Alright, time to talk shoes! The first pair of minimalist shoes I bought for running was the Vibram KSOs, simply because it was so unusual! Once I started wearing it around though, I wanted more and soon ordered a pair of Classics for daily wear as well. The KSO's strap system and covered upper was too cumbersome when I needed to take off and put them off quick, so I was hoping the Classics would fill the gap.
In the meantime, I wore the KSOs for a week long trip back to Malaysia, hoping to see how it'd perform off road when climbing the Penang Hill. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to the hill this trip, but I did get a lot of attention from relatives and family friends whenever they saw me sporting it. I also managed to put in a fair bit of time walking about in it and overall getting used to the Vibram feel.
The KSOs stand for Keep Stuff Out, and are produced by a brand Vibram Five Fingers. Vibram actually started out as a maker of shoe soles, but somehow decided to add the Five Fingers to their product line as well. They have a whole bunch of these toe shoes, in different models and colours to suit your needs. However, Let's take a more in-depth look at the KSOs!
Design
The KSOs come in a wide variety of unique colours, 5 for the men, and 4 more different colours for the ladies. You could probably reach across the gender divide for colour options if you're able to fit the sizes, and there are also additional colours if you manage to get some of the older models. Being a gaudy person, I went for the red/black remix. The red on the upper is a tad too bright compared to the red on the strap, and I would have preferred the upper in a slightly darker shade that matched it.
Beyond the colour, the overall shoe design is also pretty unique if you've never seen toe shoes before. The 5 toe pockets are distinctively different and I've had a lot of people admiring my shoes in public. At least I'd like to think they are, since a few friends have also commented on how ugly they look. I think they're just jealous that I dare to wear them.
Jokes aside, the shoe features a thin 2mm insole, and a 3.5mm non-marking outsole, making it really thin. The insole also features their Aegis anti-microbial treatment to reduce funk, and the shoe is machine-washable.
Fit
If you've never tried a pair of Vibrams, I strongly suggest going to a physical store to wiggle around in it before making any online purchases. I'm really bad with shoe sizes myself, and can never remember what size I'm in, so fitting is even more important for me.
After trying on the KSOs, I fit their size 40 best, with the size 41 having toe pockets that are too long for my toes to snuggle into. This probably means that even one size off would be a bad fit, so you really need to get the right size. If you plan to get more than one model of Vibrams, be sure to check the size chart each time, as different models may have different sizing! For example, 40 on the KSOs are 41 on the Classics.
The covered upper can make it a little difficult to slide on due to the snugness, but once put on, it stays on and doesn't shift, especially with the velcro strap to secure it. The velcro is attached to a strap that loops around the heel, so tightening it not only secures the lateral side of the shoes like in most normal shoes, but also tightens the heel area to make it more secure. It took awhile to get used to sliding the right toes into the right pockets, but after awhile I got the hang of it and could wear them with one hand.
Another important reason to try out the shoes first is to see whether the Vibram cut is for you. Unfortunately, the Vibram is a mass market product, and has to cater to the majority of shoe wearers. So if you have a foot that's a little different from the masses, e.g. one foot is one size bigger than the other, slightly longer toes, Morton's toes, etc, it might or might not work for you. The only way to find out is to wiggle around in them. The KSOs are supposedly the most forgiving of the bunch, but don't take anyone's word for it. Try the other models too and see what works best.
Barefoot Feel
First off, I must say that the feel and freedom of the Vibrams are unlike any other footwear. The ability to flex and wiggle the toes freely, while still having the sole attached to the foot is an awesome feeling indeed. You'll know what I mean when you get the front of your sandals trapped on something because it drooped a little lower than your toes. With shoes, the toe box is seldom big enough for much wiggle room in the first place.
Moreover, the rubber sole is very flexible, and you can easily bend the whole shoe in half, so there's very little restriction when flexing the foot. This, coupled with its light weight of 160 grams on each side, means you barely feel it there at all!
The shoes offer no heel and arch support whatsoever, as expected from minimalist shoes, and the sole thickness is more or less even throughout so there's no sense of elevation at the heel area.
Usage
The shoes are stated as suitable for a wide range of activities, including fitness, running, water sports, yoga/pilates, travelling, trekking, and after sports. I can definitely see these used for rock climbing and bouldering activities thanks to the increased feel and the ability to grip with toes. They work decently well for a game of badminton too!
My only concern initially was the durability of the shoes. The soft mesh upper will definitely be susceptible to rips and tears on rough terrain. Despite some users saying that they've used it for 2 years, I was skeptical given how thin the uppers and the sole was. It didn't look like it'll last long before the sole wore out. Also, the sole seemed to be glued to the upper, another concern as I've had a number of running shoes with their soles peeling off when it was glued on without stitching.
The only way I'll know for sure is to clock as many kilometres I can in them to see how long it takes to wear the sole out. But the thing I do like about the sole is the way they cut the grooves at the bottom. Unlike conventional shoes, the Vibrams have wavy lines 'sliced' into the rubber that's more visible when you bend the sole. I'm not sure how deep they've sliced it, but it seems like an ingenious solution to the usual shoes with their textured grips that eventually wear flat over time. Perhaps this contributes to the sole lasting longer than what it might seem at first. The rubber sole also extends up to the front of the toe and back to the heel, giving extra grip for activities beyond running.
One thing I like about the Vibrams is how breathable it is compared to normal shoes. Being so thin and ventilated, it doesn't get stuffy and uncomfortable compared to normal shoes. The feeling of the soft upper material on the skin is great, and there's no real need for socks except to keep the stink out of the shoes. The soft upper and flexible sole also makes it extremely comfortable compared to the stiffness of some cross-trainers. The flip side though, is that these shoes are extremely susceptible to wet weather and terrain, since they are not one bit water resistant.
The sole did peel slightly away from the upper on one side of my KSOs after a week or so of light use though, and I was deeply disappointed, especially after forking out an arm and a leg for local pricing. Fortunately, after an email to the local distributor, I was told that it was unusual and my set would be replaced. The bad news however, was that KSOs in my size were out of stock, so I had to settle for a pair of KSO Treksports, not exactly what I had in mind, since my planned running terrain was asphalt.
Eventually, I ordered another pair of KSOs online for asphalt running, as it seems like the sole might be more suitable, and because I prefer the thinner sole anyway.
Overall, I really enjoy the KSOs in terms of looks and comfort, as well as running functionality. I'd recommend these to anyone if they can stomach the local price tag, or have the means to get it directly from the States.
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