Vibram FiveFingers - Barefoot Running Shoes

I have to start with the Vibram Treksport because quite honestly, they are my favorite. These are my all-purpose shoe so if I don't know if I'm going to hit trails at the park or stay on a paved path, these are the ones I turn too. Of all the Vibram FiveFingers, these are the ones geared toward the rugged outdoors. The sole is a bit harder than some others so those little rocks and tree roots you're pounding over aren't going to become so bothersome.

The upper on the Vibram Treksport is made of Coconut Active Carbon for breathability. My feet have never gotten overheated in these and the fact that they cover your entire foot means you won't have tiny pebbles and debris getting in your shoes. This style has a 4mm lightly-cleated rubber outsole which gives you traction on a wide variety of terrain.

The Vibram Bikila was designed specifically to promote a natural, more efficient forefoot strike. These are the shoes made specifically with runners in mind. If I’m staying on paved surfaces, I love these shoes! I will say that I feel as though my feet get warmer in this style. It could be my imagination or it could be because I'm used to the other varieties but they are still certainly cooler than wearing traditional running shoes.

The Vibram Bikila features a 3mm polyurethane insole under the ball of your foot to really help with the forefoot strike. If you are a beginner runner, I recommend these. Transitioning to barefoot running is hard! There are a lot of new muscles to build up and a lot of nerve endings in the bottom of your feet. These make it a bit easier without compromising the barefoot feel.

The Vibram KSO is the style most people vote as being most versatile. They really fit snug up around your ankle to keep stuff out! The upper is made from breathable mesh and an abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide. The rubber outsole is perfectly razor-siped which offers flexibility and an unbelievable grip on the most slippery surfaces.

I will admit, I have a lot of friends who vote these as their favorite but this is not my favorite to run in. I have ran in mine for a few miles at a time at a time but they are more versatile when you need to go from land to water and back. I love these for kayaking, whitewater rafting and virtually any other activity but they aren't typically the pair I grab for a long run.

I just can't say enough about the Vibram Sprint! I used to run in them all the time but now they only get thrown into the rotation about once a week. If you want a true barefoot feel, these are the shoes for you. My only complaint with these is that debris can get in your shoes while you're running because of the low cut.

The non-marking 3.5mm sole is razor-siped to give you grip and flexibility. You will feel rocks and branches when you step on them more than other styles. This is the most popular woman's style because they are cute, perfect for yoga, Pilates, wearing on the boat, etc. I wear mine running errands all the time.

I have to admit, I have never ran in the Vibram Classic however, they are my shoes of choice to walk the dogs every morning. They are easy to just slip on while I'm half asleep and these are an excellent choice for water-skiing, jet-skiing, etc. They are really the next best thing to being barefoot. The upper on the Vibram Classic is made of nylon stretch fabric and the bottom is also a 3.5mm rubber sole like the Sprint.