I went to Sacks Outdoors (http://www.facebook.com/sacksoutdoors )last Saturday. If you remember they organized the Naked Tour down here in Hattiesburg. I got to run with Scott Jurek and Chris McDougall! Sacks raffled off a ton of items. I won a certificate for a free pair of Vibram five finger shoes.
When I went to the store on Saturday to redeem the certificate, the staff was super cool. They explained all of the different styles and let me try them on. I selected the BIKILA model. From the Vibram website -
Unlike any other running shoe on the market. A breakthrough in running shoe design, Bikila® is our first model designed specifically to promote a more natural, healthier and more efficient forefoot strike. While many folks have been running in their Vibram FiveFingers® for years, the Bikila® is our first model created exclusively for a more natural running experience.
Built on an entirely new platform, the Bikila® features a Dri-Lex® covered 3mm polyurethane insole (thickest under the ball of the foot) and a 4mm anatomical pod outsole design that offers more plating for underfoot protection. It also distributes forefoot impact without compromising important ground feedback essential to a proper forefoot-strike running form. To finish off this breakthrough design, the upper has a more athletic padded collar and topline, a single hook-and-loop closure, 3M™ reflective surfaces and tear-resistant TPU toe protection.
My first impression is that they are super light weight (6 ounces) and very comfortable. While I am not a barefoot running proponent; I like my forefoot cushioning, I do think the shoes are very interesting. I have only worn them around the house so far but I will let you know what I think about them in a future post.
8 comments:
i will be interested to see what you think of them. they are very odd, even creepy, looking shoes. looks like bionic feet!
Hobbit feet.
LOVE THEM!
I wanted to get a pair but my size was back ordered over XMAS.
A lot of people where them for Yoga and hiking... curious what your opinion will be on them.
I know I can trust your unbiased critical writeups on anything !
Et Tu Brute?
LOL
Sorry couldn't resist!
a free pair! sweet!!
even if you don't run in them, maybe you'll like wearing them occasionally 'around town'.
i got the "sprint" style awhile back - more so for the "this will help improve my form" theory than the "i'm a barefoot hippy" one.
I'm not going to be running any marathons in them anytime soon.
I've tried them on before - takes some time to get them on (at least for me).
I honestly expected more dorsal flexion in the shoes, but I guess as a "shoe" they still need to protect the bottom with some sort of non-easily pucturable material.
These look very strange and expensive. Glad you're getting to try them out free!
Post a Comment