Way back in late September one VFF fan got word of the “KSO Trek Tex,” sharing this photo on the birthday shoes forums. Later, German websites voycontigo.de (translated) and socken-kaufhaus.de (translated) announced the KSO Trek Tex would be released later in the year in Europe. Even still, more speculation about the KSO Trek Tex surfaced on the forums — this time via a Vibram Five Fingers distributor in Sweden.
Over here, I wasn’t able to get any confirmation of this release so I held off on posting about this apparent hybrid Flow upper and Trek lower VFF. Now, fast forward to a couple of days ago, and it seems one German VFF fan named Andy (“Chronix” on the forums) has picked up pair!
I asked Andy to send me a few photos of what is apparently officially called the Flow Trek and he sent in the following photos:
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It still seems that FiveFingers Flow Trek will be a Euro-only release. Clearly, the benefits of a Flow Trek are that you get maximum warmth via the 2mm thick neoprene upper and the thicker lugged Vibram Trek sole. It looks impressive, too. So the question is: would any of you rather have a VFF Flow Trek over the leather VFF KSO Trek?
32 replies on “European Five Fingers Flow Trek a.k.a. KSO Trek Tex out!”
Awesome! I would definitely go for a pair. I’ve been hoping for a vegan-friendly version of the Treks ever since I first heard about them.
Would like both, KSO Trek for warm days and Flow Trek for the Colorado winters. Hopefully Vibram is just testing the market and will share with the rest of the world all V5F models.
Lots of folks have discovered that the KSOs and the Treks don’t really cut it for running in colder conditions. I think this would be well-received by those Vibram wearers who have had to give up their VFFs for the winter…
A Flow/Trek hybrid makes so much sense on many levels. Vegan wearers…Hiking in cooler (New England/Colorado etc) climes.
I want these.
I’m currently running in the Flows here in Massachusetts and have realized the need for some tread after a snow storm. I’d buy these today if available.
And I own these. Didn’t intend to buy them, I actually oredred the normal Treks, but actually I’m kinda happy with the way things turned out, even though I haven’t worn them a lot just yet.
I would buy both.
I want these. Tell Vibram to bring them to the US!
I would definitely buy a pair! Those are awesome.
I’m waiting for a pair with Sprint uppers and Trek soles… now that would be cool!
These look really cool! I have been running in my standard KSO’s down to about 18F (9F Windchill)and still comfortable.
But, due to snow I have recently switched to running in Feelmax Kuuva boots which have been working great!
The Flow Treks just might be another good alternative. I would be curious to see how much of an advantage they would be for running in snowy wet conditions over the Trek KSO’s. Hopefully we will get a chance to buy these here in the states!
These are pretty sweet. I have a pair of KSO Treks coming next week. Hopefully they will work a little better for winter. The real thin sole (which I love) on regular KSO & Sprints just doesn’t cut it when it’s real cold out.
I would love these to complement my inventory. I just bought black Treks to go with my brown. I love the sole and how it grips the road. I started with KSO but moved to the Treks and notice improved grip and stability with the Treks make for a better sense of balance. As for the cold, pair up the shoes with Injinji socks and you will have happy feet.
Hmm, I’m guessing this is male only too.
Do we need a flow trek petition to get smaller sizes?
What is the regular KSO flow’s temp rating? I just ordered a pair of these. Just curious. Thanks!
Bob Garon
http://BobGaronTraining.com
Yes, yesterday in the 10 km volksmarch on wet, slushy, and snowy walks, I really would have enjoyed the Trek sole on my Flows. The Flows stayed warm enough, but I would have enjoyed the lugs on the sole.
Does anyone here in the states know of a way to get these ordered from europe. These would be insane. I love my Treks and my Flow. Put them together…I’m getting giddy just thinking about it.
I have a pair of these in size 47, they are like a size 48 Sprint I’d say. After three runs in them I’ve found out I might need to go down one size, my pinkytoes is almost falling out the sockets.
Would anyone be interested? I could ship to the U.S. They are as mint as can be, all three times I’ve used them there have between been 5 to -4 degrees fahrenheit – I live in northern Sweden. -4 is the limit I’d say, with socks of course. So no bacteria have had any chance to even set foot on ’em 🙂
This is not final, just checking if anyone’d be interested.
Merry christmas everyone.
I just located a pair of the flow trek and a very resonable price ,even with shipping. Cant wait. The holy grail
Please sign this petition to bring the Trek Tex to the rest of world.
