That Ultra Ever Dry was some awesome stuff, but far to pricey for the average person to treat their VFFs with.

Oh I agree completely about the price but I'm also planning on my Lem's VFF's and Mini-Mil boots, my GF's shoes all the jackets, my car windshield, my riding goggles, and possibly my brand new carpeting and just for a laugh....I want to apply to the inside of a cup and see what happens (some men just want to watch the world burn LOL)

Sorry, I dropped off the grid for awhile.....let me answer as best I can.

Toebox width - I don't have any experience with Vivobareffot Aqua Lite/Ra or any Merrell Products. I have my VFF's, my LEM's and now my Mini-Mils and it is by far the widest toebox I have worn (as far as toebox's go), I wear some pretty thick and heavy smart-wool socks and it's still quite roomy for the toes to splay out quite comfy. Waterproofing, I'm actually looking into some Ultra Ever Dry to spray on these boots (for those who haven't heard about this product, head to http://www.spillcontainment.com/everdry and witness SCIENCE LOL)

I find it hard to compare to VFF's as they are 2 completely different products, obviously due to the thickness of sole your ground feel is reduced and they don't have the flex as VFF's not to mention there IS a 5mm drop in these boots but I really have not noticed it at all. While I do know I am not as minimal as I usually am in my LEM's or VFF's  I have felt no discomfort and they are quite comfy.

My standard routine is home from work, feet are freed and there is no transition except for the initial "ahhhh"

Overall I'm still quite pleased with these boots as a minimalist work boot

Have you given any thought to Stems/Leming/Lems (I wish they would find one name already lol) I worked in a warehouse in them for almost a year and have absolutely no complaints. and I received no complaints as well!

I just got my pair today and while I'm not in the service I bought mine to see how they hold up as work boots. My Lems were just not cutting it at work (I install alarms) and these hopefully fit the bill I need but I was wondering if anyone else has tried these yet?


***Update 2/10/13***

So since I posted this, I have worn my Black MiniMil boots Mon-Fri 8-10 hours a day and here are my initial observations

I spend my work days in construction sites and businesses, climbing ladders, crawling on my knees and in and out of my work van. I can say that so far these boots have lived up to my expectations and then some. They require a break in period (as most boots usually do) I have walked across debris, nails, glass, sharp metal, wood, pipe and and other thing you can expect on a construction site and while I have "felt" it all, I have yet to run into a circumstance where I did not feel my feet were not adequately protected.

Pros:
I have not noticed the the 5mm drop at all! I have worn either Lems, VFF's or gone foot au naturale everyday for the last "year-ish" I was worried that even a 5mm drop would be noticeable to me but this is not the case at all.

Extremely well constructed IMHO. I have had several occasions to scuff up the toes on these boots, but a quick wipe on the back of the pant leg and Voila it's gone! the sole and uppers seem very well made and the come with a strong pair of laces (another bonus)

The leather covering the toes is actually quite stiff which provides a small measure of protection, I've dropped a couple of tools (one on purpose and two due to fumble fingers) now don't get me wrong, it is in NO WAY a safety toe by any means.... but every little bit helps.

The wide size is exactly that, W  I  D  E! this was a HUGE+ for me as I had a EE width foot before going minimalist and I think they have gotten a bit wider since going they way of the barefoot.

Surprisingly more water proof than I expected..and should be even more after I blast them with some Scotch-guard water repellent


Cons: (don't expect a huge list here because I have really only found one minor issue if you can even call it that)
Heel cup is high and stiff and causes some rubbing. I'm not sure if this is due to a break in period or what but it seems to have lessened in the last couple of days, but it's still quite aggravating when you're not used to it.


Even though it's only been a whopping 8 days usage with these boots, I wanted to share my initial observations.
I am quite satisfied with these boots and I am thrilled to finally having what i consider a minimalist solution to the work boot concern

Happy Trails

People don't like anything different. Especially groups that consider themselves "individualistic and tolerant." That means "be an individual like us and agree with us."
As far as the comic forum comments I guess ignorance is everywhere. Nice to know people will always be happy to present an opinion without knowing anything about it. Ugh. I thought they were different and weird when I first saw them but started researching them and figured they were worth a try.
Also, pretty sure VFFS don't cause broken feet. Doing too much too soon and incorrectly might do it though. Whatever, people are weird. Wait, I'm weird. Could that mean I am people? Probably not;-})
AndyB.

Soylent Green is people....

well done The_Dingman +1,  I was just OMW here to post this comic!! I laughed my creepy individual toes off when I read this comic

The snaps are so small that they don't set of the metal detector at work i thought about the Stylesnaps but whet I didn't like was that they don't seem to be permanent. it seems like they would have to be removed with each wash but i'm planning on biting the bullet and making an order just to see how they work.

