No longer are we limited to “one type fits most situations” but now there are VFFs to suit your specific activity. It’s clear that the SeeYas are design for pavement running and racing and while they excel at this task, I don’t think I’d wear them for much else.
A review of the Spring 2012 Vibram FiveFingers SeeYa, the ultralight toe shoes for road running.
Overview
After spending a few months or so with a pre-production pair of Vibram FiveFingers (VFFs) , I’ve come to both love and hate the SeeYa. As Vibram continues to expand and diversify their FiveFinger lineup, each model becomes more and more specialized in what it is designed to do. No longer are we limited to “one type fits most situations” but now there are VFFs to suit your specific activity. It’s clear that the SeeYas are designed for pavement running and racing and while they excel at this task, I don’t think I’d wear them for much else.
After the jump, full review and contest to win a pair on the SeeYa release!
To refresh your memory on what the SeeYa is all about, check out my first look review and video recap from a few months back. I’ll save you the extra window; here’s the video:
Cool first look video, tell me more!
Function and Performance
Let’s take a look at the official pitch from Vibram on the SeeYas. From their Spring/Summer 2012 catalogue:
The ultra-streamlined Seeya is our newest performance option for serious minimalist runners. Designed to bring you even closer to the barefoot sensation, we’ve radically reduced overall weight and material with a more breathable mesh upper to deliver true, performance-driven footwear. Minimum rubber thickness in the outsole maximizes “foot feel” and flexibility, while a soft midsole further reduces thickness and weight for natural movement. A stitched-in insole protects skin and foot tissue during longer runs. For a snug fit, the lightweight, stretch mesh upper has a seamless collar and adjustable hook-and-loop closure. Machine Washable. Air Dry.
The sole is made from Vibram’s TC1 Rubber that you’d find in the Classics, Sprints, KSOs, Bikilas, Speeds and Treksports. The footbed is a 3mm polyurethane insole with antimicrobial dri-lex sockliner which is the same as in the Bikila and the upcoming Spyridon (reviewed by Leah a few weeks ago). The upper is a polyester stretch mesh that is unlike anything Vibram has used in any other previous model. Weight wise, the SeeYa is the lightest pair of outdoor running FiveFingers to date. A men’s size 43 comes in a 4.8 oz and a women’s 38 is a paltry 3.75 oz. By comparison, men’s KSOs and Bikilas come in at 5.7oz and 6.0oz, respectively.
Great, how do they feel in practice?
Well, the first thing you notice when you pick them up are really how minimal they feel. They really are super light and there is hardly any rigid structure to the upper other than the one Velcro strap across the top of the foot. The tremendously breathable mesh lives up to its stretchy title and if you move slowly, you can actually see your foot expanding with each step as it touches down and begins to support your body weight.
The sole is extremely flexible and you can literally crumple or roll the shoes up into a tight ball. To save weight, the rubber on the bottom is limited to the heel, midfoot, and toe area with a tread pattern that is reminiscent of the Bikilas. The arch of the sole is made of an even softer polyurethane which allows for increased flexibility, and while it provides no support, it does offer more than enough protection from most debris you would encounter while road running. In use, the sole does seem very thin and there is excellent ground transmission which I would compare to how my Bikilas feel after I spent 750+ miles breaking them in. And when I go back to putting on a pair of Komodos or KSOs/Sprints there is a world of difference in the perceived thickness.
Thanks! But really, get to the point, how do they feel?LOVE:
Across multiple models, I prefer my VFFs to be quite tight fighting and snug, and when slipping the SeeYas on each time I’m always slightly uneasy with how elastic and moveable the uppers are, even with extra thickness from wearing socks. To explain a little further, they don’t necessarily feel loose, It’s just that the material is so flexible and it moves with your feet so effortlessly that it’s almost like it’s not there at all, which is actually probably one of the goals and resulting benefits of wearing minimalist footwear.
HATE:
What I don’t like (what I absolutely can’t stand) is how the heel fits. It’s just not snug enough. I haven’t experienced this with any other VFF models, but the heel is just to flimsy to stay in place if you’re on uneven ground or moving laterally at all. I love the more sturdy heel cup in the Bikila, and Justin has touched on the merits of the TrekSport and KomodoSport when it comes to cutting laterally on loose ground which is something that you simply can’t do in the SeeYas. Trail running or some gym work, and especially during casual wear the side of your feet may brush up against something, can cause your heel to slide sideways or even accidentally slip out. (UPDATE: As these things go, the SeeYas I’m reviewing here are pre-production. I’ve gotten word from Vibram that this was a known issue and was addressed for final production. As soon as I get a final production version to test I will update this review. Fixing the heel issue could make these one of my favorite VFFs!).
The good news is that this doesn’t seem to be a problem when actually running on asphalt in them. After getting up to jogging speed and even at race pace, on pavement or the track, the SeeYas stay in place well and I didn’t notice any issues with the heel. Being super light and breathable, they were comfortable to wear, even over longer distances. I generally always wear socks with any pair of VFFs but other reviewers (Leah, review coming soon) commented that they experienced some uncomfortable rubbing on the top of the foot underneath the strap.
FOLLOW-UP — April 16, 2012
The heel of my pre-production pair of SeeYa FiveFingers felt loose, was prone to slippage, and even came off my foot under certain circumstances. This was a known issue for Vibram and was addressed for final production, before the SeeYas hit retail stores. As a result, anyone who has bought these shoes has received the updated model. In the interest of closing the loop on my SeeYa review, I said I would update everyone with my findings once I was able to thoroughly test the retail model. Now that I’ve had a production pair for some time, I can say that while this issue hasn’t been completely solved, it has been greatly improved.
