When I first heard of the relatively-new Vibram FiveFingers shoes in a MetaFilter comment thread, I knew I had to have a pair. I’d always liked being barefoot, I always walking around barefoot at home since sometime in my teenage years when I discovered that walking around in socks on a splintery wood floor increased the chance of getting splinters in my foot (due to my feet slipping around more easily, driving the splinter in suddenly). Unfortunately, in the typical suburban or urban environment, walking barefoot isn’t that practical, in my opinion. While broken glass presents relatively less hazard than everyone thinks, the surfaces are pretty harsh, and additionally, where I live now (San Francisco), the months without rain means it gets really grungy.
I bought a pair of the FiveFingers KSO in black, because they’re the most subdued and look like shoes from a distance, while still being well-ventilated. I was sure to carefully follow the sizing info on their web site.
They arrived on Wednesday, and they seemed to fit fine. I had a couple little concerns at first, but after wearing them all day Thursday and Friday (admittedly for my rather sedentary job), I had only two remaining concerns. The first was, these are great, but how long before I wreck the soles? Compared to a normal shoe, the sole has to endure a lot of flex, including around the toes and ball of the foot. The other concern is that the big toes aren’t quite as large as my toes. While my toes feel comfortable, I’m concerned that the sole underneath not being as wide is going to gradually lead to the fabric on the side of the big toe coming in contact with the ground and wearing through.
I wore them again today. I went to the beach and walked a couple of miles. I got them wet. One thing I learned, which does not surprise me, is that these are not sand-proof. If that was a concern, I’d consider the FiveFingers Flow, which has neoprene sides and top, instead of mesh. The KSOs dry fast though. Aside from the sand trapped inside feeling a bit abrasive, they were quite comfortable.
These things feel great even when you’re walking over sharp gravel. And, it’s nice to have that uneven feeling of the ground you’re walking on to be carried through to your feet. I find myself even walking on different surfaces than I normally would, merely to find out how it will feel in these shoes.
When I got home today, after shaking out the loose sand, I decided to put these in the washing machine, since there was some bits of fine sand that just weren’t going to shake out. The instructions are warm wash, air dry. It’s great. This is a pair of shoes you can machine wash on occasion — especially good when you’re not wearing them with socks.
So, the real test is going to be whether these last a reasonably long time before wearing out, but aside from that, I’m very happy with them.
12 Comments
Hi Mike,
I came across your review in a google alert. I’ve got a pair of “standard” fivefingers, so it’s interesting to hear about the KSOs. I’ve added a link to your account from the comments on our vibram’s review: thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the review. I’m considering these for myself, but I have concerns about their longevity. Now that you’ve had them for a month, how are the soles holding up?
I’m wondering how you like them on hard surfaces, such as sidewalks, boardwalks, etc. I also like going barefoot, but I no longer live in the woods in which I was raised. I do day-hike and wander through fields with the dog, but I also spend a lot of time on the aforementioned “hard ground.”
I’ve had the standard ones since they first came out and they last just fine — no wear at all after quite some time.
I’ve just (10 minutes ago) ordered the KSOs because I’m tired of debris sneaking in under my arch and filling up the shoe (especially sand).
I saw these shoes on someone yesterday and decided to check them out because I have an ancient pair of Nike sandals (from a thrift store) that are almost history. I do cleaning in an old building and have to use narrow winding stairs every day. I have a wide toe with a narrow heel and a lot of shoes rub either my heels or the balls of my feet. I don’t want anything that I can’t wash in the machine or anything that ties.
I had bought a pair of the Classics in size M47 (the largest size), and found them to be too small. A year later, I want to give them another try, and they are still too small. I then happen to discover the KSO model, and became interested in seeing if they would fit any better, so I go to the Vibram website, and find that the sizing chart was different from the one I recorded last year… In 2007, the chart said that the Classic model would fit a 12-inch foot, and this year it is 11 5/8 inches…. The KSO and Flow models in a size M47 are said to fit a 12 inch foot, so I went and picked some up from Backwoods over in Fort Worth, TX. What a difference!!! The KSO shoe is much better in fit with looser toe pockets, and a more comfortable feel. They fit perfectly, and I wear a size 14-15 U.S. in regular shoes.
Now that I’ve had the KSO’s for about a month, I don’t wear anything else. I even wear them to the office, to the dismay of many, and generate quite a bit of chatter in the elevator…
Here I am in the KSO’s:
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m296/LinuxRacr/Vibram%20Five%20Fingers%20Shoes/DSCF5009.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m296/LinuxRacr/Vibram%20Five%20Fingers%20Shoes/DSCF5011.jpg
Just took a trek through the South Dakota Badlands with my KSO’s. Ive owned the Classics for about a year. I absolutely love them but they would fill with rocks after some desert running. Not so with these new ones, stayed clear the whole time.
Good Product when available!
I just ordered the KSOs in black. I followed the website’s sizing chart exactly but I have still a little bit concerned that they may not fit correctly. I live in Alabama so there isn’t anywhere here that I can go purchase them so I haven’t been able to try any on. I wear a size 10 shoe (mens) and my foot is 10.25 inches long from heel to longest toe (the toe next to my big toe). I ordered a 40. Anyone have the same size foot that could share which size KSO worked for you?
Hey mark depending on where you live in AL they sell them at Mountain High Outfitters and I know we have one in North Alabama but further down I have no idea.
Mark, we seem to have the same size foot so I would suggest getting a size 42. These are the best freakin’ shoes I have ever owned. I’m getting another pair for x-mas so I can wear a pair everyday. I try and only wear them on alternate days to keep the funk down. later
Thank you for this article, my shoes were getting pretty funky. I googled can you wash vibram shoes and this popped up. I just bought 2 pairs of toe socks to reduce the funky smell, I know the socks will take more washes than the shoes. I love these shoes! I will warn everyone who does not have a pair of five fingers, these will start many new conversations whether you want them or not. I still love them though.
I swore I’d never wear vibram five fingers. We called them the vibram kso of Suck a few years ago and I was sure they were crazy. Friends, I’m here to tell you I was wrong. And I’m sorry. Here’s my story: I ran a marathon a few years ago. I got plantar fasciitis and couldn’t run after the marathon. I worked through that inflammation but by the time I was ready to run vibram FiveFingers Sprint again I had gained thirty pounds. Wham. Shin-splints. So I was a fat former runner with leg problems. The prognosis wasn’t good. So I tried a few things – the elliptical, weight training, losing some freaking weight – but the thing that saved me were these vibram five fingers shoes.