I have the NEED for (Vibram Five Fingers) SPEED.

by


Because G-d forbid Ren Man & I dont roll as TWINSIES.

Oh People.

I sit here gazing alternately at the whitewhite expanse of my unwritten post, back down at my pink toe-sneaker clad feet and I’m stuck.

Ive got nothin’

You know that place where you’re so wholly, utterly, completely in LOVE you can think of nothing else & wanna do nothing else but chill with yer beloved (that’s a shoutout to YOU oh Renaissance Man of mine)?

That’s where I am with these shoes.

This is where I am with these shoes:

(if youre using a reader there’s rap rhymin’ video above)

That said, Im painfully aware there are a smattering of you out there who come for the real stuff.

The grown-up reviewage.

Please to adultenjoy.

What I love about the Vibram Five Fingers SPEED edition:

  • How they look. I know I should be embarrassed about this fact—but Im not. I’m renown for loving me some weird looking sneakers (I adore these) & from the moment I spied em I was bound & determined to get me some head over barefootheels in love.
  • The sole AKA the divoted polyurethane arch covering. Interestingly, this is far more about the heat radiating from the Texas pavement than anything else.  The sprints are great when you’re moving—but if you walk in them for any period of time (at least where I reside) it’s simply TOO HOT on the soles of the feet.
  • They dont turn my toes pink. (Yada Yada Yada supposedly Im the only misfit to whom this has ever occurred.)
  • They feel far better on my big toes. Sure this could be a me-quirk (see above?) but it’s such a marked difference (when running or walking) it bears mentioning.  Something in the shoe’s structure, perhaps? Who can say…
  • They feel cooler (& no I dont mean more hip).  While they are indeed *more* of a shoe than other Five Fingers styles–the Speeds seem to produce less MizFitFootSweat.  Is this a by-product of the mesh upper? A me-foot-quirk?  Again, as the only subject in my study, it’s hard to know.
  • All the other benefits I mentioned here remain the same. This wasnt a given either as frequently, when companies release new styles, old benefits/product pluses can be lost.

What do DISLIKE about the Vibram Five Fingers SPEED edition:

  • That I love them so much I almost don’t want to wear them. I’m working not to be a saver in this fashion, but it’s still my default setting.  Especially given the reason cited above.
  • Washability? I havent had the need to wash them yet so I can’t attest to this one.  I am, however, curious to see if they hold up as well as the Sprint style did to repeated washings.

Bottom line: Right or wrong. Too much sole to be truly barefoot or not. I love my Speeds. I adore how they lovingly hold my big toes (as opposed to my Sprints which seemed to Hold!My!Big!Toes!) and are overall a more comfortable fit.

To this misfit they are the perfect running, walking, lifting, playing, movie-going’ grocery shopping, whatever’ing shoe.

So there you have it.

My MizFit Muzings on a shoe I adore…that’s not yet available in the USA.

Now you.

Are you a non-USA resident who now longs for foot-glove lace-ups of your very own?

An anywhere resident who thinks, as many barefoot runners do, the Speeds (with their laces & almostsole) can no longer be deemed birthday shoes?

Do you think Ive entirely lost my MIZmind & should be compelled to wear professional shoes for a full day by way of penance?

Please to hit us all up in the comments.

POSTS BY EMAIL

Never miss a post. Enter your email to get my latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Comments

  1. I’m kinda curious, I must admit. And now I’m tempted to look up whether they’re available here … and yes, they are. I can foresee a purchase in my future.

    Does this mean I have to start running though? Hmmmm

  3. I actually had a guy wear these to take my Body Pump class recently. He said he found them even comfortable to weight lift in. Made me curious. But now I’m thinking about their washability 🙂

  4. Dear Miz, PLEASE do not wear professional shoes if you don’t have to. WHY would you? Barefoot or VFFs are so much more comfortable. I love me some gorilla feet. And I love that you and Ren Man match.

    Hey, if the speeds work for you, they work. I have yet to feel them but I tried on the bikilas and they are too thick in the soles for my personal liking.

    HOWEVER, like I said, if they feel better on your foot, it IS better. Anddddd. I want to know how training/running is going in them!

    I’m glad you don’t give a *pause* care 🙂

  6. Oh MizFit never change and wear grown up shoes 🙂

    Will you run the half-marathon in these?

    I wonder if they will be sold in USA any time soon?

  7. Funky shoes.
    I’m jealous of yous.
    For the feet.
    And the husband you meet.

    ok I am no MizFit LOL when is the post coming about marriage?

    You two seem to have so much fun.

    Leah

  11. These shoes frighten and intrigue me all at the same time.

    I’m glad they’re only available at a few stores here otherwise I’d be slapping down the street already.

  12. I have not yet progressed to the Five Fingers mode of training–would you recommend these just for wearing?

    They do sell them where I live.

