Kids Vibram FiveFingers from Feetus.co.uk

Vibram FiveFingers for Children

Research published in podiatry journal The Foot in 2007 suggests that structural and functional changes can result from the foot having to conform to the shape and constriction of a shoe, rather than being allowed to develop naturally. And the younger the foot, the greater the potential for damage.

Crucial: Well-Chosen Footwear for Children

The human foot at birth is not a miniature version of an adult foot. In fact, it contains no bones at all and consists of a mass of cartilage, which, over a period of years, ossifies to become the 28 bones that exist in the adult human foot. This process is not complete until the late teens, so it is crucial that footwear – when worn – is well chosen.

Research has shown that when children spend more time in bare feet, even in just two months, i results in increased foot strength, balance, mobility and ankle function. You child’s shoe should reflect this ‘barefoot feel’, with the shoe offering as much of the following:

  • A completely flexible sole,
  • A wide and deep toebox,
  • An anatomically correct last (the ‘mould’ that a shoe is built on),
  • A closure at the back and an adjustable closure at the top, such as laces or Velcro

By wearing Vibram FiveFingers, children get the health benefits of going barefoot whilst offering protection. Here are the Vibram FiveFingers styles available for children, most available between sizes 29 and 25:

KSO for Kids

We love the KSO for Kids. The ‘closed’ upper fabric keeps out any debris when the kids are out playing and the Velcro fastening makes it easy for kids to secure the shoe (without any farcical laces!). The KSO is the biggest-ever seller of Vibram FiveFingers and the most popular shoe for men, women, and children.

Speed for Kids

Breathable and more conventional-looking than some of the other Vibram FiveFingers styles, we love the Speed for Kids. This shoe promotes natural (barefoot) movement of your child’s feet and the sole provides good grip for all activities. Available in a lace-up.

Sprint for Kids

The Sprint allows your child’s feet to move as nature intended, the thing we like best about this shoe is the open top. Having an open top makes it so much easier for kids to get their dainty little feet in to the shoe and position their toes in to each pocket. They don’t even have to worry about tying the laces either, as the Sprint is a simple Velcro strap fastening.

All the children’s Vibram FiveFingers are available NOW at Feetus.co.uk. Some are available as ‘on order only’ but this only adds typically 2 days to your order time. We also sell matching toe socks from Injinji.

Kids Vibram FiveFingers from Feetus.co.uk
Kids Vibram FiveFingers from Feetus.co.uk

The Best Vibram FiveFingers for Winter 2015

Following on from our recent Best Winter Socks article and our Top 5 Tips on keeping feet warm in winter, here we look at the best winter shoes from Vibram FiveFingers. Please note, this is a new article. 2014’s top winter shoes can be found here

Admittedly, minimalist shoes aren’t always the best choice for colder months. Such footwear is low-profile: the soles are thin which means your feet are closer to the ground and receive less ‘protection’ from the cold underfoot.

Barefoot purists may tell you to grin and bare it, but winter is long, and we believe that with the correct footwear, you can enjoy the best of minimalist running whilst keeping your fitness up during the whole of winter.

An Overview of the best winter Vibram FiveFingers

In case you don’t want to read the whole article, we’ve made it easy for you to pick out the best shoe depending on what activity you’re likely to use the shoes for most:

Spyridon MR

Lightweight and low profile whilst offering adequate grip, the Spyridon MR is a favourite for those seeking speed and stability both on and off road. The ‘MR’ stands for Mud Runner, and these were designed with events like Tough Mudder in mind.

  • Best for: Mud obstacle events, winter racing (short-medium distance)
  • Worst for: Very wet weather, extreme cold

Click here to buy the Spyridon MR

Trek Ascent LR

The leather upper is naturally water-resistant, strong, and durable. Sure, leather also weighs a little more than synthetic materials but the compromise is well worth it due to the added warmth and toughness this shoe offers. The LR‘s MEGAGRIP sole is thicker than most other Vibram styles and therefore offers more resistance to cold coming up from the ground through the soles. Just the few extra milimetres really does make a massive difference. The MEGAGRIP sole is also Vibram FiveFingers’ hands-down best sole for off-road running, trekking and walking.

  • Best for: Water resistance, long distance outdoor use, all winter
  • Worst for: Short-distance racing

     

Click here to buy the Trek Ascent LR

Trek Ascent Insulated

THE BEST WINTER SHOE from Vibram FiveFingers in 2015: The Trek Ascent Insulated comes higher up the ankle so it keeps more than just your feet warm; your ankles are kept toasty too! Not only that, but the wool lining is outstandingly warm – a total godsend for winter!!

