I’ve had these Vibram Fivefingers for a month now, and they really are great for portaging my kayak.  I’ll post more on that later.  Here’s my initial reaction to them from Boom!Atomic.

I got a pair of these crazy Vibram Fivefingers last week.  They are supposed to give you the comfort and freedom of walking in bare feet with the protection of a running shoe.

The Vibram web site shows people running, mountain climbing, and even swimming in them.  They coin the phrase “barefooting” and call it a sport. Take a look at this bit of PR goodness:

No matter which FiveFingers model you choose, you’ll experience a level of performance and a sense of connectedness no other footwear can match. Vibram FiveFingers footwear acts like a second skin to offer a gecko-like grip over a variety of terrain. It protects bare feet from rocks, gravel, and sharp objects. And it promotes a natural walking motion, reducing impact on your knees, hips, and lower back.

I haven’t climbed any mountains yet, but they sure did freak out the people at the convenience store.

They’re supposed to have some special anti-microbial stuff in the sole so they won’t get all funky like my old pair of Teva sandles.  My dog won’t even go near my Tevas.

Here’s a YouTube video of some guy giving his Fivefingers a bit more of a workout than I have: