Vibram Five Fingers vs. Huarache Running Sandals

[rasheemo1]

My BIGGEST issue with the huaraches, and if possible I would like someone who wears them to answer this for me, is that you don't get the same utility out of each individual toe as you do with the five fingers. For example when I deadlift (and obviously I wouldn't deadlift with huaraches) I can grip the floor with each of my toes and actually feel a difference. But if the toes don't each have vertical mobility without affecting the material around them, then I wonder how it would feel. Insight?

[annaweltman]

this is really the clincher video for me! you mentioned all the right stuff, and there is nothing that can be refuted. I'm a total barefooter - never once did I agree with the Vibrams when they first came out, and then the complaints began (about them) and have not stopped. Hence all the footwear companies trying now to get ahead of Vibram. But they'll never get ahead of Huaraches or plain BARE! (also have to mention how damned cute is Steven?? Eh??!!)

[187ghettoblaster]

toesssssss

[GinaLuciaSpicer]

@187ghettoblaster ;) <3

[dafranx]

Yo man, can you grip things on the ground while wearing the huarenches, as you would the vibram fivefingers?

[MinimalistandLovinit]

Alright. I have to say. I started on Vibrams. But since then I have gone barefooted, and I will soon make the jump to Huaraches. I am EXTREMELY excited. I am with Steven on the price and wear on Vibrams. I have already worn a hole in the toe of my KSOs, I would rather Spend 20$ getting a pair of Huaraches than a pair of ksos.

[UltraRunStuff]

i haven't used either of these for running and i am glad because they aren't for running. They are stinky novelty monkey feet for pretentious Westerners more interested in a pseudo-spiritual excuse for running slow than in training hard.

Just saying.

[emanuelmoren]

You are talking about Huaraches. The "real Huaraches" aren't they made from car tires? Isn't a car tire way thicker then a pair of vibram fivefingers?

[MinimalistandLovinit]

@emanuelmoren No. Those are the ones the Tarahumara use. If you would see the site you would realize they are only 4-6mm thick. less than most Vibrams.

[catchingrainproject]

dude... the hair is epic... one question would gyms allow these?

[xcolonel]

those sandals look like shit. this will never catch on like vibrams did. nice try though

[CooperCarr87]

I love how people are so snooty about heel striking.

[maj41097]

um i thi a correction, vibrams are pretty much water proof or it wont hurt them cause u can was them and jump in pools and all sorts of water things with vibrams, like vibrams way more. these are just stupid shoes

[invisibleshoes]

@maj41097 Vibrams are not waterproof... some are made of leather, which is clearly not waterproof. There's foam in the sole of all of them (holds water). The materials in the others takes much longer to dry than sandals. And, just to check: have you actually tried these sandals?

[sierra3daction]

@invisibleshoes

most vibram shoes are waterproof and yes some are not. you just have to make sure you buy the ones that are going suite you better.

[askaboutRudyV]

@maj41097 Hey man, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. These huaraches are awesome. I still like my vibrams too though of course.

[shadeless01]

Go barefoot, but these are cool too. im a barefoot runner and i approve on everything hes saying.

[helexable]

i have used both these shoes but I prefer vibrams it allowes me to go more places cause hiking in the sandles is uncomfortable to me but the viablrams are better

[invisibleshoes]

@helexable Different strokes, as they say... we have dozens of emails from people who say the opposite (if for no other reason than Invisible Shoes are waterproof, weigh less, and take up less space)

[epharston]

I just received my custom huaraches and laces. I'm cutting them custom to my feet now. I'll post later on how I like them.

[enlightenmentation]

@epharston So.. How did you like those huaraches?

[epharston]

@enlightenmentation I have tried every lacing method I could find, but bottom line, I could not settle on any method which 1) didn't cut in between my toes 2) would stay laced without loosening up. I finally bought some very lightweight Puma shoes which I use along with 100% barefoot running. I find that sometimes in the summer, I forget to put on shoes when I go out to run errands. So far I haven't run into any problems with businesses giving me any flack for going barefoot.