I like the suggestion about putting all the snaps on the jeans and not on the shoe makes more sense. This is why I posted this here, so I can use the collective smarts of the boards LOL

so I finally got around to taking a stab at my idea to mod pant hems to work for VFF's and other minimalist type footwear.

My issue is that I didn't want to hem all my pants because I ride my motorcycle ALOT and when I ride my pants need to be 32in but when I'm off the bike and in my VFF's or LEMings I need a 30.5 (odd huh LOL) to have it look right and still not catch under my heels. I was tired of keeping up with S-Biners and I don't like the feel of a cord around my ankles, so here's what I tried.

I went to my local fabric store and bought a set of these (except mine have both silver and black snaps)




Then I put my super awesome sewing skillz into effect and attached the male half of the snap to the back loop of my LEMings like so. (I used the black snaps for my black KSO's and Classic's so the snaps were not noticeable when I wear shorts)




Then I attached the female half to the back of my pants like so....




As a guide for where to place the female half of the snap, I would fold the hem up and make a mark, so when the snap was attached it was just covered up by my hem.
When I snapped the hem and shoe together it pulled my hem up high enough to look normal and yet stay out from under my heel.




I was slightly concerned that the thread would be seen if someone were to look at the back of my heels, it's not. I face-palmed myself for not using blue thread on my jeans (it was a DOH!! moment) even the black thread is not noticeable at all




What I have discovered is that if I am not careful, I will unsnap when I'm sitting. I use a kneeling chair at work so my pants hem raise up a little higher when I sit than in a regular chair, but it's not been a big deal to just reach down and re-snap.
By using the male half of the snap on just my shoes and the female half on just the pants. I can wear any pair I've modded without having to keep up with S-biners or ankle clips.

So far it has been working pretty well.

I apologize if there any picture issues or they are not clear or large enough.....this is the first time I've tried posting a mod with pictures like this

 

From what I can tell, mine are wearing in roughly the same place. I don't actually have any wear yet, but the sole is dirtiest there (oh yea I have a dirty sole  ) I've only had mine for a couple of months and I have the same kind of usage, all day at work in a warehouse and occasional out of work usage.

can you be a bit more specific? i'm not sure when they came out and I'm wondering what type of life I'll get out of the sole

I'm still really happy with them (i'm ordering a black pair soon)

with all the topics about office approved wear and such that I have seen flying around (heck I've even started one) I got to thinking. it would be nice if VFF's came out with a shoe like LEMings.
I have a pair of LEMings and I really enjoy them but they're sole seems SO thick compared to when I have my VFF's on. I'm not knocking them in the least but I miss my 3.5mm sole..

I would like to see Vibram develop a nice shoe that could be considered work appropriate (for those of us being governed at work by non-forward thinking guidelines and rules) and still have the 3.5mm sole and let me have my nekkid pheet feeling

comments? Flames? lol

I took the small key S-biners off the key-rack system and I'm using those hooked to the heel loops on my LEMings. the only flaw is I use a kneeling chair at work and my pants pull up higher than a regular chair and the clips keep coming undone so I have to make sure I'm not hiking up my pants. I like the clip idea that Mr. Leigh came up with but I don't know if I could stand having the cord around my ankles (I don't like closed leg sweatpants either) and the metal clip would surly set off the metal detectors at work...

I think that might be the same issue with pants coming lose from the snaps as well I have but i'm going to try it out anyway.

Then i'm going to patent it. market it, sell it and be rich LOL

So, I wound up getting the Key Rack system from Nite Ize.  I picked it up from from my local Dicks Sporting Goods for $4.99. I love some of the ideas that people have come up with and it's gotten me thinking about my own mod. I tinker around with leather working in a very amateur sort of way,  I'm looking modding my shoes and pants with snaps.

when I come up with something I'll post the mod


http://www.niteize.com/products/key-rack

I saw a guy at Walmart about 3 days ao wearing what appeared to be a pair of Bikilas. He looked like he had CP and when I pointed out to him that I "dug" his shoes and showed him my KSO's he just grinned and gave me a thumbs up..

At the dentist a couple of weeks ago (I was wearing my black KSO Treks):
Dental hygienist to dentist:  Look at her shoes!
Dentist: Yeah, they're great until you step on a rock.
Me: Well you do have to pay attention to wear you walk.

I had the same kind of conversation today in a grocery store..
Cashier: that must hurt when you step on a rock
Me: eh..I tend to watch where I put my feet

I knew I came to the right group of people

now...how did I not find the plastic ones (google has let me down)

I am greatly appreciative for all the help