Please note: The insulated padding inside this shoe means it fits smaller / tigher than all other Vibram FiveFingers styles. We strongly recommend you opt for +1 size up than you normally would.

The MEGAGRIP sole on this insulated shoe also features Vibram’s patented ICETREK technology, offering incredible grip on ice, snow, and cold surfaces. The sole is thicker, offering protection from the cold ground, and also features aggressive grip for fantastic stability on and off-road.

  • Best for: All winter use (running, trekking, casual, all terrain)
  • Worst for: Very wet weather

     

Click here to buy the Trek Ascent Insulated

CVT WoolVibram-FiveFingers-CVT-Wool-Navy-Grey-Casual-Smart-15M501-Feetus.co.uk-Barefoot-01

You guessed it, this shoe is largely made from wool making it warm and comfortable. The CVT Wool features a higher ankle for added warmth and the overall look of the shoe is stylish and ideal for smart and casual use. This shoe is surprisingly light yet cozy and warm.

For added grip on ice, snow, and cold ground, the CVT Wool features ICETREK pods in the sole.

  • Best for: Casual and smart winter use
  • Worst for: Sport

Click here to buy the CVT Wool

Don’t Forget About Toe Socks

Add extra warmth to your precious feet by wearing toe socks under your Vibrams. Some of the thicker socks (such as Injinji’s NuWool OUTDOOR range) can add too much bulk. In most cases a ‘normal’ thickness sock is more than adequate. See our guide to the best toe socks for winter (which also includes tips on keeping your feet warm).

5 Ways To Keep Your Feet Toasty & Warm This Winter

5 Ways To Prevent Your Feet Getting Cold

As the temperature plummets and the days grow shorter, it’s a good time to start thinking about how to keep our feet warm during outdoor exercise.

So, we’ve pulled together our ‘Top 5’ ways to help prevent your feet getting cold this winter, and have suggested five pairs of socks that will help keep you toasty.

  1. Thicker socks aren’t necessarily warmer

Don’t wear socks that are too thick for your shoes. If your sock is too thick, it can cause pressure on the foot, which in turn can cut circulation off to your toes. Your toes should be able to wiggle with your sock on your foot inside your shoe.

  1. Avoid cotton socks

Your feet sweat all the time, even when its cold. Cotton gets wet with sweat very quickly and doesn’t keep warm once wet. Opt for a technical fibre instead. Avoid-Cotton-Socks-Feetus-Winter-Blog

  1. Merino wool is your new best friend

This ‘magical’ fabric keeps your feet warm like no other! Merino wool is itch-free, thermostatic (temperature-regulating, making it idea for all weather; hot or cold) and offers superior moisture management.Merino-Wool-Feetus-Blog

  1. Liner socks

If your feet are always cold, try liner socks. It’s amazing just how much of an impact a thin liner sock can make. They’re also great to use as a day-to-day sock or as a lightweight sock for summer.

  1. Avoid Caffeine

A warm cup of tea or coffee may be just what you fancy, but caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, and causes your vessels to constrict, limiting blood flow to your extremities.Avoid-Caffeine-Feetus-BlogWinter-Socks

 

Our Top 5 Winter Toe Socks

Yeah, we love toe socks. Just that little extra material between the toes adds an extra degree of warmth vs conventional socks, but there is more to it than just that. Here, we give you a run-down of the 5 pairs of toe socks you should consider during the cold months.

OUTDOOR NuWool

Made from Injinji’s NuWool Merino wool fibre, these toe socks are our top-pick for winter use . The OUTDOOR range toe socks are thick without being bulky, yet they keep your feet so toasty when its cold. Available in Crew and Mini Crew.

TRAIL

The TRAIL range of toe socks are slightly thicker than the OUTDOOR range and feature a padded sole for added comfort and resistance to cold. Available in Micro, Mini Crew, and Crew.

Lightweight Liner

A very thin toe sock constructed from CoolMax, the Lightweight Liner is that perfect ‘extra layer’ when you need it.

Lightweight Liner
Lightweight Liner

SPORT CoolMax Crew

Great for year-round use, the Injinji SPORT Crew toe sock is higher up the ankle so it keeps your legs warm as well as your feet. The all-black colour is certainly a winner for year-round smart/leisure use.

Injinji SPORT Crew Toe Socks
SPORT Crew

 

Compression

These premium compression toe socks aid circulation, help reduce fatigue, and go knee-height to help keep the cold at bay during your sporting pursuits! The Ex-Celerator Compression 2.0 toe socks are the bee’s knees!Injinji Over the Calf- Compression Sport Toe Socks

 

You may also be interested in our recent guide to ‘The Best Vibram FiveFingers for Winter, 2015″