eventually I was able to run well and didn’t need orthotics anymore. I use zero-drop running shoes now which works well for me since I am heavier than I was back then.

I had a really nice pair of kangaroo leather version of these back about a decade ago and I'll tell you what I noticed. First- my feet really did get stronger. Especially my pinkie toes. My balance improved greatly- I think both because my toes (I have a very wide toe box) could spread out and because of the increased strength of my smaller toes which in normal shoes, don't get used very often. Another weird thing I noticed is that my feet stopped getting cold- I think because there was increased circulation in my feet. The downside- and why I ultimately returned them, is because they stank to high hell. Like, they got REALLY funky. Also, they were pretty ugly. They looked alright with gym clothes, but looked atrocious with pretty much every other outfit. Also, once I got used to them, normal shoes felt terribly uncomfortable. They also weren't good for walking on cement and hiking trails, but were very good for walking on natural terrain like grass, forest floor, and granite boulders- terrain I suspect the human foot was designed travail. I would have probably bought another pair but I never found that model again in my size. (16) Overall though, I thought they were good and would buy another if I found the kangaroo leather ones in my size.

Even if they wouldn't hurt my feet, they hurt my self-esteem, self-respect and my eyes.

I recently had to use this type of shoe to feel the ground before back surgery. My feet would tingle and burn but the foot to ground show helped immensely. I have used them 4-6 wks waiting on surgery approval and other issues. My calves have exploded and feet feel like claws.

I bought a pair of Five Fingers when they first hit the market, but I could not wear them. The toe box is NOT particularly wide - I had to size up to fit my wide feet, and the empty space at the heel makes walking difficult. My toes are also a poor fit for their toe geometry. My little toe is set farther back than usual, so never made it into the toe space for it. I wore them occasionally as at-home toe spacers, but that was all. FYI, for anyone who wants to wear barefoot shoes, start walking barefoot in your home. That will get you started.

I'm on my 6th pair of five fingers. I only wear them in the summer and for lifting. I try to avoid the brightly coloured ones as you do get funny looks from people, but I absolutely love them. The first pair took a while to get used to and I wouldn't wear them for too long to start with, then gradually build up.

Personally I was 100% skeptical of these. Very expensive considering you dont know if you will like them ect. I spent the money and after a few times trying to figure out how to get each toe in the correct spot I figured it out. Now if I know I wont be working or needing protection I always default to these shoes. Love them and almost dont know they are there. Never going back.

I'm a personal fitness trainer, have very flat feet, and always have had problems finding a comfortable shoe. About six years ago, I purchased an Altra zero drop shoe, and that changed my life. A few years ago, however, I think Altra was purchased from another shoe company, and they changed the stack height to a minimum 22 mm. Thus, rendering them not true minimalist. Then I tried a pair of Xero Shoes, and I love them. They're the only brand I now wear. I have seen the British shoe company, Vivobarefoot, and they look like they'd also be great for feet. It's too bad that Vibram didn't stress the need to break in those shoes gradually--over weeks--or months.

For people with bunions, these shoes are incredible. Separation of the big toe from the others is crucial. I wore these working at a hair salon until my boss said I couldn’t… they weren’t considered “appropriate” 😮

I agree. I have a pair and I think everyone should give them a try. That being said I only use them when weather conditions are ideal and though I have ran and hiked in them you need to condition your feet just like you would any other part of your body before doing something demanding. My complaints are that they don’t use enough natural materials and -probably because of the former- they get smelly really quickly. At least you can use a merino wool sock liner but that helped me only a little. Something about the material used gets really smelly.

that was very useful in helping to understand both the shoes and the situation

I loved these. I prefer to be barefoot, and these were a great alternative. I have balance issues, and these made it so I could feel the ground better and helped my balance. But I walk differently than most people. Ball of my foot first. I’m convinced that that is why they didn’t hurt me like they hurt others.

They were fun for a while, But, I got tired of getting rocks and pine needles and stuff stuck between my toes. Plus I like easy slip on slip off, and lining up my toes was too much work. 😁 So I went back to minimalist huaraches and sandals.

Between my husband and I, we have prob 20 pairs. Def do not go full blown on trying to run in them right away!! I wouldn’t consider us crunchy at all. We still love them years later but they aren’t for everyone.

I love my five fingers- great rock hopping and river shoes. Draw back is getting grass blades stuck in between the toes when walking through natural areas.

I’ve worn Vibrams exclusively for eight years now. They’re the most comfortable footwear I’ve ever worn. I’ve got the exact ones shown in your video, with the green laces. Love them.

