Question 1

I was wondering about how long would these last for most people and what activities people do in these shoes besides running thanks

Accepted Answer

Hi James, unfortunately how long a pair of Fives will last is like asking "how long is a piece of string." It depends on the terrain. They'll last less on pavement, and more when on the grass. I can tell you that I used four pairs when walking the 3000km Te Araroa track of New Zealand. The terrain was mostly wilderness track, but there were large sections walking on roads and through residential areas, but overall that's 750km per pair over mixed terrain. As for what they can be used for, that's even more complex largely to do with the conjecture from major shoe manufacturers. They say not much, I say pretty much anything.I see Fives as primarily an extension of what I was born with, they simply allow me to go further over rough or hot terrain than I could barefooted. However, shoe manufacturers seem to want us to believe that evolution has given us nothing but lemons on the ends of our legs. As such, there are many claims that extending what evolution has already designed is dangerous, and we should in fact use their products which are totally different from what evolution ever intended. I'm not saying shoes aren't beneficial, or that Fives are perfect, but what I am saying is that you can use Fives virtually anywhere you can use shoes (safety boots and thermal comfort excluded). For me, I wear Fives running (not on pavement) walking, hiking (with a pack), cycling, yoga, climbing, kayaking, climbing, socialising, in the garden, out to the movies, you name it. Admittedly I'm as far from being a fashion victim as one can reasonably be, so what people think of my "monkey feet" when I'm at the movies or watching F1 is somewhat irrelevant.If you haven't guessed, I'm a big fan of Fives, but my main reason is because I like to travel light, very light. I'll go away for six months with just carry on luggage, so one pair of Fives on my feet don't take up any extra space, and I simply wash them just like my clothes. NoteIf you haven't worn them before, be patient with getting used to putting them on (the five toe shuffle), and be prepared to have sore legs for a few weeks if you wear them a lot initially. Because they're so thin, you get very sensitive feedback on your underfoot environment. This means your feet give extremely fast and accurate information back to your brain, and you will be shifting your weight (as you would naturally in bare feet) to keep your centre on balance - this uses different muscles differently, hence the possible sore legs. Additionally, your body knows how to protect itself if it gets the right information, so things like twisted ankles and jarred knees can't happen (in my opinion) so easily. This is why I could do a 3000km trek with a pack in Fives. i.e. No ankle support that the boot manufacturers would have you believe is a must.Anyway, it's all my opinion, based on experience, but with an admission of bias - I love 'em!

Question 2

Order one size up.

Accepted Answer

Yes order at least on size up! Typically I wear size 46 I had to return them and get 4 which are a little tight but the hemp is very and not as hot as the normal material. You will love them!

Question 3

What is your size 43 equivalent?

Accepted Answer

About 9-10

Question 4

Has anybody gone to the gym in these? Specifically wondering if they will hold up during squats deadlifts etc...

Accepted Answer

I have various models of vibrams including the hemp ones and wear vibrams to crossfit every day. The hemp vibrams are pretty delicate compared to other models.

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