Looking at the heel of the shoe you notice a few minor tweaks. There is an extra layer of stitching where the upper meets the rubber logo and the height of the upper around the heel has been extended with an additional curving towards the front of the foot. A side angle shows off the differences even better (Pre-production on the left, retail version on the right):
The reworking of the heel certainly adds more stability to the fit of the SeeYas, but the slippage problem isn’t resolved 100%, particularly when there is side to side movement of the foot and heel. The inherent trade off here for such a light shoe with a stretchy and minimal upper is that you lose much of the structure. The Velcro strap can only do so much to secure the SeeYas to your feet, so your feet end up being able to move around quite a bit. A number of readers have complained of blistering on the top of the foot underneath the strap and one solution I’ve found for this is to simply wear socks. I really like Injinji’s Lightweight lineup which pair well with the SeeYas, giving me the bare minimum of thickness needed to keep blisters at bay while providing great ground feel.
I like to think of the SeeYas in the same way that I would view a pair of racing flats or track spikes. They serve a very specific purpose for me—while they do okay for short stretches on grass or dirt trails, in my opinion SeeYas are best suited for pavement running. These are my “go fast” VFFs and I wear them when hitting the roads for intervals or heading out for a fast paced long run.
One last parting shot. You’ll notice the coloring of the pre-production shoe on the right is more green while the finalized version is dayglow. Good call, Vibram!
Aesthetics
For men, the color options are Black/Dayglow and Light Grey/Blue models. Women’s options include a Light Grey/Orange/Aqua and a Light Grey/Blue model. The dayglow yellow pair reviewed here are quite bright, and would almost be considered garish if they didn’t fit in so well with some of the other flamboyant options Vibram and other minimalist shoes brands have been coming out with lately.
The “teardrop” motif on the heel, sides, top of the foot, top of the toes and along the Velcro strap gives the SeeYa a unique highlighting which sets it apart from the rest of the 2012 lineup. The teardrops on the heel have reflective properties, but probably won’t do much for overall visibility when running at night.
One issue I did notice with extended wear, was a fraying and loosening of the black thread used in the stitching in the darker fabric around the heel. While this hasn’t seemed to affect the fit at all, (and my complaints with the heel were there from the start), the problem appeared after only 50 miles or so. As no other Birthdayshoe.com reviewers have had this problem yet and these were pre-production pairs, it’s hard to say if this is will be a common problem or not. See below for photos of the thread issues:
Conclusion
So what’s the bottom line?
The Seeya is the most minimalist model in the VFF lineup and it definitely fills its own niche where other brands and even other VFFs fall short. The Seeyas are designed for road running and you probably won’t want to do much else in them. They are ultra light weight and flex and move comfortably with your foot. The super thin sole provides great ground transmission and despite some quality issues with the stitching, I have no other complaints in using them for what they were intended.
I come from a biking background and the analogy I’d draw with the SeeYas are to that of a time trial or triathlon bike compared to a standard road or mountain bike. A triathlon bike (with the funny handlebars and tucked rider position) is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible to go as fast as possible with little regard given to handling. A road bike climbs well and is nimble around turns and a mountain bike is heavy duty and designed to stand up to the rigors of off-roading. Likewise, the Seeya will make a great addition to someone’s closet who likes a pair of well worn Bikilas or KSOs for road running but I expect most users will be disappointed if they try to get too far off the pavement with them. Trail running, field sports or even gym work that requires quick side to side foot movement will be too much to ask for the Seeyas.
What do you think? Does the SeeYa have a place in your Vibram line-up? Let’s hear it!
Finally, if you’re a woman, you might like to read Leah’s review of the SeeYa FiveFingers here!
Pricing and Availability
Justin here. The SeeYas were first released on 2/10/2012! They retail for $100 and size similarly to the Bikila though as with all FiveFingers, sizing is pretty unique to each fan. Go with your gut.
If you like online shopping, we recommend ordering the FiveFingers SeeYa from a retailer with a strong track record of standing by customer service and having a solid inventory at reasonable prices. Mind, since the SeeYa is a brand new FiveFingers model, you’re not going to find it anywhere on sale. That said, you shouldn’t have any problem finding it with free shipping.
Here are a couple retailers you might check out first —
TravelCountry — $99.95 — stocked in men’s and women’s in all colorways
CitySports — $99.95 — stocked in men’s and women’s in select colorways
If neither of those have your size and colorway in stock, hop over to the BirthdayShoes Store to find other legit (not fakes!) retailers who might be carrying the SeeYa FiveFingers!
Bonus Photo Gallery!
Justin here (again). Before I passed the dayglow SeeYas over to Tim to do a full testing and review (Tim being more of a running expert than me), I snapped a few photos of them. I’m nowhere near the photographer that Tim is, but I think I got a few interesting photos and figured, hey, why not share them? Of particular note you’ll find images below of the uber-thin arch material (note the indentations that are my fingers pushing on it), the light-passing upper material and low-seam interior photos, the extreme flexibility of the SeeYa as evidenced by a twist, squeeze, and roll-up where I nest a balled up SeeYa inside the other SeeYa ankle opening; and finally, I could actually wear the SeeYas and still put on the VIVO BAREFOOT Ultra. Oh and finally, note the solid toe flexibility as it pertains to dorsiflexing (toes pulled towards shin), toe splay being very good (like a pair of Classics if not better), and poor downward flexibility, which I blame on the lack of a groove in the Vibram rubber where the forefoot joints to the toes (1) matched to the super stretchable upper material of the SeeYa. Enjoy!
I’m am a bicycle advocate by profession and an Ironman triathlete for fun which keeps me healthy and fit. I got into minimalist footwear during the summer of 2009 after dealing with injuries resulting from running in “normal” running shoes. Check out what’s going on in my life through photos at [url=http://www.TimKelley.net]www.TimKelley.net[/url] or follow me on twitter: [url=http://twitter.com/TimKelleyDotNet]@TimKelleyDotNet[/url]. Get to know Tim better via [url=https://birthdayshoes.com/interview-with-tim-kelley]his interview here[/url].
can’t wait to get my hands on these!!! i think i might like the looser heal cup better since i’ve always thought all other 5fingers heal cups are too tight for my taste.
thanks for the review and pictures.
