It's great you're going to a store to get them fitted, then you can get a fit right for you, that will hopefully also help you avoid blisters.
I think different people on this forum have found different preferences, but I do enjoy my KSOs as a good walking/running shoe. Others run in Classics and Sprints. People report that newer models like the Bikila (2010 model), Treksport and Komodo (Just out this Spring) have less groundfeel but better grip on pavement due to the tread on the soles. (The Treks are more specialised for offroad, the Flows are the most expensive but they're for cold weather/Winter)
Some models have a little strap that sits behind the heel, other models don't and have more of a regular shoe back. I have my eye on trying some Komodos next, but we'll see! Some people (like me) wear thin toe socks while wearing them (The big plus is you won't need to wash your VFFs so often) and some prefer wearing them without socks. If you prefer socks it's important to get VFFs sized while wearing socks, otherwise they'll be too tight.
Reviews of the main types here -
http://birthdayshoes.com/guides/One thing to bear in mind first is to take it carefully as it takes some months to get your foot muscles stronger and used to bending/flexing in VFFs. Do some walking in them to start with, but not all your walking (considering that you want to keep as active as possible at the moment) If your feet ache a lot after an hour or two, give them a break for the rest of the day. Also read the advice on the main part of this website on how to walk in VFFs without coming down hard on your heel. The heel does see some weight when you walk in VFFs, but the midfoot sees more. It's important to shorten your stride and not to thud it down, or you may get foot/heel pain.
Running in VFFs is different again - it's important to see the difference so check the advice on running.
Again, all Birthdayshoes advice can be found here -
http://birthdayshoes.com/guides/My story: I got some Vivo Barefoots in March last year, and some VFFs in May. I wore my Vivos everywhere, to work and outside, but I wasn't really doing much exercise the first month, so though my feet (and achilles) ached every day, I wasn't putting them under too much strain. The second month I started running short distances in my Vivos - just 50 = 100 yards at a time....I hadn't jogged anywhere since school...12 years....and I'd never ran before with a mid-to-forefoot ground strike.....man this killed my calf muscles.....!!
By the time I put my VFFs on in May I'd already had 8 weeks in flexible shoes so found I could go out for 1, 2 mile walks without too much aching in my foot, and short 5-10 minute runs. I didn't push things any further than this as was worried about giving myself "Top of Foot Pain." I then had a break from running til this Spring, but did quite a bit of walking in my VFFs instead. Now I'm running again...trying to do a Couch to 5K again, but customised it a bit.
If you get pain, anywhere, at any time using your VFFs it's worth coming back to this forum and asking about it first, rather than trying to run through it the next day. I know it can suck to be patient and cautious, but you'll get a LOT more fun out of your shoes long term!
I'd never enjoyed running before VFFs - they have made me want to get fitter, and I have. And do you know I haven't had a single blister since wearing Vivos and VFFs?
