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Which ones are they? I have a pair of classics, and I'm looking forward to getting a pair of trek's this Christmas.
Lately I've just been using mine for the super rough trail runs and walking around :D.
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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I got the Flows, because I'm hoping to keep using them once the weather gets colder. Did the trial run in them today and they felt great. Only problem was a rubbing at the heel of a stitch in the right shoe -- but it seemed to get better partway through the run.
It was fun feeling different types of terrain so clearly! On the other hand, I didn't have to adjust my form much at all, if anything it felt easier to run the way I've been trying to with my New Balance shoes.
How do you find the Classics? They're expensive, so it won't be soon, but I'm tempted to get a pair of Vibrams just to wear indoors at work. Would you recommend the Classic?
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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Great invention. I am currently training for the Dublin marathon in October. I had a setback earlier in the year with a metatarsal stress fracture, so was laid off running for about 10 weeks! Purchased the VFF KSO model and been running in them on all my runs. Currently, up to 6m on my longest run of the week, so hope to be able to do the marathon. Planning to do the full race in the VFF. I feel so good running in these. Read Born to Run - great book on the Tarahumara ultra runners and how they can keep going without getting injured.
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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Funny you mention that...I am just about to finish Born to Run as well and I have been motivated to ditch the thick-padded Brooks and purchased some VFF Classics yesterday. I went for a three mile run and they felt awesome...today my calves are somewhat sore and I have a good blister on the outside ball of my left foot.
My hope is that as I improve my motion (and get used to the VFFs), the blister issue will resolve on its own. I am training for Ironman Florida and I am trying to make a decision about whether or not I should give it a go barefoot for the marathon portion of the race.
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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I have the KSO's and love them. I am also going to be getting the Treks when they come out. I love my KSO's so far and am looking forward to doing longer distances in them.
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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I bought a pair of the sprints after reading Born to Run (awesome book). So far I like them. I haven't tried them on the trails yet but I think I will tomorrow. My calves were sore after the first two runs, but I've run 3 times in them now, the longest being 3.5 miles and they feel back to normal.
Has anyone washed them yet?
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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I've only had one flare up of blisters and typically it is because my form is off (also mine are a half-size too big). I wear mine casually and for running, so they've seen a lot of use. The only issue I've had with the classics is that they get sucked off when I run through muddy trails, and can pop off if I swim in them... otherwise they are golden. My wife and I regularly wash ours (sometimes not regularly enough). Either I love 'em and give them a hand washing, or throw them in the washing machine. They should not go through the dryer, but my wife has been known to let hers go through when she does not want to wait for them to dry. With the upcoming leather ones, I imagine their required care will be a bit different obviously.
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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in reply to what Paige F. said:I bought a pair of the sprints after reading Born to Run (awesome book). So far I like them. I haven't tried them on the trails yet but I think I will tomorrow. My calves were sore after the first two runs, but I've run 3 times in them now, the l... read more
I am with you man! I loved that book, it is the best I have ever read!
My longest runs in them have been 6 miles of gravel roads and one of 6 miles on pavement. On both runs the VFFs were awesome!posted over 2 years ago | Report
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I tried a pair of VFFs, but chose not to buy them. I will probably end up with some. I have used cheap water shoes with a decent insole, and also some Sanuk sidewalk surfers. But for me, barefoot is best. I have been running daily for four months and have never felt better (37 years of running, bad achilles tendon----all much better!)
good luck
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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Just got some KSO's took them out for a short run this morning with no issues. I plan to start using them on my short runs (3 to 4 miles).
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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I have KSOs and Classics, and so far the KSOs are my favorite. The Classics sort of "bite" the top of my foot where the elastic band comes across behind my toes. I keep hoping I'll get used to this or it will get better, but so far it continues to be annoying. The KSOs on the other hand are awesome. Only problems I have with them are 1) they get smelly and 2) wearing them in sand. The smelly can be solved with washing, though I think I want a second pair so I don't have to wait for them to dry every time. The sand issue is actually a design flaw, I think. The places on the shoe where the straps attach aren't fully stitched to the fabric of the shoe, and there are little pockets where sand gets in. The sand isn't actually inside the shoe, but it's between the sole material and the thin fabric, so rubs your foot just as badly. Hoping Vibram changes this design. Meanwhile I just take them off whenever I encounter sand, which isn't so bad, I guess!
posted over 2 years ago | Report
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Has anyone tried the Sprints? I'm thinking of getting a pair within the next week or 2! They seem like awesome shoes! I've been looking for cheaper alternatives, the next best thing seems to be water shoes, not sure if I want to try them.
