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

Dave's Classic FiveFingers

I received the above photos from Dave showcasing his Nike Air Rifts, green/yellow Classic fivefinger more »

Steven Hiking Waterfalls in Hawaii in Five Finger KSOs

As I sit in my gloomy* office listening to the rain, a sound I normally love but am beginning to tir more »

Pedal Play 2 with Lou: Biking in KSO fivefingers

Lou snaps a couple photos before going on a bike ride around Austin in his black KSO Vibram Five Fingers. more »

Hiking Mount Marcy in black KSO Five Fingers

Received the above photos taken of Axel (and friend) on a hike up Mount Marcy in New York (The top o more »

Pedal Play: Lou Rocks and Drives in his KSO fivefingers

Lou sent in a few photos (above) in which he's putting his KSOs to good use in two different-yet-si more »

Stef Dune Bashing and Sand Boarding in Dubai in KSOs

Stef in Dubai passed on the above photo and had this to say about her black KSO VFFs:The best shoe more »

Dr. Jawa teaches in black KSO VFFs

Dr. Jawa, a professor of mechanical engineering, has been teaching students — in his black fiv more »

Jason Cruises "the Med" in FiveFinger Classics (Italy, France, Spain)

Received this annotated account from Jason ("Ardent" on the forums) of his recently finished cruise more »

Erin Swimming in Natural Pools in Hawaii in Vibram Five Fingers

Erin sent in the above photo of her jumping into a natural pool. The "birthday shoes shot" was take more »

Fivefinger Sprints aplenty and a pair of KSOs

Note: Thanks to the flurry of traffic from Vibram's kind mentioning of BirthdayShoes on facebook yes more »

First trail run in Vibram fivefingers KSO Trek

I did about a 30 minute run through a local natural park (a lot of doubling back and just messi more »

Justin hikes in his grey five finger Sprints

The above photos were sent in from a (well-named) new VFFer named Justin. Here are some pics fr more »

Barefoot Ted McDonald Running the Leadville 100 in Fivefinger KSO Treks

"Barefoot Ted" McDonald recently ran the Leadville 100, an ultramarathon race held out in Leadville, more »

Edgar's Barcelona Segway Tours in VFF KSOs

Edgar ("dardo" on the forums) recently picked up some black Vibram fivefinger KSOs and has been wearing them to work — giving Segway tours of Barcelona! more »

Library Director to run Collingswood Book Festival 5K Race in his VFFs

Brett Bonfield, the director of Collingswood Public Library in New Jersey (just outside of Philadelp more »

Noah explores Newfoundland in his KSO Five Fingers

Got the above photos from Noah taken on a recent trip he took to Newfoundland, Canada with his wife Heather. As you can see, Noah wore his KSO fivefingers across various terrain to hike, fish, explore and, eventually, sneak up on some wildlife in Gros Morne National Park more »

Sal's California Central Coast Road Trip in KSOs and Classics

Sal Rodriguez recently took a road trip along the California Central Coast. Along the way, he saw s more »

Jocelyn sets a Personal Record in her Blue VFF KSOs

I love getting these stories in the mailbag. The latest, from Jocelyn photoed above in her camo blu more »

Taking a Helicopter for a Spin in Five Finger Classics

Mike recently posted to the birthday shoes forums about his more »

Hiking Old Rag Mountain in VFFs with Michael and Tim [Video]

Tim Kelley, who now has run two triathlons in FiveFingers (The first was posted about here, the se more »

Jason Runs in Red Sprint FiveFingers

Jason ("Ardent" on the forums) sent in the following photo of his slightly muddied red and black Vib more »

Vibram Five Fingers, Fjords, and Fjell

Received the above photos of Mark taken at various places in Norway (Top to bottom: a fjord on the i more »

Lynn's Half-Marathon in Vibram Five Finger KSOs

Vibram Five Fingers fan Lynn photoed above runs the Chicago Rock N' Roll Half Marathon.  Lynn's transition to Vibrams took four months.
Vibram Five Fingers fan Lynn photoed above runs the Chicago Rock N' Roll Half Marathon. Lynn's transition to Vibrams took four months.
Lynn emailed in about hitting a personal record (PR) on the recent Rock'N'Roll Chicago half-marathon more »

Shawn's Gone Fishing in Black KSO Five Fingers

The above photos were taken by Shawn, who has used his fivefinger KSOs not only to fish atop lake ro more »

Colin takes two weeks to "mill around" France barefoot or in Vibrams (Classics)

"I spent most of the time barefoot whilst milling around the campsites and driving. I wore my Vibrams when out and about sight seeing (because barefoot isn't always appropriate) and cycling and I wore my cheap aging flipflops when the grass outside the tent was wet - my wife would go nuts if I even contemplated walking into the tent with muddy or wet feet/Vibrams." more »