You’ve seen them, the odd looking shoe that looks more like a glove for your foot. Well, you’ll see them on me now too. For Christmas I received a pair of Vibram Speed shoes. These are apparently one of the first pairs that Vibram released that have laces.
Mine are a size 45 and I probably should be in a 44. The sizing is a little tricky as it is based on foot length not on shoe size. In other words, a bit of trial and error is likely needed to get the best fit. There is a sizing chart on the Vibram site.
Why change
In the fall (2011) I considered making the switch to barefoot-style running. I am more of a toe runner than a heel striker, but have always run in traditional Nike running shoes. But, as I’ve started to run more (triathlon / marathon training) I’ve wondered what it would be like to run in a pair of these weird looking shoes.
Until today (early January 2012) I’ve worn the shoe around the house, to the gym, etc, but hadn’t really run in them yet. I have to admit they are very comfortable. And again, my next pair will probably be a size smaller. You really get used to the glove-like fit…
This morning I ran 5K on the treadmill in these shoes and loved it. They felt great and really force you to change up your running style. The recommendation is to start with smaller distances (like a couple hundred meters).
I’m not sure if I’ll run in these all the time, but I definitely won’t hesitate to lace them up for 5-10K runs.