Customer Reviews Vibram FiveFingers Trek Ascent

This is my first impression of my first pair of Vibram FiveFingers. I tend to rant, but I will try to be brief. To understand my point of view and transition I have to start with a bit of history. Maybe one of you has the same circumstances and this will help you. I first tried minimalist shoes in 2012 with Merrell's first Trail Glove model (Trail Glove). I loved them from the beginning. The only problem was that I tended to heel strike while running, so I bought a pair of highly-flexible (but not minimalist) Reeboks that destroyed my feet and I wound up with bad plantar fasciitis - the kind that makes you cry when you first step out of bed. I had custom orthopedic insoles made and gave up running for the last few years (and the Trail Gloves). I recently started walking to work (about one mile each way) and the plantar fasciitis flared up again. After reading several articles debating minimalist shoes versus supportive shoes I decided to try switching back to minimalist shoes as I really felt that over the last several years my feet had atrophied due to the cast-like support of orthopedics. I found the educational resources on Vibram's website to be extremely helpful. I gradually transitioned back to my old Trail Gloves while performing the exercises found on Vibram's website as well as various feet and calf stretches. That helped me restore strength to my feet and calves while lengthening my plantar fascia. After about a month I was out of my orthopedics completely and now find that if I try to wear them my knees hurt within a few steps. While wearing the Trail Gloves, I noticed that I still tended to heel strike first when walking, because they feel more like regular shoes, even though I was attempting to walk with shorter strides, keeping my feet under me and landing with more of a mid-foot strike. It was hard to break the habit. I purchased the Vibram FiveFingers a few weeks ago and transitioned to them fairly quickly (about one week), since I was already in other minimalist shoes full time. While this pair is thicker-soled than other Vibram FiveFingers, it allows for better ground feel and ambulation than Trail Gloves. They have done wonders for the remnants of plantar fasciitis I still have. Without changing my stretching and exercise routine, I have had a noticeable decline in foot pain when getting out of bed. What used to be pain is now minor stiffness that quickly goes away. I feel like a kid again when I put on the Vibram FiveFingers. They are light, comfortable, and allow me to walk more naturally and use the anatomical structure of my foot to provide support and guide my steps - instead of letting my shoes dictate my gait. The major advantage of the Vibram FiveFingers over the Trail Glovess is that my toes spread easier and there is no cushioned midsole that reduces ground feel, which, in my case, didn't stop me from heel-striking. I occasionally still have a hint of plantar fasciitis every few days, but not as frequently as I did before, and not with the same intensity. I honestly feel that the Vibram FiveFingers have encouraged a more natural gait with less impact. Last week I started to run short distances during my morning walk. I am beginning to learn POSE running and the Vibram FiveFingers are really conducive to the form. I tried it in my trail gloves and it was harder to keep form, but that could also be due to inexperience. Other pros of the Vibram FiveFingers: they dry quickly and it is easy to stretch while wearing them. I feel more like I am grabbing the ground and flowing with the terrain instead of stomping over it. I walk much softer in the Vibram FiveFingers. Size-wise, I am an 11½ in just about every other shoe, and the 44 fits perfectly. The only cons that I can think of are 1) they are not going to be warm in cold weather, 2) they are not really "business casual" appropriate, and 3) I have one abducted toe (on my fourth toe the last joint points inward at a 45° angle). That is not Vibram's fault, but it does make getting used to the toe pockets weird for that toe only. If I could rate on a 10 star basis, Vibram FiveFingers would score 10 and the Trail Glovess a 9. I will probably buy another pair of those for winter wear with thick socks. FYI, stay away from New Balance Minimus; while the shoe is light weight, the soles are very stiff compared to Vibram FiveFingers and trail gloves. It is almost like wearing boots. I can roll the Vibram FiveFingers and trail gloves into a ball easily, but the New Balances can hardly be folded in half. Also, I have only had to go to the chiropractor for back pain once in the last three months versus average bi-weekly visits before. Minimalist shoes encourage better posture while walking and standing.

