Discussion on the new KSO Trek

[justin]

@Kev,

Nice little write-up.  My takeaway on your comments is that we need a VFF KSO in kangaroo leather so people can wear them on dressier occassions!

@Richard,

I think they'll stretch a bit in time.  I *think* mine have ...

[RichardLillard1]

They felt a bit looser by the end of the night last night, but the jury is still out.

On a side note, I did notice that with the straps completely loose, they felt MUCH more comfortable, I don't think I can walk around with the straps just hanging loose though.

I guess we'll see how it shapes out. I love the feeling of the leather on the inside the sole, a wonderful feeling over the microfiber.

I definitely think they should make a standard sole KSO with the Kangaroo leather. If they made Classics and KSO's with the 'roo I would definitely own a pair of each!


Richard

[Zyzzyx]

Well, after a couple days of wearing my new black Treks, they seem to be just a wee bit tighter than my brown ones. Nowhere near enough to think about the next size up (though I am curious to try it at some point, not curious enough to order though).

I've noticed that I've gotten used to the slightly thicker sole on the Treks, especially on the heel. I'm not walking with a hard heel strike, but my heel does hit first, gently, then quickly roll the weight forward along the outside of my foot. When I walk barefoot or with regular KSOs/Classics, I can notice what little bit of heel strike that I have.


General comment on the appearance is that, like the regular KSOs, the black ones seem to 'blend in' better and not be noticed, at least while wearing pants.

[shapeshifter]

nobody notices your shoes when you don't wear pants.

[shapeshifter]

thursday marked the first week since i started wearing the kso treks in the corporate environment as a daily part of my work attire. although having worn them to and from work since september 9th, i had previously made it a habit of switching out to a more traditional shoe while on the clock. finding it difficult to wear monotoed footwear with every day that i had experience the freedom of the feet it just became apparent to me last friday that there should be absolutely no reason to have to go back to wearing anything that felt so uncomfortable while being so unhealthy.

luckily for me, i have a pretty good rapport with most coworkers and find it easy to converse with those i haven't met. most seem to be more aware of me for being a surfer/skateboarder which already sets me apart in the gambling world defined by sports team affiliation than anything else. quite a few have noticed the five finger shoes as the week progressed and today work literally stopped in one department while a lively discussion about foot ware ensued.

Not too sure which way all this will eventually lead. Hopefully acceptance, so other folks actually feel comfortable enough to wear their five fingers to work. Or it could back fire and all this attention could lead to a line drawn on apparel with a slipper definition given to toed shoes (as with mens open toe sandals) as a reason to forbid them on the premises. It would be at this point that I would have no other recourse than to be subversive and wear my treks stealthily cloaked under the disguise of a traditional shoe (sans the sole). Hope upon hope that day never comes.

As one manager quipped: "Oh, those are the shoes they were talking about at the meeting today!"

[Rana]

As one manager quipped: "Oh, those are the shoes they were talking about at the meeting today!"

For some reason, I find this really funny.  You're infamous, man!   

[pwootten]

My Treks arrived yesterday and I LOVE THEM.  Very comfortable, fit well, look good.  I've only worn Classics, and wanted something for cooler winter days.  These are great. 

[orlin03]

I wore my Treks on an 18.5 mile run today in the rain, and I think the uppers stretched a bit. I was also running with the straps fairly loose, but had to tighten them before I was done. They have become much more comfortable each time I've worn them.

[ZeitHeld]

I went to CitySports today and met up with Orlin (is that a forum first?), and ended up walking out with a new pair of black Treks and some new running clothes. Thanks to him, they had my size, and even though I wanted brown, it was just too good to pass up. I have them sitting here on my desk and I just keep turning them over in my hands. Truly a fine product. I'm excited to ut them through their paces. I'm even considering doing a review video.

[Bango Skank]

I went to CitySports today and met up with Orlin (is that a forum first?), and ended up walking out with a new pair of black Treks and some new running clothes. Thanks to him, they had my size, and even though I wanted brown, it was just too good to pass up. I have them sitting here on my desk and I just keep turning them over in my hands. Truly a fine product. I'm excited to ut them through their paces. I'm even considering doing a review video.

Very cool!  I look forward to it!

