I assure you that you will come to love the Vibram FiveFingers Furoshiki shoe for more than their snazzy appearance once you let your feet slip inside.
Our review of this product
The pros are:
- No movement restriction
- Compact & lightweight
- Easy maintenance
The cons are:
- Low breathability
- Gradual transition from non-minimalist shoes a must
Coming from the concept of the traditional Japanese packaging wrap, Furoshiki, the shoe ties itself around the top of your foot with little or no pressure at all. Wrap & go! They are very lightweight and can be rolled up into their little carrying case to be brought anywhere, on any journey.
With a sole of only 5mm thick, you’ll feel every nook & crannies on your walkabout. This can either be a good or a bad thing, depending on the experience you want to encounter with a shoe.
They come in a few of funky tones, as well as black or a denim print. For their upkeep, throw them in the wash (cold or tepid water) & hang dry. Bam! You’re good to go! Wish you could freshen up all of your shoes, don’t you?
Furoshiki Comfort & Fit
If you have not previously been convinced about going barefoot, I’m sure you’d be gladly owning a pair of these babies knowing that if you tend to have inflamed feet or if you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience a mild foot injury – they’ll still feel great on! It’s like barely wearing anything at all.
They are conceived to have an anatomical fit on any foot type & its sole comes to envelopes around the entire foot technically speaking. They allow natural movement without restraint for every stride you make, while also having a comparable comfort to being tucked in a soft/stretchy blanket. It’s like mini hammocks for your feet. At least from my perspective. They have become my everyday shoe from the moment I tried them on. If my feet could talk, they’d say that it was meant to be!
Sizing
Shoe sizing works by XS / S / M / L / XL. To select the right size you will have to measure the actual size of your foot in centimetres and add a centimetre to that. Take into account that if you prefer something a bit loose compared to your actual size once you do the comparison, you’ll maybe want to go a size up.
| Furoshiki Size | Unisex EURO | Foot Length |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 36-37 | 21.5-22.5cm |
| SM | 38-39 | 23.0-24.0cm |
| M | 40-41 | 24.5-25.5cm |
| L | 42-43 | 26.0-27.0cm |
| XL | 44-45 | 27.5cm |
Furoshiki for Activities?
Vibram describes the shoe being for everywhere you go and everything you do. I’ve tried going on long walks, bike rides & even running with them and, as expected, I am more than content with the result. I do believe, as any other barefoot user, that these would still be great for hiking.
Running in the Furoshiki
Barefoot runners, hear me out! I wasn’t sure if I’d feel good running with these rubbery cloth foot wraps because I usually run in FiveFingers. They are both minimalist shoe, but there is a crucial difference. You get more of a grip from every single toe with the FiveFingers, whereas I felt like with the Furoshiki missed that dynamic for running. I felt like the absence slowed me down a bit with them. It might just be a question of getting used to the difference though. I would still use the Furoshiki alternatively for running.
Negative Points
I can’t really think of any negative points to the Furoshiki other than they’re a bit less breathable than I had anticipated. By that, I mean that they take a bit longer to dry when damp or wet. Otherwise, I feel like they are something you get used to and that makes you feel better – just like kale.
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