I used to wear traditional running shoes, until I discovered these.
I first saw the Vibram Five Finger shoes in November 2009 while attending a conference in California and I was fascinated! Now, just about everyone has seem them and are becoming very popular. I purchased my first pair early 1n 2010. They were the Sprint style. At first I was very pleased but after 20 minutes of wearing them they started to become slightly uncomfortable, mostly in the heals. Also due to the super thin soles I did not enjoy running on pavement and actually ran next to the sidewalk in the grass.
About a year later a new style came out, the Bikila LS. I liked the laces style much more than the traditional velcro, so as soon as I was able to went to the store. I tried them on and was so excited about how much more comfortable these were!! WOW, what a difference! I purchased them instantly and wore them all the way home. I sold my lightly used other pair on eBay the next day.
The on heal the Bikila LS provides much more padding and the soles are thick enough to run on hard surfaces, but still leave plenty of flexibility. I wear these all the time and love them!
Running is a much difference experience in minimalist footwear. The biggest difference is in how I run. Instead of heal striking I run more flat footed putting more emphasis on the ball of the foot. I believe it give my legs a much better workout, especially my calves! Also, my knees and hips would occasionally experience pain while running in traditional footwear, while the vibrams greatly lessen any pain sensations. Since so many of us have knee issues any stress lessened on them is huge! Knee pain would stop me from working out as frequently, but not in these. I would consider these a healthy option!
The only drawback is wearing them barefoot because after each use as they can get quite stinky. It’s best to spray them with a deodorizer after wearing and throw them in the wash on occasion.
I also use these shoes for kayaking and on light hikes. They are a very good all around active or casual shoe. You might even see me wearing them in the grocery store. I think I might buy a second pair; one for running, one for casual use.