Got some new shoes...

McLoki
McLoki Posts: 5,231
edited March 2010 in The Clubhouse
Normally I am not enough of a shoe geek to make a big deal about getting some new shoes, but these are different enough that I did not even know they existed a month ago. For anyone that enjoys going barefoot - they are worth checking out.

I got a new pair of Vibram Five Fingers shoes (classic style) They look similar to aqua socks, but actually have toes. They are as close to walking barefoot as you can get with shoes on. (as close as I have found anyway)

They are supposed to be great all around shoes (they do look a little silly though). You can do anything in them that you can do in regular shoes. (Run, walk, weightlift, hike, play frisbee, etc.) Much like when you are barefoot - your foot is supported by your feet (arches), not the shoe. They take a little getting used to, but are supposed to be great once you are used to relying on your feet for support rather than shoes.

I just got them last night, but I really like them so far. (except for the fact that they have a very thin rubber sole and the ground is damn cold right now)

Here is the color that I got...

vibramfivefingersclassic.jpg

Michael
Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
Post edited by McLoki on
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Comments

  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited February 2010
    Yes, Michael those are definitely odd looking but also cool in a weird way.:)
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited February 2010
    Ah, sweet! I read something about them in a Men's Health article a few years back talking about the benefits of barefoot hiking/jogging. Let us know how it goes after you've had a few miles into them. Cool beans.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2010
    Those are creepy.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • packetjones
    packetjones Posts: 1,059
    edited February 2010
    There is a guy at work that wears those around all the time. They look so weird but he swears by them. Let us know what you think after u have had them for awhile.
    Front - RTiA5's
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2010
    I couldn't imagine leaving the house in those.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2010
    ^ Me either
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited February 2010
    Face wrote: »
    I couldn't imagine leaving the house in those.

    Pretty much everyone that knows me has already made the determination if I am odd or not. Any shoe I wear will not change their conclusions one way or the other. :p

    With that being said - I did wear them out to eat last night (went to Red Lobster) and while no one said anything - there was a fair amount of staring and finger pointing.....
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,485
    edited February 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Those are creepy.

    I'm surprised you weren't the first to have a pair.... We know you'd wear 'em.:D
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited February 2010
    i'll be the one to say so... that just ain't right.

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    bobman1235 wrote:
    I have no facts to back that up, but I never let facts get in the way of my arguments.
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited February 2010
    Yeah, I couldn't wear those. Didn't know Virbram was making their own "shoes." I have been buying Merrells for a long time and Vibram makes the padding for their shoes. I also like New Balance and just bought these new ones from them:

    MT813AT.png

    Hard to find shoes that I like in my 14/15 wide size.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Those are creepy.

    Ditto
    Jake
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited February 2010
    A guy at the outdoors (backpacking, hiking, etc) store I frequent wears those all the time and swears by them. I hate sandals and flip flops which is what I carry now when I go backpacking for camp shoes instead of the hiking boots. I've considered those...but they just look wierd. Of course the only time I would ever wear them would be in the woods...so who cares?

    They look ok on this girl though....


    spl109429_002.jpg
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,952
    edited February 2010
    Those are the most funky,unattractive things I've seen for feet in a long time, on the same level as crocs.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,141
    edited February 2010
    I find it weird that the design is called a 5 fingered one.

    Don't they cover TOES.?......:D

    They do look great for rock climbing !!!
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2010
    I hope you don't bump into someone with a foot fetish.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2010
    I want some of those for hiking.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited February 2010
    Actually they look on the normal side to me. Japanese have been wearing those type of shoes and socks here for the longest. They even have work boots like those the OP posted.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2010
    Oh hell no ;)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited February 2010
    shack wrote: »

    They look ok on this girl though....


    spl109429_002.jpg

    not really.

    POLK SDA-SRS 1.2TL -- ADCOM GFA-5802
    PANASONIC PT-AE4000U -- DIY WILSONART DW 135" 2.35:1 SCREEN
     ONKYO TX-SR805
    CENTER: CSI5
    MAINS: RTI8'S
    SURROUNDS: RTI8'S
    7.1 SURROUNDS: RTI6'S
    SUB: SVS PB12-PLUS/2 (12.3 series)
    XBOX 360    WiiPS3/blu-rayTOSHIBA HD-A35 hd dvd

    http://polkarmy.com/forums/index.php
    bobman1235 wrote:
    I have no facts to back that up, but I never let facts get in the way of my arguments.
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  • RedBull
    RedBull Posts: 53
    edited February 2010
    How do I wear socks?
    harman/kardon hk 3490
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited February 2010
    RedBull wrote: »
    How do I wear socks?

    you wear socks like these. With that being said - I don't plan to wear socks with them. The shoes are machine washable in warm water. (hang dry)

    If I end up liking these as much as I think I will, I may get another pair of shoes in a month or so and i can switch back and forth between them. These are the other ones I am planning to get... (they were out of stock when I got the ones I did...)

    Black_Orange_KSO_fivefingers.jpg
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited February 2010
    I don't find them as bad as flip flops (for the size of stuff between your toes) but they really are a lot like going barefoot. If you don't like doing your elliptical barefoot (and its not just a traction problem - these would help with traction) you won't like doing elliptical in these either....

    The entire point of these shoes is it is like going barefoot with less concern about traction and walking over stones, sticks, glass, etc. You can still feel when you walk over them as the sole is quite thin, but it does not hurt like it would if you were barefoot.

    With that being said - it will take a few weeks for my feet to get used to wearing them. There are a few seams that kind of dig into your toes - (in my case, on my little toe). I think I will be able to get used to them and will give the shoes more time - but I am not running out and getting more pairs until I do. Also my feet, ankles and calves are pretty sore (muscle sore - not normal foot pain sore) from the shoes engaging a lot of muscles that most shoes don't. This is from my feet having to support my body as they are designed rather than letting a shoe do it for me. I consider this a good thing. (much like being a little sore from lifting weights is not really a bad thing)....
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • C'VILLE
    C'VILLE Posts: 28
    edited February 2010
    Those are some of the ugliest shoes I have seen. They don't even look comfortable. But if people are willing to spend the money then I guess it was a great idea. Personally, I wouldn't buy them.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited February 2010
    You've got to hand it to the marketing department.

    Whether you like the looks or not, they've "invented a new mousetrap" and I'm sure there's a market out there that will be buying "toe" socks and shoes.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
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  • millerman 3732
    millerman 3732 Posts: 1,488
    edited February 2010
    Al Bundy came up with these years ago. alshoes.jpg
    Casey
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  • devani
    devani Posts: 1,497
    edited February 2010
    he was insprational.....at least to me.
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    2Ch system: MC2105, AR-XA, AR-2A, AR9, BX-300, OPPO BDP-83
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  • Huck344
    Huck344 Posts: 453
    edited February 2010
    Those shoes look rad!!! They remind me of the ninja shoes we used to wear as kids. I have some water shoes that I use when hiking in Hawaii. These shoes look so much better!
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited February 2010
    I wonder if they have a steel toe version?
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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited March 2010
    Well? Any updates?
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  • Norm Apter
    Norm Apter Posts: 1,036
    edited March 2010
    For some reason, Gollum springs to mind.
    2 Ch.
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