Friday, December 4, 2015

Wintertime! - updated




So you know that thing where gloves are not as warm as mitten because of body heat?

It happens to your feet too. And that means that for a full time Vibram FiveFingers wearer in Iowa, it's a cold foot-season. So what do we do?

Casual wear:

In the winter, I've figured out the few kinds of VFF's that are okay to wear casually if you're committed. First, the all-leather models are decent with a pair of mid-weight Injinji socks. This includes the Trek LS and the Speed LR's I talk about here. So far, the new Trek Ascent LR's are decent too, but may be a little colder due to the Hemp sections. (And it hasn't been that cold here yet.)

There are many new options for winter wear that look good. There are the Trek Ascent Insulated and the new Lontra LS that have recently been released. I don't have them so I can't say how they'll do. There are also the new CVT Wool's that are being delivered to my door tomorrow thanks to Vibram's Black Friday sales. I can't wait to try them out for wearing to the office this winter.

Other options for casual wear are few and far between. The other models I like to wear casually, like the CVT LS, CVT Hemps, or the original Speeds, are not warm at all when the weather is cold. If you spend any more time outside other than walking to your car, I'd stay away.

Running:

Though no longer for sale from Vibram, my 1 year old Lontras are my go-to shoes for cold weather. My wife and I each got a pair of them for winter running last year and we love them. Lontras are made with the Trek sole which is nice when you're running through snow and can't see the terrain underneath. Thinner soles may be a problem when you don't know if you're about to step on a big rock. They're also made with water resistant taped seams that keep your feet dry running through the snow and ice. They come up higher on your ankle and have extra insulation for keeping you warm. In fact, they're warm enough to wear with no socks and to have sweaty feet when you take them off.

The only downfall for me with the Lontras is the stiffness. Because of the insulation and the water resistance, they are much more stiff to wear. In fact, it took me awhile to like them because they would hurt my toes from wear. Thankfully, running in them a few times broke them in a bit and they're much more comfortable.

If you can get a hold of some original Lontras, I'd say go for it. If not, check out the new Lontra LS or the Trek Ascent Insulated for winter running.

Update - 12/7/15

After receiving my new CVT Wool shoes this weekend, they are going to be a nice addition to the winter options. They are definitely not for running and aren't water resistant, but they're seriously warm. I wore them yesterday to church and me feet were sweating all morning. They look pretty nice and are comfortable right out of the box. Definitely check them out.

Also, a good friend got a pair of the new Lontra LS this weekend and loves them. I love the new design even more than my original Lontras and he claims they're not too stiff. We'll see how they do running in snow without the high neoprene ankle cuff to keep them warm and dry, but they look great. I'd definitely consider them for casual and running use. and regarding warmth, his feet were sweating through church yesterday too.)

A Must-have

One of the real issues of wearing any zero-drop shoes casually is walking on your pants. Because there's little sole and no heel, you find yourself dragging the back of your pants and wearing through them really quickly. Maybe if you're a skinny-jeans wearer you can get away with it, but otherwise it's a problem.

So here's my solution. First, thanks to an online commenter a few years ago, I learned about using a #2 S-biner to hook the loop on the back of my VFF's to the bottom of my pants. It works great with many models of Vibrams to keep the back of your pants from dragging. But what to do for the casual VFF's that don't have a loop?


Take a piece of bungee rope, a spring cord lock, and your S-biner and you have a fix. I use left over bungee from some Lock Laces and found some cord locks in the camping section of Walmart. Make it fix enough to go around your ankle and tie it off. It wraps around and keeps you from ruining your pants or from getting them wet when it's rainy.

Is it nerdy? Yep. But nobody can see it so no one has to know the lengths you're willing to go to wear your Vibrams everywhere.

Try it.

Please Make Some More - Casual




An Open Letter to Vibram:

Please make some more kangaroo leather casual FiveFingers like my Trek LS and Speed LR shoes. After 4 years of constant use, mine are starting to fall apart and I can't bear it.

