From Left to Right - KSO, Flow, Bikila, Bikila LS, Speed. |
The KSO - Ninja, of course:
When I first discovered these foot-gloves (in July 2009) my options were the Classics, Sprints, Flows, and the KSOs (keep stuff out). I opted for the KSOs, and because Vibram was having trouble meeting demand, I had a color choice of "black" or "black", which got the nickname Ninja KSOs. When I first got these in, I thought I'd never take them off they felt so amazing. Not long thereafter I decided I need a second pair to rotate them day to day. Completely reasonable, right? V5F count: 2
The Flows - Also Ninja, for those chilly assassination nights:
Not only was I running, but I was running in a way that turned running into something enjoyable, and I was part of a new, as of yet mostly unknown kind of running. My milage was increasing and I was learning so many new things, and my excitement carried me into fall then winter. Things were getting cold in Mudville - Enter the "Flows". The Flows are marketed as a warmer "barefoot shoe", which it achieves using neoprene as it's covering. V5F count: 3
The Bikila - New Kid on the Block:
In 2010, the long rumored Bikila V5F was finally released. This was designed specifically for running, as there was clearly a market for this - most people wearing the KSOs were running in them after all. A little earlier that year, I had first issue with the design of the KSO. I was running down a hill and when I reached the bottom with 3 more miles to go, I had a very irritating pain on the inside of one of my feet. There is a seam right there that can really rub you the wrong way! I kept trying to get past it until I just couldn't take it anymore. At a little more than a 1/2 miles out, I decided to take them off and finally try running barefoot (another story). So the seam thing was an issue and I was coming up on my first 1/2 marathon. The Bikila addressed these little buggers. I loved this new design, and just started to wear my KSOs casually. I ran in these almost exclusively for the rest of the year and I was training for my first marathon so these Bikila's started to get a lot of miles on them. I had started to notice that my left shoe was wearing down significantly faster than my right, so I got a new pair shortly before my before my first full marathon in February 2011. V5F count: 5
The Trek - The Land Rover of V5Fs ~ Barefoot Ted:
The Treks uses kangaroo leather and comes in black and brown. I was wearing my V5Fs all the time and as silly as it might sound, I wanted a dresser shoe, and something a little warmer too. The Trek has a much more aggressive tread and a lot of folks use these for trail running and ultra running, or just running in general. I love them, and while I've done some work in them, I feel I have better options for running. And they clean up real nice. V5F count: 6 (don't judge me ;)
The Classics - Oh Why the Hell Not:
At this point, Vibram was coming out with all kinda of new models. The Classic was the original, and I had been eyeing these from some time. They are the most minimalist model they make and have a mostly open top. When I had finally decided to get these, they has just released the Classic with a Smartwool option, I didn't know this until I when to purchase them. My biggest love of these are easy-in easy-out. And they look better when I'm in shorts than the KSOs too - they're kinda my summer go to shoes. V5F count: 7
The Bikila LS - Improvement on a Great Design:
So it was February 18th, and I was in Myrtle Beach the day before my first marathon. I'd see reviews of the Bikila LS online, but I had not yet seen them in person. I saw a woman wearing them at the expo and as I talked to her about them, she planted a seed in my brain that a few weeks later would make me get a pair of these - see so this time around it wasn't my fault - I was possessed by forces outside my control. The Bikila LS model has a lot of difference from it's predecessor. I believe the sole is exactly the same, but the covering is a bamboo fiber rather than what's used in the Bikila (no idea what it is). This model also uses a speed lacing system, which, now that I've discovered it, I'll always opt for. It's a little lighter, it breaths better, and because of the lacing, it actually conforms better to your foot, which I didn't believe was even possible until then. V5F count: 8
The Speed - The Old World Brother to the Bikila:
The Speed model was actually released about the same time as the Bikila, but it was only available in Europe for some reason. The Speed has a traditional lacing system and uses a mesh-like material such as that seen on "traditional" running shoes. And, as it turns out, it's available in "black" and "black", well, unless your a woman. As I said earlier, my left shoe wears quicker than my right (I think it has to do with my left leg being 1/8" longer) so it seems I'm getting a new running model V5F every ~500 miles (roughly estimated). V5F count: 9
Three Different Running Models - Same Tread Design |
Original Bikila, Speed, and Bikila LS |
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