I have both the KSOs and Komodo Sports, and I have a perspective for you since I also just finished a Tough Mudder (Colorado)

I ran the TM in my Komodos, and can tell you that little bit of traction on the bottoms went a long way on the uphill muddy portion. The sipes on the KSO's are awesome for wet pavement running, but just didn't do anything in the mud when i was training in them. If you were going to Run in KSOs I'd recomend the KSO Sport treks which have the more aggressive tread pattern.

with that said- I'd be very careful about running a Tough Mudder in Vibrams if you are still new to them. I have been training in mine for over a year, and I still had some issues keeping form in the downhills, and was pretty slow in what should have been the easier portion of the run.

I also fielded a lot of questions during the event- it seemed like every 3rd person I ran with was asking "so how are those Vibrams working out?"  I also noticed a LOT of other competitors wearing them- most common were the Sport Treks, some Bikalas, and I DID see a pair of Speeds as I was registering which I wanted to ask about, but then didn't have the opportunity due to needing to get my race number written on my neck.

So my official review of Vibram Komodo Sports from my personal experience in Tough Mudder is the following...

climbing- Awesome
swimming- Awesome (if swimming in 32 degree water can be called awesome- I think it was... LoL)
negotiating the man made obstacles- Awesome
Trail running- awesome

Downhill- NOT awesome- but I believe this was due to poor form, and that is my fault

When I trained I worked so hard on considering the distance and the obstacles that i didn't consider the terrain. This was really short sighted on my part, so train accordingly, and since you are running Tahoe- I'd practice downhill often.

I finished for sure- and I got a REALLY BITCHIN AVATAR out of it (check it out- nice right?) I wish you luck, and have as much fun as you can cause Tough Mudder was a BLAST for me!

I'm doing another one ASAP

Phil

They cleaned up fine. Some of the gold leaf wore off, but that is kinda a good thing IMO

looked like a blast  .  Komodos? 

You got it!

I ran the 2011 Colorado Tough Mudder @Beaver Creek...

10 miles, up the ski slopes and through the freestyle park- then back down. 25 obstacles. swimming in 32 degree iced water.

I raised $1030.00 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

I'll be back next year

Thats me in the Red/White/Black Rash Guard leaping that crevice...

My form must be terrible because the downhill sections of Tough Mudder pounded my right knee mercilessly...

will try training more downhill to practice form...

I realize the Denver/Boulder area is pretty crunchy, but I am seeing a LOT of VFFs on peoples feet this summer. Last summer it was a bit unusual to see someone else sporting "toe shoes" but this year it seems like i see them everywhere.

I'm wondering if production finally caught up with demand, or if some other factor has influenced people to try them.

Is anyone else noticing an increase in popularity?

I'm pretty sure that i read on here it is a bad idea to wear them in chlorinated water- like a swimming pool. I guess the chemicals go to work on the seams. The person said the toes were developing holes in the fabric.

I had another guy tell me his kid ruined his while climbing a tree, but he didn't offer too many details other than to say the big toe split, and he was pissed because "those water shoes cost me $100.00"

I think he just wanted to justify not liking the shoes...

P

As I was walking with my daughter from my car to the registration desk for a 5K MudRun I ran in on Saturday I walked past a family who were also headed to the same place- the young son pointed at my KSOs and said "what are those?" to his mom, and her reply was "I don't know". The son then asks "do you think he is going to run in those?" and mom said "I don't know, but you would think he would want to wear sneakers for the race"

I laughed to myself a little, but didn't engage in the conversation.

I was the last competitor to cross the Start line, and over the course of the race I passed a lot of people. I passed the kid's mom as we were going over a balance beam style obstacle about 1/2 way through the race- I wonder if she noticed...

I finished 10th in my age bracket for the race BTW- not bad for a guy who hadn't run competitively since the 8th grade...

I missed my opportunity to post on Saturday, but I did a 5k Mud Run called Beach Palooza in Boulder CO. Finished 10th in my age group.

I ran in my KSOs, and had a great time. You just can't beat VFFs for tackling the obstacles! Wet or dry they perform the same.

This was my "tune up" run before I take on the Tough Mudder in Beaver Creek on the 26th. I'll be wearing Komodo Sports for the Mudder.

P

I took my family on vacation to San Diego (German for A Whales Vagina) 2 weeks ago. While we were there we took my daughter to visit Legoland in Carlsbad. A woman and her friend stop me in the park and start asking me the standard questions about my Komodo Sports (what are they for? What do they feel like? ect.) which I happily answered.

After the ladies left my stepmother started cracking up. She had never seen anything like that before, and I could only tell her that it happens all the time.

Old topic, but we can't leave out Thomas Jane, of Punisher, and Hung fame...

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/08/hung-star-vibram-fivefingers/

I didn't appreciate that articles author stating "Off the set, Thomas Jane wears the Vibram FiveFinger foot-gloves that have become a geek trend."  I do not consider myself a geek, but I am a fan of VFFs.  Most people that I see wearing VFFs are runners or athletic types, not your typical geek.  

I found being a cool guy who was always conscious about what other people thought was pretty boring after I graduated from high school- so if having pride in my intelligence, and trying out new stuff is "Geeky" then I'm a geek. An athletic martial artists geek, but a geek all the same.

So is Matthew McConaughey apparently...

(Check out what is dangling from his left hand)



There are other shots of him wearing VFFs on the web, but I'm not celebrity obsessed enough to go looking for them.

Also the Troy Polamalu news is awesome- Steelers fan for life here! (my Komodo Sports will look real nice with my Jersey if the season doesn't end up locked out)

It happens. In my short number of years I have learned that there is no arguing with a know-it-all on any subject. If they become condescending, and you really want to frustrate them, just lightly dismiss their opinion- it REALLY gets them!

I had a guy at my BJJ school start lecturing me about my Vibrams once. I let him say what he wanted to say, then when he finally stopped for air I politely replied, "I disagree" and left it at that. I guess after I left he continued to rant to one of the coaches, but interestingly that coach now runs in KSOs

I'm running Tough Mudder in Komodo Sports. Others on here have mentioned Treks, and Trek Sports as options as well.

Less than 30 seconds for either my KSOs, or Komodo Sports

I put my foot into the shoe, and then spread my toes as I pull it on from the ankle loop. My toes always seem to find their pockets with no problem.

I think folks with wider feet experience a bit more difficulty.

P

after having thought it out- I'm running in Komodo Sports for exactly that reason.