Vibram Five Finger

**gpc5010** · 02-17-2010 09:55 PM

Just bought a set of the vibram five finger KSO's.....

Vibram FiveFingers: KSO - Male

I love to kick to the beach in the summer and barefoot is just so much better... also so much more painful. I figured i would give these a shot.. they are supposed to be good for running so i figured kicking should be fine too...Anyone have any experience skating with them?

Unfortunately its cold and snowy here, but im pumped to try them asap.

**Undying** · 02-17-2010 10:01 PM

I have seen several guys rockin them while skating.

**The_Agent007** · 02-17-2010 10:24 PM

i love mine.... im rock'n the black kso's for about a yearm from every thing like light hike'n to kayaking all the way up to use'n them as light duty climbing shoes. i will tell you from running in them first hand.. your body will take a lil bit to get used to them, but once it dose. it's an awesome feeling being able to run and feet the ground... kinda makes me feel a lil bit closed to my surroundings..

the new ones that come out this spring are gonna be awesome, they did i luged KSO with a leather upper, a running version thats all mess, and two pairs of yoga ones

**LDPanda** · 02-17-2010 10:25 PM

"Barefoot" Ted McDonald skated 242 miles in 24 hours on VFFs. He also completed the Seattle to Portland (STP) race on them. I believe the only mod he did to them for the STP was attach a small braking pad on the heel.

**gpc5010** · 02-17-2010 10:27 PM

Sweet... I have the black ones too. Im glad to hear this was a good investment. A little disappointed that new ones are coming out this spring though haha.

**gpc5010** · 02-17-2010 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by LDPanda

"Barefoot" Ted McDonald skated 242 miles in 24 hours on VFFs. He also completed the Seattle to Portland (STP) race on them. I believe the only mod he did to them for the STP was attach a small braking pad on the heel.

WOW thats awesome. Im even more stoked now.

**The_Agent007** · 02-17-2010 10:29 PM

the new spring line is all on back order right now... so its gonna be a while before they are seen. i might be able to snag a pair only due to my friend owns a hiking shop

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...kso_trek_m.cfm

**Txbordr** · 02-17-2010 10:55 PM

I paid $80 for my pair of Sprints and took them out to do some easy carving one day. I got surprised by a car and started foot braking, I totally regretted leaving that much sole on the ground.

Look in to those Roger Bros re-soles, and you'll have an amazing time after...

**couch_i** · 02-18-2010 02:28 AM

Friend of mine skates in them all the time. He loves them for this application, better feel for the board he says.

**couch_i** · 02-18-2010 02:36 AM

Originally Posted by Txbordr

I paid $80 for my pair of Sprints and took them out to do some easy carving one day. I got surprised by a car and started foot braking, I totally regretted leaving that much sole on the ground.

Look in to those Roger Bros re-soles, and you'll have an amazing time after...

Just about the only thing keeping me from buying them. The tread on a pair of skate shoes will usually last me about a month. Two tops. I feel like I would probably go through these even quicker.

**pavedwave** · 02-18-2010 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by LDPanda

"Barefoot" Ted McDonald skated 242 miles in 24 hours on VFFs. He also completed the Seattle to Portland (STP) race on them. I believe the only mod he did to them for the STP was attach a small braking pad on the heel.

on STP, Ted brought a huarache-style tire tread with leather straps along, in case the footbraking got real heavy, but he ended up not using that planned mod. his braking shoe did take a beating but most people wouldn't be skating that far and bombing that kind of terrain in them. barefooting's usually boardwalk cruising at run-out speeds anyway. i've been wearing mine some of the time on (mostly flat) commutes and all the time for walking around and light running. amazing for your muscle development around the ankles and feet. and overall balance.

**Semlohwerd** · 02-18-2010 08:30 AM

everyone seems to love skating in them...honestly i'd never skate in mine.

I once broke my toe in those things with the slightest tap. Also i cant imagine having to run off my board with those things, or falling for that matter.

Wouldnt footbreak in them either.

I love my vibrams but i keep em for creek walking and running and stuff. I wouldnt encourage anyone to skate in them.

Though...after seeing what you guys say i might try it.

**pavedwave** · 02-18-2010 08:43 AM

well i don't endorse downhilling with them. as Ted mentioned to me a number of times, he generally feels sketched out going faster than one could comfortably run out, really anything over 15mph --which happens a lot on STP!

for flatland cruising they're awesome. and personally I'd say the "old" version with the smoother soles would probably be better for skateboarding. the newer ones with the kangaroo leather have more treads on the bottom, which is better for off-road traction but the nubs would probably get sanded down faster from skateboarding.

**SLAB City Jake** · 02-18-2010 09:00 AM

I got myself a pair of red sprints a few weeks ago, most for wearing when I'm not skating or at work cuz the benefits for the muscles in your feet are awesome.

To me they are safer than skating barefoot and much easier than skating in flip-flops but I'd only skate in them in situations where I would either be barefoot or in sandals ya know? boardwalk cruising/flatland goofing around/etc.

The ladies ask a lot of questions about them too

great conversation starter

peace

**lil scrawy** · 02-18-2010 09:09 AM

dude i've wanted a pair of those for a while i just never got the cheese for them

**Islmi** · 02-18-2010 07:24 PM

is the full sole vibram? Please do a review when you get them, I've wanted some for a while.

**Semlohwerd** · 02-19-2010 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by pavedwave

well i don't endorse downhilling with them. as Ted mentioned to me a number of times, he generally feels sketched out going faster than one could comfortably run out, really anything over 15mph --which happens a lot on STP!

for flatland cruising they're awesome. and personally I'd say the "old" version with the smoother soles would probably be better for skateboarding. the newer ones with the kangaroo leather have more treads on the bottom, which is better for off-road traction but the nubs would probably get sanded down faster from skateboarding.

yeah thats what i figured. my campus is pretty hilly so its a lot of pumping and carving out hills. usually around 20~25 mph. If i was on flatland i'd probably go for sporting my KSO's.

**pavedwave** · 02-19-2010 07:46 AM

**Islmi** · 02-19-2010 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by pavedwave

yeah the whole sole is the same pliable vibram rubber. there's a few more insights on this link direct from Ted, and I even forgot about the little patches (DueNorth by Sure Foot® Corporation) that Ted used a couple times to lengthen the life in the high-wear areas, until I re-read this.

pavedwave distance skateboarding :: Best Shoes

I do remember the full tire-tread sandal he packed but never used -- pretty amazing considering some of the gnarly hills we bombed and had to footbrake.

thank ya. I suppose I'll go pick up a pair sometime. Maybe once the sole does wear through (after a while, vibram is tough) you could cut out the parts of the sole that don't get used in footbreaking and glue them to the bottom of your shoe near the heel/ball of your foot? It'd probably work better than the Roger's bros pads. just a helpful recycling thought.