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/KSOTrekTex2World
I would definitely buy these! I’m in MN, running in Flows, and right now most of my roads are slick thanks to a heavy snow followed by a serious cold snap. This extra tread on the bottom would definitely help.
Can someone please explan why some VFF’s are made specifically for either Europe or the U.S.? Isn’t it obvious by now that people want every and any style that Vibram comes up with? I wanted lace ups and now I want flow treks. Rather than get excited for new VFF models, I’m just starting to get pissed off.
hi running in trails and mountain running on uneven and often stony ground uk,thinking of buying the fivefingers (coz im vegan so that cancels trek out) flow,can anyone tell me whether they are suitable for this type of terrain?
Cheers Richard
Richard – I have been mountain running in my VFF Flow Treks for weeks now, they are suitable for this type of terrain and even for snow and frozen underground.
BUT please keep in mind that the 1.2mm neopren upper makes your feet TOO hot for running in temps far above freezing point
I just got my pair sent to me from the UK. I am in Cincinnati and theses are perfect.
They do take some time to break in, but the fit snugger than the treks I have. I love these. If you are in the states and can snag a pair from a European comrade, DO IT !!!! These are excellent for snow, rain. I will be using for rafting once it gets warm
Yes. Bring them state side please Vibram.
Hi all! I have the opportunity to ask a relative to bring me back a pair from London – does anyone know of retail stores carrying these? Thanks.
All of you should feel lucky that the KSO treks are even an option! (I’m so jealous of all those who have them already). I’ve been waiting forever for the female version. I live in Vermont, i.e. cold ice and snow half the year, and dirt roads and mountains in the other half.
Both the KSO Trek and the Flow Trek would be amazing if I could just get them in my size!
I have a pair of regular flows, and the neoprene upper is perfect for water sports in the summer (as well as evenings around a campfire without getting mosquito bitten), and cold temps in the winter. But as mentioned above, the traction isn’t so good in the snow and ice.
I’ve been searching the web and just I just could find a Danish seller offering this model. I couldn’t say if they sell overseas since I don’t understand Danish ( http://www.alun.dk/shop/fivefingers-flow-trek.html )
Anyway, they wouldn’t be suitable for me, they’re just selling sizes 42, 43, 44 and 45, I would need a 40, this is the size for KSO Trek I’m wearing.
My intuition is that the size range for this model is even narrower than for the KSO Trek since it is only sold in a few of countries and it’s a very specialized product (as VFF Flow is), it is not even described in the European FiveFingers official website.
By the way, the Italian website of Vibram ( http://www.vibramfivefingers.it/eng/default.aspx )
has started to sell VFF directly to European customers using a courier service to deliver their shoes, I suppose they are trying to find an alternative to the poor distribution (by both street and on line retailers) that the FiveFingers have been suffering. The total international shipping fee is 10 euros (at least from Italy to Spain), so if you buy 3 pairs, the shipping cost you are paying for each is just 3.33 euros. It takes less than a week to arrive.
I’d like to join this informal petition for a wider distribution of the VFF KSO Trek Flow Trek, but please, make them at least the same size options as with the KSO Trek. They share the same sole (and mold), therefore production costs due to those extra sizes would be partially reduced.
I just came back from a short run less than 5km in the snow (-3°C) with my flow trek tex. Although I think in general the shoes are awesome for various reasons, they barely present an improvement over the KSO when it comes to keeping your toes warm. The great advantage of separate toes becomes the greatest disadvantage when it comes to insulation against the cold. The isolated toes cool out after 2 km. I actually find this quite dangerous, as it once happened to me that I confused the numbness with warmth or improved blood flow – got me some nasty black blisters.
What does the trick for me in the winter months are water shoes / surf shoes, made of neopren and supposed to be worn at the beach. They are cheap (15 euros), you can wear proper running socks in them and they keep you warm in the snow for many kilometers. barefoot feeling is hardly diminished. Since I only wear them in snow covered areas, the lack of protection for your feet is negligible.
These are the fivefingers I have been looking for. My feet get cold in Colorado wearing my kso even with socks. I really dont like the leather.
Got some last week from Sportspursuit.com (its a flash sales sport gear site so none on there now I’m afraid) Doing perfectly out and about in a cold and snowy Les Deux Alpes this week! They are one of the ones you need to pay attention to the size chart on, a size smaller than normal are a perfect fit for me.
Where can we buy these? YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS WILLING TO BUY… where are they?
– Edie