A few weeks ago I got an email from a marketing rep for Vibram asking if I’d be interested in trying out the new Vibram Fivefingers SeeYa LS. I was initially hesitant given my recent problems with the line, but had heard that the SeeYa was a big improvement over other recent models in terms of flexibility and comfort on the run. I agreed to try out a pair, along with a pair of the original SeeYa for comparative purposes (Disclosure: both pairs I received were media samples provided free of charge by the manufacturer). I opted to size up to a 42 to see if that would help improve fit and comfort.

I’m going to try something a bit different here and do one post on the SeeYa LS  which I will update as needed. Having now run in 75+ shoes in the past few years, I find that my thoughts on and ability to write about a shoe are clearest after an initial try-on and run, so view this initial post as my gut reaction. Most of the time my thoughts change very little with additional use, but sometimes a break-in period will change my feelings a bit about a shoe. I will add additional information with added use if I feel it is helpful. This will also help me get out from under my stockpile of shoes waiting to be reviewed!

Fit and Feel

The shoes arrived last week and I’m happy to report that going up a size made a world of difference. I was able to wear them for several hours the day they arrived without the slightest feeling of discomfort. I still have trouble flexing the toes down in the shoes, but my toes had an easier time flexing inside the pockets with the roomier fit (I’m still not sold on the toe-pockets being a plus).

The main differentiator between the SeeYa and SeeYa LS is the upper. The upper of the LS is a very thin, breathable synthetic mesh, whereas that of the original SeeYa feels more like a stretchy fabric (I have not tried on the original SeeYa yet – will compare in more detail when I review it). The LS’s are probably the most breathable VFF’s that I have worn, which is a good thing – wonder if this will help with Vibram-stink?

The other big difference between the two with regard to the upper are the laces on the LS vs. the velcro closure on the original. It was a little tricky getting my foot in the lace-up version, but that probably comes as much from a lack of recent VFF-putting-on practice as it does from any problem with the shoe. Unlike the KomodoSport line, the footbed of the LS is non-removable and reminds me most of the footbed of the Bikila.

First Run Thoughts

I took the SeeYa LS out for a 5 mile run over the weekend on the roads around my house – averaged about a 7:30 min/mile pace, which is about my marathon race-pace. Overall I liked the shoes a lot, and think they’re a big improvement over the Bikila and Komodos for running – however, it may just be because sizing up has improved comfort dramatically. The SeeYa LS’s are light – listed at just over 5 oz in size 43 on the Vibram website – and the sole is very flexible.  The cushioning in these is very minimal, so I’d categorize it as a barefoot-style or ultraminimal shoe – as such, ground-feel is very good. I almost wish there was less rubber under the met heads though.

I had two issues with the SeeYa LS’s that may be unique to me but are worth mentioning. First, I experienced significant abrasion at the front of my arch on both feet. Had I run any further there likely would have been blood. I’m not exactly sure what caused this, but it’s in the area below the gray overlays just behind my first MTP joint (the ball behind my big toe). My guess is a pair of Injinji socks would resolve this, but I prefer to go sockless in Vibrams and wearing socks kind of defeats the purpose of the shoe.

The other big issue I had was the re-appearance of second met ache on my right foot. I had hoped that sizing up would allow more toe movement and thus alleviate this issue, but after a few miles the ache appeared once again. I have a hard time determining if it’s a bony ache or a soft tissue issue, but I lean toward the latter since it pops up only in VFF’s and the ache seems to radiate backward into the arch. Almost feels like something is pulling inside my arch.

Minus the abrasion and met ache, this is a really fun shoe to run in.

Summary

Of the Vibrams I have, the SeeYa LS is the lightest, most flexible, and most breathable, all of which are very good things. Comfort is excellent, though that may simply be because I sized up. I have concerns about the abrasion on the arch, which may ultimately preclude regular use for running, but I tend to have abrasion issues in a lot of shoes so this may not be a problem for everyone (leave a comment if you’ve experienced this!).

My biggest worry continues to be my aching right foot when I run in Vibrams – I’d like to know exactly what it is, why it happens only in these shoes, and to be sure I’m not doing any serious damage. I suspect it’s nothing serious since it comes on a few miles into the run and goes away as soon as a stop, but something is clearly up. I plan to use them on additional runs, and to do a more detailed comparison with the original SeeYa, so we’ll see if a bit more acclimation helps alleviate the ache. That’s it for now!

