beginner's guide to vibram five fingers

What are Vibram FiveFingers and other Minimalist Shoes fans doing "almost barefoot?" Everything.

Vibram FiveFingers and barefoot or minimalist shoes enthusiasts are doing just about everything under the sun while being just a little bit closer to barefoot. From running any race out there (5Ks to 100 mile ultramarathons), to working out, playing, going to work, hang-gliding, sky-diving, or even playing golf.

Part of the mission here at BirthdayShoes has been to document these fan experiences in the words and photos of the wearers of toe shoes, minimalist shoes, or barefoot shoes (or whatever you call these things) — if you've got some great photos of you doing what you do in your Vibram FiveFingers, NB Minimus, huaraches, VIVO BAREFOOTS, or whatever, consider sending them in (learn more) and sharing with the community!

Below you'll find pages and pages of Vibram Five Fingers user photos and stories that display just what you can do when almost-barefoot as with everyone's favorite five-toed shoes. If you want to see the posts below listed out by model, check out the comprehensive list of Vibram Five Fingers fan photo stories here.

Category: User Stories

Feelin' the Flow: Chris runs the Richmond Marathon in VFF Flows

Note that midfoot strike — Chris runs the Richmond Marathon in his Vibram Five Finger Flows
Note that midfoot strike — Chris runs the Richmond Marathon in his Vibram Five Finger Flows
The photos above were sent in by Chris, who recently ran the Richmond Marathon in Flow Five Fingers. more »

VFF Joggling the Philadelphia Marathon with Joe Salter

Essential equipment for having a truly unique marathon experience: KSO Five Fingers and balls for joggling — an intriguing combination of running or jogging and juggling!
Essential equipment for having a truly unique marathon experience: KSO Five Fingers and balls for joggling — an intriguing combination of running or jogging and juggling!
I got the above photos from Joe Salter who recently ran the Philadelphia Marathon in his KSO Five Fi more »

Josh and Barrett Hike Ransom Canyon

Josh and Barrett hiked Ransom Canyon in Texas in their KSO Vibram Five Fingers.
Josh and Barrett hiked Ransom Canyon in Texas in their KSO Vibram Five Fingers.
Josh submitted the above photos of a recent hike at Ransom Canyon, which is near Lubbock, Texas. Jo more »

Matt Runs a Thanksgiving 5K in his Flow VFFs

Matt gets ready to race a 5K in his black Flow Five Fingers on Thanksgiving morning.
Matt gets ready to race a 5K in his black Flow Five Fingers on Thanksgiving morning.
Matt emailed in the above photos taken this past Thursday morning: he ran a 5K in his Flow Five Fing more »

Two sisters take a Vibram Five Fingers Road Trip

Ellyn and her sister took a "VFF Road Trip" to the Six Flags Great Adventure park in New Jersey!
Ellyn and her sister took a "VFF Road Trip" to the Six Flags Great Adventure park in New Jersey!
Ellyn sent in the above photos taken on a "VFF Road Trip" with her sister. Ellyn wrote: This s more »

Shawn's 25 pairs of Vibram Five Fingers: Collect the Whole Set!

Shawn shows off his pile of Vibram Five Fingers — 25 pairs in total.
Shawn is quite possibly the biggest Vibram Five Fingers fan I've encountered so far as he has a whopping twenty-five pairs of Vibrams! more »

Tyler's First Half-Marathon in KSO Five Fingers

Tyler walks through a sneaker-shod crowd after completing his first half-marathon in Vibram Five Fingers.
Tyler sent in the above photos taken after he completed his first half marathon in his KSO FiveFinge more »

Flow Five Fingers "Lonely" at the Starting Line

Robby's Flows were the only VFFs present at the starting line. Look at all those poor feet in overly cushioned high heeled sneakers!
Robby sent in a photo taken by his wife at the starting line of a recent 5K race. It seems Robby's more »

Alika's Classic Vibram Five Fingers in Oahu, Hawaii

Alika's VFF-view from the Lanikai ridge in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii.  Who wants to go to Hawaii?!
Alika's VFF-view from the Lanikai ridge in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. Who wants to go to Hawaii?!
Alika sent in the above photo taken overlooking the ocean in VFF-view. Alika noted that this was hi more »