I've been using the original FiveFinges KSO EVO (minimal padding/thin sole) for 8 years. I got these to try getting a bit more padding to do long hiking/trail running where terrain is rough. The additional padding of the Trek Ascent helps reduce the sore bottom of feet during long outings. I wasn't sure I wanted them initially because it seemed I would loose the feel of the terrain with the added padding but it seems to be just enough to allow the feeling of terrain with added protection. One thin I'm not sure about is the lacing system. I'm not sure why Vibram dropped the velcro closure like in the KSO that is so simple and easy to use. The closure of the Ascent seems more durable but I'm yet to have a pair of KSOs where the velcro failed before I had to throw them away from the normal wear and tear.

These shoes are an interesting new direction for Vibram. I like them so far but I’m not sure I love them as much as some other models I own. These are intended for hiking and as such they have an 8mm base. Vibram has achieved this by combining a 4mm outsole (identical to the Spyridon MR I own with a slightly different tread pattern) and a 4mm EVA midsole. The cushioning on a variety of trail conditions is pretty solid (more than the Spyridon, in my opinion). However, the EVA midsole creates a new and somewhat bothersome environment. One of the things the barefoot paradigm advocates is the connection between the sole of the foot and the ground. That connection is one of the joys I discovered the longer I lived in my Vibrams. Your toes relearn how to function properly as part of your natural gate with no shoe last confining the movement of your toes or midsole materials interrupting the signals the sole of your foot is trying to discern from the ground it is treading over. Placing the EVA cushioning/midsole back into these shoes removes a distinct amount of that feedback available in the Vibrams equipped with only the rubber outsole. It’s a tradeoff I suppose but I tend to think the compromise I would have preferred would be a 6mm rubber outsole, which would have a better rock blocking ability, and no EVA. YMMV.

I thought I had reviewed this shoe? Well if I did a second one will not hurt! I love this shoe I brought the other color as well! Money well spent.!

I purchased tan/grey/black unsulated first. So I am sold on this style of foot ware, course they are not for snow but I like them and I will buy more! Thank You!

it's a good shoe comfortable would buy again and again!

I wish Vibram would bring back this particular version of this style! I am a woman who can't wear the women's shoes (I take a 42 men's in Vibram), so I love it when I find a color and style that don't look all wrong on me. Also, I just love the shoes—I wear them with scrubs to work, to the gym, and sometimes on hikes, though in this wet region they're not ideal for that.

The women's Vibrams don't fit my foot, so I'm always happy to find a men's shoe that fits well and doesn't horribly offend my taste in colors. I love these shoes. They're the second pair of FiveFingers I ever bought, and I'm ready to buy a second pair before they stop making this exact shoe; it can be tough to find an exact fit even within the same brand, depending on toe length in particular. I alternate these shoes with my more conventional athletic shoes at the gym to reduce my risk of stress fractures. I love the way these shoes challenge me to move differently, and they also seem to make my feet more limber and "intelligent." I had a run analysis to get fitted for new athletic shoes once after using these for years, and the analyst was impressed with the degree of self-awareness and mobility I had in my otherwise troubled and troublesome, flat, wide feet.

These Vibrams are more sturdy for trails. They are a little thicker but it is good for tougher terrain.

Sizing is a problem. The Vibram web-site said to order one size up from usual FiveFingers. I did. They felt too "short" and too wide. The shoe itself is beautiful. Just not for my foot. I'm a FiveFinger Trek fan for sure.

Excellent minimalist shoe. Your toes and entire foot move as if you were barefoot. You feel every nook and cranny while being protected from cuts. As close to barefoot running as you can get without actually being barefoot.

I have only had them a week. It is my first pair of "glove" shoes. I get laughed at a lot, but they are very comfortable. I'm glad I bought them. I wear them when I go fishing.

I have had many pair of Vibram's in the last few years. I wear them every day, everywhere I go. The soles on the Trek Ascent offer, for me, the best comfort, grip, and durability of wear of the many styles I have tried. I am a delivery guy who takes well over 12,000 steps a day in mine and have worn them daily for over six months and they are still going strong. I used to swear by the KSO's but would only get 3-4 months out of them before wearing holes in the sole. I really can't recommend these shoes highly enough.