The Vibram Fivefingers SeeYa LS is available for purchase at Road Runner Sports – click to view men’s and women’s models.

Despite my preference for minimalist shoes, one thing that I had not done until last week was run a race in zero drop shoes. Last Thursday there was a 5k in my home town of Concord, NH, and my wife graciously offered to handle the kids for the evening so that I could go and run it (the deal was predicated on my son getting a good afternoon nap, but he came through nicely!). I had run a sub-19:00 solo 5k time trial earlier in the week, so I knew I wasn’t going to be running on the freshest of legs, so I made a choice to have some fun with the race and run it in a pair of Vibram Fivefingers. I’ve long wondered how well I could race in the Vibrams, and this was as good a chance as any to find out. Given that the course would be a mix of gravel, grass/dirt, and road, I opted to use my Vibram Komodosports since they seem to offer a bit more cushion underfoot than my VFF Bikilas or TrekSports. I’ve had the Komodos for a few months (disclosure: they were media samples provided by Vibram), and though I had not put a lot of miles on them, they are similar enough to the others that I wasn’t too concerned about racing in them.

The KomodoSports are in many ways quite similar to the VFF Bikilas. Aside from a considerably more aggressive appearance, the following are to me the most noticeable differences between the two shoes:

1. First and foremost, the Komodosport has a removable insole (see photo at right). Underneath the insole is a rough material that seems to directly overlie the outsole, so most of the cushioning appears to be built into the insole. It would have been cool if Vibram had made the material under the insole similar to the lining of the Bikila so that the wearer could have the option of running with or without it (Vivobarefoot shoes do this particularly well). Running without the insole would allow for a much firmer ride, better ground feel, and would likely help accommodate a slightly higher volume foot.

2. The Komodosport doesn’t fit quite as snugly on my foot as compared to the Bikila – it’s a bit more like the TrekSport in terms of fit. This makes it better as a walk-around shoe, as the tightness of my Bikilas can get constricting when I’m not running in them. The Komodosports fit me just about perfectly, and the addition of the strap over the heel allows for a bit more adjustment than is offered on the Bikilas.

In my opinion, most of the other differences between the Komodsport and the Bikila are largely cosmetic. When compared to the Treksport, the most obvious difference is the sole – the Treksport has a thicker, treaded sole that feels much firmer underfoot. I would have worn these for the race given the off-road portion, but I prefer the slightly more cushioned feel of the Bikilas and Komodos on the road (cushioning here is a relative thing, as even the Bikila and Komodos are far less cushioned than the vast majority of shoes that I own). Since it was a split course – half on- and half off-road – the Komodos were a reasonable compromise.

I really didn’t know what to expect when it came to racing in the Vibrams. I’ve run a fast mile or two in them, but never a race effort for 3+ miles. It was a hot and humid day (mid 80’s – the hottest day of the year so far in NH, and I’m not yet acclimated), and as mentioned my legs were still recovering from a hard 5k effort earlier in the week. Furthermore, the course had a lot of twists and turns, as well as an overpass that needed to be climbed twice around mile 2.

When the gun went off, I took off at a sub-6:00 pace and felt pretty good. I settled into my typical low 6:00 5K pace as we approached the trail section, and to be honest I barely noticed my feet – everything felt quite natural. From mile 1 to mile 2 I passed 3-4 other runners, and hit the overpass with a goal of not getting passed in the final mile. My pace wavered on the overpass, popping above 6:30 for a bit, but I held strong after looping around and back over a second time on the way back to the finish (this was an out and back section on roads). I managed to drop my pace back down to the low 6:00’s for the final 3/4 mile, and wound up crossing the finish in 19:30. That put me in 7th place overall, and I wound up winning the 30-39 age group – not bad considering that it was the first 5k I’ve run in nearly a year! It was a small race, so the finishing place is not quite as impressive as it might sound, but 2 of the people that I passed around mile 2 were in my age group, so I felt great about digging out that win.

At the finish a bunch of people asked me what it was like to run in my toe shoes, and I happily explained that it was my first time, but that the experience was a good one. The only issue I had was a hot spot that developed under one of the seams at the edge of the black mesh panel behind the little toe. To be honest, my finish time was right about where I would have expected given the heat and my physical state, and I don’t think I could have run it any faster in regular shoes. I barely knew I was running in Vibrams for most of the race, and though I can’t say they made me any faster, they certainly did not hold me back any. There’s probably no way I could have done this 2 years ago when I first started running in Fivefingers, and it felt great to know how far I’ve come in being able to perform in an ultraminimal shoe. If you’re legs/feet are well adapted, I highly recommend giving it a try.

