Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

I love vibram bikila for running and thought these would be the perfect addition for winter running. I found these shoes so rigid that after 20 minutes of fussing with no luck of getting my toes in the right place that these shoes were not for me. I was left frustrated and with sore toes. For reference, I have been running in vibrams for 3 years. What I love about the vibram is their flexibility, which seems to be absent in these shoes. I really hope vibram redesigns these shoes for next winter. But for now I will stick with cold feet on chilly winter days. Perhaps I would have found my foot placement with the larger size shoe, but the lack of flexibility left me not wanting to try. I returned them promptly and bought a new pair of vibram bikila ls's.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

I am so disappointed. I love my KSOs and wanted a winter barefoot shoe. These are being returned. I guess I have narrow heels, I didn't find the cuff a big deal to put on but it gaps on my foot. The strap is useless, no idea why it's there it does NOT go behind the heel like on a KSO. So you can not adjust the heel size. It took 60 seconds for the cuff to rub painfully on my ankle.
The sole is inflexible and there is 0 ability to move the pinky toe away from the toe next to it.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

I use these VFF's primarily for daily use during the cold weather. I purchased them after seeing them on sale at REI. I had been stubborn in wearing both my VFF KSOs and Bikilas during the winter weather. After stepping in numerous puddles and enduring snow and ice, I figured a waterproof and insulated pair couldn't hurt.

I agree with other reviewers that these are not VFFs for the first time wearer. I have the two other pairs that I have worn (almost) to pieces and still took a couple of minutes to figure out the Lontras. I have smaller feet, so after I figured out how to use both of the loops near the opening it was easy. I can now take them on and off in the same time as any other pair.

These do have a thicker sole and more rigged feel since they have a waterproof coating and insulation. After I wore them for a few days they didn't feel as rigged and my toes felt more comfortable.

For anyone hating to put on anything other than VFFs and live in a cold climate, these would be great for you! I would give them a try, especially since REI has such wonderful customer service.

Service and delivery comments:

I received these in 5 days less time than REI estimated! The box was perfectly in tact and I had no issues with customer service or delivery.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

Like other reviewers I anxiously awaited the Lontra because of its waterproof/water resistant features. What surprised me was how poorly insulated the shoe is. In 10-20 degree weather the toes go numb; perhaps they'd be fine at 30-40 degrees or with greater activity (running vs walking). Cold transfer comes via the sole and also the fabric. Buyers could compensate by going up a size to better accommodate thicker socks--not an option if you're wearing a size 40 (I understand there are thin wool socks available now which could make a difference).

I didn't find the hightop opening a problem. If it's tight, perhaps a well-placed grapefruit could remedy the problem in a hour or so.

Agree that this style is better suited for veteran VFF wearers because it does take a little coordination to get them on, especially at first.

I would recommend them to a friend, but with reservations. And I'll wear them because I bought them, but I wish they were warmer!

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

I really was looking forward to a weather-proof set of VFFs. Love my Bikilas but cannot wear them in cold weather. The Lontras are well constructed and look like they have great traction, but they were too difficult to put on. I dislocated my thumb trying to get them on, and now that hand is out of commission. I will have to return the shoes. Would be great if they made a lace-up version! Keeping my fingers crossed on that.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

These don't claim to be waterproof, but I would call them that, and I live in a very wet climate! Insulation value is not great, but better then the Trek's. I do not recommend these for first time VFF wearers. Very stiff toe dividers and a greater stretch between toes. I would suggest if buying on-line to order 2 pairs, to get a good fit on each foot. For me it was a 50/50 chance, hence two pairs, mixing up the right and left shoes. If you feel ANY discomfort in the toes when you first try them on, it will only get worse when you head out on the trail! These have been fine trail running into the mid 30's barefoot, but need to add socks for hiking about 41 or so. Overall, I am very happy with them,even though they are quite expensive.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

I've used them mainly for asphalt-bike path dog-walking and recently they started leaking. I mean, seriously, my socks and feet are wet from just dew on the grass or accidental step into a puddle. I love VFFs and waited anxiously for Lontras, but it seems to be a mistake and disappointment. Ridiculously priced short-lived performance. With water resistance no better than your sneakers, it misses the point, misleads and doesn't deliver.

I'm curious how VFF will address this leaky issue.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

I agree with the previous reviewer, on all counts. If you already like fivefingers but are frustrated by cold wet feet, try these. Keep in mind that getting them on is part of your workout, and then you won't mind when it takes ten minutes the first time. The cuffs do stretch, and it gets easier.

