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Vibram FiveFingers SeeYa First Look
The Vibram FiveFinger Seeya is one of the new models in the Spring 2012 lineup. Aimed at the running/fitness community, the Seeya is one of the lightest models yet with weight savings coming from a unique sole that only has rubber on the
The Vibram FiveFinger SeeYa is one of the new models in the Spring 2012 lineup. Aimed at the running/fitness community, the Seeya is one of the lightest models yet with weight savings coming from a unique sole that only has rubber on the forefoot and the heel.
Video and photos after the jump!
The FiveFingers SeeYa has the same 3mm polyurethane insole and antimicrobial dri-lex sockliner as the Bikila, but includes a new super breathable polyester mesh upper. The upper has less structure than the Bikila, especially around the ankle and heel cup to give even more of a barefoot feel.
The SeeYas are very promising and we’ll be back in a couple weeks with a more indepth review of how they perform on the asphalt. See below for more pictures and a first look video.
So there you have it — a first look at the Vibram FiveFingers SeeYa coming in Spring 2012. What do you think?
45 replies on “Vibram FiveFingers SeeYa First Look”
I think I will need a pair! Love the look and they just reek of comfort. Will be looking forward to your review.
More stupid colours…
I hope Vibram prices these lower than their most recently released models. I love to see a price around $65 – $85. I might be dreaming, but you can’t blame a guy for trying.
This makes my day. They appear to be everything I hoped for. They will be my “go to” shoe for any race on pavement. I’m looking forward to updates on the Spyridon for trail races.
I am super excited about these! I have shelved my bikilas because of the suffocating feeling they give my feet. This looks like the answer.
When will Vibram start making more conservative colorways? This reptile skin look is horrendous! They should make all black versions of all their models for those who want simpler designs.
@Jeepman: prices in EU are scheduled to be between Bikila and Komodo:
Less is more 🙁
I think the shoe looks awesome. Hope they release the gray/blue colors.
I always like the Lime and Black colorway. I have some pair that are conservative and plain looking. I have other pairs that are colorful and bold. It just depends on my mood which one I wear. These look so comfortable and minimal that I might consider wearing them around town and not just for running. This is the only model I don’t think the laced version would be better of the strap version… so I don’t mind there not being a LS model. I think laces would add to much bulk to the shoe. Can’t wait to get my hands on these!
Oh joy, another pair I’ll just have to get… WHY????
Now if I only lived somewhere other than the Great NorthWET, I’d be able to wear them more.
Horrible color concept. VFF definitely needs to offer neutral colored versions of these. All black works for me! I agree with a previous post–Bakilas are so suffocating and hot… I use them to warm up in on 34-40F winter days before shedding and going BF. SeeYas look like they will be cool enough to wear in the summer.
OMG!! They are soo cool!. Im definitely getting this one for track season!
I wonder how the added lightness of the upper affects their ability to stay in place on steep inclines or declines or around sharp corners? I find that the standard Bikila and the Speed both stay perfectly in place, but the Bikila LS stretches out-of-shape and feels close to coming off my feet in some running situations and especially when doing calf stretches on a steep incline.
This is very sad to see….Vibram VFF disgressing fm wat they initially set out to do….’a wholly new sole design where thicker Vibram rubber is used at forefoot and heel (the points of greatest contact)’ ??? Why are they going backwards? And checkout that arch support, why? Quite disappointing… Then again, it’s just me…
Great. I already have KSOs, Bikilas, and TrekSports…and now I think I might need a pair of these when they come out. Maybe the Bikilas will have worn out enough to warrant a new pair by the time the SeeYas are released. Looking forward to the big review.
@matthew goh,
This is definitely not digressing — at least not relative to the Bikilas, which have a stiffer/thicker sole than the SeeYas.
“Thicker” is a relative term. That the SeeYa is thickest at heel and forefoot doesn’t mean it’s thicker than existing VFFs (it’s thinner than some of them).
I love these – please tell me there will be some decent colours, though!
I have to agree with Matt Goh. Looks like the VFF
design crew is forgetting their original intentions and is headed in a “Phil Knight” direction. 🙁
@Javier C,
I won’t argue with this sentiment so long as it is extended to every VFF since the original Classic and Sprint, which didn’t feature any EVA whatsoever and had a very basic 4mm rubber sole (still do for that matter). These SeeYas are actually MORE basic than the Bikilas, Treks, and KomodoSports, so saying they’re now going thicker with the SeeYa completely ignores that the last three sole designs they put out were all thicker than this design.
