Toe Shoes, Barefoot Running Shoes, and Vibram FiveFingers News, Resources, and Fan Forums - Birthday Shoes

SeeYa, Spyridon LS FiveFingers Available Now!

2012-02-10T19:17:00Z

The Men's and Women's Spyridon LS and SeeYa FiveFingers are out! That means two things:

You can order them online now from CitySports — they will ship today if order is by 2:30 and on Monday otherwise with Free Shipping:
- Men's SeeYa FiveFingers (black/dayglow) — $99.95
- Women's SeeYa FiveFingers (orange/grey/sea green) — $99.95
- Men's Spyridon LS (olive) — $119.95
- Women's Spyridon LS (olive) — $119.95
There are contest winners! See below!

We've reviewed all these shoes on BirthdayShoes (Peep our reviews here: SeeYa; Spyridon LS) if you're looking for more information. As far as sizing is concerned, these suckers size in line with the KSO/Bikila sizing (if you already know what VFF size you are).

Here are some photos of what's out there (the men's and women's Spyridon LS colorways are the same). There will be more colorways in both the Spyridon LS and SeeYa available in time, but if you want to be on the bleeding edge of toe shoes, well, you gotta take what you can get!

Giveaway winners!

SEEYA Winner: rsi***air@sbcglobal.net
Spyridon LS Winner: rid***ov@yahoo.com

If those email addresses match yours, well, expect an email from me shortly to get your size/address information!

Sticker winners (all 20 of you!) will be emailed separately ASAP!

Finally, I've got TWO MORE email giveaway contests underway for the next month or so that I've not even announced, but the winners will be pulled from the email distribution list, just like here, and the prizes will be brand new models minimalist shoes (details will be announced soon!). So keep on subscribin'!

Fila Skeletoes vs Vibram FiveFingers: Toe Shoe Supremacy:

2012-02-09T17:16:00Z

While most BirthdayShoes readers are likely already toe shoe aficionados who own at least one pair of Vibram FiveFingers and often a whole closet full, at least a few readers stumble on our neck of the web looking for information about Fila Skele-toes. You'll recall that we've covered the original Fila Skele-toes and the Skele-toes 2.0. Most interestingly, Vibram is suing Fila for patent infringement around their implementation of toe shoes.

You might say things are a little dicey in the battle for toe shoes supremacy.

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Zem 360 Barefoot Running Shoes Review

2012-02-08T16:03:00Z

A review of the Zem 360 Ninja Split Toe (photoed left) and Round Toe (photoed right) barefoot-style running shoes.

ZEMs are fun, colorful, minimalist shoes made by ZEMgear with the motto, "Less Shoe. More You." I've been wearing ZEMs from their 360 series for a few months now to see how well they work both for everyday use and for running.

Let's review!

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Vibram FiveFingers: Engaged!

2012-02-08T15:24:00Z

James and Ashley take Captain Picard's order to Engage! at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado. You can see they're sporting FiveFingers KSOs and the Bikila LS!

Justin (not me) sent in a few photos his fiancee Ashley and he took for their engagement. Congrats, you two! Here's what Justin had to say about the engagement (as well as some great toe shod photos!):

Hello,

Our names are Justin and Ashley and we took some of our engagement pictures wearing our vibram five fingers. The location is Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO. We also plan to wear vibrams when we get married. I'm wearing the black leather pair of Trek LS and my fiance is still looking for a pair. She is thinking of wearing the Jaya lr. We wanted to do something unique that incorporated the outdoor exercising enthusiastic people that we are. If you have any questions please let me know.

Thank You,
Justin and Ashley

It looks to me like you guys have started your engagement on the right foot!

Yes, I just said that. Congrats!

If you're up to no good in your toe shoes or whatever minimalist/barefoot shoes you're into, let us know! We'd like to feature your story here!

Women's SeeYa Vibram FiveFingers Review

2012-02-07T14:08:00Z

As soon as I saw my pale blue SeeYas, I thought they looked very aquatic. There’s a water droplet design on the upper and along the velcro strap that gave me the initial impression that they are some kind of footwear meant for the water. But they’re a minimal streamlined Vibram FiveFingers built strictly to be worn on the road. According to Vibram's PJ Antonik, the SeeYa FiveFingers are "Intended for the true minimalist runner, this shoe is very thin, very lightweight and extremely breathable. We do not recommend using this as an everyday trainer but rather a race shoe since it is so thin."

Let's take a look ...

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New Speed FiveFingers Colors Available!

2012-02-06T16:29:00Z

The new 2012 Vibram FiveFingers Speed colorways are out!

In what is certainly a sign of things to come with regards to the imminent release of the SeeYa and Spyridon LS FiveFingers (there's still a chance to subscribe to win a pair! See the SeeYa review for details), I've just gotten word that TravelCountry has the new 2012 Speed colorways of Vibram FiveFingers available for sale!

Check out these new colors for men and women (blue, brown, and yellow-orange are men's; pink and purple Speeds are womens):

I've been a pretty huge fan of the Speeds, generally: they're an awesome casual toe shoe given their fashionable (yes, I said it!) retro styling. And I have to admit, these new colorways are very cool. If you're interested in satisfying your FiveFingers itch for a shoe you can wear around town (but can switch to an activewear shoe in a pinch), the Speed is worth serious consideration.

