Fit Gadgets: Vibram FiveFingers Footwear

The last time I took a long walk on the beach, barefoot, my calves let me know about it the next day, which got me thinking about how great it would be if I could do more walking barefoot. There's something really satisfying about stretching one's toes and feeling the changes in terrain while walking, plus, it obviously works the leg muscles differently than walking in shoes. However, it wouldn't be safe (or hygienic) to walk around the places I go barefoot, so that was the end of that.

Only it wasn't actually the end, because this link for Vibram FiveFingers Footwear (which we've also covered here at That's Fit a time or two) popped into my inbox the other day. You know I love fashionable footwear, and believe me, this isn't it, but it is a unique and cool concept based on barefooting, which they define as:

1. The exhilarating joy of going barefoot without leaving yourself exposed; 2. any activity requiring unconventional footwear offering the protection of a thin, flexible Vibram skin; 3. an intelligent way to deepen your connection with your natural surroundings.

Vibram FiveFingers Footwear: It's funky!(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Basically, they give you the experience of being barefoot while keeping your tootsies safe and protected. And they're not just for walking around the backyard -- they list a variety of different barefoot sports, such as barefoot running, kayaking and watersports, traveling and trekking, and yoga. As a matter of fact, barefoot running has quite a history and continues to have a major following.

The website is really informative, giving information about which models are recommended for what sports, offering stories from actual people who wear them, and giving links to all kinds of articles and reviews, which put a lot of my fears to rest and answered all kinds of questions, like whether there is sufficient arch support (yes), whether they are environmentally friendly (again, yes, even vegans can feel good wearing them), and whether they can be worn on all surfaces (not really -- they're not great for pavement or surfaces with large, pointy rocks).

Vibram FiveFingers come in four styles, the Classic, Sprint, KSO, and Flow, and a number of colors. They range in price from $70 to $90, are available at stores across the country, but you can purchase them online knowing you can exchange new, clean FiveFingers for a different size if necessary.