If anything, this is a retracement to “less” sole than recent models from Vibram. I guess for that matter, the SeeYas put into dispute this argument that each new Vibram model is more shoe and less barefoot because the SeeYa is going the other direction (more barefoot).
New Colors??
I’ve come to hate my Bikila. They chafe, pull my toes oddly, give little feel and I’ve never liked their built up structued nature. Love my KSO and Classics. This one seems like another departure from simplicity and another I’ll miss. When my KSO go I’ll replace them with the closest to another KSO I can get. (That’s 5 marathon’s in KSO and Bikila talking)
When ever I pull on the KSO I just think why the hell do I ever bother using the Bikila. Because the cost a fortune is why (I’m in the EU and laugh when I see people grumble about the US dollar pricing)
Those look awesome! I’m all over them when they come out.
Anyone else notice how the velcro and the hook/loop make a nike swoosh?
I love to run in my VFF Classic, but I have problems to run on uneven rocky ground. The reason I love them is that there is minimal effects on the foot because of the shoe. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages for me.
I would never buy SeeYa. They combines two problems: thin sole with arch support.
I don’t care for the water droplet motif, but I’m interested.
Like these a lot. Depending on review results, just might use them to replace my aging Bikilas. The Biks are still my main road/treadmill running shoe and are still in decent shape. A little worn on the sole but not bad. I like the look of these.
Guys… it’s not arch support, it’s an arch wrap. There’s little to no structure to the arch of the shoe. It’s supposed to hug your foot “like a glove.” If you have flat feet, that sole will go flat.
these shoes are sick! hope to get a pair when they come out. what other colors are there?
if it’s not rubber, then what exactly is that “arch wrap”? It looks like the plastic arch support that asics and nike use.
Just to clarify, the Seeyas do not have arch support. The section of sole underneath the arch simply doesn’t have the tread and is completely flexible.
but what is the piece of sole underneath the arch made out of?
@Chava – it’s a piece of rubber that is flexible enough you can roll up and twist. The pictures may make it look quite rigid, which it is not.
Hmm. it seems like false advertising then to say that there is only rubber on the forefoot and heel…
Will there be a women’s model too? Many designers havent had both sexes in all models…
I want these!
To clarify, the midsole on the Seeya is made from TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) which is highly elastic and stretchy. There is no support added to the sole by using this material as it’s almost like jelly. There is no resistance to scrunching the shoe up into a ball. The actual TC1 rubber element is on the heel and forefoot sections for wear and is still very thin.
The best description of this shoe is to ask the question “what would a minimal footwear company’s racing flat look like?’
The Seeya what I would consider the most minimal shoe design in the range allowing for absolute freedom of foot movement, Id say the Moc / Performa would be the only models more minimal. This really is a no comprimise race day shoe.
Any more specific release date? Going into track season and I don’t know when Vibram usually releases spring issues.
February they should be available. So only a couple more months.
I am anxiously looking forward to a full review. I really don’t like the Bikilas because their traction in the wet doesn’t exist. The standard KSOs have far better traction.
The SeeYa is very interesting and might get me to switch from the KSOs for running, but only if the wet traction is as good as the KSO. Here in SoCal it doesn’t rain much, but the sidewalks are often wet in the morning from the sprinkler systems and more than once I’ve either slid going around a corner or lost traction going up a hill on concrete sidewalks with the Bikilas. That happens far less often with the KSO Remix.
Never understood the Bikila or need for laces on VFFs – both ideas seem to just add needless stuff IMO. This is VFFs first move in the right direction since the classics and Treks. Looking forward to taking these for a spin!
Also – What’s wrong with the colours? – They’re running shoes!
I get the need for laces for some – those with a high instep have complained that the Velcro strap versions don’t leave enough room. Doesn’t affect me personally, but that one I get.
But, I too think the Bikila went in the wrong direction. For running, less is more.
Can’t wait for SeeYas! Guess I’ll just have to settle for a contest prize for now.
I am still waiting on my first pair of VFF Sprints as an all around and mainly for Insanity workouts. If they turn out well I think these look like the running specific VFF I’ll be picking up in the future.
I will definitely try to get me a pair of these for track. I just wish they had a all black color for them so they were more of a casual shoe to.
I think Vibram need to address the durability of their soles when used to run on hard abrasive surfaces like ROAD or PAVEMENT if they want to be taken seriously by those who regularly distance run on those surfaces. I’ve heard of people using rubber patches from inner tube repair kits to stick over the holes that appear in the soles but we should not have to with VFF shoes that retail for as much as they do!