Vibram FiveFingers 2017 V-Trail Review

A road test felt overdue for the new Vibram FiveFinger 2017 range, so I thought I would take the weekend as an opportunity to take the V-Trails for a spin. I decided to take them up Roseberry Topping, given that it has a good mix of terrain; grass, mud, rock and gravel.

I went for the Orange V-Trails, which I must admit I didn’t think I would be too keen on, and do generally go for the black and black grey options in my Vibrams, however, in person, they do look pretty good. They have a new sole pattern compared to their predecessor (the Spyridon MRs) but still feature the MegaGrip compound, so I can only imagine improved grip compared to these. They use the quick lace system, and have a handy strap on the heel to help get them on.

I wore these with a pair of Injinji Trail socks, but I do think they would be great without socks too, as they are a little more padded than other FiveFingers.

So on with the testing. Even though these have a thicker sole than most Vibrams, the ground feel is fantastic. I usually wear my KSO EVOs, which have a really thin sole, so I am used to a lot of ground feel, and didn’t feel let down by these. The sole also features the Cacoon 3d membrane, which helps protect against uneven terrain, rock, stones etc. The path on the lead up to the base of Roseberry Topping is a gravelled path, so great to put this to the test. I could feel that I was standing on something, especially when there was the odd large or sharp one. However, there was nothing which caused pain. The membrane does a good job at spreading the impact, so doesn’t affect the way in which you walk.

Next up, I had the steps, mixed with mud and grass inclines. Obviously I went for the mud and grass to check out the V-Trail’s grip. It was wet on the ground, and I really did feel solid the whole way, no slippage. The MegaGrip sole still performs extremely well.

There wasn’t too much wet ground to test them on, so I moved on to the more rocky terrain on the run up to the top. I felt great the whole way. I have suffered in the past with a bad ankle, so I am always hesitant to go too crazy, but I felt solid the whole way up and down. The multi-directional lugs on the sole really came into their own, I could go from rocks, to grass to mud, and felt very comfortable doing so in the V-Trails.

Even though I was wearing Injinji socks, my feet were kept cool and dry the whole time. The V-Trail has an Anti-Microbial fabric liner, which helps with this, and they are as fast at drying as most other Vibrams. I did go through the odd puddle, but to be honest, you couldn’t really tell.

Definitely the biggest pro of the V-Trail is the traction. The Vibram MegaGrip sole is unbeatable in terms of grip, it feels like you are literally stuck to the rocks, or whatever you are walking on. Definitely gives more confidence when you are out and about.

All in all, I had a great run out in the V-Trail, and I imagine with us saying goodbye to the Summer for another year, I will be putting in a few more miles with these over the Autumn and Winter months. Plus, I got to take in some nice scenery along the way.

The 2017 Vibram FiveFingers Range – Sneak Peak #2

An Introduction to 2017’s Vibram FiveFingers – Part 2

In the final entry of our Vibram FiveFinger 2017 range sneak peak, we will be revealing the Vibram FiveFingers V-Trial and V-Train

The V-Trail

V-TRAIL_17M6901_BlackGrey_HERO._2000pxThe V-Trail is the next generation Spyridon MR/Elite. The Spyridon MR was a great shoe, and was very popular amongst trailer runners, and more specifically, mud runners (hence the MR). The Spyridon MR was a shoe that was directed at a very niche market, so we get the impression that they are renaming the shoe at the same time as the update in the design to appeal to a wider audience.

What Vibram Say:

New for 2017! Grab a pair early for the holidays! The V-Trail is the perfect technical trail runner for the adventure racer you know. This is our evolution of the very successful Spyridon MR / Elite product line!

  • Evolution of Spyridon MR / Elite

  • Vibram 3D Cocoon technology molded into the sole provides rock-stopping protection, now extended further into the ball area

  • Multi-directional lug design for grip all over!

What Feetus Think:

If it based on the Spyridon MR, then it looks to be a great shoe. The updated designs/colours are always a nice feature, but we are glad to see they are still using the MEGAGRIP sole. There is a new sole design, however, using a new triangle design on the sole. The 3D Cacoon feature is still there, which is a definite plus when running off-road.

 

The V-Train

V-TRAIN_17W660-_BlackGreen _HERO 2000pxAs with the V-Trail, the V-Train is the next generation version of the KMD Sport LS. Aimed towards the indoor fitness market (although still great for outdoor), the V-Trail has been getting people really excited!

What Vibram Say:

New for 2017! Grab a pair early for the holidays! The V-Train is the perfect training and fitness shoe, for use in and out of the gym! Step into the next generation KMD Sport LS today!

  • Evolution of KMD Sport LS

  • Provides Flexibility of a barefoot shoe with a little more structure

  • Special Rope Traction Lugs in arch for rope climbing

  • Circular lug pattern for grip during lateral movements

 

What Feetus Think:

Looks like a fantastic shoe, multiple pivot points on the sole make it great for manoeuvring quickly. We think the addition of rope traction lugs on the arches is different, but it shows Vibram are really looking into the target market for these shoes. As with the KMD Sport LS, they use the XS-Trek sole which is excellent for indoor and outdoor activities. We have noticed they have replaced the speed laces that were seen on the KMDs with standard fasten laces and a Velcro strap. Not too sure how we feel about this as we love the speed and ease of the quick fasten laces. It does mean you can get them fastened nice and tight meaning no loosening of the shoes during all those lateral movements, plus the Velcro strip will keep them tucked away … we’ll see how they perform in practice.

 

All in all, we are very excited about the next generation releases of what was already a pair of great shoes. We will have these available for pre-order very soon! Make sure you are signed up for our newsletter, or follow us on social media to find out as soon as they are available.

We are expecting these to arrive towards the end of March 2017!