posted about 2 years ago | Report
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I tried on some Sprints but don't own any. My very brief impression was that the strap across the top of my foot was not as comfortable as my KSOs, which have fabric between my foot and the strap. That said, many people seem to wear and love the Sprints, so they can't be all bad.
posted about 2 years ago | Report
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I just got my first pair a couple days ago and selected Sprints. Basically it seems like a good idea to try running around the store in all the versions they carry - that helped me pick the most comfortable style for me. I've only run in them twice so far (1 mi and then 2 mi since they say to start slow in them) and as others mentioned, calves get a much better workout in them that in regular running shoes. After running in them, I also get an AWESOME warm feeling over my feet and little tingles that feel great!
posted about 2 years ago | Report
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I just got some sprints last month and have about 40 miles on them. i LOVE them. I hope to wear them in the Dam Run next month if it''s not TOO snowy and i want to work up to a 12 mile trail run (Dirty Thirty) in June in Golden, CO. I run on the treadmill with them and out on the pavement as well. it has been so much fun to re-learn to run and actually have fun. Born to Run was a very inspirational book!
posted almost 2 years ago | Report
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the sprints are awesome! i run on trails and pavement in Colorado and can use them in all but the snowiest conditions.
posted almost 2 years ago | Report
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I have never been able to run more than 3 miles with regular shoes, due to the "this is painful and not fun" and "why the heck do people enjoy this sport" factors.
I read Born to Run, because I saw an interview on TV, and also wondered, "Why does it hurt to run?" I went out and bought a pair of VFF Sprints a few weeks later.
I started with the Hal Higdon Spring Training program (no miles to 6 miles max run length).
I love running so much now, that I want to go out into the streets, grab random people by the shoulders, look them in the eye, and tell them how wonderful this is. I have managed restraint from this desire, though.
I wince every time I see runners heel-striking. I went for a 9 mile run on Sunday and counted 10 other neighborhood runners. Every single one of them were wearing traditional shoes and were heel-striking, just like I did before I started running with the sprints; starting Halloween 2009.
posted almost 2 years ago | Report
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is anyone planning on getting the Bikala when they come out? I'm torn about the idea of a "running" VFF shoe... I mean it's necessarily going to have more padding. But I can also see the benefit of having better traction.
posted almost 2 years ago | Report
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Whoa Daniel! Thanks for the introduction; I had not heard about the Bikalas yet...Vibram's website shows no trace of them. A quick google search and I found birthdayshoes.com has a bit of information...How did you hear about them?
My first indication is no, I will not be buying them. I can give at least two reasons. Number one, the price. The Bikalas will be at least $130 (my prediction. This is the price I paid for my KSO Treks.) and when you can get regular KSOs (which are perfect) for $80 or $90, they had better be $50 better! And they won't be, which leads me to point number two. The whole reason we love to run as close to barefoot as possible is because we wish to run naturally. The fact of the matter is that the more material we place around and under our feet, the farther away we get from our ultimate goal. The Bikalas appear to be a street version of the KSO Treks, which sought to increase traction and durability for the trail running market. I have run a number of miles in my Treks on hard and paved surfaces, and I have found that the raised lugs on the sole (for increased traction) actually become pressure points on my feet when the surface doesn't allow them to dig in (naturally this unpleasant side effect disappears off road). In other words, my weight is not spread out over the entire surface of my foot as it would be if I was barefoot. While it appears that the sole on the Bikalas is less consolidated than that of the Treks, and naturally so for its intended purpose, I feel that the sole is still too far away from 'natural' and most barefoot runners would be better off sticking with the flat sole found on the Classics, KSOs, or even simply the bottoms of their feet!
posted almost 2 years ago | Report
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just started running in mine last week. i am really pumped so far so good!
posted almost 2 years ago | Report
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Bought my VFF Classics on Saturday. Ran 1 mile last night to test them out. I was only going to run a half mile but it felt so good I went a bit extra. I am a beginner when it comes to running. Did C25k last Sept/Oct and ran my first 5k in Nov. Took a winter break, and am now starting all over. My legs had been killing me and I was finding 1.5 miles to be a serious challenge. My times were crazy slow and getting my runs under an 11 min mile was seemingly impossible. When I ran on Sat. in the VFF's I ran a mile in 9:47!!!! Today was a scheduled 2.25mi run and I ran it with an average pace of 10min./mile My calves are a bit tight but not painful. I am in love with these shoes and this style of running! I am looking forward to getting some KSO's soon.
posted almost 2 years ago | edited almost 2 years ago | Report
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