As many of you know, I log a few miles a week in my Vibram FiveFinger KSOs, mainly for fun, but also with the aim of strengthening my feet and improving my running form, balance and body awareness.
Looking back to the day I purchased the KSOs, it took a few attempts to find the correct size. The Men’s size 39 (10”) was too small, and the 40 (101⁄4”) too big. I ended up with the slightly narrower Women’s size 41 which is bang in the middle at 101⁄8”. Perfect!
To complicate matters further, however, my little toes are weird in that they curl into the 4th toe, and I vividly remember during the first few days of ownership it was a real struggle to separate the toes and actually get the KSOs on.
I’ve since found a much easier way to slip into the Vibrams which also makes for a pleasant blister-free experience too. Before wrestling with the KSOs, I simply apply a thin coating of MISSION Skincare’s Anti-Friction Cream to my feet, which helps my toes slide right into their respective pockets!
Anti-Friction Cream is also perfect to defend and relieve chafing, cracking and chapping, and is sweat resistant too. Click here to read more about the anti-friction cream and the other great products in the MISSION Skincare line-up.
I recommend using the KSOs as your walking shoes to strengthen your feet rather than as running shoes…especially at first. I wear mine pretty much every day to work and around town and I’ve seen a huge improvement in just the past year and a half of doing that.
I think that learning to run barefoot before using minimalist shoes is safer because the KSOs do take away a little too much of your interaction with the ground without providing the cushioning you’d get from a normal pair of shoes.
Good trick though on getting them on; thankfully the men’s size 42 fit me pretty well for the KSOs (although I couldn’t find a size to fit me with the sprints.)
Thanks for the comment Blaine. I’ve been wearing mine pretty much all day long since I started working from home several months ago. I also wear them for dog walks, grass cutting and other chores around the house. Definitely agree on the strengthening of the feet.
Thanks again for the advice…
–Steve