    Thank you.

  15. More and more, you are making me want to try a pair on…but I still think I’d stick out like a sore thumb here in CS (which does NOT embrace the weird like your burg).

  19. I haven’t heard nor seen these….but so glad you found a shoe that works for you. (While I personally think you’re crazy, that’s more the orthopedist/shoelover inside of me!) And no, it totally makes sense you want to “save” them.

    Even if they’re meant to be worn. 😉

  20. I just wrote about barefoot exercise and mentioned Vibram FiveFingers on my blog the other day (but not about the Speed version). I haven’t tried them yet but they intrigue me. The thing is, I hate flip-flops because I hate the feeling of the piece between my toes, so I wonder if having my toes separated would annoy me. Do you think a flip-flop hater could stand them?

  21. whaaat I’ve never seen them with laces, you’ve just blown my mind!! I love that you are a saver, I finally decided life is too short not to use the good dishes and the good clothes, enjoy it all now.

  22. I LOVE mine too! They are SOOO much more comfortable, with all the same good-for-yer-feet goodness.

  23. I saw a man wearing these on Michigan Avenue in Chicago last week. I literally had to stop him on the street and ask how he liked them…he said he loved them!

    Wonder if they come in my size: I wear a 12 women’s!!

    • they definitely do in the sense you could order the mens if they technically do not. back in the DAY when I sold Birkenstocks 😉 we did that frequently.

  24. I love to play outdoors with my childrens while barefoot, but stick and stones do batter my poor toes, and foot that is connected to them. These thing would be perfect for outside kid-frolicking.

  26. wow, I had not seen the speeds before. (guessing its because I live in the good ole u. s. of a. :)Very cool that someone helped you out getting them!

  27. This new runner, who is a shoe freak from way back, is HORRIBLY behind on whatever those pink thangs are that you are wearing that look like my toe socks from the ’70’s….”groovy” poem, btw.
    Loving your blog.

  30. I am so intrigued by these shoes! Of course I haven’t tried them. But now I really really want to! (And I kinda wish they would turn my toes pink! Is that weird?)

  31. I love the look of these quirky foot-gloves!
    Back in the day, I wore Birks, too… with striped socks. It was fun.

    Loretta
    =^..^=

  32. I am totally curious about these shoesies… I think the Zliten is MORE curious (aka, would try them before me). The look doesn’t bother me (I think it’s kinda cool) but I’m not sure if I’m down with the lack of padding… I have princess feet. 🙂

  34. I’ve been very intrigued by the VFF’s since seeing one of my teammates on Team Shrinking Jeans wearing them during our half marathon with Team in Training. My biggest concern about trying them has been my on again off again issues with PF. I do think these Speed VFFs are adorable though!

    BTW, I never knew you sold Birkenstocks. I *love* my Birks … all 8 pair of them. 😉

    • Just don’t run on your heels and you will be fine. Better for your feet that way anywho. Try reading “Born to Run”

      – Very informative/enjoyable read. Highly recommend.

  35. I love my sprints, but I started doing speed work in them too soon and I gone done and “broke” myself. Just a little tendinitis, but nothing that a little rest and arnica didn’t fix. I still pretty much live in my Sprints, and I do really like how they look too. I’m a goof and have always liked a little difference to set me apart. Can’t wait until they do come to the US so I can order my pair and have them be backordered for who knows how long before I can enjoy them with you. Though I’m not a fan of pink, so I’ll be getting the black ones.

  36. Ohhhh I want a pair so badly! I just don’t understand why we can’t get them here in the USA! Its killing me!

  38. Hate regualr shoes really. I have been known to arrive at my destination barefoot – cuz i forgot my shoes at home…. these could be the best things ever for me.

  39. That was pretty cute! I don’t know if I would like them or not. I need to see them in person and try them. Loved your review though.

  40. Only one thing to say about these (you know how I love my VFFs!):

    GOT TO HAVE ME SOME!!!!!

  41. ME! I’m a non-USA-er!

    Those shoes look awesome. Is it strange that it never occurred to me until this blog post that you have to wash them? But of course you would! Silly me.

    I find myself wondering if my short stubby toes would fit into each toe slot. I hope so.

  42. Vibram shoes are awesome. I have the Bikila and use it mainly for exercise – jogging or brisk walking. I also use it as an aqua shoes whenever I go to the beach.

  43. Love your post. I think they are kind of cute…on you, someone with a rocking bod. I wonder what they’d look like on someone 250+ – quite hideous, I think (lol). Love your biceps, btw. wooooot!

  44. I have friends who have them in black and wear them all of the time, even to church!!!!!!!!

  45. Those are super cool! My feet would love them, I just know it.

    Oh, and I am cracking up at your segue from professing your love for Ren Man… then straight on to your love for the shoes. Perfect. 😉

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This