Nice review! What about sizing? Do you have to use the kso size or the bikila size when you buy these? I love my old ksos and maybe these will bring that feeling back. I can wear my ksos every day but the treks and bikilas are only for a few hours or maybe a couple of days in a row.
Well I thought the heel might do that. I wanted them for casual wear but it sounds like I would be fussing with the heel constantly. I wish they would have stuck with a KSO style strap that went around the heel and then strapped to the top of the foot.
Nice review Tim. It sounds like these shoes are very running specific. I wear my VFF all the time and like the Bikila LS since I can wear it loose for every day, then just tighten it a bit for a run. So I guess the See Yas aren’t for me. I have another question though, a bit off topic. I saw that you are a cyclist. Do you wear VFF while biking. I just hate real shoes, but the VFFs I have aren’t really so great on the bike. I was thinking maybe the TrekSports have a ticker stiffer sole. What do you wear?
I like that they smoothed the stitching on the footbed.
I don’t like the garish colors, but I understand it’s because it’s a running model and people need visibility.
I don’t understand the need for Vibram to put their logo on the bottom that large and in that spot on the midfoot. A smaller logo (placed ideally on the arch like the Classic/Flow/Jaya LR) with smaller letters would allow for greater sole flexibility and would be harder to counterfeit. It’s the same principle as money: use logos, holograms, and text small enough so that it can’t be counterfeited.
If I designed a pair I’d try to reduce the weight at the heel-cup by shaving off a few mil thickness where the Vibram logo is. Then I’d shave off a few mils where the Vibram logo is on the side of the forefoot because you shouldn’t be landing on the side of your 5th metatarsal anyway. (In fact, I’d replace the logo on the back with some sort of hologram stitched in and ditch the plastic-looking grey piece for a textile heel cup for less weight and a better fit on the heel.) You really don’t need that beveled surface on either spot and on Trek soles the side of the fifth metatarsal is really stiff because of that.
Also, the weight isn’t competitive enough when the Minimus Zero Trail is similar weight (~4.6oz for men’s US10). This is supposed to be Vibram’s most minimal model and it doesn’t even weigh less than the Jaya LR? (Seeya W38 “is a paltry 3.75 oz” , Jaya LR W38= 3.4oz)
Doing away with unnecessarily large logos and things that aren’t actually for speed would be a start.
I finnished a 50k in Treks earlier this month. I plan to use these for a road marathon in May and a 5k PR later this Summer. Thanks for the review!
Interesting about the heel. I recently wore out the strap on one of my KSOs, so I decided to cut the straps off both of them until I get a new pair. They now fit looser, of course, but they stay on just fine for casual use. If that’s what the Seeyas are like, they may work for me.
I am near full time VFF/barefoot, so the more minimal the shoe the better. Look forward to what others think of the Seeya.
Is there any way I can be notified as soon as these drop? I’d love to get my hands on some as soon as possible. Thanks!
Can anyone recommend a five fingers model for sprinting? Hard sprinting 60m,100m,200m?
@Edgar – The size reviewed here and the size I use for both the Sprint/KSO and Bikilas is 43. Brand new Bikilas seem a little tight until I break them in and like in the review the SeeYa seems a bit loose, but I attribute that in part to the stretchy uppers.
@niki_in_france – I don’t ever do long distances on the bike wearing VFFs. For fitness rides I always use cycling shoes. For shorter rides for errands or social rides I am fine using any VFF really. In fact, when I went to buy my “around town” bike, I wore my most beat up, worn out pair of Sprints to see what the pedal feel would be like. I think getting large, flat pedals for the bike is almost more important than your footwear choice!
Thanks for the review! I have a question about the looseness in the heels. I love my Komodosports, but one disappointment is the way that pebbles and sidewalk debris occasionally end up getting inside the cuff. This doesn’t happen with my KSOs and Treks. Is this likely to happen with the SeeYas?
(yes, this is probably due to my pushing off – but it’s also due to the slackness around the entry hole- am wondering if it’s the same with the SeeYas).
Ok so Im liking the SeeYa’s so far,being lighter and more minamal, but I have been training for my marathon in my Bikila’s, would you recomend that I stay with the Bikila or go for the SeeYa? I know it up to personal preference, but some input would be helpful.
Oooh, I want these for a Half Marathon in March!!!!!!!!! Please let me win!!
: )
@barefeet – I didn’t experience any debris getting into the SeeYas as the cuff around the foot is quite tight. But then again, I’ve never had that problem with Komodos or any other models either.
@Mark – The SeeYas sole feels even more minimal than the Bikila. If you’d like a little more ground transmission you might want to think about moving to the SeeYas, otherwise I’d stick to the Bikilas if the marathon is coming up soon. (There’s the old adage about not trying anything new on race day…)
I agree that the colors are a little loud, but I understand as they are marketed as running shoes and running shoes typicaly are more vibrant. I’d love to try a pair for casual wear and see how they compare to Classics. I often refer to Classics as the flip flop of the VFF world. Maybe these will be even more so, simply becasue they are so light and flexible.
What are the grey shoes in your last two pictures?
i want these!!!
when can we start ordering these vff?
I really want a pair of these, but when I enquired at my local VFF stockist, he told me that barefoot inc. who import VFFs into Australia, will require you to have a “license” to own SeeYa’s, some bullpoo about them not lasting very long or something. Either way I’m not happy 🙁
It’s winter now, but I suspect that black material on the top of the shoe is going to feel pretty hot in the sun in a few months. I think they look great, but running on the road a lot, I find that there is less tree cover/shade and the tops of shoes can get pretty hot as the darker material absorbs the sunlight instead of reflecting it back.
