If there’s one FiveFingers model that garners more of a following all others, it’d have to be the Classic. It’s my all-time personal favorite style of Vibrams and I’m not alone: just take this fan’s 20+ pairs for reference.
Unfortunately though, it seems that the Classic doesn’t tend to get the most attention from the FiveFingers community at large — or perhaps newcomers to toe shoes who are wooed into picking up a “fancier” pair of toe shoes like the SeeYa, Spyridon LS, KomodoSport LS, or Bikila LS (among many others). I don’t blame them: if you’re new to the concept of a five-toed shoe, you’re likely going to drop that $75-$100 on a model you feel like will cover as many bases as possible — and one with perhaps a little more conventional look (some shy away from the Classic’s open-topped design for aesthetic reasons).
The result of all of this is that the Classic model is getting a bit ignored by consumers, which drives us crazy Classic fans a little batty. More to the point, it means that colorways in Classics, particularly in the United States, have been cut back to flat black, which is most unfortunate, as the black colorway is probaby the uber-Classic fan’s least favorite. Sigh. Just a couple weeks back I scratched my Classics’ itch by grabbing a couple rare pairs via the aforemented uber-fan from the Netherlands who helped me complete the transaction.
Thankfully, I can only assume some folks in Italy love this original model, too, because Vibram (at least in Europe) looks to be planning an Olympic-timed release of some very fun and cool Classic FiveFingers.
Case in point, the above pictured Denmark-flag styled Classics! What’s going on here? Well, we’re only able to just start piecing the information together, but it appears that Vibram will be producing some limited-number FiveFingers Classics styled in various flags from around the world! Which ones? Well, that’s unclear at this point.
What we know to date is that Denmark is definitely “in” (as exemplified by the already existing model as shared by a certain Facebook page) and it seems like the United Kingdom is going to get a pair, too. Check it out (after the jump)!
According to BarefootLondon.co.uk:
We couldn’t let the Olympics pass without a special edition Vibram FiveFinger to commemorate the games with. The iconic Union Jack is there in all its splendour. Express your true British eccentricity with a pair of Classic Vibram FiveFingers, specially designed for the 2012 London Olympics and certain to become a collector’s piece! The stock as ever will be limited and should arrives at the beginning of July 2012. It will be available in Men’s sizes 40-45 and Women’s sizes 36-41. Let us know what you think… your views are always taken seriously
If you can’t tell, we don’t yet have a full picture of what Vibram is planning. Meanwhile, since the only Olympic Classic colorways I’ve seen so far are from the United Kingdom and Denmark, it’s hard to say if these will be available in the U.S. I’ll go out on a limb and say that Italy will definitely get their own model (Vibram being an Italian company, of course), and I’d like to think the U.S. will get one, too. As is always the case when we delve into the FiveFingers rumor-mill, it’s hard to say much of anything with certainty, so don’t get your hopes up too much! And stay tuned.
These Olympic-Classics will be pretty rare pairs of FiveFingers, but how cool would it be to have some flag-styled toe shoes? I’m digging what I’m seeing so far: what do you think?
19 replies on “Olympic-Themed FiveFingers Classics”
I am already eagerly awaiting the US flag version. Regardless of how they look, I will likely snag a pair. I heard rumor that the 5 flags represented would be Denmark and the UK of course, as covered in this post. Italy, which is pretty much a given. I also heard the US, and Australia. Lets hope it all holds true. It is going to be pricey to acquire these and difficult to acquire them all if they are only released in their respective countries.
Oooohhhhh. I cannot wait for that Union Jack pair to come out. I already have some The Who converses, these would compliment them perfectly haha
Nice! But I would like to point out that the Union Jack is no more the flag of England, than the stars & stripes is the flag of New Jersey…
Great hopefully they’ll come to the US. My favorite are Smartwool classics. Since the Classic line has more or less disappeared I’ve gone to sandles or Sanuks.
I guess to my eye and mind the Classics don’t look like enough shoe for my purpose (wearing all day at work). I guess a lack of marketing? Though to be fair I have never seen any advertisements for any VFF. Could just be me.
My favorites are still the kangaroo upper KSO Treks.
AndyB, NH.
Though using Classics for some wacky designs, maybe limited would make me want to buy them. Maybe a handlebar moustache themed one? Okay, I have one so I am biased;-})
The Cross of St George is the English flag it is a red cross on a plain white background. The Union Jack is the flag of the United Kingdom so includes Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland
Apologies to the English and those in the United Kingdom who I may have offended by confusing the English and United Kingdom flags — fixed the post!
I can already see myself wearing one Italian and one UK shoe at the same time when there`s an important soccer/sports game between the two 🙂
You’re not alone either, Justin – I have eight pair of Five Fingers and my 4 pairs of Classics are still my favorite. They are the most comfortable to wear and look the coolest. Whenever you’re ready to roll out the colorways, Vibram – I will be ready to get my 5th pair!
I am Canadian. I would not care for a maple leaf flag shoe but I would love those Danish ones, even though there is no Danish in me except for the trip I took there in 2006.
Man,
I like them already. What ever countries they come up with I’ll get them. I really hope they get a US like I said I’ll get what ever versions they make!
Justin the site is broken! I am throwing my money at the screen but nothing is happening! Help!
Seriously, I want an American, English, and German version. Japanese Flag would look cool too. I wish we had more info on where to get these.
I would not be sure about Italian flag. Here in Italy I have seen only 2 other people wearing VFF since their creation. Simply Italy is too much a small nation to gather enough followers for niche products as VFF. The few person I have heard talking about Vibrams thought they where chinese (or american products). We don’t even have advertisements for VFF products. Too bad!
Nice! definetly need to promote classics more and fire off some more colors. 90% of my free time is spent in classics. There the best.
I’d like to see an American flag pair, but anything other than black would be good too. Please, Vibram, bring some color back to US!
I contacted Vibram USA and the person I talked to thought these would only release in the EU market. Not sure if he is truly in the know or just making an assumption based on the fact that he has not heard anything about them yet. I hope they release them state-side, at least the US version.
I received word direct from Vibram that the Olympic Classics will be released in the EU market only, with a very limited amount of them for sale at the flag-ship store in Boston. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
I called the Boston store today, and although they could not confirm the Flags they would be getting, or when they would be getting them, or what they would be priced at, they did at least confirm they were slated to get them, at least the US version, and also that they would ship them pretty reasonably with a phone in credit card order.
The classic is my favorite Vibram for trail running in hot weather. The other models are just too warm in the summer.