Vibram 5 Fingers V-Trek Review

Ryan Humphries

Over the last month, I’ve been testing out the Vibram 5 Fingers V-Trek in Black/Black.

Price: $130

I should state that this is not my first pair of 5 finger shoes; in fact, it’s my 3rd. About ten years ago I read the book “Born to Run,” and as a self-proclaimed non-runner, it inspired me to try barefoot running. Minimalist shoes (specifically Vibram five fingers) were gaining popularity as a result of the book, so you could say it was a “natural progression” that led me down that road 🙂

Although I loved my first couple of pairs, I didn’t take care of them like I should have. I frequently wore them in water, and I never wore socks with them. The early models were known for developing a bit of a funk if you didn’t wear socks… I ended up throwing mine away because I couldn’t get the smell out. Fast forward ten years and everyone knows that socks are the way to go! Not only that, but the new materials have cut way down on any sort of odiferous aspects. Also, they’re advertised as trekking shoes, not water shoes…

Vibram 5 Fingers V-Trek Review – Ryan Humphries of Engearment.com

With my new V-Treks, I decided I was only going to wear them with socks. There are plenty of toe socks to choose from today, unlike a decade ago. I went with these from Amazon. I bought a six-pack so I could test out the shoes everyday. After a month or so of working out in them, hiking in them, coaching in them, and just wearing them around I can proudly say that there is zero odor.

The lack of smell could also be due to the new materials. The V-Treks are made from 50% wool and 50% synthetic fiber. I think this hybrid construction is the reason for both the comfort as well as the lack of smell. The ability to lace them up is not only practical from a slippage standpoint, but it makes them look a little cooler.

The mid-cut height and lacing system feels more like you’re putting on a stable shoe vs a slipper. Aside from that, I really love the amount of tread on the bottom. The tread gave me the confidence that I could still jump/run/climb on just about any surface, while maintaining the integrity of what a barefoot shoe should feel like (like you’re barefoot)

Vibram 5 Fingers V-Trek Review – Ryan Humphries of Engearment.com

Let’s talk about sizing.

Here’s the thing… I have two different sized feet. Yep, my right is about a 7.5 and my left is a 9. So what do I do for shoes? Well, usually I buy an 8.5 and one foot wiggles around a little, and the other one ends up bursting through. That’s what I’m working with. Because of my freakish feet I was a little hesitant on the sizing of these. 

They’re also European sizes so I chose a 41 (8.5-9)  and I think it was the best option. My bigger left foot felt like a perfect fit, and the toes on the right were just a little short. However, not short enough for them to come out. Although it takes a minute or two to get these bad boys on, once they’re on, they’re not going anywhere.

So I think the size 41 was just about right for me. I would be curious to try a size 40, but right now there’s no need.

Vibram 5 Fingers V-Trek Review – Ryan Humphries of Engearment.com

For this review, I wanted to talk not just about the Vibram V-Trek, but also why the barefoot movement is not just some fad. I mentioned the book Born to Run earlier both because it inspired me to go barefoot more often, and also because I think it was a critical stepping stone in how athletes started to view footwear. Human feet were not designed to be cooped up in a tiny little box.  Optimally, we want our toes to spread out. When our toes can spread out, we have more connection with the ground and overall, we’re better athletes (rock climbing aside).

I’m going to try to summarize the importance of being barefoot in two paragraphs. When humans are really young, we’re barefoot most of the time. This is critical for the development of the foot, ankle, and really the entire body. Most kids have no trouble sitting in a deep squat, touching their toes, and nearly every one of them has good running form.

Vibram 5 Fingers V-Trek Review – Ryan Humphries of Engearment.com

Somewhere around 5 years old we start going to school and our parents find these cute little shoes that rob our feet of any contact with the ground. So as our bodies are developing, we’re shoving our foundations into these little containers everyday. Take a look at a foot that’s never worn shoes vs. the foot of a modern businessman. 

Yeah, kinda messed up. Just like every other part of our body, we get stronger when the proper stimulus is applied. You could probably guess that sitting atop cushy little pillows while jamming our toes together is NOT the proper stimulus for developing strength. It can however, be the cause of plantar fasciitis, bunions, achilles issues, knee pain, back pain, and the list goes on. Imagine if someone put your hand in a boxing glove nearly everyday for 20 years. How strong do you think that hand would be? I bet it couldn’t even open a jar of peanut butter. Probably better off though, there’s no quality protein in there anyway 😉 

So are you ready to throw your shoes away? Great! Also, not so fast… As big of an advocate as I am for being barefoot, most people’s feet are so weak that they need to ease into it. Look, you’ve probably been wearing shoes most of your waking life. Chances are that they’ve been smashing your toes together, elevating your heels, and the muscles on the bottom of your feet might as well belong to a child. 

Barefoot shoes are awesome, but you need to be smart about the transition. 

I’m pleasantly surprised with the V-Treks comfort, durability, and non-slippage tread. If you’re thinking about delving into the “natural” world of the five fingers, I have 4 tips.

1. Make sure you have the right size. This is easiest to do in-person at a retailer.

1. Ease into them. Walk around in them for 15-30 minutes and then take them off. As comfortable as they may feel, do NOT run in them right off the bat.

1. Use toe spacers outside of using barefoot shoes (even 5 minutes a day helps).

1. Always wear socks.

Other than that, have fun playing as nature intended!

Ryan Humphries

Growing up in southeast Missouri, Ryan spent most of his days playing in the woods, swimming in creeks, capturing wildlife, and dreaming of adventure. His asthma kept him from playing a lot of sports as a kid, but it didn’t stop him from achieving the ranks of both Eagle Scout and a Black Belt in Taekwondo by the age of 16.

Ryan Humphries