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The author of The Tau Manifesto (thread about it here) mentions his "unusual shoes", and provided a link to this silly footwear manufacturer called Vibram, which produces a line of shoes called "fivefingers" (I think that's the proper capitalization of it, anyway).
While I am not a hippie, I am a ninja, and so this footwear intrigues me.

I've decided that if I have $85 to spare in my next paycheck, I will procure a pair from the men's KSO line. I went back and forth between KSO and KSO Trek for a while before I decided that the benefits of an extra 0.5 mm of padding and an extra kangaroo murdered were not worth the limitations on flexibility, water resistance (you can swim in KSO's), and ability to purchase vodka (KSO Trek's are more expensive by $55).

Here's to hoping these aren't just glorified Crocs, because fuck Crocs.

Opinions?
Would you buy these shoes?

These are disgusting and I'm pretty sure designed specifically with you and the rest of the special kids in mind.

Hate. So much hate.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

;;_;;

Hey, kids! Ever loved the discomforting aura that everybody around you feels when you're wearing toe socks but wished you didn't have to cover them up with regular shoes? Now you can let that aura of your-abhorrent-choice-of-footwear-is-eating-away-at-my-soul-ity shine brighter than ever!

^Ahahahaha

I've actually heard from a couple runner friends of mine that they make you run in a more natural way (flat-footed is not natural), reducing stress on your body.

I have been intrigued by them as well, but not enough to want to spend money on them :P

I have these shoes, bitches:



(Apologies for the awful photo quality)

They're quite comfortable and light, though occasionally too warm. The only drawback is that since they're always worn without socks, and they don't let much air reach your foot, they stink to high heaven as soon as you take them off. I've never had a pair of shoes smell quite so bad as these (you can actually smell them over the perpetual weed stench!). Otherwise, they're great.

I've worn them in the water, in the mud, in the snow, on gravel, and on sidewalks. The sole, amazingly, has yet to wear down even a little, and they go well pretty much anywhere. Also, Sergey Brin wears them.

I omni-loathe these and they way they look, but THEY LOOK SO GODDAMN COMFORTABLE.

scythe wrote:(Apologies for the awful photo quality)

Is... is that a five-fingered bong?

My dad wears those... and I hate every second of it.
Well, not the exact brand, but the same type. Like socks with soles :(

I actually just went on a long canoeing trip and the people recommended shoes that looked exactly like these (probably the swimmable ones though) but the downside is that they have very little ankle support and they look really stupid.

scythe wrote:The only drawback is that since they're always worn without socks, and they don't let much air reach your foot, they stink to high heaven as soon as you take them off.

This was my biggest concern, right here.
Foot odor is, like, in my family or something, so various relatives of mine have developed their own coping mechanisms: my grandfather washed his feet compulsively, my father uses some kind of powder before he puts on his socks, my brother Auschwitzes his insoles with odor eater, and I've had success with simply deodorizing me feet as though they were extra armpits. Have you attempted anything similar to remove the odor, or done anything that managed to prevent it other than not wearing them for extended periods of time?


Oh, general update:
After seeing a number of independent end-user reviews of these things, I'm pretty much thinking it's going to be the KSO Trek's or nothing. They're far more obvious than the promotional photos made it seem, but it's still looking like the Trek's are passable. I wear baggy jeans everywhere anyway, and my height ought to draw attention away from my feet. I'm just sick of the inflexibility of my normal shoes.
Unless the odor issue can't be avoided, I'm still planning on procuring the KSO Trek's.

I'm sure there's some very silly reason why this simply isn't an option but have you considered, like, sandals?

Tsukatu wrote: This was my biggest concern, right here.
Foot odor is, like, in my family or something, so various relatives of mine have developed their own coping mechanisms: my grandfather washed his feet compulsively, my father uses some kind of powder before he puts on his socks, my brother Auschwitzes his insoles with odor eater, and I've had success with simply deodorizing me feet as though they were extra armpits. Have you attempted anything similar to remove the odor, or done anything that managed to prevent it other than not wearing them for extended periods of time?

I'm going to get a pair of these soon and I was looking up this very problem. It appears that soaking them in vinegar, then washing them again (to get rid of the vinegar smell) is the most efficient way of keeping these odorless. It's said that you do this once every two weeks.

Since you are into ridiculous footwear, couldn't you just roll with some toe socks?

Which are the best for general use and water stuff like swimming, walking up rivers etc?

Luminaflare wrote:Which are the best for general use and water stuff like swimming, walking up rivers etc?

These.

Luminaflare wrote:water stuff like swimming, walking up rivers etc?

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/flippers-or-shoes/

Maybe not general use, but they sure as hell look more badass than feet-gloves.

Is anyone else having trouble looking past that ridiculous and heavily sexual name to see merit in the actual product?

hairscapades wrote:I'm sure there's some very silly reason why this simply isn't an option but have you considered, like, sandals?

What do you think I am, some kind of hippie? (If so, see OP.)
My interest in these "fivefinger" things was the flexibility in the sole and toes, while keeping the foot enclosed. Sandals fail at both of those.
Back when I still did a whole lot of dance, I had jazz shoes that had a flexible sole. I really liked that freedom of movement, but obviously jazz shoes aren't meant to be everyday footwear. And even with the jazz shoes, my toes were all cramped together. So now that I've come across outdoor footwear that's flexible but may not make me look like a hippie, I'm naturally very interested in trying it out.

ghoulash wrote:Is anyone else having trouble looking past that ridiculous and heavily sexual name to see merit in the actual product?

Sexual? What? How is it at all sexual?

The allure of these shoes for me is that they look so ridiculous and quirky.

Tsukatu wrote:

ghoulash wrote:Is anyone else having trouble looking past that ridiculous and heavily sexual name to see merit in the actual product?

Sexual? What? How is it at all sexual?

Sounds like a cheap off-brand sex toy. You needed to ask?

I have just come up with the most retarded albeit brilliant albeit still completely retarded idea ever:
Wear a thinner Vibram inside a regular shoe.
That way, you can pass off as normal when in fact you're secretly retarded.

Tsukatu wrote:

scythe wrote:The only drawback is that since they're always worn without socks, and they don't let much air reach your foot, they stink to high heaven as soon as you take them off.

Have you attempted anything similar to remove the odor, or done anything that managed to prevent it other than not wearing them for extended periods of time?

They're machine washable, so I clean them regularly, and I wash my feet like your grandfather (apparently). Other than that, not much -- I don't know what sort of deodorizers would be safe with the rubber and polyester.