Here are a few tips when purchasing your first pair of Vibram Five Fingers:

• You’re most likely going to want to go smaller than you think. When you try on your first pair of Five Fingers, they are going to feel weird, awkward, and tight. All that is a good thing. I bought my first pair of KSOs in a size 43 because I thought they fit perfectly. In reality, they didn’t. These shoes do tend to stretch out a bit and you will realize that a tight fit can be a good thing. A good fitting pair will have your heel comfortably against the end of the shoe and your great toe fitting up against the front of the shoe. Tight but not constricting is the goal. They are barefoot shoes, so be as close to barefoot as you can without scrunching your foot as well.
• Don’t be afraid to try the original models: KSO, Classic, and Sprint. These models are simply fantastic and as still my favorite. They are not as fancy as other models, have basic looks and traction, but in my opinion basic is better. The goal of Five Fingers is to be a minimalist. If you have too much going on in your Five Fingers with some of the more expensive models, they are going to feel more like shoes and less like bare feet. Also, don’t believe that you need specific Five Fingers for particular tasks. I literally do everything in my KSOs, from running half marathons to hiking to working out. If minimalism is the goal, pick the most basic and cheapest models.
• Make sure a proper transition. If you are used to always wearing shoes, begin wearing your new Five Fingers extremely gradually. If you tend to walk around a bit barefoot already, the transition can be much quicker. As for running in them, start with a 5 minute run, then rest. Even if you want to do more, don’t. Gradual transition will help you avoid injuries and increase enjoyment. For the first few months, run no more than every other day with only a 5% increase in time or distance per run.

By Sean Spire – a fitness professional, specializing in athletic development, weight loss, post-rehabilitation, and the geriatric population. With a degree in Exercise Science from Florida State University where he was a scholarship athlete in swimming, he currently resides in South Florida where he pursues his passion – helping people live life the way it is meant to be lived. More articles and tips can be found on Sean’s blog – http://www.aspirefitnessandhealth.com/

Photo By the witchery