Thanks for reviewing the research on these. I had a couple pairs of these a decade ago (the warnings that you talked about came on a slip of paper in the box). I spend a lot of time barefoot, so I began walking with a midfoot strike when I was wearing these (as opposed to a heel strike with regular shoes). I had no physical issues from wearing these for a whole day right after I got them, even after long walks, but I wasn't running in them. The whole smell thing was an issue, and I learned two tricks to help with that. One was to freeze them, which helps to kill off the microbes. The second was to get some toe socks, because without socks, the shoes became my socks and the shoes started to smell like socks worn multiple days in a row.

Been watching the videos for a while now. Calling BYU kids “goobers” sealed the deal…you gained a subscriber outta me😂 Love the boot content. Poorly made junk kills me and it’s nice to find out what’s inside shoes these days!

I wore these shoes for years in my 20s when I was working out a ton and running in them. They made my feet hurt initially like you said, but my toes straightened, I got better at landing in my stride correctly, and my arch and feet ended up getting much stronger. I could also use them to grip much better in hiking and bouldering. Honestly I think they are great, I think many people should have a pair to use in the summer, they have a place like sandals. But for work, heavy hiking, and general use good shoes are still a must.

I tried wearing barefoot shoes (vivo) a few years back and wasn’t very happy with them. My feet and arches used to hurt after a day of standing in them and the uppers started to tear in the flex points after only one season. So I dumped them and switched to full leather boots and dress shoes (Red Wings, Grant stone, Barker, Berwick etc.) and since then I’ve seen a real improvement in my foot health in form of nonexistent odour and healthier skin which came from wearing natural materials. However I won’t pretend that slim dress shoes are something incredibly healthy for your toes, which is why I started doing regular foot exercises as a part of my daily routine. Plus I walk barefoot at home and in the garden (which accounts for about half of my total daytime). The two main reasons why I’m never returning to barefoot shoes are 1) they were never as durable as leather footwear 2) they’re ugly as a sin.

In my own experience I wore 3 pair of barefoot/minimalist shoes exclusively for about 8 months. One of them was a pair of 5 fingers. Toward the end of the 8 months i had severe pain in both feet. It was so bad that upon getting out of bed one morning i had a massive jolt of pain in both feet that was so severe i had to quickly sit back down. I went back to regular sneakers (Solomon speed cross 4, i think) and within a month my feet were pain free. And yes I did transition into them correctly taking about 2 months to make the transition into wearing them exclusively.

I was an early adopter of these shoes and loved them. I used to work out at the gym in them and go hiking in the mountains around my house all the time. I never had issues wearing them, no knee pain or foot pain. If anything it helped my knees due to having both of them scoped in college (football and baseball injuries). I never experienced any ridicule or laughter due to my fashion faux pas, maybe a few side-eyed looks. I only wish I could wear them again. Unfortunately, due to an auto accident a few years ago, I lost my lower right leg and I am unable to wear these.

I personally love them bc they force me to remain conscious and mindful. But that’s the thing, you have to be mindful and purposeful with your steps, just as you would if you were actually barefoot.

I was hiking today and saw a dude that was wearing toe shoes, he met your description to a tee!

I bought two pairs of these in highschool and i still have them. Durable as hell. Usesful for some occasions and great if you have a hard time finding shoes that are actually shaped like feet. But now people are going back to making shoes right so the gimmick is pointless.

I actually bought some around 2010 to use as trail running shoes. I am used to barefoot shoes so the feeling didn't bother me. What did bother me is the lack of protection from anything between your toes. After two seperate incidents where I got stabbed with a piece of glass and a sharp piece of mulch I was done. Plus they really can't be worn anywhere else.

Also, the foot model in the video is walking incorrectly in them. They’re heel striking, which is exactly how you get injured. When we are actually barefoot we don’t heel strike because it hurts, and so with the vibrams, that 4mm does a very good job of absorbing the shock of heel striking, enough so that people forget they have to walk like they would if they were actually barefoot.

I used to have a pair back when they first came out and wore them quite often for workouts and hikes; they were great! My roommate at the time like them and got a pair too, then went off for a five mile run and wrecked his feet because.. he just ran like he always did. Completely agree with your analysis.

After working my way up to barefoot shoes, i've been so happy with them, it won't work for everyone but i helped my flat feet get an arch, cured my plantar fasciitis after running everyday in my stiff running shoes. Like every muscle, you either use it or lose it, too much support can't be good for you.

I started talking to some guy at the gym and he had the toe shoes on and started asking him about them. (It was like 2013 and they were relatively new) he then told started going on this long energetic tirade about how connected and grounded he felt. He then went on about how grippy they were and proceeded to climb up the side of the squat rack only to fall flat on his back. No moral just hype

so in 2010 I went hard core in on these and I loved them. No transition from military boots to these. They made my feet feel like I was barefoot. I was just too insecure to wear them, I think they look rediculous. I still wear minimalist shoes 24/7. But I don't feel like they even come close to the feel of 5 fingers.

