05.06.10 – The Vibram Five Fingers Bikila is out!
- Vibram Five Fingers Bikila (red/grey) — Review and Photos
- Vibram Five Fingers Bikila (blue/yellow) — Video and Photos
- Also see the just-released Vibram Five Fingers Speed — Review, Video and Photos
- Subscribe by email to get inventory alerts from Top Online Retailers of Vibram Five Fingers!
A day or two back, a facebook photo from a FiveFingers fan in Finland surfaced that appeared to be showing off the upcoming and yet-to-be released-but-eagerly-anticipated, running-shoe specific Five Fingers Bikila (Here’s the photo of Ville’s Bikila-clad feet). Wendy alerted me to the photo and I got in touch with Ville. Gotta love cross-country collaboration amongst VFF fans!
So Ville graciously gave me the scoop. Seems that he has a good friend in the VFF business and was able to secure a pre-production sales sample of the Bikila. In other words, more a prototype to show off the concept than the final model (Used, apparently, for stuff like this or as likely used by Henk Sipers). The tell-tale giveaway was that the insole of the Bikilas wasn’t attached — removable to demo construction (The final version will be seamlessly attached as is the case with all VFFs).
That’s enough backstory. Here are the photos Ville sent me:
It’s very exciting to see an in-the-flesh version of the Bikila, even if it’s still not the final one, which I’m betting will be even more slick. It’s further great to get another look at that sole, which looks both minimal and high-tech at the same time (Note the use of EVA to cover the arch in lieu of Vibram rubber).
Ville provided a few insights to the photos. The upper is a stretchy material and seems not to have any seams. With seam-rubbing being one of the most oft-cited issues for runners in VFFs, this could be a major plus for the Bikila. Ville also confirmed the reflective material on heel and strap.
I need to reiterate that this is a sales sample and not the final product, so there could and likely will be some changes to the final version we see in March. And yep, March is looking just about right for the roll-out of the Bikila as Vibram recently hired an ad agency to aid in the promotion of a product for a March release.
But that’s not all. As coincidence would have it, I also got a few photos from Dastin in Germany who got his feet into, again, what appears to be one of the sales samples of the Euro-only FiveFingers Speed. Check’em out:
Again, the “tell” that these weren’t production releases was in the ability to remove the insoles — a feature to demo the design of the product but not one you can expect in the final version.
In both the Bikila and Speed cases, I can only further assume that these European importers are offloading their sales samples in anticipation of receiving the real deal in only a couple months.
Are you all as excited as I am to see the final versions of these puppies hit the market?
As we get closer, be sure to stay tuned to birthdayshoes as I’ll be doing everything I can to stay on top of the Bikila (and Speed) release!
14 replies on “Photos of Bikila and Speed sales models (Pre-production versions)”
The Speed model looks so cool, I really hope Vibram considers selling them in the USA. It almost seems unfair not to, lol.
I’m just curious if they will ever release these in the states. Why only in Europe? Just to market them first and then move them to the states? Have you heard anything on that?
Thanks for the info Justin–exactly what I was wondering about.
It seems to me that Vibram’s is going in the wrong direction in the minimal shoe market. They are getting less minimal…..I think added traction would be great like the Treks ( Only know this from others who have them) but the Bikila and Speed’s both look much more like a “shoe”.
@shawn,
Not surprised you’d want the Speed. Where there’s a will there’s a way 🙂
@nora,
Bikila will be released worldwide. I don’t foresee the same for the Speed. I think the Speed is a very tough look for many to swallow. A laced VFF isn’t a bad idea though — I think they might be better served with a less retro look though. As is, it’s sort of a strange juxtaposition of modern toe shoe and retro sneaker. Don’t get me wrong, I kinda like it — just sayin’.
@tim,
Glad to help!
@angie,
The Bikilas are definitely more minimal than the Treks. They weigh .3 oz more per “shoe” than the KSOs (I’m guessing the weight is in the ankle wrap or the EVA, but who knows.
Meanwhile, the Bikila sole looks *very* interesting. If I understand the concept correctly, the grey between the colored pods is a different type of material than the pods themselves. And by different, I think it’s actually a bit more flexible than the Vibram rubber pods. If I’m right, then in theory, this will make the soles of the Bikilas more flexible than the standard VFF sole.
I’m not sure if that makes it more minimalist, but it certainly would make the Bikila better at mimicking actual barefootedness by reducing sole flex resistance (I made that terminology up, but I think it describes the concept well enough).
Juries out til people get to test them, but I think the Bikila strikes a pretty interesting balance between barefootedness and shod, specifically for running.
I am a huge VFF fan and import all of mine from the UK – I live in France.
You can check out the photos of the new Speed and Bikila at my fav shop here (they do send worldwide)
I’ve been looking forward to the Bikila model ever since you mentioned them last year…my only sticking point with the current VFFs is the lack of an Achilles notch, and the Bikila remedies that problem.
I hope I can hold out until March!
Man! I would LOVE to get my hands on a pair of these. I’ve been wearing the KSO’s exclusively for the past six months. I’ve put 500 miles on them and have finally worn them out under the balls of my feet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marckrejci/4282245717/
I will also agree with the previous poster in that, “I hope I can hold out until March!” Mine seem to need replaced now, and it’s not quite completely barefoot weather.
I own a pair of KSO and also a pair of Flow Treks, which don’t actually exist according to Vibrams website, but you can buy them in the UK.
I wish they’d stop making more models and work on lowering their costs, the Flow Treks cost me £120 and the Flows cost me £100, both are stupid expensive!
When are the Bikilas coming out?! I’m getting antsy already and want to start testing them out to see how much better at road running they are then KSO’s.
I first read about VFF in a mens health magazine in 2006 (in the days of surge). I bought a pair shortly after and wear them everywhere. I wore them on Mt Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, Zagreb, and Dubrovnik Croatia, Italy, Australia all over the US. To date I have purchased 8-9 pairs, but cant remember exactly. I have three on hand and can’t wait to add the Bikila to my collection. I have to agree with Kris Wragg, in that I wish the price would come down and stop making tons of designs(even though the new designs are awesome).
the models that come out, the better they get. i’d much rather pay 80 USD for some KSO’s than any other shoe thats out. i’d say its actually a bargin when you see a pair after 500 miles like above. keep the “shoes” old and new coming vibram.
When I first saw these I had to rub the doubt out of my eyes… I thought Photo-shop devilry was at work here!
But upon realization… Is it silly that I am suddenly willing promote my (approximately) “9th priority” trip to Europe to #1 on my expenditure list?!
apparently you can pre- order the speed but the only style available is black and white at purefootwear
about 150-175 USD.
i think i will wait until they are released to make my decision about getting a pair to see if there will be more colors