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We've learned in the last couple days that the Vibram FiveFingers El-X is for sale now at REI, online only.

Seriously, check it out.

Given the El-X just hit the market and can only be had at one retailer and only online (at this point) and wasn't even expected for another couple of months, well, gifting the El-X could possibly be the biggest Christmas surprise you could get your (male or large-footed female) toe shoe loving significant other!

Plus it is $75 (and ships free), which puts them squarely in the void left behind by the discontinuation of the Classic.

Apparently, if you order before December 21 at 10 AM PST, you can still get them in time for Christmas (Delivered by December 24, 2012, assuming the world doesn't end — mind, last minute ordering might require a shipping upgrade from the free option).

The El-X FiveFingers were slated to be released in Spring 2013, along with all the other 2013 VFFs. And if you're wondering what's the scoop on them, well, I'm hoping my pair arrives today or tomorrow, but until then, you'll just have to check out the product specs, the scuttlebutt we picked up on them via Robert Fliri (Toe shoes inventory) and our "take" on what you might expect ... after the jump!

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Tony Post led as CEO of Vibram USA throughout the birth of the FiveFingers explosion and presided throughout the (ongoing) aftermath of the barefoot and minimalist running revival. That is, until this past summer, when he inexplicable resigned from his position for unknown reasons.

Until now. Tony just launched Topo Athletic. What is Topo Athletic? We don't know much, but between their release and a chat I had with Post last week, it definitely involves footwear. Read on!

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One of the inherent drawbacks to the minimalist nature of Vibram FiveFingers (VFFs) is that, being extra close to the ground, they are highly susceptible to letting in moisture and the cold. While this isn’t really a problem during the summer months, there is nothing worse in the winter than stepping in the shallowest of puddles and ending up with wet toes and soggy socks for the rest of your run.

The Vibram Flows, which had the classic razor siped sole and thick neoprene upper, were a great way to combat cold feet but weren’t designed to be water resistant. This is where the VFF Lontra comes in. The Lontra and the Speed XC are Vibram’s first foray into toe shoes with serious waterproofing capabilities.

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There's a new deal out—one that ends after December 19^th—that lets you spend $50 to get $100 worth of anything on VibramFiveFingers.com.

Taking advantage simply requires creating an account and forking over the $50 to purchase the deal. This gets you a code that you can use to redeem for $100+ of merchandise at VibramFiveFingers.com. What more, all orders in the U.S. and Canada through December 2012 get free shipping.

Note: code-driven orders off VibramFiveFingers.com in 2013 will see normal shipping rates applied and your code will expire February 5, 2013. Also, you can't stack coupons. So you can't, for example, buy a pair of Lontras ($150) plus 4 pairs of Injini Crew socks ($12/each) for $100 via two codes. However, you can buy multiple codes for separate orders.

Best deals? Anything that tallies up to $100. SeeYa LS MSRPs at $100; so you get them for $50. Same goes for the SeeYa which is $100 regularly. KomodoSport LS is $110, so they'll set you back $60 with this deal ($50 off). The Speed XC is $140 so you save $50 and get them for $90 ($50 coupon + $40 over hundred). Make sense?

One more thing! The Shoe Mart has a number of Vibrams on sale at closeout prices (e.g. Bikilas for $50; KomodoSports for $55; Speeds for $70). Well, if you go there and use coupon code Birthday5, you'll get an extra $5 off your order. That applies to sale and non-sale items (and works for now ...). The Shoe Mart offers no minimum free shipping on domestic U.S. orders; and while they do ship some shoes internationally (Merrells and New Balance), they don't ship Vibrams internationally or free.

A couple of months back I followed Mellow Mushroom on Twitter (@MellowMushroom). A few days after that, I pulled on my FiveFinger SeeYas to go out for a run and something slightly unexpected occurred.

Read on for more...

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Soft Star Shoes recently released a new casual "barefoot shoe" for men called the Rogue. It's a slip-on, Vibram-soled, leather-upper and sheepskin insoled shoe that's as crazy comfortable as it is healthy for your feet and your posture. It also has an aesthetic that can be paired with a lot of different styles, a pretty important consideration. In short, it's a barefoot shoe for everyday wear that's worth some serious consideration.

Read on for the full review!

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