subject: A cherishing (barefoot) walk [print this page] It will definitely be a walk to be cherished for Filipinos wanting to experience the feeling of being barefoot without actually being barefoot.
vibram five fingers, the renowned footwear that gives that feeling, has arrived in the Philippines.
A sports-themed media launch at the Metropolitan Club in Rockwell Mall, Makati City was held by Barefootwear Inc., vibram five fingers's local distributor here, to introduce the famous footwear. The event was attended by athletes, sports fans, celebrities, and health, fashion and other personalities.
"The Filipino will never walk the same way again," said Cherry Ermita, marketing manager of Barefootwear Inc.
In 2006, vibram fivefinger shoes introduced the five fingers line, a unique footwear design that mimics the feeling of being barefoot. It allows people to experience the sensation and freedom of going barefoot with the protection and sure-footed grip of a Vibram sole.
Made with abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric and five finger shoes performance rubber weighing 5.3 ounces each, vibram five fingers took the world by storm, particularly athletes and sports aficionados. It was awarded one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2007. To date, the barefoot revolution has invaded Europe, North America, Australia and even Asia.
The five finger shoes store is at Level R1 Bridgeway in PowerPlant Mall, Rockwell. The official website is www.newvibramshop.com.
I've been kayaking for a few months and have been looking for a neoprene bootie that lets my feet breathe. I've tried wearing my Keens and they are way too big, and the neoprene booties I've purchased make my feet sweat too much. I would love something that provides protection against the sharp gravel, lets my feet breathe, and will still fit comfortably in my kayak. I've heard about these so called "vibram five fingers," but I don't know much about them or their quality. John, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Nature of the beast: Well, to some extent, that's just the nature of neoprene.five finger shoes, It's an insulator, of course, so if your feet are outside the water and it's not real cold, they're going to sweat. Maybe a lot.
Go lighter: You could try some vibram five fingers, something such as the vibram fivefinger shoes. Most neoprene booties are 3mm, but these are 2mm, so they offer a bit less insulation. But maybe that's a good thing, in this case. They're designed to be worn under vibram five fingers, or in your case with sandals or something else that provides foot protection.
Popular option: The "five fingers" you've heard of are vibram five fingers (several models around $80). They're sort of a rubber/fabric glove for your feet. Each toe has its own, well, "five finger shoes." So you get the foot-feel of, well, your foot, and the protection of a light shoe. Vibram came out with these four or five years ago and at the time it seemed they had made these almost as a joke. There wasn't any clear market or marketing plan. But now the "no shoe" running crowd has picked up on them, and stores can't keep them in stock. Anyway, they're great for kayaking. They give you good foot protection and a little bit of warmth, but aren't as sweaty as possible.
To ask a question of the Gear Guy, you can find Douglas Gantenbein at www.newvibramshop.com.