All in all, the Komodosports are a nice addition to my lineup of Fivefingers, and there’s certainly no avoiding being seen when wearing bright yellow toe shoes with tiger stripes. I must admit that it felt pretty good to accept my AG win in these shoes, for if nothing else it demonstrates that wearing a “barefoot” running shoe doesn’t automatically slow you down. Now my goal is to go after my 5k PR – I’m pretty confident that it will be going down soon.

The third pair of Vibrams that I added to my collection – this was a personal purchase and not a review sample – was the Vibram TrekSport. My main reason for buying the TrekSport was not so much that I felt I needed a VFF with tread, but rather that I wanted a black pair of VFF’s that might be more suitable for casual, around the town use during the summer. I also thought they might be a bit more subdued and call less attention to my feet when running on my college campus – don’t want to be viewed as the lunatic professor who runs around in toe shoes! The latter idea was pretty much shot after I wound up on the front page of our local newspaper running in them in front of the college’s gym – oh well…

The TrekSport fit their originally intended purpose quite well. They’re comfortable enough to wear around for an entire day, unlike my Bikilas which are a much snugger fit (in the same size – 41) and which I prefer to use only for running. I actually wore the TrekSports for two full days at the parks in Disney World a few weeks pack – not only were they comfortable, but they also attracted only about 2-3 comments the entire time. I think that’s a record for me in terms of the ratio of comments to hours worn in public for a pair of VFFs. I haven’t had any major blistering issues from wearing them sockless, and the upper is plenty stretchy and breathes quite well.

As a running shoe, the TrekSports also are quite serviceable. Because they have tread, they feel a tad more substantial underfoot than the KSO’s or Bikilas, but they aren’t all that cushioned so it mostly feels like a layer of firm rubber between your foot and the ground. One issue I have with the sole is that its thickness makes it a bit harder to flex and extend my toes than in the Bikila or KSO. The positive tradeoff with the thicker sole is that the TrekSports handle running over rocks a bit better than the other two, which I suppose is their intended purpose.

Quite surprisingly, the one place I really don’t like running in my TrekSports is on sandy trails – odd given that they are designed as a trail shoe. My reason has nothing to do with traction or ability to handle the terrain, but rather with what I feel is a poor design element on this shoe. At the back of the heel there is a fabric tab that extends upward behind the Achilles tendon (see side view photo above). I actually like this tab from a comfort standpoint, but the problem with it is that when running over sand or fine debris, stuff that you kick up falls onto the tab, which acts as a chute that sends said debris into the shoe and under you foot. As an example, I ran 4.5 miles in them earlier today, almost entirely on asphalt. On the one small stretch where I had to jump off the road to avoid a puddle, no more than about 10 steps total, I ran over some sand and immediately felt it starting to trickle into the shoe and under my foot. This is a real problem for me – curious to hear if anyone else has experienced this? I suppose it would be easy enough to slice the tab off, but not sure I want to go there since I like having it when I’m not running on trails.

Anyway, not sure there’s much more to say about this shoe. It’s well made, I like wearing it, I like running on roads in it, but it gives me trouble on trails due to debris collection. The latter is a shame, because it’s really pretty darned fun to run fast down a trail in these shoes. There’s nothing quite as enjoyable as the connection you feel to the ground in a pair of Vibrams, so even given this problem I have every intention of continuing to run in the TrekSports.

I just received a review pair of Vibram Fivefingers Bikila in the mail today courtesy of Vibram and Pursuit Brand Equity Group (thanks Adam!). If you’re not familiar with the VFF Bikila, it’s a new shoe from Vibram that is designed specifically for runners. I’ve been running in Vibram Fivefingers KSO’s for almost a year, and have written extensively about my experience here on Runblogger (if you’re interested, here’s where my string of VFF posts starts). The Fivefingers are the most minimalist shoe that I run in regularly, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to take a pair of Bikilas out for a spin.

I had already done a 5 miler prior to the arrival of the UPS man with the unexpected delivery this afternoon. Needless to say, when I opened up the package and saw what was inside, I knew I wouldn’t be able to wait until tomorrow to run in them – it was going to be a double-run day!

