It’s been six long months since we first saw the Vibram Five Fingers Trek Sport — and the blue and grey Vibram Five Fingers Bikila showcased at the winter Outdoor Retailer — at last they are here. Yep, it’s time to pick up “just one more” pa…
Tag: Vibram Five Fingers Bikila [Barefoot] Running Shoe
The Vibram Five Fingers Bikila (released April 2010) is the first toe shoe designed specifically for running (Jump to posts on the Bikila below!). Like other Vibram Five Fingers models, the Bikila has five separated toe compartments that allow the foot to splay on contact with the ground.
The Five Fingers Bikila has no arch support and a minimal amount of cushioning or padding — it is slightly thicker than the Classic and Sprint which have zero insole, and the KSO, which has a 2mm insole: the Bikila has a 3mm insole. In the minimalist running shoe world, the Bikila is the “barefoot” running shoe to beat and if you’re looking for a pair of VFFs to run in, the Bikila is worth serious consideration.
Model specifics
Here are the technical specifications of the Vibram Five Fingers Bikila straight from Vibram:
Built on an entirely new platform, the Bikila features a Dri-Lex® covered 3mm polyurethane insole (thickest under the ball) and a 4mm anatomical pod outsole design that offers more plating protection, and distributes forefoot impact without compromising important ground feedback essential to a proper forefoot strike running form. A more athletic padded collar and topline, a single hook and loop closure, 3M reflective surfaces, and tear resistant TPU toe protection finish off this breakthrough design.
The standout features of the Bikila include:
The heel cup, which makes your heel feel less bound and takes pressure off your Achilles tendon.
The interior is lined and has fewer blister-causing seams (As compared specifically to the KSO).
The Bikila has a more shoe-like look with a larger opening at the top and overall more “nice” looking materials including reflective material and a solid feeling strap material.
Sizing and fit
If you’ve never sized your foot for wearing Vibram Five Fingers, here is the Vibram sizing chart (image). The Bikila seems to fit somewhere between the same size of KSO and Classic. So a 43 Bikila would feel slightly larger than a 43 Classic and slightly smaller than a 43 KSO. Generally, it is better to size up if you’re in between sizes — you don’t want your toes bending out of lack of room! Also, the Bikila can fit more snugly over the top of your foot compared to open-topped models like the Classic or Sprint, so if you have particularly high arches or “high feet” the Bikila may not fit properly.
Read (and see!) more about the Five Fingers Bikila via these reviews:
The Vibram Five Fingers Bikila Initial Review
Women’s Vibram Five Fingers Bikila review
Why I Chose $99 Red Bikilas over a $1,000,000 Red Ferrari to Solve my Mid Life Crisis.
Vibram Five Fingers Smackdown, Classics vs. Bikilas
Okay, I want some Bikilas. How much are they? Where can I get them?
The Bikila retails for right about $100 and can typically be purchased with free shipping from most online retailers. Find the Vibram Five Fingers Bikila in stock via the Store or subscribe by email to inventory alerts.
Looking for something else? Try one of these other Vibram Five Fingers models:
Of course, there are other barefoot shoes worth checking out!
More Vibram Five Fingers Bikila posts below —
Me running in red/grey Vibram Five Finger Bikilas. (All photos by Kent)The Birth of birthday shoesOver a year ago, when Justin mentioned to me that he was starting a blog about Vibram Five Fingers and minimalist footwear, I thought it was interesti…
Mike is a lucky guy to have a hip father-in-law who encouraged him to try running in Vibram Five Fingers. He shared his story with us:I started running this spring due to my Father in Law’s influence and it’s been a great experience. He introduced me…
BirthdayShoes.com is pleased to introduce a TheShoeMart.com as new site sponsor and simultaneously give you a preview of the new Vibram Five Fingers 2010 fall line-up which will soon be available there. You can be confident you are getting the real thing…
Tripp, from Austin, was previously seen here on BirthdayShoes when he first got his Vibram Five Fingers Classics, then later when he ran a 5k in them. Recently, Tripp purchased a pair of Bikilas from City Sports and sent us a nice comparison to his…
I’ve just been notified that a new color of the Bikila Vibram Five Fingers running shoe has been released — for women. The above blue (teal?) and grey Vibram Five Fingers Bikila is now “out” and available for purchase from CitySports! Though…
Becky, a Vibram Five Fingers fan, is no slacker, but she recently ran in the Slacker Half Marathon in her new Bikilas. Becky told us about the race:My Bikilas went the distance with me yesterday in Colorado’s Slacker Half Marathon, and I couldn’t…
Lindsey started out as a skeptic, but like so many of us, ended up with a closet full of Vibram Five Fingers. Now she not only runs in them, but wears them everywhere. Here is her story:I first heard about VFFs in the fall of 2009, and while I was…
The World’s First Ever Five Fingers 5k, sponsored by Mahoney’s was held this past weekend in Johnson City, TN. It was open to all runners, regardless of footwear. However, the winner was wearing fivefingers and finished the race in 17:33. Vibram Five Fin…
Photos and a video unboxing of the new Vibram Five Fingers Bikila in the Sky Blue, Yellow and Grey style. The Bikila is the new barefoot running shoe by Vibram designed specifically for runners. It is a new contender in the minimalist running scene!