Just got a pair of these today!

These Vibram Five Fingers “shoes” give you that feeling of walking barefoot while protecting your feet from cuts, scrapes, and burns (when walking on very hot surfaces).

I first found out about these shoes when I went hiking a few weeks ago. There was someone in our group wearing these and he was telling us how comfortable they are and how walking barefoot is good for your feet and legs so I did some research after the hike to learn more about it. I found a lot of articles and forum discussions that are saying good things about them so I finally gave in and bought a pair.

According to Vibram’s website:

The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.

Many experts believe the shoes we wear not only cast the foot in a protective form, but also weaken our foot and leg muscles, leaving them underdeveloped and more prone to injury. And while there are many occasions where traditional footwear is essential for protection, safety, and security, it is equally important to stimulate and exercise the foot in a more natural state on a regular basis.

That’s why we recommend wearing FiveFingers for exercise, for play, and for fun. Stimulating muscles in your feet and lower legs will not only make you stronger and healthier, it improves your balance, agility and proprioception.

I bought the Vibram Five Fingers KSO (“Keep Stuff Out”) model ($79.99) and so far I’m very happy with them. I wore it earlier while mowing the lawn for about an hour or so and I found them very comfortable and fun to walk with, you can feel the texture of the terrain. I washed them (they’re machine washable also, by the way) after that, though, so I’m still waiting for them to dry out before I put them back on.

If you want to try them out use this link to find your nearest store that carries them: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/productsupport/store_locator.cfm

Can’t wait to use these for other activities! I’ll post an update in a few weeks!