The FiveFingers Speed is Available Now!
Hallelujah! It’s finally here!
The Vibram FiveFingers Speed a.k.a. the retro-styled, laced-up, limited-release Vibram toe shoes are finally available for purchase in the United States!
CitySports has them here for $99.95 (with free shipping)!
Current sizes available (as of 5/31/11 11:30 AM EDT) are Men’s black/white 40 – 47 and women’s teal blue/white 37 – 41.
More about the once-elusive Vibram FiveFingers Speed after the jump!
We first got our feet into a pair on their international release back in Spring 2010 (An eternity ago in the world of minimalist footwear). You can read our review of the FiveFingers Speed here. For the U.S. release, the FiveFingers Speed will be available in black and white for men — black laces (The international version had white laces — this being the only apparent difference); teal and white for women; and white and blue for women.
Here are some technical specs:
- Geared towards everyday use — this is my preferred use of the FiveFingers Speed as it just looks too stylin’ for me to risk messing up with heavy activity. That said, there are many people running in the Speed without problems — even considering it the best VFF around!
- Weight is 5.9 oz (for a men’s 43)
- 2mm EVA Insole with the Bikila outsole — note the lack of extra cushioning that you get in the forefoot area as with the Bikila. This means you get a bit better ground feel. I think I can wiggle my toes better in the Speeds, too, for that matter.
- Fit is similar to the Bikila and Bikila LS, which I’d peg as every so slightly smaller than the KSO.
- Machine washable! Yep. No problems on the washability — just let them air dry.
If you need to compute your sizing, here’s a Bikila chart:
If I had to sum up the Speed in a two-sentence review, here’s what I’d say:
The FiveFingers Speed is the best-looking, most stylish and comfortable knock-around, everyday pair of toe shoes in the Vibram line-up. What more, they’re laced for a snug, custom fit and can double as do-anything-you-want-in-them shoe for running or playing in a pinch.I paid a crazy amount for my first pair of Speeds and have never regretted it — they were so expensive due to the international purchase and shipping! Thankfully, now, the Speed’s can be purchased with free shipping for $100 at CitySports.
Can you tell I’m excited? Just happy that others will finally have access to this awesome flavor of FiveFingers!
To celebrate the arrival of the Speed, BirthdayShoes sponsor CitySports gave away a pair of Vibram FiveFingers Speeds to a lucky birthdayshoes.com email subscriber! has agreed to give away a pair of Vibram Speeds to one BirthdayShoes email subscriber just as soon as they are available for purchase.
The Contest has ended!
Yes, the winner has been selected — CONGRATS JULIE! — so if you’ve not been contacted by us at birthdayshoes.com, sorry you weren’t the lucky, random winner! However, you can still grab a pair of Speeds. They’re finally here!
City Sports Vibram FiveFingers Speed Giveaway Contest Rules
The contest winner will be selected at random from the pool of BirthdayShoes.com email subscribers as it stands at the contest’s end. The contest’s end will coincide with an announcement that City Sports has the Vibram Five Fingers Bikila available for purchase online. This is expected to be sometime in the next few weeks!
All existing, active email subscribers prior to this contest announcement are automatically entered into the drawing so long as they are still subscribed by email as of the contest’s end. If you aren’t yet subscribing to BirthdayShoes by email, in order to enter into the drawing, simply sign up for an email subscription to the BirthdayShoes blog feed and be sure to activate your subscription! Only one email address per person is allowed — we reserve the right to delete these emails from the list (read: Don’t cheat!).
The confirmation email sometimes gets hung up in email client spamtraps, so keep an eye out for it (it should arrive somewhat instantaneously)! Email subscription is free and your email will not be sold to third parties! What more, unsubscribing is simple and fast.
The randomly selected winner of the giveaway contest will get a free pair of the Vibram FiveFingers Speed provided by City Sports! One note: if it’s a male winner this will be a black/white pair. If a female, it will be teal/white.
Let me end by saying “thank you” to City Sports for sponsoring this VFF giveaway and supporting the Vibram Five Fingers fan community!
Now subscribe and enter the FiveFingers Speed Giveaway contest already!
42 replies on “Vibram FiveFingers Speed For Sale in the U.S.!”
This is awesome! CitySports is my favorite online VFF retailer!
Sweet! I’ve been holding out on other models, just so I could get these in black! You just made my day!
What an awesome prize this will be! Thanks for the opportunity to enter. :o)
OMG! I am soooooooo excited. I’ve been putting off getting a new pair of VFF for awhile, now I know that was so I could get these!
when will we be notified about the winner?
