Vibram Men's FiveFingers V-Run Running Shoe, Black/Yellow, 48 EU, 12.5-13 US

I chose the Prime Wardrobe option this time around (this is the third time I have ordered these) because of the ability to "try before you buy." The sizing chart available on the Vibram website is somewhat off. I found that the size recommended by the website is off by a half size. So I ordered a size down, still too big. This last order I finally got it right. You need to measure your foot exactly from heel to big toe. A shoe measurement device (found at most shoe stores) is best but a tape measure works just as well. It's measured in inches.Now a little about comfort. They're very comfortable. I wear them almost exclusively except when I have to wash them. If you get the size just a little big (not on purpose) you can make up for this with a pair of Injinji toe socks. They're $10 for a pair but worth every penny as they last years, not months like most socks.The shoes themselves fit like gloves for your feet. I've had numerous foot problems over the years, including being born with my little toe (on both feet) curling under my fourth toe, creating blisters and hard callouses. The Vibrams eliminate this problem completely as the toes are completely separated from one another. The shoes also have built in arch supports, so if you have flat feet... This particular model has ventilation holes all throughout the front part of the shoes and the laces are the pull/loop type with a velcro fastener. I live in Phoenix, AZ and there is a bit of heat transfer from the hot concrete to the soles of your feet but nothing painful, just a slight discomfort. My favorite thing to do is to walk on rocks ground as this gives me a nice foot massage.When wearing your Vibrams for the first time you should take note of one particular thing. Your foot and lower legs muscles will ache or be quite sire. This is entirely normal as you are retraining those muscles to support your ankles. Regular shoes actually weaken your ankles over time because it's the construction of the shoe that provides the support and not your muscles. This is why when people first get home from work they usually take their shoes off first and find enormous relief, as non Vibrams are quite restrictive and don't allow the foot to spread out naturally. I work in a warehouse and walk on concrete floors for 10 hours each night. The first few nights I was sore, as I was retraining my lower leg muscles. But after wearing them consistently I have no more soreness. It's a strange sensation wearing them as you almost feel barefoot because of the thinness of the sole. But the sole is very protective and according to YouTube reviews these shoes can last upwards of five years.Basic care is hand washing or wear them in the shower and scrub them with soap and drip dry. You don't want to toss these in the dryer as the high heat can damage the glue that holds the sole to the shoe.These are the best shoes I have ever owned and I'll likely order a second pair for Winter. I'm probably going to donate all my other shoes as these Vibrams make them obsolete.

I only started running a couple years ago, and have had somewhat limited progress. Whether it's age, diet, weight, or declining athleticism, I have been unable to progress at a rate that makes me happy. I do not feel justified in calling myself a runner yet. I focus primarily on 5k distance wtih occasional attempts at 10k. I only mention this so that you can guage my review with me being a beginner at running. I think I paid $125 for the color I chose, and that does seem high but in line with prices of other running shoes I've tried. My main interest in trying them was because of the claims that barefoot running would improve foot strength and possibly limit knee pain that would cause me to take breaks from running for weeks at a time. The first time I wore them was for about a 3 mile walk just to get used to them. My heels were pretty sore after the walk, so I had to ice them and take some ibuprofen. Apparently I am a heel striker. The pain was gone in a day or two, but I was a little concerned that it would only get worse with running in them. I was on vacation at the time, and I had just started back running with a run/walk routine for a little over a month prior to trying the Vibrams. When I got back home, my goal was to try running a mile at most for the first time and walking the last 2. I was amazed to find that I could run the entire 5k and run it at a decent pace for me. I did get the blisters on my achilles like others mentioned, but they were fine after a week of running. The thread on the seam for that back loop does seem to stand a little proud, but like I said it has not been a problem since that first week. I continued wearing only the Vibrams for my every other day 5k running and I progressed from 35 minutes to 28 minutes within 3 weeks, and that is the fastest I've ever run that distance. I have not tried 10k yet, but am looking forward to it. I was going to get on her after a few weeks and rave about the shoes being the greatest thing for me, but I'm glad I waited. I was about to give them all the credit since I was running better than ever and improving at a better than expected rate, but I decided to wait a little while longer. I have had a couple runs that seemed like I took a step back, so I have had to rethink what percentage of the credit to give the shoes. I believe that my diet is now somewhat deserving of credit for my improved performance since I know on the days I didn't do as well I ate things I shouldn't have. I don't want to take anything away from the shoes though. I love how my feet feel when running in these shoes especially on rainy days. I used to avoid puddles in my other shoes and socks, but I run straight through them now. I love cold water on my feet, and the water from the puddles drains quickly. There may be a little remaining in the toes, but I don't run long enough for that to be an issue. Like I mentioned above, I am/wasl a heel striker, but I feel like it's not as bad in these. I can't say that my foot lands perfectly, but it feels like I am landing more on my midfoot to front more so and running up hills is so much easier. It just feels like my foot clears the road to get a fuller stride. Downhill is okay as long as it isn' too steep. I used to purposely land on my heels in other shoes because of the cushioning, but I can't do that in these. I do not wear socks with mine, and I had to wash them at about the 5 week mark, and that is probably because I didn't remember to use wipes on my feet that day before wearing them. I have not had any knee pain at all since changing to these, and my ankles seem to be getting stronger/thicker since switching. I have not worn my other shoes since switching to these, and don't really plan to. I will buy another pair of these in the future, but will probably go with another color for the savings in price.

LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes! I've tried about 7 or 8 Vibram Five Finger models in the past couple months and haven't cared for the way they fit and returned them immediately, but as soon as I tried these on the first time, I knew I was in love:1. No break-in time required WHATSOEVER, which is a huge selling point for me. I want my shoes to work for me straight out of the box-- I don't want to have to work for them. And so as I said--- as soon as I tried them on the first time, I knew I was good to go, and that they were keepers.2. Going along with the no break--in period, I haven't gotten any blisters either. (I use socks, which might make a difference)3. Fit as expected, unlike some other Vibram models.4. I'm used to more minimalist shoes like Inov-8s, so I didn't ease into the shoes a little at a time as recommended. But I've had no problems or pain because of it.5. Best of all--and I can't stress this enough-- they've completely revolutionized my running. In just 2 or 3 weeks doing what I normally do, I've been completely blown away at the distances I've been able to run (with EASE)-- because it's more than double anything I've been able to do previously. I truly believe it's because they allow all the muscles in my legs and feet to operate to their full potential, while maintaining the ease and comfort of being barefoot. I've already bought a second pair in another color, because I know I want to use these shoes as far into the future as I can.I really hope they don't discontinue this model anytime soon. They're not for everybody, but if it seems like something that could work for you, I can't recommend them enough!

They seem to run big (long). I ordered a size smaller and they fit well.