If you’ve been in the market for some old school FiveFingers lately, you may have noticed a few deals around the interwebs. One example: REI Outlet has the original grey/palm men’s KSOs for about $50 and a couple of women’s KSO colorways for $50, too (find both deals here).
What’s the deal with these fantastic deals?
From what I can piece together, I’d speculate that Vibram wants to “clean house” on FiveFingers models and colorways they are discontinuing by allowing retailers to drop prices to “firesale” levels.
What models are affected?
Like I mentioned, there are basically two impacts at play here. One is to sell off old discontinued models. The other is to sell off discontinued colorways of ongoing models that will still be sold (in new or pre-existing colorways) going forward.
The biggest change to the Vibram ecosystem (as I see it) is that the original Classic and Sprint FiveFingers will no longer be in production by 2013. The leather KSO Trek is also, apparently, history (among a few others*). KSOs will still exist (for both men and women) but only in flat black. Yeah, it’s a bummer, I know.
If there’s a silver lining to these model discontinuations and colorway reductions, it’s that it presents a chance to snag up some of these soon-to-be-history Vibrams at absurdly low prices.
Just take a look at these sales.
For the men, you have a chance to get the devil-red “KSO Remix” for a mere $40 (53% off). Or if you’re up for a Fall-friendly, Halloween ready colorway, you can pick up black and orange KSOs for $50 (41% off). Meanwhile, women can grab the “Hawaiian Ocean” (blue) and grey Sprints for $36 (55% off). Oh and if you were wanting some men’s black Classic FiveFingers, you can get them for $40 (47% off).
Here are the sizes available (and links to buy) as of midnight 8/14/2012 — each link takes you to the online retailer offering the steep discounts:
- Women’s Sprint FiveFingers for $36 — Sizes 36 – 42 in Hawaiian Ocean (blue) and Grey Colorway
- Men’s Classic FiveFingers for $40 — sizes 41, 43-47
- Men’s KSO Remix for $40! Black/Orange KSO for $50! — KSO Remix sizes 43-47; Black/Grey/Orange sizes 40, 42, and 43. Of all the deals, I’m most excited about the Remix sale. I’ve got a pair of Remixes already and might have to grab a back-up as this KSO colorway and the long-discontinued blue camo KSO colorway are my all-time favorites (in this style).
All orders over $49 ship free.
The retailer offering these deals is Travel Country — a long-time VFF supplier based out of Florida (I bought my first pair of Sprints and third pair of VFFs from them back in 2009 on a big sale off their website). I point this out because given the number of counterfeit online retailers of Vibrams offering fake FiveFingers at steep discounts, you might wonder about the legitimacy of this sale — TravelCountry is the real deal and they were one of the first supporters of this site, which is appreciated.
I’ll wrap by saying “That’s not all.” If you are looking for more recently released Vibram FiveFingers models on sale, you can actually get the Spyridon LS or SeeYa on sale at TravelCountry, too, for 20-25% off. Check that and these other sales out — while they last.
Ultimately, while it’s hard to pass up a good deal on a pair of VFFs, I think many of us will have mixed feelings about losing the FiveFingers models we “cut our teeth” on. I know it’s silly to be sad about losing a style of shoes — toe shoes at that! — but it is what it is.
One last thing: if you want to find out when other minimalist shoes go on sale, be sure to subscribe by email.
* Other models that seem to have been nuked off the VFFsphere include the Jaya LR, Fresca, Bormio, and Trek LS.
15 replies on “Discontinued FiveFingers Get Close-Out Deals: KSOs, Classics, and Sprints Up to 55% Off!”
Great website, I’m from Australia and they don’t accept Australian credit cards, so I got my Uncle from Oregon to order them for me. My parents went to the US for the trip and picked them up for me! Added a KSO, SeeYa and Treksport to my little family of fivefingers! 😀
For our Canadian friends, I just saw on MEC that they are selling off Flows, KSO’s ( Mens: Grey/Palm, Black and Orange/Black. Womens: Black, Grey/Palm, and Blue Camo), and lastly Sprints. Not as nice as the discounts south of the border, but they are between $15 and $20 off.
Do you know where the good deals for a classics size 40 are?
I snagged a pair of all black Classics from Travelcountry last week at this price. I normally would not go for all black Classics, but since they are doing away with that model, which happens to be my favorite, I decided to get a pair anyway. I am glad I did.
I’m surprised they are ending the Jaya LR. It probably just wasn’t popular enough to continue making it. It’s a shame really since every review I read give sit high marks on style and comfort. It’s also supposed to be the lightest model that isn’t a Seeya (Seeya W38=3.75oz, Jaya LR W38=3.4oz).
The Trek LR “replaces” the Trek LS.
Their discontinuing of the Bormio is no surprise. The surprise is there is no replacement: the Lontra is hardly casual.
As usual, thanks for bringing us all these deals!
This move has pushed me to running in Luna Sandals vs my KSO’s. I’ve put about 250mi on a set of the Luna Originals in the last few months when I saw Vibram killing off or severely limiting their line of plain soled shoes versus the stuff on the bottom of Komodo’s or Bikilas. I love my Komodo’s for daily use, but for running, I don’t care for the tread, it just doesn’t feel right.
I’ve said it before on other posts. I’m disappointed that they are discontinuing all but the black colorways of the simpler models. I might also move to other minimal shoes for days when I need them.
Hey do you know if they will ship overseas? to lets say New Zealand? KSOs are $180 here its stupid and Id really love some more
I’ll be honest here, part of what drew me to Vibram’s shoes to star with where the very interesting color schemes (the blue/grey KSO’s I have are still my faves despite all the wear and tear on them). Now with the reduction in styles and discontinuing of lines, I’ve starting to become disappointed in their marketing system. It seems to me, each time I finally find a style/color I like, it gets nuked by the time I could order it! (i.e. the neoprene boot style, or the camo style flows)
I’m disappointed that vibram is discontinuing all of my favorite styles – kso, sprint, and trek. My husband and I wear VFFs almost all the time now. We have tried bikilas and komodos, but they are just too much shoe for us. Sprints and KSOs are just right for daily wear around town and we hike in treks. I guess it’s time to stock up and look into other types of minimalist footwear.
Hey does anyone know where I can find a good deal on the whiskey bormios size 46?
Wow …KOS Remix for a little to nothing. Stocking up on KOS for sure!
Just received the devil red KOS Remix. The price was awesome. Hope they are the real thing!=0)
Anyone has any idea whats the replacement model for the classic?
Trying to find any size 49 Vibram five fingers to replace my old ones..can you help?