Do you know how well the Vffs speed shoes in white will hold up? Will the mesh turn grey over time like regular tennis shoes do?
I’ve been anxiously waiting for these to come to the US! Any word yet on pricing?
I really want a lace-up version of the regular KSO and KSO Trek. I don’t like running with a thick sole like the Bikila and prefer laces for my trail running/hiking as well, and the KSO Trek has the best upper construction and outsole IMHO for that.
Awesome. I have been waiting on these for months. I am glad to see that BDS and Citysports have teamed up for a giveaway.
I want to win me some VFF Speed’s please!!!
how are these for running? How about the metal eye holes and water?
Grrrr! I just imported mine. Well, now I can get a 2nd pair quicker. I can attest to how comfortable they are for everyday use.
oh no. I heard these were coming out and I have been waiting anxiously for them. Asked a local store to call me when they get them in. But I really wanted the black and white ones. Before I started wearing VFF’s I wore several pairs of black and white sneakers out since that was all I woulc wear. I was so looking forward to wearing them again. I could get a really small mens size but my feet are narrow. Does anyone think that I could still fit into them comfortably?
Sweet! For those who have imported them, did you order your normal size or go up a size, like the european site suggests?
Laced up KSO’s for the win (with the top material at the edges continued in, not the mesh!)!! I’ve thought for a while that a lighter laced VFF would rock, though those Speeds DO look like they have long big toes (an issue for me with some models, Speeds were a no-go, KSOs are ok (fine when I’m moving around, slightly annoying when I’m sitting), Treksports are better)…
For sizing, I wear a 43 KSO and I got a 43 Speed. They fit perfect. I have high arches and normally wear a size 10-10.5 shoe.
These are sweet! I cannot wait to get my hands and feet on these! 🙂
I’m getting to the point where I want to collect all these darn crazy shoes.
#firstworldproblems
I’ve had a pair of euro models since their debut last year and they are every bit as good as the hype! I wear them everyday and love them!! I paid WAY to much for them but they’ve been worth every penny!
I’ve got three pair of VFF’s and I think I sized too large, my next pair will be 42’s and hopefully fit a little more snug. I still love my pairs though! Can’t wait for the Speeds to be available.
Why can’t vibram release more colored men shoes? I like brighter colors on my shoes or any color beside grays and blacks. I’ve wanted speeds forever but really wanted the white version. But of course us Americans only like black.
I got mine from purekit.com and I payed way more than 99.99. and my pair came with white laces but I love’em.
I think that the recommendations based on the size chart are wrong. You’d better size up and get the same size as VFFs Classic and Sprint.
Zephyr, I size in Speed same as Bikila … feels the same to me. What are you basing your comparison on?
@Justin,
I own a pair of (legitimate) Speeds in size M41 purchased to a European retailer. I reach the end of the big toe pocket in them (both my feet are 10 1/4 inches long). I can compare with my Classics and Sprints in the same size M41 and all of them fit more or less the same. In contrast, my Treks and KSOs are M40, Treks fit perfect whereas KSOs are little short behind the heels but I had tried M41 and could hardly introduce the toe in the pockets.
I can’t say much about Bikilas since I’ve only tried once. They were M40 and fitted too snug, the sole pods under the foot pad didn’t seem to be placed correctly either. I sent them back to Vibram and didn’t bother to get a larger pair.
I’m not the only who recommend same Speed size as Classics and Sprints, and a number above KSOs, the size guide the UK retailer baselayer.co.uk website also recommends so:
http://www.baselayer.co.uk/admin/image-resizer.php?w=320&keepAspect=y&img=project/uploaded-media/7-5fingers-size-guide.jpg
Thanks for sharing the sizing experience, Zephyr!
So this all reminds me that sizing varies from person to person. I’m technically between sizes — 43 and 44, but I find 43 fits me best across all models. Personally I peg the Bikila fit as between my Classics and KSOs, and I’d peg my Speed fit as the same as the Bikila fit. Sprints and Classics are definitely a bit more snug on me than my Speeds — all sized at 43.
Just to put a point on how subjective VFF sizing is, the European sizing chart for VFFs suggest different numerical sizes for the same measurements as the US chart — this is despite the fact that all VFF numerical sizes are exactly the same no matter where you buy them. In other words, from what I understand, European sizing charts reflect the opinion of Vibram in Europe whereas the U.S. sizing chart reflects the opinion of Vibram USA — all on the same shoes.
Additional comment:
In the Vibram website for Europe Speed, Classic, Sprint and Bikil, Bikila LS, KomodoSport, KSO and low are all sized the same, whereas KSO Trek and TrekSport are sized one number down respect to the former models.
