I’m not really a “barefoot” person; I have lots of injuries that require me to use full-length orthotics and a brace on one foot. Still, I’ve found a novel use for Vibram’s FiveFingers V-Trail Shoe as an “around the house” and exercise shoe that’s helping me keep my footing during physical therapy sessions.
Light and Nimble
I’m lucky to live in a temperate climate, so I can do my physical therapy exercises in my yard, no matter the season. I practice walking and stepping, with a few dance moves thrown in. I also do strengthening exercises, with a few pilates and yoga moves thrown in for good measure. I need to be able to feel what I can and understand what my foot is supposed to do (part of my therapy is learning to recruit the right muscles for the job), so the lightweight V-Trail shoe gives me of a tactile experience than I can’t get with my usual clunky shoes.
I also do balance exercises, and really appreciate the V-Trail’s substantial treaded Megagrip Sole that helps me feel like I can safely move on wet or dry grass, my living room floor, my yoga mat, or the dirt area at the park where I sometimes exercise and walk. It’s like wearing a really effective hiking shoe with barefoot flexibility. (The V-Trail shoe was made for trail running; its Megagrip Sole is designed to disperse impact across the entire sole.)
I really enjoy the contact I feel with whatever surface I’m on. I feel safer than when I wear my regular shoes, which is really comforting. I’ve been struggling to recover after a traumatic injury and surgery, so finding a shoe that gives me secure footing has made me less afraid of falling (again). I find myself wearing the V-Trail shoe to the park on outings where I won’t be doing a lot of walking (in which case, I’d need my brace and orthotics) but want to give my feet a more natural experience. I also wear the V-Trail shoe when I go swimming at the lake. I swim in thermal socks, but have to traverse wet pavement, wet grass, and wet sand to get to the lake. The V-Trail shoes are seriously water-repellent, so my feet also stay dry when I’m out in drizzly weather or walking on wet surfaces.
A New Normal
I’m enjoying getting back to at least the feel of barefoot. I stopped going barefoot YEARS ago after a gash on my foot from going barefoot at the nearby lake led to a tetanus shot! With the V-Trail shoe I get better-than-barefoot; I get traction, grip, stability, and protection.
I love wearing my V-Trail shoes. Despite my “no shoes on in the house” rule, I find myself leaving them on when I come in after exercising because I love how grippy they are. I also wear them in the car for driving because I can feel the pedals so much better than I can with my usual shoe/orthotic/brace combo. Safety first!
One final thing: I really like the quick-lace system. I just slip on the shoes, then cinch the laces tightly with the toggle and attach it to the show with the Velcro-like pads. It’s nice to know that I don’t have floppy laces and that my laces will stay tight.
Details
- Vegan
- Machine washable
- W sizes 35-43; M sizes 38-50
- W shoes available in black and in Ivy some colors on sale now
- M shoes available in black and in blue some colors on sale now
Bottom Line
Durable, comfortable, seriously treaded barefoot–style shoes for trail running…and for anyone looking for more traction and stability while exercising indoors or outdoors.
$120 mens/womens (some colors/styles on sale for less)
Manufacturer’s Site: https://us.vibram.com
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