ArticleField.comInternet's Fastest Growing Free Content Article Directory

Remember that episode of Married With Children where Al talk to God in a dream and has designed a pair of shoes that looked like feet? I think people Vibram KSO saw that episode too. As it turns out, it was a very good thing because these shoes will change your life.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Many people think these shoes are silly-looking and, to be fair, is an unusual shoe design for a culture that is accustomed to the leather straps attached to a single plane. Ask me about them wherever they go, sometimes with intriguing, sometimes with sarcasm. Either way, generates attention. That is definitely a good thing, however. The footwear industry is not well known for its innovation, and Vibram may be the company to change that. Most shoe companies base their designs on aesthetics and a few marginal firms add functional enhancements to address specific concerns of orthopedics. Vibram, however decided to completely rethink the shoe. The result is FiveFinger design, which is almost exclusively on the basis of ergonomics. The concept is that the feet perform better when they are prevented in the least, and Vibram have some science to back up (check out their website here).

For this specific review, I selected the FiveFingers KSO, which means keep things out. Kso differs from the classical model, adding a nylon mesh that covers the top of the shoe and a velcro strap for better fit. After putting them on, the first noticeable difference from normal shoes is that the toes are free to spread. That the dissemination, provides excellent stability and maneuverability in the foot. I immediately felt I was more agile than normal shoes. The best way to describe the feeling is the “conscience.” I felt much more in touch with the environment and much more in control of my movements in it. It’s a nice feeling.

In the mats, the FiveFingers give much grip, but tend to take the GI material, which limits some movement in the traditional gi training. Furthermore, the purists will disapprove any footwear used during lamination. However, the shoes are well suited to no-gi jiu jitsu, boxing, wrestling and where you can replace the traditional wrestling / boxing shoes. For the remainder of training (short courses, roads, plyometrics, etc) that accompanies these sports, the FiveFingers that can handle very well. After use (everywhere) for about two weeks, I’ve adjusted pretty well Vibram Five Fingers Shoes . Initially, however had some unusual pain. The calves, arches, and legs were very sore for a few days, a good sign that the shoes are working. On the contrary, I realized that standing for long periods of time not to leave my lower back pain at all, something that always happens in normal shoes.

Time magazine named the FiveFingers shoes inventions of the year in 2007 (the year the iPhone debuted), and I am forced to agree. These shoes represent a major step forward (pun intended) for the design of footwear.