Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

these shoes have no cushioning or arch support, but that is expected with a minimalist shoe. definitely need to work into wearing them for many hours. I love them. I have many pairs and have already had to retire a few.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

A thicker tread updates this model of Vibrams. I purchased this pair for the fully adjustable (laced) top for my higher arch and a more durable tread for both road and trail running. Initally, I thought they ran small but I stuck with the size I had previous and they have stretched out and broken in nicely. A great shoe!

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

This is my second pair of VFF; I have a pair of KSOs. I just bought these Bikila LSs yesterday and I have not worked out in them yet but they feel great on! It's much better than I expected and I am looking forward to hitting the gym and the track in these. I went to REI looking for the Seeyas but they did not have them so I thought I would give these a try instead. What I really like about them so far is the ankle support which is a lot better than on the KSO.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

I really expected to be satisfied with these shoes. It's way more than that. I've been wearing them for a month now and they are still just as shockingly comfortable as the first day I put them on. I will never buy another athletic shoe. I take them on trails, concrete, climbing - they're perfect. I've tried a bunch of "natural stride" shoes and these? These are the best.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

I have a pair of the original Vibram Bikilas, and they are pretty good except that the instep is just a bit too snug and the toes feel a bit cramped after a while. I got the Bikila LS in hopes that the tongue and lace system would solve my instep problem--and they did, wonderfully. These shoes feel like they belong on my feet. So far I haven't had an issue with room in the toes either. They fixed the only minor quibbles I had with the Bikila in making the Bikila LS, and they are much easier to put on as well. Definitely worth the upgrade.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

Its was for my sister in law to bought it as I encouraged her because I have 3 of different five finger in man's shoe. Therefore I think you would love it, too without doubt if you are style match of outdoor. This is for you. :-D

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

This was my first pair of minimalist/barefoot running shoes. I have at the time of this writing owned them for three months, and over that time I have transitioned to them as my main pair of running shoes.

If you are considering these as your first pair:

I used to run in motion control shoes. I have one slightly malformed ankle and flat feet, so I thought that I needed the gait correction, and I needed the cushioning to prevent impacts on my ankle. They helped ease my ankle pain (at first) but after 5-6 miles I found that my knees hurt, my feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my hamstrings hurt...I tried an orthotic ankle brace, I was thinking of getting knee braces, or maybe just becoming Robocop and being done with it.

So I thought, well, if building a fortress of cushioning is not working, maybe I will do better if I train my own muscles and tendons to naturally support themselves. After considering conventional toebox "minimalist running shoes" as opposed to the barefoot experience offered by the Vibrams, I went for these, mainly because I thought I'd "go big or go home" in the barefoot running experience.

It has taken me about 3 months of running in them 3-4 times a week to work up to 6+ miles again, but it has been amazing. If you run with a mid-sole or forefoot strike already, the transition will be easy for you; you'll just notice that now you can feel the ground under your feet--it's fun and it's kinda cool! (You can read more about what this means many places online.) But if you were a heavy heel striker like me it will take you some time to retrain your gait in them. (Be sure to read up on what your gait should look like, I personally had a big problem with overstriding.) Take it slow, most injuries are "too much, too soon," not due to the shoes themselves. If your calf muscles or tendons hurt, don't run any further that day! The first day I could barely do a quarter mile in the grass before I had to switch into my other shoes, and I hurt too much to walk the next two days.

However, my running experience has been revolutionized. Instead of absorbing the shock of striking the ground with my ankles and knees, I "spring" off my toes, using my tendons and muscles to store and retrieve energy. I have become a much more efficient runner, and I can run further at the same pace (or slightly faster) than before. It doesn't hurt to run over gravel or twigs but I avoid big rocks or especially pointy things. At the end of my run my legs do not hurt at all; my knees don't hurt, my ankles don't hurt, my tendons have a nice, loose, relaxed, stretched out feel, like I could run another 5 miles if I had to.

If I've convinced you by this point, make sure you go try them on in-store. Some people have feet that are just too different from the Vibram last to be ok; if you're "between sizes" you'll be miserable with the toes and perhaps you should try a conventional toebox. I'm perhaps 20% smaller than the size I chose so I noticed that my feet would slide a bit when sweaty, and it caused me to get blisters for a while; but after enough athletic tape protection my feet toughened up and are fine now. (The toe socks you can buy to go with them can help reduced blistering.)

If you are accustomed to minimalist shoes already:

I went for the laces based on a salesperson's recommendation, and I'm glad I did. They help the shoe fit snugly on my foot and they're easy to slip on and off. Plus, they don't wear out as quickly as Velcro can. The laces, however, seem to require a bit more leather on top to support, so they don't breathe as well as KSOs, for example. They do allow for an approximately 6" long reflector strip along the length of the shoe, handy for low-light conditions.

I chose the Bikila because their sole is slightly thicker and intended for runners, and I do a lot of road and path running in the city. I can still feel the ground very well but I don't feel threatened by gravel rocks or uneven pavement.

I like the toes a lot, I think they feel neat on my feet, and they definitely help give you feedback from the ground.

The traction is awesome, I've used them to do some mild rocky scrambles on short hikes and I felt like a mountain goat hopping from crag to crag. I've worn them to wade around in a river and was pleased with the protection from invisible riverbed rocks they provided too.

They air-dry quickly and can be thrown in the wash (only front-load washers). However, the pair I own have yellow interiors which within about a week had acquired a murky brown overtone from running through mud puddles, which has not come out in the wash, so they're just going to look a little gross from now on.

I cannot recommend these shoes enough, to the point that my friends are tired of hearing about it. If you've never tried minimalist or barefoot running, try these shoes. If you've got other minimalist shoes, you should try Vibrams at some point, the toes are excellent. And if you already have a pair--get a backup for when you wear that first pair out!

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

I loved these shoes from day one. I specifically like the fine fitting adjustments that are made possible with the addition of the laces. This is my second pair of the five-finger barefoots. If I could design the perfect pair; I would combine the sole of the Vibram Trek with the lace-up style of the Bikala for great pavement runs and walking. This would be the PERFECT five-finger design for me. I purchased my pair a size up (from 38 to 39) so I could incorporate a the Indijia five-finger socks (thin ones). Ahhhhhhh --- I love the feeling of the wicking layer between my skin and the actual shoe. The price for these shoes for me (fixed income) is a bit steep, so I wait for specials. Please let me be clear, these shoes are so worth the price, but some of us have to wait for them to go on sale. These shoes are great for the gym whether strength training, cross-training, or wall climbing. Don't be fooled however, if you are training for power/olympic style lifting, these shoes are INappropriate and will potentially cause serious stress type injuries when lifting heavy loads. These shoes DO NOT replace the wood or plastic unpadded soles of weight lifting shoes. I did not receive a gift or special pricing for writing this review. I am an actual consumer with a very limited income. My shoe purchase decisions out of necessity must be thoroughly considered. REI takes some of the hassle and chance out of the deal with its generous return policy.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

This is my second pair of Bikila's, my first pair had over 500 running miles in them (fabric between the toes wore out). I like the LS version since you can adjust the laces for when your feet may swell from distance running. Great washability, throw them in the machine and let them air dry. By far the most comfortable pair of running shoes that I have ever owned. The only thing bad about them is that everyone is going to stop and ask you if they are comfortable and then tell you that they are bad for your feet. Never had any problems since I switched to VFF's over 2 years ago. Run approx. 25 miles a week when not training for a race.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS Running Shoes - Women's:

i use for dog agility and love them haven't spranged an ankle since wearing them. and have actually improved the pain in my knees