Maria Climbs to the South Arete Summit in her KSOs

Maria Coryell-Martin sits atop South Arete Summit, 7,807 ft, wearing her black KSO FiveFingers, which she used to climb to the top! Photo credit: Joel Reid
Maria Coryell-Martin sits atop South Arete Summit, 7,807 ft, wearing her black KSO FiveFingers, which she used to climb to the top! Photo credit: Joel Reid
Maria alerted me to a recent post on her site, Expeditionary Art, about her recently trying some tec more »

Kim Tours the Southwest U.S. in KSO Five Fingers

Kim was able to manage her bus trip through the Southwest despite being on crutches thanks to the ground-feel provided by her KSO Five Fingers!
In the mailbag came the above photos from Kim who recently toured the Southwestern part of the Unite more »

Five Fingers Running in Japan with Alex

Alex is enjoying running around in Tokyo in his Five Fingers — any other VFFers in Japan?
Alex sent in the above photos showing off his grey Sprint Five Fingers that were taken in Japan, whe more »

Tree-climbing in Flow Five Fingers with Jerald

Jerald sent in the above photo of him climbing a tree in his Five Fingers Flows. The images are sho more »

Robin and Erik Take on Indonesia in Vibram Five Fingers

Random Indonesian Monkey is put at ease by human with "Monkey Shoes."
Robin and Erik (photoed above and also see the additional photos below!) took a two week trip to Ind more »

Bob perches atop Castleton Tower, Utah, in KSO Vibram Five Fingers

A video from Vibram Five Fingers fan Bob at the top of Castleton Tower, Utah. Bob reached the top and promptly swapped his climbing shoes for his Vibrams! more »

Brian at the Berlin Wall (in KSO Vibram Five Fingers)

Brian, "Hear I am leaning against an appropriately painted remnant of the Berlin Wall."
Brian, who you might recall from his Otterness photo or Fife playing, has been photographing Berlin more »

FiveFingers and Tom Otterness sculptures on the Subway in NYC

Kristy sent in the above photo showing her black Classic FiveFingers-clad feet next to part of Tom O more »

The FiveFingers Sprint Tan as demonstrated by Shivella

Shivella shows off her FiveFingers Sprint tan lines — an inevitable result of Shivella considering her VFFs her favorite shoes of all time.
I've managed a minor "Classic FiveFingers tan" on occasion but the photo above sent in by Shivella o more »

Hieu Hiking Mt. Baldy in Classic FiveFingers

A photo-montage of Hieu's hike up Mt. Baldy, California, in his black Classic VFFs.
In the mailbag comes the above photos and note below from Hieu who recently hiked Mt. Baldy in Calif more »

Ben Walks Beijing in KSOs FiveFingers

Ben's VFF KSOs pictured atop a manhole in Beijing, China.
Ben sent in the above photos snapped in the Forbidden City (Beijing, China). Ben was travelling thr more »

Brandon's 5.5 mile road race in KSO FiveFingers

Brandon shows off his KSO FiveFingers pre-race with a nice VFF kick!
Brandon Marshall (@bmarshallpf on twitter) recently finished his first race running in his KSO FiveF more »

Army PT Heel-Toe Running and Running in 5-Fingers: A VFF Story

Dirty black KSO FiveFingers after a run.
From Lou:Hey Justin,I want to start off by saying that I think you are running a great site. I more »

Barehoof Horseplay and FiveFingers with Nichole

Nichole rides her horse in her "birthday shoes" — KSO FiveFingers (in the soon-to-be-discontinued brown color!)
Nichole (@nickel07 on twitter) sent in the above photos of her wearing brown KSO FiveFingers alongsi more »

Bernard Finishes 100km Trail Race in Singapore in his KSO Vibram FiveFingers

Bernard chows down on a banana prior to his 100km trail race in FiveFingers KSOs.
Hi Justin, I've come to know about your website and am excited to know how vibram has transforme more »

Tim Runs the Marine Corps Marathon in his Sprint Vibram Five Fingers

The night before the Marine Corps Marathon (October 24, 2009), Tim Kelley has all the necessary gear laid out and ready for the big race — of note, Injinji toe socks and red and black FiveFingers Sprints!
Tim Kelley, who we've seen previously hiking mountains and finishing triathlons, now adds a marathon more »