So I took Whiskey's suggestion and bought a pair of these crazy looking things

[RecoveringKinkoid]

- How do you wear socks with these shoes? Do they make special socks to go with them?

They have special socks you can buy to wear with them, but I don't have any. I may go get a pair to try them out for when it gets colder. They are think and have toes in them.

- How are they in below-freezing weather?

I don't know, and will probably never find out first hand myself. I live in South Carolina. Thirty degrees is a cold day for us. I don't imagine they would be great to wear in such conditions. I can feel a breeze blowing through the mesh top of the shoe.

- How are they in an urban environment (walking all day)?

I walked all day at Brookgreen, which is partially paved. I got a full workout on all types of terrain that day, including asphalt and gravel. No problem (but like I said, I am used to going barefoot, so my feet are suited to the shoe already.)

- Are they good on cobblestones?

I don't know yet, but the next time I go to Savannah, I intend to find out (probably go for Halloween, so stay tuned.).

[Cat]

I am intrigued by these....I have heard nothing but good things. I *may* get a pair....but I do actually prefer my nice sturdy hiking boots when scrambling....I don't think anything could convince me these hobbit feet would be good to climbing in the Whites

But....it is rare to never hear bad things about shoes.

[Becks]

- How do you wear socks with these shoes?

There's socks that have individual toes. Like gloves for your feet.

[BarbieGirl]

I want to try these out now too! These look like they'd be more doable and cheaper than getting specially made shoes/orthopedic inserts I would need to feel comfortable. I can never find shoes that fit right, I'm tall and I have Larger feet. a lot of size 10 running/cross trainers pinch my toes, some to the point my pinky toe will go numb, but 11's are too big and it puts the arch in a really bad spot and I haven't seen any 10 1/2's when I'm out shopping. I think I'll have to go into REI and try some on.

[AccountingDrone]

You don't need all that "protection" and "support." You need to let your body work the way nature intended. A friend of mine is trying out the barefoot running thing and she's finding out you get a very different workout.

Unfortunately I do actually need all that support and protection I would have loved these when I was not having issues with the joints in my feet [calcium crystals in the joints grinding away at the cartillage and bone. I can't go without very custom orthotics now - just walking barefoot the 15 meters to the bathroom leaves my feet burning with pain ]

At least my mom let me run around at home, and all summer with bare feet, and never forced me to cram into too tight shoes, I don't have hammer toe and until the CPPD started, very healthy feets. I think women who cram into pointy toe shoes are clinically insane.

[Whiskey]

Unfortunately I do actually need all that support and protection I would have loved these when I was not having issues with the joints in my feet [calcium crystals in the joints grinding away at the cartillage and bone. I can't go without very custom orthotics now - just walking barefoot the 15 meters to the bathroom leaves my feet burning with pain ]

I think all posts are tagged with an invisible "barring some medical condition" stipulation :P sorry about your feets.


I really, really want to get a pair of these but I can't afford it for a couple months still.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I think women who cram into pointy toe shoes are clinically insane.

It's not so bad (you may be shocked to discover I am a shoe horse. I have LOTS of shoes. It's my weakness. I just don't tend to...you know...wear them a lot.)

Here's how you wear the pointed shoes (I don't prefer them, but they do look great with dress pants.). Buy them a bit too big (and if you are like me, you put a shoe stretcher in the area that holds the ball of the foot and stretch the hell out of that area), then cram the toe with lambs wool like ballet dancers put in their pointe shoes. The lambs wool will keep your toes from sliding into the pointed toe box and keep your foot where it needs to be in the shoe.

[Andara Bledin]

I can never find shoes that fit right, I'm tall and I have Larger feet. a lot of size 10 running/cross trainers pinch my toes, some to the point my pinky toe will go numb, but 11's are too big and it puts the arch in a really bad spot and I haven't seen any 10 1/2's when I'm out shopping.

Have you tried men's shoes?

My mother's side of the family has a tendency to have what they all call "duck" feet. Most of them are EEE width and can't get shoes that fit right without going to specialty shops.

Thank goodness I take after my dad's side of the family.

^-.-^

[Amanita]

After spending a week in NYC with my feet in agony- (who knew my fave Harley boots would decide to turn on me and become torture instruments?), these seem like a great idea. But are they any good for walking on concrete?
I want to get back to NYC, but next time I want to be able to freaking walk more than 45 minutes without being in pain! Sitting on the floor of the ESB observation deck trying to massage the life back into my feet sucked big hairy King Kong balls!

[fireheart]

There's socks that have individual toes. Like gloves for your feet.

Aren't they usually about knee-length if not longer and stripy?

[Whiskey]

Aren't they usually about knee-length if not longer and stripy?

Depends on where you shop.

But are they any good for walking on concrete?

Theyre fine for all kinds of walking because walking barefoot (essentially what these shoes are) is incredibly good for your feet and legs. Like RK said though, its a different kind of walking that your legs will have to get used to again so you might get a little work out from them without meaning to.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

You gals are nutty. I'll stick with my Birkenstocks, thank you very much.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Like RK said though, its a different kind of walking that your legs will have to get used to again so you might get a little work out from them without meaning to.

For the record, I have great legs. I'm just saying.

And no, the socks for these are not stripey. The ones I saw were plain white socks. Just in case the shows weren't, you know, silly looking enough for you. You could put some nerdy white socks on with them.

[Jack]

I bought the KSOs a while back and found that with my type of activity, they tend to develop rips along the big and little toes. They're nice but next time I'm going to get a model with a sturdier fabric.

[AccountingDrone]

i have to admit, i might get some of the toe socks, they look comfy