I got them and back in 2010 and I followed some really good transition info and it greatly improved my running and such. They actually did exactly what they said they would do.

This explains why I stopped wearing them but I tried it to see if it was any good. But they weren’t comfortable. Now I know why.

I have one pair, bought them in 2011 and they are still OK for walking/hiking. Despite all the "pain" of putting them on, I've actually enjoyed my pair A LOT for many reasons. First, they are machine washable. I'm not sure about the stinky feet you mentioned in the video, mine were 100% nylon upper, had some kind of antibacterial treatment (which I am sure wore off after so many washes) and they did not stink. The second reason I loved them is because they allowed me to run in wet weather/rain. I ran in the city, 8-9 miles from Inman Sq in Cambridge, past MIT, to Boston and then back. This was a paved path and a mix of concrete and asphalt, with some cobble stones. Put them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, along with sweaty running clothes, never in the dryer. They were ready the next day. The third reason - comfort. I am not a heel striker and they worked REALLY WELL for me. I did a lot of research before buying them to understand whether my style of running can cause additional injuries after I switched to these. I also have a broken toe and some of the 'mainstream' heels/shoes actually hurt a lot but not these. The fourth reason - how compact they were. Super convenient for traveling, great for day hikes when you want to wear something else after a day in the woods. And lastly - durability. Obviously, I didn't leave in them and only wore for an hour or so on the days I ran and longer on hiking days. But, man, these are now 10+ years old and still intact, in a perfectly functional shape. Please show me a pair of running shoes that can survive this long. The negatives - tripping in these, whether it's a pinky or big toe, really hurt. I was lucky it only happened once or twice a year - probably less frequently than in other shoes because I was more careful. Second negative - you have to do proper pedicure and by that I don't mean fancy nail polish but making sure your toe nails are trimmed, otherwise it's very easy to end up with micro-blisters around the sharp areas where your nails grow fastest. I don't think this would be as much of an issue for walking, because pressure distribution is different, but for running I had to trim my nails twice a week. Third negative - not all styles fit the same, it depends on the model and on the materials/fabric used. I tried on 8 or 9 pairs in my size before landing on the perfect fit and was never able to find another one that would be as comfortable as the first pair, so I never repurchased. If I could go back in time, I probably would have bought 10 pairs of the same style.

“I couldn’t pay attention to what they were saying because I could smell their feet from six feet away.”

For the drop test, using wood inside the shoe would work similar to a foot, it won't rebound like metal will, so it should give a more accurate test. I also interviewed a guy at a running store during the hype of these and he loved them but also said the majority of customers would come back saying their heels and toes hurt after wearing them regularly, he would have to consult each person on how to transition to them properly to avoid injury. They definitely are not the shoe for the average person but do have a purpose

Considering the fact I spend most of my time walking anywhere being at work performing physical labor I can hardly think of a worse shoe for me. I don't even hold to the company standard of wearing sneaker-like work shoes and instead went straight for heavy reinforced work shoes. Cause it's all fun and games until you have to spend all day on a ladder or walk through a minefield of discarded shards, screws and nails.

I’ve got some awesome five finger hikers made of kangaroo leather and hemp fabric, which is anti-microbial and odor-resistant. I’ve broken my foot a couple times in the past and these shoes have been kind to them while allowing my favorite activities. I kayak in some too. PS: the problems aren’t so much related to the use of barefoot shoes, but more so to our dependence upon modern, foot-forming footwear. When I got my Anthro degree, we examined a lot of human foot bones, learning much about how our locomotion changed from that of primates to walking erect, on two feet. Modern humans who prefer to walk with bare feet most of the time will have very little problem adapting to this footwear, crunchy granola or not. ;)

I love the five-fingers, I have rather wide feet, and for me these are the most comfortable shoes period. But yeah, there def is a breaking in period where not just you but your body adjusts and if you skip that step you can hurt yourself since modern shoes as said encourages us to walk and run in ways we were not designed for, you have to 'learn to walk before you can run'

Great video as always. After owning a pair until they fell apart, I think it's absolutely insane to use this as an everyday shoe. I loved my 5-fingers for light hiking on established trails, especially with riverbeds. It's also an excellent beach shoe, more varsatile than others. It was not an everyday shoe, but it was great for this specific purpose. The sole is thin, but tough, so it's easier to feel what you're doing when walking over rocks, and you can even grip onto them with your toes. I would never run long distances in it, and it's too fragile even for walking around a city. It's especially irritating to have to fit the toes in every time, more difficult than gloves.

i have flat and wide feet. I love my vff. very comfortable for walking and working out.