Five-toed athletic sandals for barefoot comfort

Vibram Fivefingers are outdoor sandals with individual toes. Wearing them is said to mimic the feeling of going barefoot, without the blisters and no-shoes/no-service hassles. They're certainly cool-looking! Link (Thanks, Gnat!)

[#1 posted by Pixel , April 24, 2008 5:57 AM]

Hmmm, I may have to get a set of these. I wear combat boots almost exclusively, so when I try to go barefoot I have virtually no callouses. And I have rare enough opportunities to go barefoot that I never manage to develop said callouses.

[#2 posted by Ant , April 24, 2008 7:34 AM]

I'll pass. I have enough trouble getting laid as is.

[#3 posted by skarbreeze , April 24, 2008 8:15 AM]

I have so much trouble with my feet/back/legs/knees, I'm going to give these a try. Having tried most major brands of work boots, expensive shoes & inserts, a variety of service industry style waiter shoes etc - none seems to help.

Just wonder how they'll work for driving stick, it's rather nice to have the hard sole of a shoe for kicking the clutch etc. We'll see!

[#4 posted by consideredopinion , April 24, 2008 9:58 AM]

Ha! Hobbit Feet without the hair? Tsk tsk tsk

[#5 posted by Daemon , April 24, 2008 10:08 AM]

The fact that there's stuff between the toes would probably drive me nuts... Otherwise cool.

[#6 posted by Tensegrity , April 24, 2008 12:07 PM]

I'd love to see the forensic detectives going over the crime scene where the Vibram Fivefingers Gang has struck again. "Hmmm, this seems to be the work of a gang of barefoot aliens."

[#7 posted by cbernard , April 24, 2008 2:00 PM]

one doesn't have to go to major extremes.... lets face it, most running shoes are purchased by buyers who have no idea what to find in a running shoe. But if you go to a honest running store, where they match the shoe to your foot and not your fashion taste or trends, you'll be surprised. I thought I'd have walked out with a spongy pair of cushioned shoes, but instead I walked out with a pair of brooks, not very padded, but designed for stability.

[#8 posted by Creepy Sheep , April 27, 2008 2:07 PM]

Hmm...are they any good for people with erratically shaped feet? They look interesting, but less than ideal for people whose second toes are longer than their big toes and other such common oddities.

[#9 posted by Takuan , April 27, 2008 2:41 PM]

do they have a cloven hoof version?

[#10 posted by Anonymous , June 26, 2008 7:43 PM]

These are fantastic! my second toe is mucho longer than my first. they still work for me.