Here’s Carl on using his Vibram Five Fingers KSOs to go wall climbing:
They worked pretty well, especially since you could put your individual toes into cracks and crevices. The only issue I had was that the rock climbing shoes had a hard rubber sole that was like a platform, while the vibrams did whatever your foot did. The rock climbing shoes also had rubber up on the sides, while the VFFs only had them on the bottom.
I’ve had my VFFs for about 2 weeks now and I use them in kickboxing and running. People think they’re awesome and ask where I got them. I think this may become the new hot thing in the nation!
My adjustment’s been good. Normally I wear flip flops and whatnot, so it was easy to get theses babies on and go around in them. I don’t have the trouble that most people do of putting them on and off. The only trouble I have is that they get cold easy, soak up water like a sponge, and stink after using them for a week.
-Carl
Ah yes, the stink of KSO Vibram Five Fingers is the stuff of legends.
Glad you are putting your KSOs to such good use. Though they aren’t rock climbing shoes, I’m sure the flexibility of Vibram Five Fingers will force your feet to be stronger on those holds! Keep it up — and keep washing your VFFs!
3 replies on “Go Spider-Man. Wall Crawling (Climbing) in KSO Vibram Five Fingers”
As a climber myself, I’ve found the VFF’s to be decent at climbing easier routes, but fall apart on harder routes with smaller footholds. My Flow’s hold up better than my Sprints, mostly because of the thicker rubber.
While the FiveFingers may be OK for easier routes, it is difficult if not impossible to climb above a 5.9 with them. The rubber in FiveFingers is built to do the _opposite_ of what climbing shoes are built to do: Vibrams are for flexibility and maintaining your foot’s natural structure, while climbing shoes have a very hard and supportive sole to effectively override your foot’s natural (weak) bone structure.
The only time I would consider climbing in Vibrams is if I was hiking in them and I spontaneously found a boulder worth trying. They just are not meant to do what climbing shoes are built for.
To often I hear that five fingers are not for climbing. not true unless you believe your feet are not for climbing and need artificial support.
Once you strengthen your feet to the task, the only limit is your abilities. Rather than relying on a crutch (climbing shoes) you can do some pretty nifty stuff… plus they are way more comfy
I climb 5.12s in my five fingers. I use them as approach shoes, hiking shoes, parkour shoes, free climbing shoes… you get the picture. I only wish they would put some climbing rubber on the bottom of them…