JJ’s dad was skeptical that her Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas could handle two days of hiking through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Did JJ’s dad become a barefoot believer? Read about JJ’s adventure to see how it turned out!
I wanted to share some excitement over a new-found level of my barefooting experience. I’ve been wearing VFFs since February of this year, each month increasing my barefooting activity. In July, I wanted to try out my VFFs while hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Southern Colorado. I opted for my VFF Bikilas, hoping to avoid the pain and blisters I get from hiking boots. My dad, an expert of the Colorado wilderness, was skeptical about my feet holding up in such “flimsy things,” telling me he wasn’t carrying me down the mountain when my feet gave out. Man was he impressed (and me, too!) after we climbed two trails in two days, each at 10 miles and up to elevations of 12,200 ft! My feet (and my Bikilas) lasted all day, each day, over all kinds of terrain and without a single blister! My dad made it up those trails, too, but with painful blisters from his hiking boots.
Experience is a powerful motivator- after witnessing my barefooted happiness, my dad tried on my mom’s Sprints while fishing in the river!
JJ’s dad in her mom’s Sprints.
I’ve included some pics from the trip.
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Thanks for the story JJ. It is really neat that you share good times with your dad. GREAT pic of your dad fishing! Maybe you can hook him up with some of the new Trek Sports for the next time out.
Here is a link to the Bureau of Land Management website with information on the Cataract Gulch Trail.
8 replies on “Hiking in Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado”
Ah, Cataract Gulch Trail, out of Sherman near Lake City, CO right? That is part of the Hardrock 100 Mile course (my favorite race). So cool to see what folks are doing in their VFFs. Really not a surprise to me as people have been hiking, running, backpacking, etc… in little more than “racing flats” (myself included) for years now. The Bikilas are practically fully cushioned shoes compared to the Classics. Fun adventure!
Wow! Evidently the Bikila’s are tougher than I thought. Looks like they withstood some pretty tough (and beautiful) terrain.
The pic of your dad in the red Sprints is great. I’d love to get a shot of my dad like like that. Unfortunately, it would require either him being heavily sedated or me giving up a large sum of cash.
My wife and I are heading to Silverthorne CO and will do some major hiking in my KSO Treks and Bikilas. I was curious how they were going to hold up so thanks for the post!
That is so awesome! Nice job, JJ – that picture of your dad in your mom’s Sprints is priceless 🙂
Wonder if mom & dad have the same size feet, or if he’s pretty jammed in there? 😉
Is he a convert now? 🙂
I’ve been hiking in my flows and I had no problem at all, though it was only a day hike and not overnight. I can’t wait to go on a multi day hike in some five fingers. The lower wight of five fingers compared to hiking boots makes it much less tiring to hike.
Awesome! I live not too far away in Pagosa Springs, but I haven’t really had a chance to hike out with my Vibrams yet… my KSOs gave up the ghost around the time that I moved here, and I’ve been doing the find-the-correct-sizing dance with a new pair of Remixes. 🙁 Can’t wait to tackle some trails in my VFFs, but am less than enthusiastic about doing it in my somewhat uncomfortable trail runners. 🙁
The one thing im curious about is socks or not? I have a pair of the “toe-socks” that I can wear but are they necessary?
I love my VFF Sprints. I get a lot of questions about them and the biggest thing that people are impressed with is that my back and hips no longer hurt due to correct posture. I would like another pair, something with maybe a little more sole to them but I a hear everyone in Colorado Springs is back ordered till january.