I started by just trying them out around the house. My initial thought was that they felt very snug, almost too tight when compared to my KSO’s. I had requested a size 41, which is a size smaller than my KSO’s, mainly because I feel that there is a bit too much wiggle room in my KSO toes. The big and little toes on my left foot felt like they were a bit scrunched in the toe pockets of the Bikila, but not to the point where they were forced to bend. It was more like they filled the toe pockets completely and were in contact with the rubber at the tip (I consulted the Vibram fit page, and was reassured that having my toes “graze” the tips of the pockets was ok). I was concerned that this might lead to some friction blisters on runs, but this fear turned out to be unwarranted, at least in my first short jaunt.

The Bikilas are much more form fitting than the KSO’s, and they really kind of feel like a second skin that covers your foot. Another difference when compared to the KSO is that the Bikila has a pronounced toe spring, which is the upturning of the toes that you can see when looking at the shoe from the side. Toe spring is common in running shoes, and although some people don’t like it in a minimalist shoe, it has never really bothered me. Finally, the inside of the Bikila is very soft, and extremely comfy – these are definitely meant to be run in without socks (see interior image below).

I was told by my contact at PBEG that Vibram is marketing the Bikila strictly as a running shoe, and not to expect it to feel like an all day walk-around shoe like the KSO – this description is very accurate. If I’m planning to wear a pair of VFF’s out and about, I’ll opt for my KSO’s. If you’re looking to buy a pair of Fivefingers to use as an all-around walking and running shoe, the KSO might be a better choice. However, if you want a pair of Fivefingers to use strictly for running and working on form, the Bikila might be the way to go (I’ll withhold judgment for now until I put in more miles in the Bikila).

So how did they perform on the run? After getting the kids ready for bed, I grabbed Jack and headed out for a quick 2 mile run just to get a sense of how they would feel out on the road. I immediately realized that the snugness that I had initially though migh be a negative was actually a positive on the run. Because the Bikila is so much more form fitting than my KSO’s, there was almost no rubbing or friction anywhere between the shoe and my foot (I get back-of-heel blisters when I run sockless in my KSO’s, which is one of the reasons I opted to size down in the Bikila). It almost feels as if the Bikila is molded to your foot, and as it got wet with sweat, the upper material seemed to soften a bit and comfort increased even more. While running in the Bikila, I was clearly landing on the forward half of my foot, and the shoes make a cool tapping sound when contacting the ground. I’ve heard some people express disappointment with added cushioning in the Bikila, but to be honest it didn’t feel a whole lot different to me – maybe a tad more rigid. It’s hard to say much after only two miles, but if first impressions are any indication, I think I’m going to like running in this shoe. Stay tuned!

Update 7/17/10: Just posted part 2 in my review series on running in the Vibram Fivefingers Bikila.
Here are some additional picture of the Vibram Fivefingers Bikila:

Image via Wikipedia

Unlike the Nike Free’s, the Vibram Fivefingers have no cushioning and no heel, save for a thin sheet of rubber-like material. Thus, running in Vibrams is about as close as you can get to being barefoot without actually having your real bare foot in contact with the ground. As my calves can now attest, running in shoes without a thick sole is a world apart from the running experience in virtually any other shoe on the market today. Humans evolved to run barefoot, of that there can be no dispute. The difference between my experience running in Vibrams versus that running in any other “technologically advanced” shoe tells me that modern, cushioned shoes are not allowing us to run “naturally.” If they did, why are my calves so sore today? It has nothing to do with the extra 13 miles, since my legs were sore from the moment I woke up this morning. My only conclusion can be that wearing Vibrams, essentially running “barefoot,” works parts of my calf muscles that do not get stressed when wearing more typical running shoes. In other words, when wearing “traditional” shoes, I’m not using parts of these muscles that clearly play an important role in running the way the human body evolved to run (i.e., barefoot). Throwing a thick, cushioned sole on a shoe clearly changes our gait biomechanics in a fundamental way, of that I now have no doubt, and it changes it in a way that has a direct impact on how we use our calf muscles when we run.

The more I think about the whole minimalist running phenomenon, the more I realize that it all makes sense. There’s a lot of good science supporting it, and the lack of a rebuttal to Christopher McDougall’s book “Born to Run” by any of the major shoe companies makes me further believe in what he has to say. For now, I’m going to continue my experiment and see where it takes me – who knows, maybe I’ll be running a marathon in Vibrams at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Update 2/27/2010: You can now view my entire series of posts/podcast episodes/videos on my experience running in the Vibram Fivefingers. You can also view my entire series of posts on Minimalist Running.

