Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek Unboxed [First Look!]

Be sure and check out the Five Fingers KSO Trek review!

The review covers the KSO Trek's design (sole attributes and thickness), aesthetic, performance, fit, and more.  You can read it by going here.

Updated 9/10/09: See added photos below!

The fivefingers fairy surprised me today with a sneak peak at the brand new Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek barefoot trail shoes!  Here is my unboxing and first look:

Apologies for any video clunkiness (as in, the little section where you can't see my KSO Trek-clad feet and the abrupt ending).  16:9 HD video plus wanting to get this to you guys as soon as possible meant taking the video as it was!

Photos of the Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek

First impressions

The kangaroo leather is smooth and buttery and looks so fancy I hardly want to get them dirty (though I must!).  The leather is quite thin but feels strong.  As for breathable-ness, after having worn them for a short walk here in Atlanta (Around 80 degrees Fahrenheit), my feet feel cool and dry.  My toes feel very nice and cool, in particular.  The sole of my foot against the smooth leather inner is particularly nice.

For a slew of information about the leather used in the KSO Trek, check this info-page from PackerLeather on their K-100 high performance leather.  In brief, and there's a tag that came with the KSO Treks that talk about this, the K-100 kangaroo leather is billed as providing extreme strength, perspiration resistance, high water vapour permeability, high color fastness, and has an "microblok" anti-microbial treatment.  Regarding water resistance, tag notes that the K-100 "leather dries faster" and has only 28% water uptake after 60 minutes (as compared to 235% water uptake for "non water resistant leather").

Aside from the use of leather, the Trek also employs the standard, thin synthetic material to line the sides (not the top) of the Trek, which I imagine reinforces the leather somewhat at the ankle.  Additionally, as some had asked, the sides of each toe slot are the synthetic material.

The aggressively lugged KSO Trek sole maintains flexibility while still looking sufficiently "beefy."  One open concern among VFFers regarding the Trek revolved around the added thickness and aggressiveness of the Trek's tread—would it impeded the minimalist design of VFFs? The proof will be in the pudding—that is, extensive field-testing by you guys—based on an initial inspection, the Trek is very flexible, similar to what you already expect across the fivefingers line.  Toes can still easily bend, particularly upwards, which is pivotal for functionality.  This is even as the toes employ a thick-ridged design.

As for the addition of EVA, on light use if I didn't know it was there, I would assume it wasn't.  In other words, I don't notice the EVA.  I still feel the variations in the ground outside.  Interestingly, what I don't feel through the sole is the variations of the Trek tread, itself.  I've no idea how they pulled off this feat of VFF design, but it works.

Like the tread, the effect of the EVA will be made clear on additional use.  Of course, Barefoot Ted has sung the praise of both the EVA and the tread, so there is that.

Overall, my initial impression is that the ">KSO Trek will make a strong addition to the Vibram fivefingers line-up as a rugged barefoot alternative for trail running or hiking!  And I can't wait to take them out for a spin in a nearby natural park!  Even still, dressed in silky smooth kangaroo leather, they are the fanciest looking VFFs yet, so no doubt plenty of people will want to use them for dressier occasions.

You can read my full review of the KSO Trek here.

As for availability, I can only surmise that receiving this today means that these are going to be out and available very soon — maybe within a week?  Stay tuned!

Update: the KSO Trek is available now!  You can find a KSO Trek retailer online here.