Sincerely,
Regan

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I'm that crazy person that wears my VFF's literally every day in almost every situation. I'm a Baptist Pastor and that means I'm wearing my toe shoes even on Sundays when I preach to my congregation. (The only time I don't is when I am doing a wedding or funeral. Even I have limits.) Thanks to my VFF brown Trek LS' and my black Speed LR's, I can wear my toe shoes while looking casual with a pair of jeans or khakis.

I love these casual shoes! The brown Trek LS are my absolute favorite VFF's. They look and feel like putting on a baseball glove. They're comfortable, look great, and have lasted very well. They have the Trek sole that is a little thicker and is great for a casual shoe that I can wear anywhere. They're even nice in the winter in Iowa with a pair of socks. They may be a little colder than regular casual shoes due to the separated toes, but they're better than most VFF's.

My black Speed LR's are great too. they have a little different design than the Trek LS and were an REI exclusive when Vibram released them. They have the same kangaroo leather as the Trek and the same sole too.

The one downside to leather Vibrams are that they have a tendency to come unglued from the sole in certain spots. Thanks to Shoe Goo, it's never a big deal. Just glue and clamp them with a clothespin while they dry and you're good as new.

As my Trek LS' are beginning to see wear from daily use for several years, I'm wishing there were more. I'll definitely be searching Ebay and other online places for another pair soon.

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Acknowledgement:

Vibram released a new kangaroo model called the Trek Ascent LR this past year and I have them too. They're a mix of leather and hemp and they're a really nice shoe too. While I like them, I'm a little nuts about color and have trouble wearing them as much since they are green. They're definitely less versatile than the brown. They're also not quite as warm since they mix hemp with the leather. But they are a great option for casual shoes since the earlier models are no longer offered. They have a different hiking sole that are great for about all situations.

Best of All - Running in KMD Sports

My first pair of Vibrams were their first dedicated running shoes called the Bikilas. Though I got them initially for going canoeing in Canada, I decided to try running in them once and everything changed.

Though I was in no way a runner, I was always able to get off my couch and go run 3 miles with little trouble. My problems always came when I ran with a little consistency and found my back hurting and pain from shin splints. When I ran with my Bikilas, I had none of that. Unfortunately, though, I didn't take seriously Vibram's warnings to transition slowly to running in minimalist shoes. After a great 3 mile run in my new Bikilas, my calves were knotted for a solid week from using new muscles.

The Bikilas are good shoes for running, but it wasn't until my wife got her first pair of KMD Sports that we found the best. (So I had to order them too.)

Out of my almost 20 pairs of VFF's, the absolute best shoes for road running are the KMD Sports. (Formerly Komodo Sport) These are considered a cross-trainer by Vibram, but they are perfect for running.

The key to the greatness of the KMD's are their fit. They wrap up your foot in a way no other models do, so they eliminate extra movement inside the shoe and feel fantastic. They also give you a good sole with some cushion, but without too much extra.

It's in these VFF's that I have now run 2 marathons and a half marathon, and they were great. I've found that in any shoes, long distances will bring some blisters, but these are by far the best. For runs over 10 miles, I wear a pair of thin Injinji socks for extra comfort. (On long runs, Bikilas and other models often lead to more blisters because they aren't as tight around the foot; at least for me.)

If you're looking for one pair of VFF's for running, get the KMD Sports. You can often find them inexpensively online at places like 6pm.com. Or check out birthdayshoes.com for a great blog on minimalist shoes, and check his "Store" page for links to some good online retailers.

My Obsession

I have a problem. I know that the first step is to admit it. After nearly 5 years of wearing Vibram FiveFingers almost exclusively, running 2 marathons in them, and even preaching in them each Sunday; you could say I'm a fan. 

Okay, it's worse than that; I'm obsessed. (And the picture only shows a portion. I actually have almost 20 pairs of VFF's by now.) I'm the weird guy that wears my toe shoes everywhere without apology. I began by running in Vibrams and found that the way I felt in them was worth wearing them all the time. 

Not only that, I can confidently say that if you see someone in Southeast Iowa wearing them, I probably know them and got them to try some Vibrams. 

This blog is set up for me to share information and reviews of the many Vibram FiveFingers shoes that I have for others who want to give them a shot. 

So, stay tuned...