Update 12/10/09: I just added a new post comparing slow motion video of footstrikes from myself and a student of mine running in stability shoes, Vibram Fivefingers KSO’s, and barefoot. Amazing difference – check it out!: Vibram Fivefingers and Barefoot Running: Does Removing Heel Cushion Change Footstrike?

Update 7/09/10: I just put up a post about my first run in the new Vibram Fivefingers Bikila. Check out my very preliminary Vibram Fivefingers Bikila review here.

Never one to turn down the chance to try out a new running “shoe” (I openly admit to having a running shoe addiction), I ordered a pair of VFF KSO’s about a month ago from City Sports, and have now worn them out on two separate runs. My first VFF run was about 2.75 miles, and though it went OK, I felt some pain in my right forefoot on landings, and had some ligament/muscle strain on the top of my foot for several days afterward. I shelved the VFF’s for a few weeks to make sure I didn’t aggravate anything in my foot, and decided this morning to give it another go.

The original plan for today was to be conservative and just do 2 miles in the VFF’s in order to get my dog Jack some exercise, but I felt so darn good out there that I rolled with it for a full 7 miles (at an 8:23 min/mile pace, which is right on my standard “easy” pace). I felt no pain during the run, and only one tiny heel blister appears to have formed (went sockless, need to give my Injinji socks a try). I’ve never been one to follow the CW when it comes to running (see my experience running 20 miles in Nike Free 3.0’s on my 3rd run in them), and I may pay for this one later, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

I think one of the problems on my first VFF run was that I was consciously trying to force a forefoot landing, thereby straining my foot in the process. In doing some reading online (notably this article by Barefoot Ken Bob), I tried to focus on my stride less today and let my feet land more naturally, hoping that they would find their own groove with time. Needless to say, I felt incredible, and could have probably kept on going for a few more miles (didn’t want to press my luck too far). To quote my 5yo son, this run was super aloducious awesome.

Perhaps the best part of the run occurred as I was finishing up. Two serious, fit-looking cyclists passed and waved – as they went by I heard one say to the other: “He’s got Vibrams on!” Apparently word about VFF’s is getting out, and I smiled all the way back to the house.

Update 2/27/2010: You can now view my entire series of posts/podcast episodes/videos on my experience running in the Vibram Fivefingers. You can also view my entire series of posts on Minimalist Running.

Update 12/10/09: I just added a new post comparing slow motion video of footstrikes from myself and a student of mine running in stability shoes, Vibram Fivefingers KSO’s, and barefoot. Amazing difference – check it out!: Vibram Fivefingers and Barefoot Running: Does Removing Heel Cushion Change Footstrike?

Update 12/5/09: I recently shot some slow motion video of myself running in the Vibram Fivefingers KSO’s. You can view it below.

Running in Vibram Fivefingers KSO from Pete Larson on Vimeo.
Slow motion video of treadmill running in Vibram Fivefingers KSO’s – appears to be a midfoot strike. Video shot at 300 frames-per-second with a Casio Exilim EX-F1 camera. More videos like this available at: https://runblogger.com/2009/12/relationship-between-running-footstrike.html.

Update 9/2/09: You can now read a post on how I felt on the day after this Vibram Fivefinger run.

Update 7/09/10: I just put up a post about my first run in the new Vibram Fivefingers Bikila. Check out my very preliminary Vibram Fivefingers Bikila review here.

**Disclaimer**: It is possible to strain or injure yourself by doing too much, too soon when transitioning to barefoot running. If you’re thinking about giving barefoot or VFF running a try, I highly recommend Barefoot Ken Bob’s site, Running Barefoot, as a source of advice and guidance. I also would not recommend doing what I did today – ease into it if you decide to give barefoot or barefoot-like running a try. I’ve been running in Nike Free 3.0’s nearly this entire summer, which are a transitional, “barefoot-like” shoe, so I think my feet and legs are a bit more conditioned for the shock of a VFF run. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow!

If you’re looking for more information on Vibram Fivefingers shoes, I highly recommend Justin Owings’ great blog: Birthday Shoes – For the love of feet and Vibram Fivefingers.