Stump Jump Trail Race

Oh Stump Jump Race, you art thou the coolest. I wish you were closer.

Vibram Five Fingers: Initial Product Review

Remember how pumped I was when I scored my pair of Vibram Fivefingers? Well I’ve been roaming around with these crazy little kicks on my feet and I am ready to give my initial product review. Initial because these Five Fingers are really multi-sport footwear. So a hiking and roaming around town review just doesn’t give them the justice they deserve.



Fivefingers: The Fit

Online there are dozens of articles discussing the fit of the Five fingers. I really found them to not be difficult to figure out the size or find- but others have, so proceed with caution. The one difficulty I’ve had (which I mentioned in this post), is that it can be hard to force your toes into the little pockets.

Apparently our toes move as one unit, not individually. Or at least my toes do.

Fivefingers: On the Trail

I’ve been sporting the fivefingers on all of my easy day hikes, dog walks, and romps around town. Overall, I think they’re really fun and actually have nice traction on the bottom. Would I wear them on a more serious hike? Umm…still not sold yet.

Why? Mainly because when I am out hiking with the fivefingers sharp rocks and sticks really do hurt. Your foot is protected with the fivefingers, but you’re not immune to jagged objects.

Fivefingers: Other Observations

• A few other observations about fivefingers. You’ll have an instant topic of conversation wearing these multi-activity shoes around town. People are intrigued.
• I still get unimaginable toes and foot cramps when I wear them for more than three hours. Am I building my toe strength?
• I recently developed a patch of poison ivy between my toes and as such have had to put my fivefingers aside. For obvious reasons.
  

Upcoming Posts

I plan to post about wearing the fivefingers for water sports soon. Just as soon as this here poison ivy clears up.

Past Posts

Bare Foot Running

Vibram Fivefingers Product Review: Just In

So yesterday I gave you a little peek at my new pair of Vibram Fivefingers. Now, I’m going to give you my intitial thoughts on these fivefinger things.

more pics to come!

Vibram Fivefingers hot to trot

For one they’re super hot right now. Everyone is wearing them where in the Northeast and everyone is chatting them up. When I went to the store to buy mine, I was literally followed into the shoe section by a sort of frantic women saying she called to have her size held. Thank goodness I wasn’t a size nine or I may have had to fist fight for mine.

The barefoot movement is picking up speed

If you didn’t catch my first post on barefoot running check it out here. Basically, the theory is that we all used to run around without shoes on years ago and didn’t seem to have as many foot problems because our bodies somehow compensated. It’s a nice idea and seems to be picking up some popularity. It’s sort of like unschooling your feet.

But I’m not much of a runner

My faithful readers know that I am not much of a runner. It’s always something that I say I want to pursue further, but find that two wheels are just so much quicker. My review will cover the range of active sports that Vibram totes they’re shoes can handle- things like hiking, kayaking, and galavanting around town. I’ll tell ya’ how it is.

Trying on Five Fingers

Trying on the Fivefingers is too funny for words. Let’s just say that forcing your little toes into the market is like trying to drunkedly throw a dart- it’s hard. Use all your resources-- including the sales clerk.

How do the Fivefingers feel

That’s hard to spit out- how do the fivefingers feel?! Let’s just say….odd. It’s sort of weird to have all your toes spread out and it certainly forces you to walk differently- sort of all splayed about.

So stay tuned as I give you a sport round up of the Vibram Fivefingers later this week.

Vibram Five Fingers Product Review Preview

Yup that's right- I've got me a pair them Vibram Fivefingers. I'll be reviewing the Five fingers this week and will pass along the skinny to you. For now- the try on:

Bare feet (PS silver is the new pink)

You put on the Fivefingers by putting your toes in first. This is much easier said than done- especially the first few times. For some reason, you don't have as much fine motor control over each individual toe as you do, say your fingers. So after a minute or two of me laughing and thinking- middle toe why won't you go over to the left- I got the little buggers on.

So there you have 'em- the Vibram Fivefingers try-on...and a piece of fuzz on my carpet...and my dog's foot, because what's a try-on sess without your dog sniffing things out?

Complete review to come. I'll try them out with a couple of different sports/activities and let you know. Pray for my knees. Pray for my knees.

Vibram Fivefingers

Have you seen the new barefoot running wear called Vibram Fivefingers? Now I feel like I tend to be pretty up on the trends and willing to try new things, but I can't really decide if I should laugh or try the Fivefingers on.

So yes, you are looking at a shoe that separates all the toes- alas the fivefingers part. And it is basically an invisible shoe- not a whole lot of padding, cushioning, or support. Not the shoe for weak ankles it looks like.

But are you as intrigued as I am? I feel like I need to go to a store and try them on. Not sure they would ever go hiking or running with me, but you could probably convince me to do some swimming and cliff jumping with them. For the main product page for Vibram Fivefingers check here, recommended uses check here, and a video here.

Finding the Right Triathlon

I've been contemplating entering a triathlon for years, but haven't quite found the right one. Often I'll hear about a triathlon the weekend before the actual event and I'll either not be in good enough shape for the run or for the swim portions. I've seen quite the hype about Iron Girl Triathlons, which looks like a lot of fun, but sell out quickly and are in very few locations.

Also, for me- the right triathlon needs to be more mountain. Mountain bike, trail running, type of a thing. This year I think it is going to be the Tully Lake Triathlon in Northern Massachusetts. The event features a 5 mile canoe or kayak paddle (score 1!), 7.5 mile mountain bike ride (score 2!), and 4.5 mile trailish run (score 3!). Looks like my kind of event.

If you know of any other similar events in the Northeast please let me know.