Vibram FiveFingers Men's KSO EVO Cross Training Shoe

So, I’ve seen these shoes before on a few occasions being worn by various people and have always been very intrigued by them.Now in my early 30’s, being 6’ tall, living in the northern Midwest where it’s cold 9-10 months out of the year and my joints are always talking to me; I came across an audiobook a little while back called “The Primal Blueprint”.I’ve always naturally been a minimalist and naturalist of sorts. So the book really intrigued me! In listening to the book, it covered a section called “barefoot living,” where it basically discussed how primitive people didn’t have shoes and how they trekked across terrain barefoot and how since the dawn of shoes, not only have we as humans gotten away from our “natural” past, but we’ve also developed tons of issues within our feet, bones, joints and back; BECAUSE of our discovery(in millennia speak) and use of shoes.This REALLY interested me because I’ve had back and knee issues for years now. Basically since my late teens/early 20’s.The book discussed this “barefoot living” style and recommended “barefoot” shoes as a means of actually relieving pain in various areas of the body and helping to correct body structure over time. Wait... so you’re telling me this WHOLE time that I’ve been wearing ‘regular’ shoes they’ve been f’ing up my body?! Are you f’ing serious?! Apparently the issues are due to the raised heel on conventional shoes and how over time it affects the body structurally. Making it weaker...Needless to say from that moment on I became VERY interested in this “barefoot” living style!Remembering that I’ve seen these type of shoes before. First thing I did was jump on Google and searched “barefoot shoes”, and these came up!After looking at various styles I decided on these KSO EVO’s based on the amount of positive reviews.Well, I’ve had these shoes for a little more than a month now and I have to say, they do/will take at least a couple weeks of getting used to. Not only will they feel really weird on your feet, but your legs and calves will absolutely FEEL the difference of “barefoot” walking/movement.But once you get passed that initial couple of weeks of adjustment and feel, wow!It is still a bit weird to FEEL everything I’m moving on. But the shoes have conformed more to my feet and are VERY comfortable for being so minimal.Also, I can honestly say that I’m already noticing a difference in my ankles, knees and back!My ankles haven’t been popping as much. My knees definitely haven’t been popping as much especially when going up stairs. And my back is definitely less sore and stiff than it usually is!These shoes really do seem to be making a difference and I’ve been wearing them daily(all day) now for the last couple of weeks. I’m not a runner. So they’re worn consistently around the house and when I’m out and about.And, while my girl and stepdaughter think they’re “so weird!” I happen to think they’re actually unique and cool! And if they keep helping me feel better and stronger, they’ll stay on my feet! Quite frankly, I’ve never given a sh!t what anyone thinks...After the initial bout of fatigue in my calves and knees, it’s pretty minimal now and I see it as these shoes are helping to strengthen me from waist down. While also helping to almost eliminate my back soreness and tightness. They’ve essentially helped me to identify my weak points. It’s pretty awesome!Some notes...To help you adjust, you may want to purchase some toe socks to not only make the adjustment period more comfortable, but help the shoes loosen up just a tad and possibly conform to your feet faster. It seems to have done the trick for me. Fair warning though, initially wearing socks with these is going to make your feet(especially toes) feel really squished. Personally, I prefer the shoes without socks now. Even when the weather is in the 30’s and 40’s. I kind of suck it up and deal with the brisk breeze in the shoes because I’ve come to realize the benefits I’m getting from wearing them! And honestly if I’m not actively thinking about it, I barely notice it.In the winter months, I think I’ll actually try to see if Vibram or anyone makes a “barefoot” insulated shoe/boot of sorts and wear that. If not, well, I guess I’ll have to wear boots... but when I’m not working and the weather is anything above 30, I’ll be wearing my Vibram’s! I’ve come to appreciate them that much already!Oh, and make sure you purchase according to your shoe size! So long as your shoes actually fit your feet correctly! I initially ordered according to the guide provided on here and ended up getting confused and ordered too small!I’m a size 10 in shoes and initially ordered a 42(9-9.5) because of the guide. I exchanged those for a 43(9.5-10) and they fit beautifully!Happy “barefoot living”! 🤘🏻👍🏻

For virtually my entire adult life (I just turned 71) I have gone barefoot around my home, and outdoors whenever possible (and permitted). I am living proof of the benefits, as I am still able to walk 3-4 miles daily with minimal pain in my hips, knees, ankles, and feet. What discomfort I experience from my hikes has always been from the shoes I wore.For whatever reason, it took forever for targeted ads for "barefoot" or "minimalist" shoes to find me on my various electronic devices, but once they did my curiosity took hold and I began to do some research on what was available.I selected these Vibram FiveFingers KSO EVO shoes because they were supposed to offer the closest thing to a truly barefoot experience. Having worn them for an entire day ever since they arrived this morning, including my usual 3-mile hike plus a trip to the local grocery store, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate those reviews turned out to be. If you can't go barefoot, these shoes are literally the next best thing. I love them!I have included a picture of my feet to help you decide if these are for you. If your second toe is longer than your big toe, you probably won't like the way these fit. And, as any number of reviewers have noted, putting them on does take some getting used to. It didn't take me long to find a method that worked well for me, and I highly recommend watching Vibram's own video guide to putting their FiveFingers models on properly.These shoes weigh next to nothing, fit my feet snugly but not too much so (really more like a sock than a shoe, which I love), the soles grip well, and are thin enough that you get almost the same amount of feedback from the surfaces you are walking on as you would if you were barefoot.I know some people recommend wearing socks with these, but if that is what you intend to do I would definitely recommend getting a size bigger than you think you need. Trust me, there is scant room for socks in the pair I have on, and I'm fine with that! I wouldn't even wear shoes at all if I didn't have to...Of course these will lack the sensual pleasures offered by walking barefoot on cool grass, or on warm sand or earth, but then there is no reason not to go barefoot on grass, or sand, or dirt trails. If you're like me much of your walking for exercise will take place on paved surfaces, and these shoes will definitely keep your feet from getting too torn up from those surfaces. In particular, I noticed that the small bits of gravel that are the bane of barefoot walkers everywhere are no longer a problem. You'll feel them, but not as painful, which means you no longer need to detour around them. I also tried these out on some rough bits of sidewalk, broken or uneven patches of asphalt, etc., and while you still need to be mindful of where you are stepping (walking barefoot is an outstanding mindfulness exercise, by the way, and these shoes will be a close second in that regard), you needn't worry about any sharp pains. Obviously you would want to avoid larger gravel, rocks, glass, etc., just as you would with any footwear.It is rare in my experience for a product to do exactly what it says it will do, but these "barefoot" shoes are the real deal, and I will soon add another pair or two in other colors to my closet. Highly recommended!