Men's Vibram FiveFingers Bikila

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

i have been a runner for 25 years. I began running barefoot in the last 3 months and have grown to love it. I initially purchased the Sprint to extend the distance of my barefoot runs. The vff Sprints gave me blisters and hurt my feet. I really wanted the vffs to work out since i wanted to run barefoot, but with more protection for the bottoms of my feet. So, i decided to try the Bikilas. WOW!!! I am so glad i did. Ran a 5K with my Bikilas the first time out - no blisters, not hurting feet, just comfort! The Bikilas feel just as minimal as the Sprints, but fit my feet much better - like a glove. i wear a size 9 running shoe, size 41 Sprint, and size 40 Bikila. The Bikilas give me similar feedback to running barefoot - if my running form begins to decline, my feet will tell me and start hurting. Correct my form, and my feet immediately begin feeling better - Thank you Bikila!!

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

I got these to replace my classics which I could not wear anymore thanks to the heel tab digging into my heel. I tried these as I was told they were more suited to running. There is no heel tab, in fact the heel area feels padded for comfort. The sole is increased which adds comfort when walking or running on uneven ground or on gravel. Even crossing the rocky area in my work parking lot was painful in my classics. You still need to ease into them but they feel a ton more comfortable than the classics which had caused me some discomfort in my forefoot area.

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

First off, don't buy these until you actually go to a store some place and try them on to get your size. The sizing can be tricking because the size chart isn't 100% accurate. My big toe almost touches the end of the shoe and the others don't even come close. Everyone will be a little different. Someone once commented that I had toes like a monkey.

I absolutely love these shoes. When you run, with proper barefoot form, you feel so light and nibble. I have only used them for small amounts of training, but will use them as my feet and legs get used to the different running style. They feel great on a the road and I even like them on gravel trails. I haven't tried them on rugged trails yet, but I will so maybe I will post an update then on how the feel there.

I looked at other minimalist shoes and these feel the most natural, even with the material between the toes. You can spread your toes out more naturally. I tried on the Merrel minimalist shoes and only wore them around the store, but the have a funny rocking feeling at the ball of the shoes like the sole is a little thicker there or maybe it feels that way because it is one solid sole. The nice thing about the Bikila is they have a really flexible sole. If you look at the sole the have little tread plates that still give you the protection and traction, but allow for more flexibility than a full sole on shoes like the Merrel's.

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

When I started running in the late 70's, I was enamored with the idea of running barefoot. I found the flattest shoe and wore them without socks to get as close to running barefoot as I could. Over the years I caved to shoe manufacturers using stability shoes and shoes with lots of heel padding. I changed shoes to accommodate various aches and pains, only to chase the discomfort somewhere else. I've been running in my Bikila's for only a month but I can already tell that they are what I needed all along. It took a couple of runs to get my calves accustomed to not having a huge heel pad but since then, they are an absolute joy to run in. A little hard to get on at first and very different feel on the road but a great experience overall. They have rejuvenated my desire to run and make it fun.

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

Although I like this Vibram Five Fingers, it's not my favorite out of the 3 different types of VFF's I've run in over the past 3 yrs.
The top half of them are a bit thick and not as "stretchy" as some of the other types I've had so they were actually harder to get on. Maybe if I had ordered a size larger it would help. It's not so much that I dislike as much as it's just not my favorite VFF.

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

These shoes are fantastic. After using the Brooks Green Silence and running in the forefoot landing style, I decided to try these. I have found my new running shoe. These shoes allow your foot to spread out like it was meant to and sense the ground with ease. They do take some time to get used to and you'll want to make sure your calves and Achilles are nice and loose. I've not run more than 5 miles at a time yet but I've had no hint of IT band pain that used to bother me. Its also great that you can just throw these in the washing machine to clean!

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

This site's sizing for Vibrams is very different than the Vibram's site. I bought a pair based on the sizing chart here and they were way too big. According to this site I needed a 43, when in fact I needed a 40!

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

Background: These were my first FFV after moving on from Nike 3.0 specifically for running. I put in several miles on these, but rarely over 8 miles at one time.
PROS: Great feel of the ground with enough cushion to overcome most paved roads; Apart from when I first started wearing these my knees, shins, ITB have never felt better because it promotes a natural gate; very durable shoe
CONS: The only real complaint is the cushioning, it serves its purpose on most roads or fine gravel trails but that is about it. Running down steep hills (especially if the shoe is wet) feels like high five-ing a wet piece of concrete.
Despite this flaw I enjoy running in these more than any minimalist non FFV shoe.

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

The kangaroo leather starts to stink quickly and the shoe needs to be washed often. However, it takes forever to dry, because of all the padding. Better than a conventional shoe, but the KSO and the SeeYa are much, much better (I have not tested any of the other VFF's).

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

6 months after my first run, I like the Bikila's even more. I'm a 51 year old, 200lb runner and I cut my mile times by 30 seconds while increasing mileage from 3-5 miles 2-3 times a week to 4-7 miles 2-3 times a week. Legs, knees, ankles and feet all feel great, stronger than they have been in years.

Comments about Mens Vibram FiveFingers Bikila Running Shoe:

These shoes are the only things I run in now. I ran 20 miles in them yesterday in Upstate NY with snow, ice and cold and they felt great. My feet stayed warm (as long as I was moving) and they held up fine. Since switching to Vibrams from my traditional running shoes several months ago I notice that my form has improved and that my runs are less fatiguing. I'm not sure if the Bikilas will work well on rugged trails but they are great on the road.