I only have doubts with KSOs, I find M40 a little short under my heels but I also tried a pair in M41 of the same color (brown) and they were already too long.
Vibram Europe size chart:
http://www.vibramfivefingers.it/images/sizing_eng.gif
@Justin,
Sorry, if I had known you were going to post so soon and adding a comment on the size chart in the Vibram website for Europe I wouldn’t have posted commenting the same.
Im a guy with small feet. I wanted to buy the speeds in black, I take a W38 in female for treks, Tsport and komodos. Anyone know if they will release black in W38????
How come the Speed doesn’t show up on Vibram’s website?
What is the newsletter title (the one that reflects much of the text of this blog post)? You know, before I jump around shrieking at a false alarm.
So, any plans on releasing the name of the winner that we are all envious of?
Has anyone ordered from theshoemart.com and received their pair yet? I pre-ordered mine on Monday, and I got an e-mail yesterday saying they’re back-ordered. I called Vibram and they confirmed they’ve been shipping the Speeds out to retailers since Monday, and that they should be receiving them soon. I also talked to a rep at theshoemart and she said that should be receiving them within in the week. I can’t wait to get them! I’ve been wanting a pair since last year, and now that they’ve finally been released…I can’t wait any longer!
I just received my Speed’s from City Sports and they are definitely on the smaller side.
I have both KSO and KSO Treks in 45 and the Treks fit perfectly while the regular KSOs are wearable but a touch on the “too snug” side.
I ordered the Speeds in a 45 as well (before I saw the discussion above with the European size chart) and they are too small to wear. Several toes are hitting the end of the toe pockets and the upper nearly can’t close all the way to the tongue. I’ll definitely be re-ordering in a 46 this time.
I received my speeds today, and they were smaller too. I’m a woman with size 11 shoes normally, and my performa’s are perfect fit at a 42 womens. Using that length and the chart here I thought a mens 40 would be fine since it’s a little longer. I wasn’t able to properly extend my big toe on my right foot and it was a little snug on my left. I’m seeing how a size 41 fits now.
I really wish the Speed came in black in Women’s sizing as well. I mean, it’s really odd it doesn’t. It’s such a basic color and something many look for to show dirt less quickly.
At the very least, the should have more smaller Men’s sizes for men who have smaller feet and women who have larger feet to have the opportunity to get it in black.
I too wish the speeds came in black for women. (purple would also be fun). The “process blue” arrived today and they are pretty darned comfy. Not as soft inside as the Komodos but they feel as though they’ll be more breathable overall. The stitching inside above the toes (where the white saddle swoosh thing is) is a little scratchy, ok pretty irritating on bare skin, I’m hoping that goes away with a washing or with just breaking them in. Or it could be due to my long toes; the toe pockets in these are longer than the KSO’s, thankfully, though still not long enough for me. I’ve been wearing 38’s in Classic (perfect), Komodo (black perfect length, blue slightly long) and the new black KSO Trek (snug in length). The speeds feel slightly bigger, but super flexible.
And the color is so much better in person than pictured!
I found the Speeds in-stock at River Sports Outfitters. They have Free Shipping also.
These are literally the best five fingers ive ever tried! i just went on a quick six mile run and i feel great!!
got mine from REI here in Portland, last Sunday…I LOVE THEM!!!
They are smaller across the top than my Bakilas but I really like them…
I found the sizing to be a little snug. There was no way I could get into a M40, which is what the Vibram chart suggested. I upsized to a M41 and although the length was perfect the width was narrow at mid-foot and they were a struggle to get on. I upsized to an M42, based on the salemans recommendation, and they were/are perfect. No noticeable extra toe length, but definitely more width at mid foot. I find it odd that I wear a bigger size in Speeds than I do in Classics, but hey if the shoe fits right.
I just bought a pair of Speeds in 47 off the City Sports and, even though I didn’t really like them that much when I tried them on, picked up a pair of Bikilas for 60 bucks from there as well. The size experience above gives me some pause though. My KSOs and Treksports are long enough in 47 but I really wish they cut back further and were wider on the big toe. I really only notice it when sitting around.
I really shoulda bought, had made, or made myself some minimalist shoes. I actually have 2 pairs of Somnio Nadas in 12 and 13 (neither fits) that have been sitting in my room for the last month or 2. Whoops… Hell, I’ve taken to walking around barefoot with a pair of flip flops in my bag anyways.
If the Speeds fit I might be able to get away with them with cheater socks for Army APFTs, as they look like shoes. I REALLY wish they made some of these things without the individual toes.