There is a very helpful review of these along with a long comment thread on a blog called birthdayshoes. I recommend anyone who's interested to look that up and read through all the comments.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

This is the third style of VFF I have bought. Had it been the first, I probably would not have kept them, but now that I know how VFF's work I can work around the drawback that cost them a star.

Let me start with the good stuff. VFF's have made it possible for me to do long hikes again, after years of battling pain. Traditional running or walking shoes with thick cushioned soles that are SUPPOSED to stabilize things just make my knees ache and my feet stiffen up. With VFF's, none of that happens. That may be because my feet need to flex.

If you are the sort of person whose first act upon stepping inside your door is to kick off your shoes and walk around barefoot, VFF's are for you. If you prefer to keep your shoes on at all times, maybe not. I have been "self medicating" my foot and knee peculiarities by going barefoot as often as possible all my life.

Now the bad news. This style has a high cuff that is very tight. It makes them very hard to put on if you have any significant arch in your foot. I had to put a pencil through the loop on the back to help pull them up over my heel.

This is why it is important to have tried other VFF's, because you have to know how to work your toes into the individual toes. (In fact, I returned my very first pair of VFF's, which also came up very high on the foot, because I could not get them on; I went to a lower-cut Classic model that gave me plenty of room to work. That model has its own issues with a funky tab on the back that cuts into your heel. But I digress....) It's not hard to get your toes in once you learn how, and it's easier to learn without that high cuff. You probably will want a size larger than you would wear with the lower-cut models, to give you room to work your way in. I bought my other VFF's a size larger anyway, because I like to add an extra insole to give me a little more cushioning from the gravel, but there won't be room for that with these.

Once these are on, the high cuff is also very tight. VFF designed it with a strap across the top of the foot that is totally superfluous for those of us who will have trouble getting them over our heels. That strap fastens with a Velcro tab that is designed backwards IMHO. The "toothed" side of the Velcro is a large patch on the shoe, which means pants legs are going to catch on the teeth if they are long enough to hit the top of the shoe and have any texture at all. VFF should have done the teeth on the bottom side of the strap and the fuzzy side on the shoe. I may wind up adding my own fuzzy patch over that whole section to cover those teeth.

Why, you say, do they get 4 stars despite these gripes?

Because I have been praying for a waterproof model so I can use VFF's in the winter. The other VFF models immediately get cold and wet just walking through damp grass. I have tried this new model in a heavy downpour, while walking through the grass, and they are warm. I won't quite say they are dry, because they will hold in the sweat, so the moisture will come from the inside. But at least cold water is not continuously leaking in to refresh the chill, and the sweat factor is no worse than any other waterproof/water resistant shoe in that regard.

All else being equal, I wish VFF had made these lace-ups, as they have done with some other models that come up higher on the foot. I may cut off the silly strap, since I don't need it (but the pink dots are kind of cute, so I'm torn). The really good news is that they will let me keep walking comfortably through my usual cold rainy winter.

Comments about Vibram FiveFingers Lontra Running Shoes - Women's:

If you have never tried on VFF's do NOT start with the Lontra. They are more difficult to get on then any VFF I've worn. In the end I threaded a lace through the heel loop, got my toes in and used the lace to help pull the heel back into position while using the other hand to place the neoprene back into its place.

It is warmer then bikilas or other vff's for sure but the water resistant coating makes it less flexible. Sizing is a challenge. This is the first vff where I truly feel the toes and the material between the toes. The heel also pushed against my achilles area so I have to wear socks with them to prevent rubbing. Sizing up I end up with a toe that doesn't reach the toe pocket so that did not work but the right size feels too tight and rigid in the toes. I am hoping they will loosen and get more flexible but I'm not sure. I contacted VFF to ask but no answer.

I have not had snow yet but have run through mud and wet morning dew without my feet getting wet. Running at 28-32F my feet do not feel the cold at all which is different to my bikilas (usually takes a mile to warm up in them). However I'm still not sure about these. If you can try them on, do so. Regardless be prepared to wrestle them on and to possibly need socks at least in the beginning! Hoping they will work out as I love my vff's and running in -20C is not fun without something warmer! I do think they are worthwhile trying and if you are a diehard vff runner like me worth the wrestle to get on and worth the chance at breaking them in.