[RobbieD]

Hi VFF Trek Owners & Prospective Owners,

I have had my Brown Trek's (M41) since Thursday - Thanks to Jake Desaulnier!

Here is my write up and review.

Positives - Perfect fit - Thanks to my lowish arches, good traction on rough surfaces and less of the pain from stones underfoot when walking, brilliant materials and design - the Kangaroo leather I feel was the right choice of covering.
A more wearable pair of VFF's good with long trousers(Pants).

Negatives - Construction Quality is quite bad for a high end price point shoe there is excessive glue marks here and there the worst being in the centre suede leather section of the right shoe - maybe Vibrams quality control needs to be tightened up.(Jake noticed that every pair he has seen has these marks - come on Vibram sort this out!!)
When first worn the toe pockets are very tight to get into but over the past few days these have given well enough to be comparable with my standard KSO's - Fit time has improved too!
I don't see these are going to be any warmer in the cold than the standard KSO's ! As the leather is quickly effected by the cold touching the outer surface - However I was driving when the cold was here (About 4 degrees Centagrade). Also if you heat them up with the car heater you can feel the leather get effected ie expand and contract.

This is an initial assessment and I will update after a couple of weeks.

Regards
Robert (UK)

P.S If you are considering wearing toe socks like injinji's with your treks I would advise you to size up due to the non stretchy nature of the kangaroo leather.RD

[justin]

I went to CitySports today and met up with Orlin (is that a forum first?), and ended up walking out with a new pair of black Treks and some new running clothes. Thanks to him, they had my size, and even though I wanted brown, it was just too good to pass up. I have them sitting here on my desk and I just keep turning them over in my hands. Truly a fine product. I'm excited to ut them through their paces. I'm even considering doing a review video.

Definitely let me know if you do one -- would certainly post it to the blog.

[Atomicunderware]

Hi VFF Trek Owners & Prospective Owners,

I have had my Brown Trek's (M41) since Thursday - Thanks to Jake Desaulnier!

Here is my write up and review.

Positives - Perfect fit - Thanks to my lowish arches, good traction on rough surfaces and less of the pain from stones underfoot when walking, brilliant materials and design - the Kangaroo leather I feel was the right choice of covering.
A more wearable pair of VFF's good with long trousers(Pants).

Negatives - Construction Quality is quite bad for a high end price point shoe there is excessive glue marks here and there the worst being in the centre suede leather section of the right shoe - maybe Vibrams quality control needs to be tightened up.(Jake noticed that every pair he has seen has these marks - come on Vibram sort this out!!)
When first worn the toe pockets are very tight to get into but over the past few days these have given well enough to be comparable with my standard KSO's - Fit time has improved too!
I don't see these are going to be any warmer in the cold than the standard KSO's ! As the leather is quickly effected by the cold touching the outer surface - However I was driving when the cold was here (About 4 degrees Centagrade). Also if you heat them up with the car heater you can feel the leather get effected ie expand and contract.

This is an initial assessment and I will update after a couple of weeks.

Regards
Robert (UK)

P.S If you are considering wearing toe socks like injinji's with your treks I would advise you to size up due to the non stretchy nature of the kangaroo leather.RD

Have to agree re-construction quality, mine have little bits of glue showing all over the join between upper and sole, although they are only tiny, they are there. Something I didn't notice on mine initially is that one is actually darker than the other! One black, and one blacker than black...not a huge issue, but it's there.

You would be surprised about the warmth. I wear mine with socks, and find them to be quite a bit warmer than the standard KSO's, at least it feels that way...

[Bango Skank]

Did I luck out?  Far as I can tell, my Treks are impeccable.  What you guys are describing I would find absolutely unacceptable.

[ZeitHeld]

I went to CitySports today and met up with Orlin (is that a forum first?), and ended up walking out with a new pair of black Treks and some new running clothes. Thanks to him, they had my size, and even though I wanted brown, it was just too good to pass up. I have them sitting here on my desk and I just keep turning them over in my hands. Truly a fine product. I'm excited to ut them through their paces. I'm even considering doing a review video.

Definitely let me know if you do one -- would certainly post it to the blog.

I'm planning it right now. I don't have good video editing software/experience, so I want to nail it in one shot. I'll definitely post it here and send you a pm so you can put it on the blog when it is finished. It will likely be within the next week.