[awesomelyhumble]

I was hoping you would show the actual shoes and comment on their features in detail. Otherwise, good and informative video. Thank you.

[DaniaOMGWania]

This guys hair is soooooo pretty!!

[Grace88Anderson]

they want WAY too much money for the huaraches. Also, I pay 40 dollars for my 5 fingers at my local running sports store. Also, you wash five fingers. Bottem line, I would try the sandels but I'm not paying that much money for something that I could make myself for about 2 dollars. Sorry man, they look cheap

[invisibleshoes]

@Grace88Anderson Invisible Shoes huaraches start at just $20. And if you're paying $40 for VFFs, you may want to see if they're fakes since the least expensive models for running are typically no less than $60 at the discount stores.

And good luck trying to make something as good as these for $2. Good rubber alone can cost $10-15 (cheap rubber is, obviously, cheaper, and doesn't last as long or perform as well). Decent laces cost more than $2.

[Grace88Anderson]

@invisibleshoes Hmm well I take it back a little then. I admit the cheapest ones I saw on the website were about 30 dollars but I didn't look super close because that was a turn off. My 5 fingers are real, they were that cheap because they were on clearance... I think the place was closing. I was suspicious too

[Grace88Anderson]

@invisibleshoes also something that no one has been able to explain to me is what makes these different or exponentially better than a 99 cent pair of flip flops? Yes I see that they are thinner, but that can be modified, and the lace system is slightly difference but again, I can do that myself... They may last a but longer too, but again, I could alter about 25 pairs of flip flops for the cost of one pair of those. I'm just not sold.

[GraceAnnHawkins]

@invisibleshoes the store was putting them on clearance, i think they were closing maybe

[askaboutRudyV]

@Grace88Anderson $40?! Where do you live, in China, or Thailand or something? Those MUST be fake or something, because everywhere in California, and online, they cost atleast $75 then you have to pay taxes, and shipping if it's online. Usually $80 to $95 in every store I searched.

[waltleroy01]

Look at this hippie motherfucker.

[Mijumaru500]

@waltleroy01

Lookin' like Yani dyed his hair..... :T

[OutdoorsAndSuch]

I have morton's foot and vibrams fit me fine, but I would LOVE some huarches!

[runningislyfe]

Wow! Thank you so much!

[HitTheTrailRunning]

/watch?v=evdDbUrWn1k

[crsohr]

Thanks a lot. This really helped me make my decision.

[huerta25264]

you look like mel gibson.

[TheIppus]

@huerta25264 Eh, minus the drunken ranting. My wife keeps reminding me he did his own butt-work in Lethal Weapon, so it can't be that bad, right?

[invisibleshoes]

@randomniss1 I WANT to get a haircut (no perm, BTW), but my wife insists that it's the only reason she married me... and I like having her around.

[invisibleshoes]

@randomniss1 Actually, they're REALLY strong and flexible. I haven't heard of anyone puncturing one yet. The biggest reason for wearing them (other than the fun style, of course) is exactly because they add a layer of protection. The first person who I ever made a pair for said, "It's like being barefoot... if they covered the whole world in a layer of rubber."

[Mijumaru500]

@invisibleshoes

You are a beautiful man. You look like Barbara Streisand did the Fusion Dance with Yani.

[NouveauNick]

@invisibleshoes I think it's cool - nobody rocks hair like this anymore.

[CAESARbonds]

@randomniss1

YOU are a little hater that posts SPAM on youtube.

So who is "waste" here. Grow up kid. Your haircut is like justin bieber.

Think before you insult other people

[jav1231]

I'm sorry but huarache's look like flip flops. So unless they can do something about the pain of having something pulled between my toes I don't see anything revolutionary here.

[invisibleshoes]

@jav1231 First, there are ways of tying huaraches where there's nothing between your toes (see invisibleshoe-dot-com-slash-ty­ing). Secondly, even with the traditional style, the toe string exerts much less pressure than a flip flop, in part because the whole sandal is held to your foot with lacing around the heel, too, rather than you having to scrunch your toes on a flip flop. Plus, these are designed with long-lasting, thin rubber -- WAY better than flip-flop material.