I’ll probably get a pair of these. My bikila ls are breaking down after a year of running. I’ll still use them on and off but not as my primary. I have a new pair of Speeds, but I was surprised to find that I’m not crazy about running in those. Something about the rubber feels ‘hard’ in my speeds. Looks exactly the same as all three pairs of bikilas, but when I’m running it feels like I’m landing on hard plastic, maybe I got a bad batch of rubber in that run. So I’m due for a new pair sooner than I expected.
intresting, i own a pair of komodosport ls and a pair of classics. but i do want this see ya´s for running, since im gonna wear out my komodosports at crossfit, trail n stuff. and WHAT IS THAT “COVER SHOE” ON THE LAST 2 PICS??
btw, i wanna win 1 of the free pairs, lol
When you get the. production model, could you compare how these stay on your feet compared to the Bikila LS? I ask because I find that the LS version of the Bikila slips around on my foot when I corner and especially on steep uphill (it stretches a surprising amount). By contrast, both the standard version of the Bikila and the speed feel like part of my foot.
Adding to what Ted_S said. I’d be curious about how the sizing of this measures up to other models. Ex KSO sizes for me are 44’s, Bikilas 45, Bikila LS 45 also but feel very wide, and Bikila Speeds for me at 45 are almost too small/short.
I’d really like to see Vibram improve their sizing qc stuff. After running in them for more than 3 years, I still don’t feel comfortable ordering online because the size seems to change with almost every pair and my feet measure pretty much the same consistently at 44(unless those rubber feet measuring things are stretching and shrinking in the stores?) 🙂
Adding more to Brett’s observations on sizing, I’ve had similar experiences. Carefully comparing the lengths and widths of the soles, (for a size 44), all three of the styles I have are identical — Bikila, Bikila ls, and Speed. Yet each fits differently. One difference I noticed is that my pair of Bikilas has clear plastic tabs over the tops of the toes. These tabs do not stretch. The Bikikla ls do not have these tabs, and hence the toe pockets can, and do, stretch freely. Also the velcro tab on the regular Bikila doesn’t stretch, whereas the fabric over the instep on the Bikila ls does stretch.
The Speed has a lot of non-stretchy elements in the upper. Because of this, and probably also because of my foot anatomy, (wide forefoot with large bunions), I had to go up a size with the Speed to relieve pressure on the tips of a couple toes. But even in a larger size, the Speed, probably because the upper doesn’t stretch, feels more solid than either version of the Bikila.
Looks like these are up at the Vibram site!
Only available at authorized retailers for the time being though… bummer. But it looks like you can preorder the Black/Dayglo at RoadRunnerSports.com. No sign of the Blue/Grey colorway though. Decisions, decisions.
also, i am excited about these and the spideron. look like good replacements for my bikilas and treksports.
cheers,
-J
i have webbed toes. I’ve seen the four fingers post on here, would these be easier than the kso’s to operate on?
that’s a bit less than half the thickness of the bikila? i think my altra adams are 2mm and it’s a big difference from my vibrams (which i love love love).
i guess i will have to try them out but don’t see myself going down in thickness from the bikila.
Interesting comment about the Seeya’s flexibility as compared to worn-in Bikila’s. Only after ~200 or so miles and a couple of trips through the washer, did my Bikila LS’s gain the flexibility I could appreciate. I will purchase a pair of Seeya’s, although I am running happily in my Bikila’s.
I got my SeeYas in the mail and took them for a 3 mile treadmill run. I decided on the treadmill first time out so I could pay attention to the shoes, and not the environment.
1. It’s only about an ounce, but these are noticably lighter than my Bikilahs.
2. My Bikilahs fit like a glove, and while the SeeYas fit just as well, the super flexy upper I can feel shifting on my skin as my foot goes through the range of motion.
3. There is some top of foot rubbing. Afterwards I found it to be where the reinforced section that the velcro strap goes through to be the culprit. My guess is that the upper flexes, that spot doesn’t and you sense it as rubbing. It is smooth in there against the skin, so I don’t think it will blister, more of a “training issue”. I need to train myself to ignore it.
Overall, after this brief exposure, I really really like them. Once I get used to their differences fom my Bikilahs, I am sure I won’t even notice them. And I like the yellow/black!
been running for a week in these Seeya and even one time bootcamping in them, all i got to say is that this is the best 5fingers to date!!! it feels like you’re wearing nothing.
I’ve had these for about a week and done several short ~2-5km runs in them. Yesterday i did a longer 12 km run and now have a massive blister on the on the side of my left foot where the velcro strap connects on the shoe – at the seam of the fluro and black fabrics.
I’ve never had a blister with the Speeds.
I love the weight and design of the Seeya’s and want to love them, but they are no good to me if they do this!
Going to experiment with tightness of the velcro and pull out the band-aids.
Ran 14.5kms in ‘Run for the Kids’ Melbourne yesterday. After 7 kms the band-aid came off and the See-ya’s tore open the previous almost healed blister and continued to rub really badly. So off came the shoes and I ran the second half of the race even faster than the first!
So utterly disappointed in the See-ya’s. I absolutely love my Speeds and my Trek LS’s, but the Seeyas elastic top allows too much movement over skin and totally unusable as a running shoe for me. 🙁
bottom line, do you recommend the shoe for just walking around in and working out in, or would you recommend the bikila’s instead?
@Jfred. I would recommend it for running errands and such around town. Your heel can feel like it is sliding around if you do allot of lateral movements. For that reason it is not good in the gym for cross training. It is fine for street running, walking, and general milling about town.
I saw these in the store and loved the look and how little they weighed. Aftera few runs in them i have noticed a blister on my left foot near the top of my arch. Some stitching or somethingis rubbing it. I am hoping i can modify it somehow. They do seem a bit looser feeling than my bikillas but i am not sure downsizing would be better. A bummer so far.
disappointed. i’ve had one (black/day glow) for a weeks use, and the green fabric on the inside near the base of my big toe, tore off where it is stitched along the polyester stretch mesh. i run daily approximately 5 miles and i couldn’t believe it would break this easily
Ok.. here’s my 2 cents: just got the Seeya’s this week to put in rotation next to my Bikila LS.
day 1: short 5k run in them – the heel does seem kinda loose, but despite some initial worries it won’t slip off.
