Wow! Congrats, Brown Eyed Girl!
Excellent job, B.E.G. I saw in your other post that you abraded through your Vibram’s when you tripped.
I hope you’ll be contacting the company. For what they cost, that seems an unacceptable lack of durability.
I always did hate those uphill finishes.
Well, I abraded through my running gloves, too. Asphalt is not kind. I’m not sure how much better lightweight running shoes would have done. Honestly, I don’t think the upper material is designed to withstand that kind of abrasion, nor would I want it to because it would probably mean less flexibility, softness, and breathability. There is TPU protection on the top of the toes, but the abrasion is further up the big toe towards the top of my foot. I’m just glad it wasn’t my feet.
To be fair, Vibram has recently had some quality issues that naturally comes with demand outpacing supply and manufacturing rate. I did have an minor issue with delamination of the sole from the upper, but I decided I’d waited long enough to get these and I could self-repair with shoe goo. I’m fairly confident that Vibram will – if not already has – work these issues out. Since I bought them from REI, I could return them if I wanted to, but I’ve been otherwise pleased with them, there was nothing wrong with their performance, and I didn’t want to be without them while supplies were low enough to have to wait for a back order. Besides, I’m already about ready to get a second pair to put in a rotation for increased mileage.
I think I can repair the little hole I got in them yesterday with some goo or bonding a small piece of TPU on top of it. I don’t care about looks at this point. I’m keeping this pair for sentimental reasons and I’ll wear them until they fall off my feet. 