Good replacement for VivoBarefoot shoes?

November 16, 2007 8:41 AM

Need a cheaper, more readily available (in the U.S.) alternative to VivoBarefoot shoes.

I've had a pair of VivoBarefoot Aqua shoes for over a year, and love them. Wearing other shoes with standard soles now feels like wearing inflexible planks on my feet.

My shoes recently developed a hole in the sole, however, so I'm in the market for new ones. Ideally, I'd like something comparable to my current shoes, but cheaper and more readily available in the U.S. I've seen recommendations for Nike Free; has anyone tried them after wearing VivoBarefoot? (One concern I have about this option is that my feet are wide, and I've heard that Nikes run narrow.) Or should I just bite the bullet and get a new pair of VivoBarefoot?

posted by SomePerlGeek to clothing, beauty, & fashion (11 comments total)

Vibram Five Fingers - I love mine to death.
posted by Hates_ at 9:33 AM on November 16, 2007

seconding Vibram Five Fingers. I picked some up a few months ago and have simply loved them.
posted by PugAchev at 10:05 AM on November 16, 2007

Yeah, Five Fingers.
posted by OmieWise at 10:06 AM on November 16, 2007

Those Five Fingers shoes sure look interesting. I have a gouty toe and have had trouble with shoes whose toe box is too confining. I wonder if individual toe pockets would be better? Anybody have any experience with such a thing?
posted by not that girl at 10:44 AM on November 16, 2007

They're probably not any cheaper, but Zappos does carry a few under the umbrella brand Terra Plana.
posted by Utilitaritron at 11:12 AM on November 16, 2007

I have a wide foot and longer second toe. Fivefingers--a concept I loved and bought twice--are uncomfortable in any size that can stay on my foot. Nike Free 5.0 fits widths, surprisingly.
posted by Phred182 at 12:35 PM on November 16, 2007

I swear by my Free 5.0s. The width is far better than most Nikes.

If you can hunt them down however, Nike Air Mocs are the comfiest things I've ever slipped my feet into.
posted by brautigan at 4:11 PM on November 16, 2007

Thanks, everyone. The Five Fingers sound intriguing, but seem impractical for fall/winter walks, so I'll hold off on those until next year.

It's good to hear that the width on the Nikes might not be a problem. I'll hit the local stores and try some on soon.
posted by SomePerlGeek at 12:17 PM on November 19, 2007

These Five Finger things look great for summer. How is the arch support with these things?
posted by verisimilitude at 3:21 AM on April 24, 2008

this answers my question
posted by verisimilitude at 3:26 AM on April 24, 2008

Based on this post I ended up getting the Vibram Five Fingers. I couldn't be happier. Even though I had to take the first pair back because they were too small (I punished myself for a full day in them on carpet at the house). When I went back and got the next size up it was absofreakinloutely amazing how comfortable they seemed. Weird yes, but really as close to barefoot as you can be with shoes on. Every time you go out in them someone will ask where you got them (after first asking WTF they are). I'm hoping Vibram can come out with a pseudo-camo-dress model that I can somehow slip by the business casual dress code at work because they seem to help my low back problem. I'm in good shape, but the workout my feet get in these shoes is really toning much of my lower body as well. It has been about a month now and they are on my feet about 6-8 hours a day (as I type).

Don't recommend for wearing all day on concrete or tile, but for the park, hiking watersports, and general around-the-house wear they seem to be holding up well.
posted by HyperBlue at 7:16 PM on May 22, 2008