Howeverrrr.. on day 2 i ran a half marathon in them (new PR! yay!!) and the stitching inside the heel on top unfortunately gave me blisters on the back of my heels.
day 3: another short 5k run with partially healed blisters. About half way through i felt the Seeya’s chaving again and i stumbled on a quick easy fix (at least for me): by folding the top of the heel inside a bit the chaving stops and the heel feels a tad less loose. I kinda thought it would unfold back up after a few steps, but surprisingly stayed in position.
All in all i think me and my Seeya’s have come to an agreement. Apart from the heel it’s a nice light snug ‘shoe’. Also, the Velcro-strap doesn’t add much, but it does come in handy for securing a MYLAPS championchip. If Vibram fixes the heel and maybe a laced version i think it’d be perfect.
I absolutely loved this shoe until I went for a 8 mi run and had massive blisters in my instep of both feet where the strap meets the sole. I had them for less than a week and the seem had already started to tear. I’m going to return them and try out the bikilas instead. If they ever fix the seam problem I would love to get another pair.
Have it for the 2nd day, ran approx 12 km on them. back of the feet developed blisters due to friction, i suppose it will heal & become immune at no time, or else wear a pair of sock to reduce the risk. overall the shoe is very light, great ground feedback plus all the foot protection one need for safe barefoot running / walking. not suitable for cross training since it does have tendency to roll sideways, though not frequent. great for fast cadence / stride, good grip over tarmac / pavement event if it’s wet. I love the Seeya.
Just picked these up because in my day job — which requires lots of walking on concrete in sweltering heat — I can’t keep my Komodos from reeking. I run very happily in Bikilas and don’t wish to press my luck with the blister issues everyone is discussing above… but for an everyday shoe, the SeeYa is like putting air conditioners on my feet. So. Happy.
So as a day to day shoe(eg. Sitting in a classroom, playing a goof off game of baseball, mabey some track work,etc.) how would the SeeYas hold up? Cause im intrigued about the new upper and sole, just worried about the heel… Any help please?
I’m falling in love with the Seeya’s, my first pair of five fingers, but wondering how they will do in colder weather. I’ve been considering buying a larger pair (43 vs the 42 I wear barefoot) to use with Injini’s for the winter. Alternatively I could pick up a pair of Bikila’s for half the price, either in a 42 or 43 to wear with or without Injini for cold weather. I am concerned that the Bikila with toe socks would just mute the great ground feel I love with the Seeya. Does anyone have any experience running with the Seeya/Bikila in cold weather with or without socks? Even on the coldest days here in NC, it rarely gets under freezing, so perhaps my cold feet concerns are unfounded.
Sam, unless you have poor circulation, I wouldn’t worry about running in the cold. I have run sockless in Bikilahs to well below freezing here in upstate NY. I have been down to the low 20’s and as long as you avoid the wet on those days I have never had a problem, feet were never more than cool.
Hey. I have been running barefoot, skin to road, for about 6 months now. Love it. Best feeling. However when I go on longer runs +8 miles my feet sometimes become bloodied and bruised. Im looking at a pair of vibrams for these longer runs. What do people TRUELY recommend, the Bikala’s or the SEEYAS?
@GT – Bottom line for me is SeeYas for road/track running and Bikilas if there is going to be a mix of asphalt and dirt/gravel. If it’s purely dirt/gravel then I’d look at Spyridons or something with a Trek sole.
I recently picked up a pair of speeds, yesterday actually. I’m at work right now on my phone for this review and already I love them. I’d spent the last year in KSO, wearing speeds occasionally. my KSO were my main pair, not the case now, the seeya are so unbelievablely comfortable. the biggest differences I notice are the ground feel and the upper material. the seeyas just feel so minimal I love it, the lower cut allows them to move more with my foot and breathes better. I wear my vibrams mostly for work and drumming, these are so light I definitely don’t mind making them the new favorites. it’s getting too cold to run here but the feeling of the sprints I did felt great, the seeyas are pretty awesome.
I’ve had the Seeyas since October 2012, and I’ve grown to love them. I wear a women’s size 40 because the men’s don’t run small enough for me. On my first run out with them last October I developed terrible open blisters on both feet where the strap attaches to the shoe. These took a month to heal and I still have scars there!! However, after that I simply wore a pair of the thinnest injinji socks and the problem is no more. Yes, you lose some ground feel, but only a tiny amount. The socks also prevent stinking so that’s a bonus. I love the light weight and flexibility of the upper and the sole, and I love the fact that after washing they dry so fast – much, much faster than my KSOs. I find them suitable for ALL terrains, but then maybe I’ve had a couple of years for my feet to toughen up. Grip on soft, wet ground isn’t good at all, and sharp cornering at high speed can be tricky too. On dry ground and normal turns the grip is excellent. Also, I find the greater the ground-feel the more you grip in a natural way without relying on an aggressive rubber tread. They have developed a tear along the whole side length of one of the toe pockets but this hasn’t impaired their functionality and I really have used them on all terrains and in all conditions. Also, I have a problem with a lump of dried glue in one of the toe pockets in one shoe only, which may explain the tear because it displaces my toe. This glue is seemingly to connect the sole to the upper and seems to be a manufacturing fault rather than a design fault – probably too late to return them now after 7 months of use!!! Overall, a great all round shoe – lightweight, flexible, plenty of flexibility for the feet to spread, easy to wash and dry, able to cope with most terrains but be careful in wet mud and during high-speed cornering. And if you get blisters just put the thinnest injinji socks on.
Has Vibram changed the SeeYa? I recently bought the 2013 model and are a little disapointed with the sole. It’s definitely thicker than that of my KSOs (almost damping). Also the sole is inflexible,i can hardly bent my toes down.
50 replies on “SeeYa Vibram FiveFingers Review”
1st!!!!
can’t wait to get my hands on these!!! i think i might like the looser heal cup better since i’ve always thought all other 5fingers heal cups are too tight for my taste.
thanks for the review and pictures.
