Men's FiveFingers EL-X | Barefoot Casual Shoes for Everyday Wear & Comfort

These are amazing. They're the closest thing to walking barefoot that you can get while still having a good layer of protection between your foot and the ground. You will feel everything beneath you but just slightly dampened. I walk on rocks and it's fine, but I wouldn't want to be doing any jumping around on it. Highly recommend for the gym, for walking around, or if you want to get the true barefoot feel.

First, a bit about me: I am a barefoot runner, and by barefoot, that's what I mean: no shoes. I've been running this way for about a year and a half, after experiencing my fill of running-related injuries that, as it turns out, appear to have been directly related to those thick, cushioned boat anchors that the salespeople insisted I needed because of my particular foot structure. To be fair, I have a mild case of Morton's toe, but the traditional running shoes were recommended to "correct my pronation" (becoming a barefoot runner tends to make you recognize the silliness of that sort of diagnosis). In any event, I say this only to demonstrate that I have a background with traditional running shoes, then ditched them completely. I didn't do the "minimalist transition to barefoot;" I am doing the barefoot transition to minimalist, because sometimes I just want a little bit more protection under my soles. A wise barefoot guru once told me that if you can run barefoot, you can run in everything, and he's absolutely right. Now, as to the VFF EL-X: I have a pair of size 43 (too large VFF Bikila, sized for me by a running shoe store - my shoe size is a US 10). Then I bought another pair of VFFs whose name I can't recall, sized at an REI salesperson at size 41, and they fit nice and snug, comfortable even with my Morton's toe. I like most everything about them except the lacing system, which tends to bind the top of my foot if I don't get it just so. When I saw the EL-X, with their super-thin soles and no laces, I thought what the heck. I am training for a half-marathon in a few weeks and don't want to run this particular one bare. So, I bought ordered these and they arrived yesterday. Put them on straight away and spent the day in them, just walking around, and they felt great. A bit snug, but new shoes always do. The real test would be on my morning run. Took them out this morning on a hilly 8-miler on mixed pavement, from concrete to chipseal asphalt to graveled roadside, and I have to say, I absolutely loved the run. Was able to maintain the same high cadence that barefoot running encourages, the same leg spring, the same full foot flex, all important components of good barefoot form. I was able to focus less on the conditions and more on the run itself, but still had quite good feel for the road beneath my feet. I finished the run feeling exactly the way you want to feel after a run, refreshed and stronger. I knew I'd finally found the right shoe for those times when I want a bit more foot protection. I highly recommend these for experienced barefoot or minimalist runners. Do NOT buy these shoes if you aren't willing to undergo a lengthy and patient transition period, hopefully guided by an experienced barefooter. These shoes are so unlike a standard running shoe that it's almost a certainty that you'll hurt yourself if you don't do it right. True barefoot running utilizes dormant muscles and connective tissues you never knew you had, and these shoes are an extremely close approximation to that experience. But if you have some barefoot or minimalist miles under your belt, and you want an ultra-thin sole, slip-on ease, and a highly responsive experience, the EL-X is the VFF for you. I'll be ordering a second pair.

Amazing shoes, husband said they improved his workouts. Going strong, no rips. Very comfortable and true to size.

If your considering this shoe at all then you are aware of the benefits of barefoot or something like it, so we nee not get into that area. This shoe, with it's thin sole, makes for a pretty good tool if your looking for foot strength or to transition to completely,honestly barefoot hiking. It provides adequate protection from hidden stones and pointy things that would make a normal barefoot hiker spew multitudinous obscenities, but not so much protection that the foot does not get effected and become a bit tougher from the pain. They completely fail in two areas however; leaf covered hills and wet surfaces. You want to stick to fairly even and dry terrain, which is not to say avoid all hills and wet conditions. Just wet rock and dry, leaf covered hills. They are also definitely not a water shoe, lack of wet rock grip aside, they're just not made for it. After many miles in these shoes they are falling apart, so I would not recommend them based on lack of durability. These shoes would however, be excellent for a runner who knows how to run barefoot, IMO. Sizing: Check the Vibram five finger homepage for decent guidelines. I went one size larger than recommended...wish I had gone two. Still a bit tight on second toe. So they're overall good, just not for me. Even though I still like 'em.

I have owned and ran thru 5 pairs of KSO in the past. I was going to get a new pair for the weight room and saw they recently re-launched the original KSO in blackout color scheme for $75. At the end of the day even though I loved the KSO shoes, they were not exactly perfect. I have to say that I am really glad I read the review here stating these as being superior to the KSO in every way. I listened to this advice and you should too. I wear a 44 in KSO and based on the other reviews saying to get these a size up, ordered them in a 46. They were wayyyy too big, basically loose across the bridge with about an extra inch in the heel cup, no way. I returned them for a 44 which is my original KSO size and they fit perfectly. Took about one session of an hour to break them in entirely and now they feel the same every time I put them on. These feel a lot more like what I originally expected from the KSO. The ground feel on these is amazing. They are so light and flexible and strong it is really quite amazing. They breathe so much easier than the KSO and do not absorb nearly as much sweat and funk. The lack of hanging tabs at the heel, tightening strap across the bridge and doubled over fabrics at various points reduces the weight and overall drag on your foot significantly versus the KSO. That being said I would not wear these outside hiking on a trail or playing disc golf or anything of that nature. A stray twig or branch would surely and immediately puncture right thru the very thin material that makes up the body of the shoe. I only wear them inside. I find them perfect for lifting weights, particularly for squats and deadlifts. I work out in them 3 times a week and I clean them in the sink with cold water and a little laundry detergent and set them outside to dry on Saturday. I bought these for $59 and at this price even if they fail and delaminate after a year I would still buy them again. I love everything about the way they feel and function, absolutely perfect.

Have been using vibram for some years now...this is the best tat the company is produced..light weight and very comfortable.

Thanks for bringing this great product to India, robust build quality, genuine product, bought 4 so far, different models, looking to buy more, cheers !!

I really love the fit and the feel of the Fivefingers El-X, but unfortunately the glue was getting off already three weeks after I purchased them. And that's really not okay. (And no, I did not wash them, I didn't wear them all the time; only for gym purposes)

They are lightweight, have good traction, fit like a glove and are comfortable!

Super bequem