VibramMen's El-x Cross Training Shoe

Let me tell you off the bat, I don’t wright reviews….ever! I was intrigued and convinced of Vibram before I bought them. I decided to take the chance at $89 not to high but still a lot for something you’ve never tried. At first I was excited when unboxing but after I tried them on I was a bit apprehensive for two reasons. The first is, that they fit well but I found myself shifting when moving even though they were a perfect fit. So I went to my local REI and got injinji 5 finger toe socks. These socks made all the difference and made them feel super comfortable while still maintaining the barefoot feel. So definitely recommend you get them. Second problem is not a Vibram issue but something they should definitely mention. If you’ve worn tight boat anchors your whole life you have naturally squished toes. Which makes putting the VFF on a pain in the A%@. After time I’m sure they will get used to it. At first they felt funky walking around but I figured there new and need braking in. So I wore the, around a bit before running. So before I tell you why I’m never running in a regular shoe again I must let you know i just recently started my running journey and am not fast. I’ve been running 1 to 3.5 miles every day and have been averaging 10:54 to 12:00 miles, with what felt like was a brick wall of a pace I couldn’t get past. Today I strapped them on set my NRC app and set off. The first 0.3 miles was so weird and slow. My legs and mind couldn’t decide what to do. So I decided to push a faster pace and then it all just clicked. I started mid to forefoot running form out of nowhere like it was natural. My pace felt faster then ever, and it corrected my leg strides which in turn kept my breathing down. I ran a 9:29….. I’ve never ran that fast. These cut a huge amount of time off my Mile. Here’s the best part. When I got back home I felt fine, not tired, and ready to do more. These aren’t placebo, these shoes are what we need to run correctly. Very happy with them.

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.

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.