For roughly $100 you can get a pair of the Speeds shipped free to you from TravelCountry (they're the first retailer I've seen have them in stock). They've got all colorways and sizes in stock (for now!). If you want to wait no longer and wish to buy the Speeds, you know what to do!

Meanwhile, if you're holding out for the SeeYas or Spyridon LS, stay tuned! I hope to have word on those puppies soon!

If you need more intell on the Speed FiveFingers (like sizing, specifications, etc.), read on!

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Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in FiveFingers on 30 Rock

2012-02-05T13:27:00Z

Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) of NBC's 30 Rock initiated negotiations with Jack Donaghy by propping her Bikila-clad FiveFingers up on a coffee table.

30 Rock fans who are also Vibram FiveFingers fans were pleased to see Liz Lemon — played by Tina Fey — briefly show off some Bikila FiveFingers on the February 2, 2012, episode of the show. It was a speedy cameo (screen-captured above), so you had to be paying attention (as opposed to watching the show and surfing BirthdayShoes.com at the same time, right?).

If you're not a 30 Rock fan, it's a pretty hilarious comedy series chronicling the writing of a live sketch comedy show (like Saturday Night Live) in the NBC headquarters. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey's character interplay is just fantastic.

Below is the episode Today You are a Man (that's a recap of the episode). If you jump to about minute 9 and watch about a minute and a half, you'll catch the Bikila FiveFingers:

In short, Liz is renegotiating her contract with Jack (her boss). Jack's sort of like a corporate uber-man, and gave a lecture series (in the past) on negotiating. One of his points is never to be the first person to speak, so when Liz goes to negotiate with Jack, she sits across from him silently, and then props her feet up on a coffee table — that's where we see the Bikila FiveFingers — and Jack can't help but break the silence and speak first, exclaiming, "Oh I hate those shoes!" Liz responds, "Oh are we starting?"

The scene prior to this is hilarious — Jack says in a lecture on negotiating, "Whatever you do don't speak first ... because what is speaking a sign of?" He waits and someone in the audience says, "Weakness?" Jack immediately responds, "You're fired!" and the crowd goes wild.

Anyway, pretty hilarious incorporation of toe shoes into 30 rock. Way to go Liz Lemon! Does anyone know if Tina Fey wears FiveFingers regularly? It seems almost too bizarre to have them incorporated — surely at least one of the writers for the show wears them, no? Anyone have any behind-the-scenes insight? Tina Fey are you reading???

Anyone else wearing their FiveFingers to work with a suit? Anyone used them to spark a conversation? What'd you think about the prime time cameo? Let's hear it!

Altra Adam Review - A KSO-Like Shoe Sans Toes?

2012-02-03T15:53:00Z

Here's an oft-heard frustration from would-be Vibram FiveFingers fans:

"I want to get the 'barefoot feel' of the FiveFingers, but my toes are [too long/too short/too crooked/downright uncooperative]. What other minimalist shoes could I wear that would feel the same?"

Unfortunately, the answer to this query has usually been, "You're outta luck." Of course, while there's always the option of going actually barefoot (something we tend to forget!), if you couldn't do toe shoes, your next option was going to be something a lot stiffer-soled than what you get with a pair of Vibrams.

That is, pretty much, until the Altra Adam (or Eve for women) came out. I can't go so far as to say that Altra Adam has replicated the benefits of toe shoes in a traditional, mitten-like shoe, but the Altra Adam probably gets about as close as possible — surely as close as anyone to date.

And that's what I'm reviewing today. Now that you've seen Joey's first look at the Altra Adam, it's time for a full review. Read on!

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Things Barefoot Runners Say

2012-02-02T16:45:00Z

My good friend and founder of Invisible Shoes Steven Sashen recently released a spoof video titled "Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say," playing into the meme created by a certain twitter user (with nearly 3mm followers!) (By the way, follow BirthdayShoes on twitter via @bdayshoes if you aren't already!).

A couple of my favorite parts:

"I don't care if it is a wedding I'm not going to wear those foot coffins you call shoes."

"I've got the Kinvara, Hattori, my KSOs, my Bikilas, I've got the new Altras, I've got the Skechers GoRun, I've got MBTs, I've got Insivible Shoes, I've got Luna Sandals, I'm TOTALLY into barefoot."

The whole bit about about how to pronounce Tarahumara is hilarious (I pronounce it "Tah-rah-ooo-mah-rah," which I think is right though now I'm not so sure). Or the awful mispronunciation of huaraches (I pronounce it "hoo-wah-rah-cheeze," I think).

In the event you're after some affordable huaraches that, for the buck, really can't be beat, you should do yourself a favor and check out Invisible Shoes (The kits start at a mere $20-25).

That is, if you really are into barefoot.

Merrell Barefoot Edge Glove Review

2012-02-01T14:07:00Z

The Merrell Barefoot Edge Glove is a new shoe from Merrell for 2012 that is built on the road glove sole (made by Vibram) and geared towards casual or perhaps even business casual wear.

You might have read our recent review of the Merrell Barefoot Road Glove. Well, Merrell Barefoot decided to create a casual wear, leather shoe (potentially for work?) built on the road glove Vibram sole.

It's called the Merrell Barefoot Edge Glove and retails for $110, and if you dig it's suede-leather looks and need a neutral, zero-dropped minimalist shoe for casual or (business casual, if anything) work attire, then read on because this may be the shoe for you.

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