[betaomega04]

I love Huaraches...I run in them frequently...but God save you if you ever have to run through water or mud...that's one place where the Vibrams shine, especially if you're considering doing something like a Tough Mudder...

[TheBrownRaven]

you just saved me $100

[zenkahuna]

These sandals look to be something that will work for me. Thanks for making these vids available.

[jonhostetler]

Thanks for the detailed comparison. I was seriously considering getting a pair of Five Fingers until I discovered the haurache's - a less expensive and healthier solution. Thanks a million!

[mobius1234]

Right now i am barefoot running in socks.

[Lordgout]

Awesome review! I have began to experience the problems with my five fingers that you mentioned. A great beginner shoe I think in terms of transitioning to barefoot but for the serious runner not so good! Just out of curiosity though, are there any shoes the you would recommend to wear during colder winter times?

[invisibleshoes]

@Lordgout I've worn my Invisible Shoes all winter (in Colorado). Amazingly, if you give your feet time, they learn to handle the cold (our ancestors went barefooted in colder climes than ours). Or, you can add a pair of slightly-big wool socks or toe-socks to your sandals.

[MrTrashbarg]

@invisibleshoes How cold does it get in Colorado? I live in Sweden, where it can get down to minus 15 degrees (C) without a problem in the winters. Til I find something better I'll stick with my VFF treks when running on ice and snow, if not for the warmth then for the gripping, althought I've thought about making myself a pair of huaraches for the summer season.

[invisibleshoes]

@MrTrashbarg -15C is pretty common here in CO, too.

[TheIppus]

@MrTrashbarg I'm in Idaho. Same problem in the winter. My VFF Flows don't cut it. I've had some forum folks tell me that Merrell's Barefoot Trailglove is decent for winter (no divided toes like VFFs, good traction), esp with some smartwool socks or something. I haven't been willing to shell out that kind of cash so far ($110!!). I've also had people talk about wearing oiled wool socks and such in winter... Maybe combining huaraches with some wool or something? *shrug* Winter's coming, too.

[SalvadorLosAngeles]

Great video! I'm a barefoot runner (as in BAREFOOT), but do enjoy six pairs of Five Fingers for casual and gym use. True about the smell. True about the ability to heel strike (at least in Classics, Sprints, KSO). You didn't mention laundry costs! I pay $1.25 per wash. And even though I wash six pairs at once, the cost adds up.

I need to get me some invisibleshoes!

[ieattinybabykittens]

i've had vibrams for a few months now and they have already ripped on two different places. i also have the issue of my second toe being larger than my first and that does cause an issue when i run in them because they will rub on the end. i have to wash them usually once a week and they arent things you can throw in the wash and forget about. there's a reason why huaraches have been around for so long, they work

[Jayfoxpox]

@invisibleshoes

Hi,

Can you make a video on proper running technique for these sandals?

Or point me to the right direction to where I can learn more on the proper form.

[stevensashen]

@Jayfoxpox There's a good discussion about proper form at InvisibleShoe-dot-com/729/

[withoutFRANSISCO]

Would you say that VFF are a pretty good transition (or training shoe) to get to barefoot running, or is it fine to go from wearing an extremely padded shoe to huaraches?

[invisibleshoes]

@withoutFRANSISCO It's totally fine to go from padded shoes to huaraches or to bare feet. In fact, the only people I've ever heard who recommend "transition" shoes have never actually run barefoot. When you make the change, though, don't expect to put in the same number of miles right away! Start slow and let your body learn how to run light, easy, and pain-free... the miles will come.

[magicmanofsteel2000]

Hey Steve, I was wandering, how can there be a real difference, when the Huarache are made with Vibram material? the biggest thing I see is the custom issue(I have small feet, and they don't make my size) thats why I 've looked into Huaraches , as far as running form, its both vibram, therefore its the runner not the shoe, and smell, they're machine washable. now i have never owned a pair of vibram, but i was just thinking, if its the same material?....

