has anyone had experience w/ Vibram FiveFinger Billkila shoes?

[Tink0102]

I have a chance to purchase some at a really great price and am wondering if about wearing them at Disney, especially at AK because of the KRR ride. My husband has a pair of FILA skeletoes and says they are the most comfortable pair of shoes he has ever worn. I am just worried about how comfortable these will be walking on concrete all day. Any thoughts?

 

[Tink0102]

And they are BIKILA didn't realize my auto correct had changed the spelling until too late.

 

[Figgy1]

I wouldn't buy shoes for just one park, that being said I just put on a pair of dollar store flip flops in our pack pack for Kali.

 

[Tink0102]

No, I wouldn't buy them for just the one park, but I might would pack them with just one park in mind
But seriously, I have been thinking about buying a pair since hubby got his. He literally wears them all the time now. I am thinking they would be good summer shoes in general for the beach, boating, jet skis, etc, but one of the reviews that I read specifically said that they didn't think they would be comfortable in amusement parks because of all the concrete and there not being a lot of padding in the shoe. That was the only review that had that to say.

 

[Ariel484]

To answer your question...no, I personally don't have experience with them but I have read about them because I was looking into possibly switching to them for running.

Just out of curiosity...have you worn minimalist shoes before? These are trendy right now but they might not be right for everyone. Just be aware that if you do get them you're going to need to take some time to get your legs used to wearing the shoes, because by nature they will force you to step differently, and thus use different muscles. If you buy them and just wear them around the park for a day you might be in for a world of pain afterward.

Whatever the price, I'd suggest doing some research first.

 

[MattC]

I've tried on that type of shoe before. They're not for me. Good ole pair of Asics running shoes work for me.

 

[Tink0102]

To answer your question...no, I personally don't have experience with them but I have read about them because I was looking into possibly switching to them for running.

Just out of curiosity...have you worn minimalist shoes before? These are trendy right now but they might not be right for everyone. Just be aware that if you do get them you're going to need to take some time to get your legs used to wearing the shoes, because by nature they will force you to step differently, and thus use different muscles. If you buy them and just wear them around the park for a day you might be in for a world of pain afterward.

Whatever the price, I'd suggest doing some research first.

I am basically a flip flop girl. I do have a pair of asics that I wear when walking (I don't run). If I got a pair I would definitely wear them quite a bit before going to the park BUT I just realized that the site selling them today for a great price doesn't have my size. If you are thinking about getting some you might want to check them out on www.woot.com. We order from them a lot. They have them today for $30.00

 

[Hot Lava]

Wow, the Vibrams are way more "shoe-y" than they used to be!

I second the question as to whether you have worn these "barefoot" types before.
They can be amazing or they could hobble you. The fact that your husband wears a version of a barefoot shoe means nothing for you. Although I will say, those Bikilas sound a lot less barefoot that other models. But barefoot technology is great for some people, and awful for others.

Truly, it is impossible to know how they will work for you unless you buy them try them out. In any case, you have to build up to wearing them all day. And build very slowly.

 

[Ariel484]

Wow, the Vibrams are way more "shoe-y" than they used to be!

I second the question as to whether you have worn these "barefoot" types before.
They can be amazing or they could hobble you. The fact that your husband wears a version of a barefoot shoe means nothing for you. Although I will say, those Bikilas sound a lot less barefoot that other models. But barefoot technology is great for some people, and awful for others.

Truly, it is impossible to know how they will work for you unless you buy them try them out. In any case, you have to build up to wearing them all day. And build very slowly.

This is a great point, and sort of what I was trying to get at in my previous comment. They are very trendy right now (celebrities wearing them on the red carpet?!) but they just aren't right for everyone.

 

[Hot Lava]

This is a great point, and sort of what I was trying to get at in my previous comment. They are very trendy right now (celebrities wearing them on the red carpet?!) but they just aren't right for everyone.

Well, and I question how truly "barefoot" these knock-off versions are, compared to Vibram. So while i still think you cannot know even if he was wearing Vibrams, it certainly is not comparable with an entirely different brand.

i first got notice of these when I was looking for something for yoga beyond socks. I do not like to go barefoot and the socks were not enough. The base models (the REAL barefoot shoes) were something I came across in research.

 

[ShookieJones]

The only experience I have had with them is seeing them on other people's feet and saying "!!?"
Those things are not real easy on the eyes.
Anyway as others have mentioned the understanding is these ugly puppies are supposed to be the closest thing to walking barefoot(minus the risk of splinters).

My bare feet hurt when walking on hard surfaces for extended periods of time.
So i could only imagine traversing the parks for a day would feel like....yow,,,
So putting aside my fashion sense....that alone would cinch the answer for me.

 

[Tink0102]

I agree that they aren't for everyone(isn't that the case with any style of shoe) which is why I would never pay $70+ dollars for a pair of shoes that I don't know if they are going to work for me. Which is why I was excited to see them at $30. And I wouldn't buy a new pair of shoes and wear them to Disney with out breaking them in and testing them out....as we like to say in the south, I was born at night,but not LAST night....lol.
And Shookie, ITA they are ugly! As a matter of fact when my husband put his pair on and asked me what I thought I said "if you are going for ugly then you have succeeded"
But as I said in an earlier post the site that had them on sale today didn't have my size and I will not pay $70, $80, $90 for something I'm not sure I will like. So looks like I will keep an eye out for them to be offered on sale again.

 

[luv]

They are ugly! But so are Crocs and I've worn those.

I go barefoot a lot at home and in the car. Spend most of my life barefoot, lol. Those toe shoes wouldn't work for me, but a pair of crocs is close...also easy to slide feet out of!!

I wish people who didn't need shoes could go without them and people who did need shoes could just wear them. It would be so much easier.