I got some new shoes over the weekend! I know they look like toe socks. They feel a bit like socks, but they are actually shoes. They are Vibram Five Fingers. The specific model I got is the Classic.

These shoes are part of a movement of barefoot athletes. Here is their argument: If we were given great feet and are meant to walk around barefoot, then why do we wear shoes with padded soles and raised heals?

Shoes were originally made to protect the feet from things on the ground that could hurt us. Thousands of years later, we have shoes that now alter the way our feet grow, change our posture and sometimes cause permanent damage. It just doesn’t make sense. I liken it to buying a Car but equipping it with the wrong tires. Wrong tires on a car could very well lead to a crash down the road.

Vibram solves this problem by giving customers the barefoot experience while still protecting the foot. Their shoes are very thin with no padding whatsoever. Each toe is separated from the others. They say that this design strengthens many of the muscles, ligaments, etc. in the foot that have become weak due to shoe wearing and scientific studies agree. The separated toes also reduce foot odor and prevent athlete’s foot.

After a few days of wearing them 4-6 hours a day, I’d say that these are the most comfortable shoes that I have every tried. My last 3 pairs of shoes have been Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81 (which is also extremely comfortable). I first got them because they have very thin padding and flexible soles. This results in a sock-like feel. The Vibrams take sock-like to another level. The allow the ability to feel details in the terrain that I am walking over.

I’ll use the Vibrams daily around the city and campus, but I am still going to wear the Onitsuka Tigers when I need more stylish shoes. If I can’t bear the winter cold, I might purchase some Injinji performance toe socks that are known to go well with Vibrams.

If you can find a pair in your size, then get the immediately. I say this because there seems to be a shortage due to the ten fold increase in sales since last year. This means that most stores only have huge sizes like mens 13,14, etc.