[invisibleshoes]

@magicmanofsteel2000 Vibram makes a LOT of different types of rubber outsole material. The type we use for the huaraches is very different than what they use in the fivefingers.

[magicmanofsteel2000]

@invisibleshoes O, okay, makes sense, thanks

[angrygreek1985]

Any advice on what I could wear to keep my feet warm if I were to make these sandals? I wear a pair of Fivefinger KSO's with Injinji toe socks and they're OK for the most part, but on particularly cold days my feet start to freeze! I suppose I could wear those socks with these sandals too.

Maybe I'd be better off running in some kind of neoprene booty on those really cold days. I live in western Canada so it gets REALLY wet here too sometimes

[angrygreek1985]

@angrygreek1985 Ran out of characters! It can get REALLY wet here, so using some wool socks (how would that work with a string going thru my toes!?) wouldn't particularly work either because they'd start to get really wet. It rains tremendously here.

[magicmanofsteel2000]

@angrygreek1985 Hey I live in Ohio, and it gets both wet and cold here too. I just went for my first run with a makeshift pair of Huaraches. I used wool socks, just push in the material for the big toe. my feet, oddly enough my feet were the warmest part of my body. wool is great, because even if it is wet, wool maintains most of its insulating properties(thats why i wore them instead of my regular cotton pair.)

[invisibleshoes]

@angrygreek1985

1) If you stay barefoot, your feet will adapt much more than you think they will

2) If you do loops instead of one big run, that'll help (e.g. go out for a mile, come back inside for a couple minutes, repeat)

3) Try some wool socks that are a bit too big (think about what you would wear with flip flops)

[invisibleshoes]

@angrygreek1985

Also, regarding winter:

4) Toes socks really do help... also, it sounds silly, but I've even used toe warmers that are meant for snowboarding, but I've used hand/toe warmers for running in my gloves/on the top of my foot tucked in my toe socks... slightly awkward but it works too...

4.5) Be on the lookout on our website for something new from us in early spring or so ;-)

[angrygreek1985]

@invisibleshoes Thanks!

[BatmanProject777]

You look a little like Mel Gibson ! The early Lethal Weapon Mel, when he was still kind of happy

[Deni4994]

Can you tell me where I can purchase Vibram material so I can try to make a pair of these sandals?

[invisibleshoes]

@Deni4994 We sell it with our Invisible Shoes kits at invisibleshoe-dot-com

[willis7111]

I'm sold! But I'm having trouble convincing family and friend about the health aspect of being bare foot all the time. Do you know of any medical research to help me out?

Sorry for all the comments haha.

[invisibleshoes]

@willis7111 I'll assume by "barefoot" you mean "without supportive shoes" rather than "skin on the ground". What health issues are your family/friends concerned about?

Think about this: Humans didn't wear much more than a thin covering for their feet for tens of thousands of years. Many cultures still don't wear shoes very often.

That said, there aren't scientific studies that show EITHER that barefoot/minimalist is better/worse than being in shoes. There's lots of anecdotal support for bare

[willis7111]

thanks so much for the feed back. Ok one final question, I understand how huarache can improve your running experiences, but what about for normal every day stuff? I work long hour and I'm constantly on my feet. How do you think huarache compare to normal shoe with the insert soles or whatever else helps me stay on my longer?

[invisibleshoes]

@willis7111 I don't know if they'll help you stay on your feet longer, but like I mentioned, huaraches are all I wear. Same thing with my wife, and with many of our customers.

We were at a trade show recently, where we were on our feet for 10-12 hours/day... and my wife commented that it was the first time her feet weren't tired after doing something like that. I had the same experience (my hunch is that this is because you have to USE your feet, not just balance on them)

[willis7111]

O and what about Chacos? I love running allot but when I'm not I want a shoe that can do the job.

[willis7111]

and here i was just about to ask for Five Fingers for Christmas. My only question is what about colder weather, does anyone think that Five Fingers would be more appropriate then?

