A couple things you might be interested to know: I have some mild balance issues, and I find that I feel so much more stable in VFFs. I don’t like wearing anything but VFFs now if I’m doing something active outdoors. As a swimmer, we were always running around barefoot. Gym class was the only time I really used shoes for athletics. We used to live in Ecuador, which was the rainiest place we’ve ever hiked — and we’ve lived in two of the rainiest places on earth: Hawaii and Colombia. We recently set out on a section hike through the White Mountains in New Hampshire — a notoriously knee-busting scramble. Ryan and I wore our warm, waterproof, and clunky hiking boots.

Hey Kathy, it definitely sounds like your V-Run Retros were defective. I would talk to customer service (show them the picture and mention the box condition as well). We have 3 pairs of them in our house and none have the design flaw you described. Also, the KSOs are the ONLY pair of VFFs that allow you to freely bend your toes down at the foot junction. We felt lighter and more balanced than ever. We breezed over the top of Mount Washington (the fourth highest peak on the Appalachian Trail) and the surrounding presidential mountains. We have worn almost every shoe in almost every environment, from the desert in Texas to the jungles of Colombia. And here’s the thing… Sorry for the long dissertation about my use of the shoes. But I feel their use has really changed my life for the better. At least I can play a complete round of golf without pain adding to my frustration. Reply I think you need to get a couple pairs of shoes for different occasions. The KSOs (or V-Trains if those end up working) are great for warm weather. If it rains, your feet will get wet. There isn’t a pair of VFFs that is good for wet conditions and I don’t recommend the V-NEOPS (your feet will sweat). You only need two pairs of shoes to cover all your needs. The KSOs is the first. They are good for everything except the rain and cold. For those conditions, I recommend hiking boots with a waterproof liner and a Vibram sole. I like the Merrell and Lowa boots.Hey Kathy! I’m glad we can help with the discount link! Definitely air dry all shoes in the future. Sorry you learned the hard way but I’m sure it was time for a new pair anyway. Since publishing this review in 2019, we’ve helped hundreds of people get started with FiveFingers and helped answer thousands of questions. We used this information to create a 3-step selection process based on fit probability, ground feel, and foot shape. There are a lot of shoes that we don’t highly recommend, either for performance, fit, or durability reasons. Additionally, the shoes that we do highly recommend, are not ideal for certain activities.

Arch support is a very popular buzzword when buying shoes, and it’s not without basis. People want shoes that prevent injury, make them run faster, offer stability, and improve recovery. But does arch support actually do that?

vibram fivefingers review

While wearing a minimalist shoe like Vibram FiveFingers may look barefoot enough, it’s not barefoot running. That status is reserved for the people who are running literally barefoot and unshod, with skin on the pavement. From HIIT to barre to weight lifting workouts, we prefer to work out in minimalist shoes like the Vibram FiveFingers.