Nice review! What about sizing? Do you have to use the kso size or the bikila size when you buy these? I love my old ksos and maybe these will bring that feeling back. I can wear my ksos every day but the treks and bikilas are only for a few hours or maybe a couple of days in a row.
Well I thought the heel might do that. I wanted them for casual wear but it sounds like I would be fussing with the heel constantly. I wish they would have stuck with a KSO style strap that went around the heel and then strapped to the top of the foot.
Nice review Tim. It sounds like these shoes are very running specific. I wear my VFF all the time and like the Bikila LS since I can wear it loose for every day, then just tighten it a bit for a run. So I guess the See Yas aren’t for me. I have another question though, a bit off topic. I saw that you are a cyclist. Do you wear VFF while biking. I just hate real shoes, but the VFFs I have aren’t really so great on the bike. I was thinking maybe the TrekSports have a ticker stiffer sole. What do you wear?
I like that they smoothed the stitching on the footbed.
I don’t like the garish colors, but I understand it’s because it’s a running model and people need visibility.
I don’t understand the need for Vibram to put their logo on the bottom that large and in that spot on the midfoot. A smaller logo (placed ideally on the arch like the Classic/Flow/Jaya LR) with smaller letters would allow for greater sole flexibility and would be harder to counterfeit. It’s the same principle as money: use logos, holograms, and text small enough so that it can’t be counterfeited.
If I designed a pair I’d try to reduce the weight at the heel-cup by shaving off a few mil thickness where the Vibram logo is. Then I’d shave off a few mils where the Vibram logo is on the side of the forefoot because you shouldn’t be landing on the side of your 5th metatarsal anyway. (In fact, I’d replace the logo on the back with some sort of hologram stitched in and ditch the plastic-looking grey piece for a textile heel cup for less weight and a better fit on the heel.) You really don’t need that beveled surface on either spot and on Trek soles the side of the fifth metatarsal is really stiff because of that.
Also, the weight isn’t competitive enough when the Minimus Zero Trail is similar weight (~4.6oz for men’s US10). This is supposed to be Vibram’s most minimal model and it doesn’t even weigh less than the Jaya LR? (Seeya W38 “is a paltry 3.75 oz” , Jaya LR W38= 3.4oz)
Doing away with unnecessarily large logos and things that aren’t actually for speed would be a start.
I finnished a 50k in Treks earlier this month. I plan to use these for a road marathon in May and a 5k PR later this Summer. Thanks for the review!
Interesting about the heel. I recently wore out the strap on one of my KSOs, so I decided to cut the straps off both of them until I get a new pair. They now fit looser, of course, but they stay on just fine for casual use. If that’s what the Seeyas are like, they may work for me.
I am near full time VFF/barefoot, so the more minimal the shoe the better. Look forward to what others think of the Seeya.
Is there any way I can be notified as soon as these drop? I’d love to get my hands on some as soon as possible. Thanks!
Can anyone recommend a five fingers model for sprinting? Hard sprinting 60m,100m,200m?
@Edgar – The size reviewed here and the size I use for both the Sprint/KSO and Bikilas is 43. Brand new Bikilas seem a little tight until I break them in and like in the review the SeeYa seems a bit loose, but I attribute that in part to the stretchy uppers.
@niki_in_france – I don’t ever do long distances on the bike wearing VFFs. For fitness rides I always use cycling shoes. For shorter rides for errands or social rides I am fine using any VFF really. In fact, when I went to buy my “around town” bike, I wore my most beat up, worn out pair of Sprints to see what the pedal feel would be like. I think getting large, flat pedals for the bike is almost more important than your footwear choice!
Thanks for the review! I have a question about the looseness in the heels. I love my Komodosports, but one disappointment is the way that pebbles and sidewalk debris occasionally end up getting inside the cuff. This doesn’t happen with my KSOs and Treks. Is this likely to happen with the SeeYas?
(yes, this is probably due to my pushing off – but it’s also due to the slackness around the entry hole- am wondering if it’s the same with the SeeYas).
Ok so Im liking the SeeYa’s so far,being lighter and more minamal, but I have been training for my marathon in my Bikila’s, would you recomend that I stay with the Bikila or go for the SeeYa? I know it up to personal preference, but some input would be helpful.
Oooh, I want these for a Half Marathon in March!!!!!!!!! Please let me win!!
: )
@barefeet – I didn’t experience any debris getting into the SeeYas as the cuff around the foot is quite tight. But then again, I’ve never had that problem with Komodos or any other models either.
@Mark – The SeeYas sole feels even more minimal than the Bikila. If you’d like a little more ground transmission you might want to think about moving to the SeeYas, otherwise I’d stick to the Bikilas if the marathon is coming up soon. (There’s the old adage about not trying anything new on race day…)
I agree that the colors are a little loud, but I understand as they are marketed as running shoes and running shoes typicaly are more vibrant. I’d love to try a pair for casual wear and see how they compare to Classics. I often refer to Classics as the flip flop of the VFF world. Maybe these will be even more so, simply becasue they are so light and flexible.
What are the grey shoes in your last two pictures?
i want these!!!
when can we start ordering these vff?
I really want a pair of these, but when I enquired at my local VFF stockist, he told me that barefoot inc. who import VFFs into Australia, will require you to have a “license” to own SeeYa’s, some bullpoo about them not lasting very long or something. Either way I’m not happy 🙁
It’s winter now, but I suspect that black material on the top of the shoe is going to feel pretty hot in the sun in a few months. I think they look great, but running on the road a lot, I find that there is less tree cover/shade and the tops of shoes can get pretty hot as the darker material absorbs the sunlight instead of reflecting it back.
