Vibram Five Fingers vs. Huarache Running Sandals

http://www.InvisibleShoe.com -- A few thoughts about Vibram Five Finger shoes versus huaraches running sandals. Which is better for "barefoot" (minimalist) running? Why would you pick one over the other?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• huaraches
• vibram
• five
• finger
• fingers
• invisible
• shoes
• tarahumara
• barefoot
• running
• minimalist

[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?

[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)

[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.

[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]

@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.

[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??!!)

[GinaLuciaSpicer]

@187ghettoblaster ;) <3

[187ghettoblaster]

toesssssss

[dafranx]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.