I hate flip-flops - things between my toes, yuck. These feel great, I have no idea why but they do. I am sailing and I use them on the boat while sail racing and the grip/traction is superior to my past shoes and twice as comfortable. It is weird but they work.

I've been running in FiveFingers for about 7 years. These have a little more padding and a higher sides than the Bikilas I normally run in. As I get older, I appreciate a little padding, though no-one would say these are well padded compared to a regular, or even most minimalist running shoes. They have great tread for running on trails, and the high sides keep some of the dirt and stones from finding it's way inside. They have become my new favorites for both trails and roads. Also, the all black design lets me feel less conspicuous when I wear them with street clothes so I find I wear them a lot more than my other Five Fingers.

Never in my life I thought about buying shoes online, but so many good comments about ZAPPOS made me try it and it was all worth it. The options of sizes and models is much larger than any brick and mortar store, the FREE shipping both ways made it an easy decision. Being this a non traditional shoe, the first size I ordered was a bit tight, so I call to get a larger size to try both, and returned to one that didn't fit. The convenience is magnificent ZAPPOS ROCKS!!!

Excellent product - I use them for my indoor workouts. These are my first five finger shoes and I am impressed!

Amazing shoes feeling totally Barefoot Natural shape balance control with warm material for cold mountains ,the Love for Vibram Fivefingers!

I really like these shoes, but I wear a women's 12 narrow and since they don't come in that size, I was advised by Vibram to go with a men's 43. The problem is that I have to cinch them up so tight that it even pulled in on the length. I ended up with a men's 44, which, while not ideal, is still a great feel on my feet.

Tried one on in a store and immediately my Morton's Neuroma which ALWAYS hurts - was simple gone. Like it vanished! I suppose this had to do with the separation of the toes. I have tried shots, pads, foam insoles - and they all gave some relief. But these just make it vanish the moment they go on. Now up to 3 pair and here I am shopping for more. BTW - great for golf as well. It improved my balance - but I'm still working on my putting.

This is my first pair of Vibrams, and I'm very excited about these! I have flat feet and bunions, and my physical therapist has prescribed a series of foot exercises to strengthen my arches and straighten out my toes. He also recommended a pair of barefoot shoes. I've only had these for two weeks, and I can already feel a difference in my feet. My muscles feel stronger, my toes spread out more, and I feel really "connected" to the ground when I walk. I practice yoga every day, and because my feet are getting stronger, my balance has improved greatly. I also love the thin layer of padding and the slightly thicker tread on the Trek Ascent. Since this is my first pair of barefoot shoes, I wanted to ease myself into it. These are VERY comfortable and are great for long walks. It took me a couple of tries to find the right size. I normally wear a women's 11, but the women's sizes felt too small, so I ended up going with a men's 42 and it's perfect. I highly recommend these!

These are an excellent choice for those of us who enjoy the versatility and freedom of bare feet but need the extra protection. They are light, exceedingly durable, and with a superb grip, these shoes have lived up to their standard.

Right shoe felt very different from left in the toes. I'm buying mens because I wear size 11 womens normally. Will try a size down from 44 to 43. Was trying to go by the measuring method they recommend.

SIZE UP from your normal Fivefingers size. (I have several pairs of 43 but I had to go up to 44.) These are perfect Fivefingers for the hard surfaces of the city. Even on wet cobblestones they grip well, which I can't say about most shoes. The 8mm of cushioned sole, the thickest yet for Fivefingers, is really nice on pavement. These are a little bit rough on the inside, so I think Vibram meant them to be worn with socks. But for me, the toe pockets are too snug for socks. Contrast the TrekSport Multisport, for example, which has plenty of room for Injinji-covered toes.

This is my second pair of Vibram FiveFingers. These initially felt a little tight on my big toe, but after a few wears, they've broken in well. I like how the laces allow for easy on and off. Quite a bit more cushioning and grip than my original pair.