I’ll probably get a pair of these. My bikila ls are breaking down after a year of running. I’ll still use them on and off but not as my primary. I have a new pair of Speeds, but I was surprised to find that I’m not crazy about running in those. Something about the rubber feels ‘hard’ in my speeds. Looks exactly the same as all three pairs of bikilas, but when I’m running it feels like I’m landing on hard plastic, maybe I got a bad batch of rubber in that run. So I’m due for a new pair sooner than I expected.
intresting, i own a pair of komodosport ls and a pair of classics. but i do want this see ya´s for running, since im gonna wear out my komodosports at crossfit, trail n stuff. and WHAT IS THAT “COVER SHOE” ON THE LAST 2 PICS??
btw, i wanna win 1 of the free pairs, lol
When you get the. production model, could you compare how these stay on your feet compared to the Bikila LS? I ask because I find that the LS version of the Bikila slips around on my foot when I corner and especially on steep uphill (it stretches a surprising amount). By contrast, both the standard version of the Bikila and the speed feel like part of my foot.
Adding to what Ted_S said. I’d be curious about how the sizing of this measures up to other models. Ex KSO sizes for me are 44’s, Bikilas 45, Bikila LS 45 also but feel very wide, and Bikila Speeds for me at 45 are almost too small/short.
I’d really like to see Vibram improve their sizing qc stuff. After running in them for more than 3 years, I still don’t feel comfortable ordering online because the size seems to change with almost every pair and my feet measure pretty much the same consistently at 44(unless those rubber feet measuring things are stretching and shrinking in the stores?) 🙂
Adding more to Brett’s observations on sizing, I’ve had similar experiences. Carefully comparing the lengths and widths of the soles, (for a size 44), all three of the styles I have are identical — Bikila, Bikila ls, and Speed. Yet each fits differently. One difference I noticed is that my pair of Bikilas has clear plastic tabs over the tops of the toes. These tabs do not stretch. The Bikikla ls do not have these tabs, and hence the toe pockets can, and do, stretch freely. Also the velcro tab on the regular Bikila doesn’t stretch, whereas the fabric over the instep on the Bikila ls does stretch.
The Speed has a lot of non-stretchy elements in the upper. Because of this, and probably also because of my foot anatomy, (wide forefoot with large bunions), I had to go up a size with the Speed to relieve pressure on the tips of a couple toes. But even in a larger size, the Speed, probably because the upper doesn’t stretch, feels more solid than either version of the Bikila.
Looks like these are up at the Vibram site!
Only available at authorized retailers for the time being though… bummer. But it looks like you can preorder the Black/Dayglo at RoadRunnerSports.com. No sign of the Blue/Grey colorway though. Decisions, decisions.
I am too lazy to see if anyone replied to those asking about the “covers” in the last pictures. but they are vivobarefoot shoes
http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/mens/ultra-mens-27.html
also, i am excited about these and the spideron. look like good replacements for my bikilas and treksports.
cheers,
-J
i have webbed toes. I’ve seen the four fingers post on here, would these be easier than the kso’s to operate on?
that’s a bit less than half the thickness of the bikila? i think my altra adams are 2mm and it’s a big difference from my vibrams (which i love love love).
i guess i will have to try them out but don’t see myself going down in thickness from the bikila.
Interesting comment about the Seeya’s flexibility as compared to worn-in Bikila’s. Only after ~200 or so miles and a couple of trips through the washer, did my Bikila LS’s gain the flexibility I could appreciate. I will purchase a pair of Seeya’s, although I am running happily in my Bikila’s.
I got my SeeYas in the mail and took them for a 3 mile treadmill run. I decided on the treadmill first time out so I could pay attention to the shoes, and not the environment.
1. It’s only about an ounce, but these are noticably lighter than my Bikilahs.
2. My Bikilahs fit like a glove, and while the SeeYas fit just as well, the super flexy upper I can feel shifting on my skin as my foot goes through the range of motion.
3. There is some top of foot rubbing. Afterwards I found it to be where the reinforced section that the velcro strap goes through to be the culprit. My guess is that the upper flexes, that spot doesn’t and you sense it as rubbing. It is smooth in there against the skin, so I don’t think it will blister, more of a “training issue”. I need to train myself to ignore it.
Overall, after this brief exposure, I really really like them. Once I get used to their differences fom my Bikilahs, I am sure I won’t even notice them. And I like the yellow/black!
been running for a week in these Seeya and even one time bootcamping in them, all i got to say is that this is the best 5fingers to date!!! it feels like you’re wearing nothing.
I’ve had these for about a week and done several short ~2-5km runs in them. Yesterday i did a longer 12 km run and now have a massive blister on the on the side of my left foot where the velcro strap connects on the shoe – at the seam of the fluro and black fabrics.
I’ve never had a blister with the Speeds.
I love the weight and design of the Seeya’s and want to love them, but they are no good to me if they do this!
Going to experiment with tightness of the velcro and pull out the band-aids.
Ran 14.5kms in ‘Run for the Kids’ Melbourne yesterday. After 7 kms the band-aid came off and the See-ya’s tore open the previous almost healed blister and continued to rub really badly. So off came the shoes and I ran the second half of the race even faster than the first!
So utterly disappointed in the See-ya’s. I absolutely love my Speeds and my Trek LS’s, but the Seeyas elastic top allows too much movement over skin and totally unusable as a running shoe for me. 🙁
bottom line, do you recommend the shoe for just walking around in and working out in, or would you recommend the bikila’s instead?
@Jfred. I would recommend it for running errands and such around town. Your heel can feel like it is sliding around if you do allot of lateral movements. For that reason it is not good in the gym for cross training. It is fine for street running, walking, and general milling about town.
I saw these in the store and loved the look and how little they weighed. Aftera few runs in them i have noticed a blister on my left foot near the top of my arch. Some stitching or somethingis rubbing it. I am hoping i can modify it somehow. They do seem a bit looser feeling than my bikillas but i am not sure downsizing would be better. A bummer so far.
disappointed. i’ve had one (black/day glow) for a weeks use, and the green fabric on the inside near the base of my big toe, tore off where it is stitched along the polyester stretch mesh. i run daily approximately 5 miles and i couldn’t believe it would break this easily
Ok.. here’s my 2 cents: just got the Seeya’s this week to put in rotation next to my Bikila LS.
day 1: short 5k run in them – the heel does seem kinda loose, but despite some initial worries it won’t slip off.
