# Which Vibrams? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vibrams/596960 "2011-09-20T16:25:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vibrams/596960/1 "2011-09-20T16:25:27Z")
I know there have been threads on VFFs many times before. I know that there are a million reviews on them. I want to ask anyways. Sorry Dopers. I run barefoot on the treadmill and at the track, but not on the road very often. I do fine running barefoot, but would like to be able to do some races that way and train in different settings. I live in a heavily wooded area, and do some light trail running, but mostly it is road/dirt road/grass. The last two races I competed in were full grass courses (think cross country meet courses). As mentioned in the GQ thread about VFFs, a teammate that was a college athlete runs barefoot rather regularly also. He uses KSOs. I kind of like the KSOs, but don’t know for sure which would be better. So, Doper users of VFFs, should I purchase KSOs, Classics, Komodo, or Bikila? I kind of am looking at the KomodoSport ones pretty hard, but KSOs would get the job done, I think. Brendon ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vibrams/596960/2 "2011-09-20T16:31:02Z")
I have a pair of TrekSports that work great for trail running and hiking. Take it easy when you start off, though, you can strain your achilles if you’re not careful. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vibrams/596960/3 "2011-09-20T17:22:21Z")
If you’re running on mixed surfaces I’d suggest one of the models with lugs on the sole. I went from Classics to KSO Treks (the kangaroo leather upper - I didn’t like the uppers on the Trek Sports). While I never slipped in the classics, my regular route has some grass hills and grass side hills. I was always worried I was going to go down if it was wet. The Treks have a bit thicker sole and I think some sort of plating to protect from rock bruising which I guess is a concern with the barefooters and minimalists. One thing you shouldn’t discount is how easy/difficult it is to put them on. I love them when they’re on, but it takes a bit of work. I’d like to try a minimalist shoe for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vibrams/596960/4 "2011-09-20T18:36:03Z")
I have the Sprints (which are like the classics with a strap across the foot) and love them as long as the surface is smooth. I can’t hike in them without being very careful where I step, which is a pain and detracts from the hiking experience. I’d go with one of the thicker soled varieties if you want to get off the treadmill. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vibrams/596960/5 "2011-09-20T18:39:14Z")
I have both the Sprints and the KSOs. I like the KSOs better. I no longer use them for running anymore though - I run on sidewalks and streets and it’s just too much of a beating for me. That said, I do still use my sprints on the treadmill at work (I have a small locker and they don’t take up any room) and I use my KSOs at the gym (they help with deadlifts and squats). I like the KSO’s better because I find them slightly easier to get on. ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vibrams/596960/6 "2011-09-20T20:21:40Z")
I wondered about using the Sprints - they seem like they would be alright. Like I stated, I already run totally barefoot on specific surfaces - treadmill at my house, the track outside of town (rubberized), the old track outside of town (non-rubberized, where I ran before they built a new school stadium here), and on a park soccer field with my son. I would like to be able to use them for a 5k or something if I could, but mostly it would be on these surfaces. I think I may try out the KSOs first just because they have a bit more on the bottom but I’ve heard a lot of good things about them.