[invisibleshoes]

@willis7111 If you get the VFFs that are made for colder weather, you add another issue: thickness. The amount of material between the toes can feel like a bit much. With huaraches, you can add a pair of wool socks and handle much colder weather. And your feet adjust! I'm in Colorado and I haven't worn anything other than Invisible Shoes (and sprinting spikes when I'm at the track) in over 16 months.

[treinspore]

MY THOUGHTS ON FIVEFINGERS (sprint model) - wore for about 1 year. WORST smell ever. They ripped in a few irreparable places. My biggest problem with the shoe is that they really messed up my muscles in my feet. I am no longer able to sprint without feeling an incredible pain in the middle of both of my feet. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! These huaraches seem like a much better option....

[ceroma19]

with huaraches do you get sand, dirt, rocks, etc. in between feet and huarache?

[stevensashen]

@ceroma19 Depends on what you're running/walking on, and it depends on how you run/walk. But, in general, getting a rock between your foot happens very rarely... and when it does, you just "flick" your foot and it can come right out.

[JoshuaDG2111]

if you read the instructions when you buy the fivefingers...if they tear just return them for a fix! or just buy another pair! god there only $80!!! the average pair of nikes are more than a $100

[invisibleshoes]

@JoshuaDG2111 You may find this hard to believe, but for some people, $80 is a lot of money. And some of the VFFs, as you know, are $125+. Also, the amount of padding on the heel and ball of the foot makes the VFF much "less barefoot" than a pair of huaraches (which, again, are as little as $20)

[JoshuaDG2111]

wow...i have that too with the middle toe being longer and have ZERO problems! alot of things he is saying is completly opinionated! i could just imagine running in these "sandals" and they catch the ground and rip or trip you up. calling $80 expensive is retarded!

[invisibleshoes]

@JoshuaDG2111 To be more accurate and less opinionated, Vibrams are 4-6x the price of Invisible Shoes. And while you may be imagining catching the sandal on the ground, it almost never happens. The material is extremely strong; ripping doesn't happen (unlike the fabric of VFFs which often rips). Your concerns are mere speculation and not based on experience. Glad to hear your Morton's Toe doesn't give you problems with VFFs, which are, undeniably, not cut to handle that condition.

[fetymann]

Veeeeebram

[monsenrm]

I just started running in Huaraches after about a year in Five Fingers. I can't say I have put on a massive amount of experience but....

I know Stephen says the Huarches have less padding then FF - but my "observation" on rocky off road conditions is that the Huaraches have slightlly "better" protection on small pebbles (like 1cm or less). I think it is the Vibram material - it is thin but very tough. The FFs are thicker but softer. On bigger rocks/terrain the huaraches have more "feel".

[invisibleshoes]

@monsenrm You got it right... because the material we use in the Invisible Shoes huaraches is more flexible than that used by the VFFs it bends around the pebbles better, rather than giving a hard surface that transmits the force (think about the difference between throwing a rock at a pillow vs. a piece of glass).

[JoshuaDG2111]

@monsenrm i dont understand how you can say that the sandal would have better protection against small rocks....i can get a rock up my foot in my flip flops and im not running!

[monsenrm]

@JoshuaDG2111 I don't really understand the question. I mean rocks under the sole - not the ones that come around under your foot. Even in the case of rocks and sand that get between your foot and the shoe bottom - they fall out very fast while running. A shoe like FF must close off the top because it fits around the bottom of your foot and if you got a rock between your foot and sole it wouldn't come out.

[theapc816]

I have both five fingers and a pair of huaraches. I use the five fingers for hiking but I wear my huaraches everywhere else. They keep my feet cooler and they're free to move completely unrestricted, plus they don't grab stares like five fingers.

[philustar]

@theapc816 I agree with you 100%, i actually got my five fingers first, but as he said they have started to stink and most people stare. also they are way too expensive, i do however think they are a great product for uses where you do want some foot covering.

[JoshuaDG2111]

@philustar theres plenty of ways to get rid of foot odor...look in a store! mine dont stink and ive had mine about a year with daily use