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

Allan "Survives" a Race through Edinburgh, Scotland in VFF Classics

Allan is pictured here alongside his team before the "Survival of the Fittest" 10K race through Edinburgh, Scotland.
In the mailbag this week comes an email from VFFer Allan who recently partook in a very unusual 10K more »

"Barefoot" Michael Camps in Sprint Five Fingers

"Barefoot" Michael goes camping in his FiveFinger Sprints.
"Barefoot" Michael sent in the above photos of a recent camping trip he took to Wallace State Park, more »

Comic Frazz gives "Nod" to FiveFingers, and Luke Radl's Tribute to a Friend

Don't know if any of you are avid readers of the comic Frazz by Jef Mallet, but today's (October 21, more »

Phillip's first Skydiving Trip in his KSO FiveFingers

Phillip just jumped out of a perfectly good plane with someone probably just met strapped to his back! Do you see his KSO fivefingers?
Hello there!I was so excited that I just feel like I needed to share.The first time I saw VF more »

Happy Diwali and Sal Mubarak: Justin in KSO Treks

Behind us is the Swaminarayan Temple, one of the "top ten largest traditional Hindu Vedic stone temples outside India." Note my rubber-clad toes.
This past Saturday was Diwali, which is more »

Bob Running Marine Corps Marathon in VFFs, Raising money for St. Judes!

Bob, who you might recall from his fivefingers rock climbing video, is running the Marine Corps Mara more »

Derek Relaxing After Class in KSOs

Derek finds a nice spot on campus to relax after class on a first floor grassy terrace.
Here's a pic of me relaxing after class by laying out in a patch of grass in my black KSOs, enjoying more »

Matching Classic FiveFingers: Galya and Roland's new Kicks

Galya and Roland show off their new matching black Classic fivefingers.
In the mailbag came a "couples" photo; Galya and Roland are in love with their new black Classic Fiv more »

Paul Both's Run for Liberty: Training to Run Across America in FiveFingers

I've recently had the opportunity to learn about Paul Both — a musician and sound engineer "wi more »

James' KSO Trek Five Fingers at Work

James' works in his KSO Trek fivefingers. That's Alaskan Summer Ale he's "standing" on.
Looks like another VFFer (See also Alan's effort to VFF-ify corporate America) is taking their new K more »

Shawn Shows off the new black and orange KSO fivefingers (And his black classics)

Shawn shows off the latest KSO fivefingers color combo: black, orange, and gray!
The picture was taken of my V5F KSO(blk/orange/gray awesome color!) when I was just leaving the gym more »

Hail, yes! Timothy has Black KSO fivefingers.

What the hail? Timothy stands atop some large-sized hail after a freak hail storm in New Jersey.
Timothy sent in the above two photos of his black KSO fivefingers:Black KSO's standing on hail a more »

Henk Sipers goes for a run in new KSOs

Henk Sipers emailed in the above photo showing him running alongside his dogs in his new fivefingers more »

Cody Tries Ultimate Frisbee in FiveFinger Sprints

Cody gears up for a flick!
Cody wrote in to tell me about his recent experience testing out his Vibram FiveFingers Sprints for more »

Jon hikes Shenandoah National Park in KSO FiveFingers

Jon enjoys the view underfoot (Vibram Five Finger KSOs) at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
In the mailbag comes the above photo from Jon who recently hiked around Shenandoah National Park in more »

Hiking Eastern Oregon in KSO FiveFingers

David sports his black VFF KSOs near an alpine lake in eastern Oregon.
Birthdayshoes.com,Here are two pics of my dog (Jack) and me (David) with friends at an alpine la more »

Kevin's FiveFingers in Fiji

Kevin makes use of his KSOs while boating about Fiji. Watch out for the dreaded KSO tan line!
Kevin sent in the above two photos of his grey and palm KSO fivefingers taken while he was vacationi more »

Maxxe's Black Classics on the New York Metro

Maxxe shows off her black Classic fivefingers.
Maxxe sent in the above photo from her iPhone of her black Classic Five Fingers — "on the 6 (m more »

Chris and Bien run the Baltimore Half-Marathon in KSO FiveFingers

Bien and Chris pose in their Vibram FiveFinger KSOs at the finish line of this past weekend's Baltimore Half-Marathon.
Chris sent in the above photo taken at the finish of this past weekend's Baltimore Half-Marathon. T more »

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Treks at Work with Alan

Alan sports his black KSO Trek fivefingers in the corporate environment, blazing a trail for future lovers of five-toed footwear. And who's that long-haired fellow in the background? A future VFFer, perhaps.
Alan ("shapeshifter" on the forums) posted some initial thoughts on wearing his new black KSO Trek f more »

Juergs finishes Reading 50K in Five Finger KSO Treks

Juergs flashes the peace sign before running his first 50K ultra marathon in his Vibram KSO Treks.
Juergs completed his 50K ultra last weekend in under six hours (See our last meeting with Juergs' wh more »

Marsha Rows in Classic Vibram Five Fingers

I ran into Marsha via twitter — it seems Marsha rows in her Classic Vibram FiveFingers. As I more »

Marc says, "Tough to beat a Classic"

Marc points his brown and walnut Classic Five Fingers up to a beautiful blue sky after running sprints.
Marc sent in the above photo of his brown/walnut Classics pointed skyward towards a palm tree (beaut more »

Christopher McDougall is making the rounds on his book tour

A lot of you read the Roving Runner piece from the NY Times this past weekend (as well as other pres more »

Max hits the Zoo in Black KSO Vibram Five Fingers

Max's black KSO's at the zoo. Clockwise from the top left we see a rhinoceros, some [what are these?], a duck, and a polar bear. Don't step on the duck, Max!
Max sent in the above photos taken at the Indianapolis zoo:Me and my fivefingers at the Indianapol more »