Howeverrrr.. on day 2 i ran a half marathon in them (new PR! yay!!) and the stitching inside the heel on top unfortunately gave me blisters on the back of my heels.
day 3: another short 5k run with partially healed blisters. About half way through i felt the Seeya’s chaving again and i stumbled on a quick easy fix (at least for me): by folding the top of the heel inside a bit the chaving stops and the heel feels a tad less loose. I kinda thought it would unfold back up after a few steps, but surprisingly stayed in position.
All in all i think me and my Seeya’s have come to an agreement. Apart from the heel it’s a nice light snug ‘shoe’. Also, the Velcro-strap doesn’t add much, but it does come in handy for securing a MYLAPS championchip. If Vibram fixes the heel and maybe a laced version i think it’d be perfect.
I absolutely loved this shoe until I went for a 8 mi run and had massive blisters in my instep of both feet where the strap meets the sole. I had them for less than a week and the seem had already started to tear. I’m going to return them and try out the bikilas instead. If they ever fix the seam problem I would love to get another pair.
Have it for the 2nd day, ran approx 12 km on them. back of the feet developed blisters due to friction, i suppose it will heal & become immune at no time, or else wear a pair of sock to reduce the risk. overall the shoe is very light, great ground feedback plus all the foot protection one need for safe barefoot running / walking. not suitable for cross training since it does have tendency to roll sideways, though not frequent. great for fast cadence / stride, good grip over tarmac / pavement event if it’s wet. I love the Seeya.
Just picked these up because in my day job — which requires lots of walking on concrete in sweltering heat — I can’t keep my Komodos from reeking. I run very happily in Bikilas and don’t wish to press my luck with the blister issues everyone is discussing above… but for an everyday shoe, the SeeYa is like putting air conditioners on my feet. So. Happy.
So as a day to day shoe(eg. Sitting in a classroom, playing a goof off game of baseball, mabey some track work,etc.) how would the SeeYas hold up? Cause im intrigued about the new upper and sole, just worried about the heel… Any help please?
I’m falling in love with the Seeya’s, my first pair of five fingers, but wondering how they will do in colder weather. I’ve been considering buying a larger pair (43 vs the 42 I wear barefoot) to use with Injini’s for the winter. Alternatively I could pick up a pair of Bikila’s for half the price, either in a 42 or 43 to wear with or without Injini for cold weather. I am concerned that the Bikila with toe socks would just mute the great ground feel I love with the Seeya. Does anyone have any experience running with the Seeya/Bikila in cold weather with or without socks? Even on the coldest days here in NC, it rarely gets under freezing, so perhaps my cold feet concerns are unfounded.
Sam, unless you have poor circulation, I wouldn’t worry about running in the cold. I have run sockless in Bikilahs to well below freezing here in upstate NY. I have been down to the low 20’s and as long as you avoid the wet on those days I have never had a problem, feet were never more than cool.
Hey. I have been running barefoot, skin to road, for about 6 months now. Love it. Best feeling. However when I go on longer runs +8 miles my feet sometimes become bloodied and bruised. Im looking at a pair of vibrams for these longer runs. What do people TRUELY recommend, the Bikala’s or the SEEYAS?
@GT – Bottom line for me is SeeYas for road/track running and Bikilas if there is going to be a mix of asphalt and dirt/gravel. If it’s purely dirt/gravel then I’d look at Spyridons or something with a Trek sole.
I recently picked up a pair of speeds, yesterday actually. I’m at work right now on my phone for this review and already I love them. I’d spent the last year in KSO, wearing speeds occasionally. my KSO were my main pair, not the case now, the seeya are so unbelievablely comfortable. the biggest differences I notice are the ground feel and the upper material. the seeyas just feel so minimal I love it, the lower cut allows them to move more with my foot and breathes better. I wear my vibrams mostly for work and drumming, these are so light I definitely don’t mind making them the new favorites. it’s getting too cold to run here but the feeling of the sprints I did felt great, the seeyas are pretty awesome.
I’ve had the Seeyas since October 2012, and I’ve grown to love them. I wear a women’s size 40 because the men’s don’t run small enough for me. On my first run out with them last October I developed terrible open blisters on both feet where the strap attaches to the shoe. These took a month to heal and I still have scars there!! However, after that I simply wore a pair of the thinnest injinji socks and the problem is no more. Yes, you lose some ground feel, but only a tiny amount. The socks also prevent stinking so that’s a bonus. I love the light weight and flexibility of the upper and the sole, and I love the fact that after washing they dry so fast – much, much faster than my KSOs. I find them suitable for ALL terrains, but then maybe I’ve had a couple of years for my feet to toughen up. Grip on soft, wet ground isn’t good at all, and sharp cornering at high speed can be tricky too. On dry ground and normal turns the grip is excellent. Also, I find the greater the ground-feel the more you grip in a natural way without relying on an aggressive rubber tread. They have developed a tear along the whole side length of one of the toe pockets but this hasn’t impaired their functionality and I really have used them on all terrains and in all conditions. Also, I have a problem with a lump of dried glue in one of the toe pockets in one shoe only, which may explain the tear because it displaces my toe. This glue is seemingly to connect the sole to the upper and seems to be a manufacturing fault rather than a design fault – probably too late to return them now after 7 months of use!!! Overall, a great all round shoe – lightweight, flexible, plenty of flexibility for the feet to spread, easy to wash and dry, able to cope with most terrains but be careful in wet mud and during high-speed cornering. And if you get blisters just put the thinnest injinji socks on.
Has Vibram changed the SeeYa? I recently bought the 2013 model and are a little disapointed with the sole. It’s definitely thicker than that of my KSOs (almost damping). Also the sole is inflexible,i can hardly bent my toes down.