Today, it seems we share a greater volume of information via email, texting, Facebook, Twitter and other social media services but that volume gets lost in the cloud and is rarely looked upon again.  We live in the “now” with very little time for the then.

After hearing those letters I decided I wanted to closer document my life so that I could someday show my kids and their kids what my life was like as well as be able to read it myself as I forget.  My first thought was to keep a physical journal and I still want to do that.  But for now I have found a great option in Momento.

Momento is an iPhone app that lets you record brief thoughts about your days, attach photos to them, and tag people and events for greater searchability later on.  I don’t feel pressured to write profound words.  Just a few words about the day so that I can remember it later.  It helps me document my life in a private way.  And it is always with me because it is on my phone.

Momento can also pull in your Tweets from a day or Facebook status updates (or info from many other services) to give you a greater degree of documentation.  So each day in the app can be made up of a combination of short notes you have written along side tweets, photos, and other things from your day.  This provides a good snapshot of what you experienced to look back on someday.  And it might just make you a little more intentional with your time.

I am really enjoying Momento and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an easy way to keep track of moments in a digital age all wrapped up in a beautiful and simple interface.

Before I get to the Bikila’s specifically, I want to give you a few real world examples of the health benefits of wearing FiveFingers .  The buddy I am running with these days had knee problems when he ran previously.  These problems kept him from running.  Fast forward to today and he is running in a pair of Bikilas without any pain.  Another gentleman that I recommended them to suffered from back pain.  He told me recently that it has been gone since he started wearing the FiveFingers on a daily basis.  My mom bought a pair and they reduced the pain she experienced while healing from a foot injury.   It is pretty amazing to see how letting our feet work the way they were meant to can help out many areas of our bodies.

Ok, on to the FiveFinger Bikila.

In short, they are amazing.  They are the best built FiveFinger model that I have worn.  The outside has fewer seams than the KSO.  The inside is made of a soft sock-like material that is very comfortable.  The opening is wider which allows more ankle mobility.  Wonderful for running or just wearing around.

Here is where the rubber meets the road.  Should you buy them?  That is what you are here for, right?  If you are a runner and don’t own a pair of FiveFingers yet, then absolutely.  Buy the Bikila’s.  You won’t regret it.  If you already own a pair of Vibrams for running (probably the KSO or Sprint) then they aren’t as necessary.  Sure, they are a bit more comfortable than my KSOs but I don’t know if it warranted buying a whole new pair of shoes.  I don’t regret getting mine at all.  It’s a “do I have the money” kind of decision.

All in all, Vibram has made another great pair of minimalist shoes that, while they are made for running, will work great for just about anything.

If you want more information on the Bikila or other Vibram footwear then check out my other posts on the topic or  head on over to BirthdayShoes.com.  Or you can ask a question in the comments section below.

Brian

When I say hefty I mean it.  The bottom of the Trek is a little thicker than the KSO and has more tread.  The top is made of leather which gives it more durability and makes it waterproof.  It is simply a more heavy duty shoe than the KSO.

Why purchase the Trek, you ask?  I wanted to wear my FiveFingers on a daily basis and I knew one pair probably wouldn’t cover it.  I also didn’t want to wear out the KSOs too quickly between running and everyday use.  The Trek looked like it could stand up to more daily use so it became my choice.  The Trek is quite a bit more expensive than the KSO so the fact that I had some Christmas money went into my decision too.

I am very happy with that decision.  It has been a great shoe to wear to work, at home, and around town, especially during the colder months of the year.  I wear my KSOs as my running shoe and my Treks as my everyday shoe.  The Treks are a little more “dressy” looking so they fit their role well.

When I first put the Treks on I noticed a bit less connection with the ground than the KSOs due to the thicker sole.  This has not been a problem the more I wear them.  The leather feels great and I like the grip of the sole.  Even though the KSOs are my primary running shoe I have tried the Treks in this role and they work great here too.

Since I have been wearing FiveFingers on a daily basis I have become increasingly uncomfortable in normal shoes.  I got a kick out of looking down at my regualr-shoe shod feet one day and thinking they were funny looking.  I am really getting used to the FiveFingers look.  Another thing I have noticed since starting to wear them most of the time and for running is the strength in my lower calf and toes.  I can tell that my balance has improved as a result.

I still get weird looks and questions about them but that is fine with me.  I like giving people the low down on why I wear them.  I tell people that if they enjoy being barefoot then they will enjoy these shoes.  Or if they want a better running stride then these are the way to go. Bottom line, they are healthier and more comfortable than regular shoes.  Why wouldn’t you buy them?  Whatever model you get you will be happy with them.

Brian

Fast forward to today and not much has changed.  I still prefer not having shoes on my feet.  When I am at work they come off.  The first thing to come off when I get home is my shoes.  But, just like when I was a kid, I can’t go barefoot everywhere.  Notice the “No shirt, no shoes, no service” rules.  If any of you are still with me at this point and you are nodding your head in agreement, I have good news for you.  I have found the perfect alternative to traditional shoes if you don’t mind a few weird looks from other people.

Enter Vibram FiveFingers

You might be asking, “Why?  Why would you wear these weird-looking shoes, Brian?”  (I know my wife is asking that question.)  Let me give you a few reasons:

• I like going barefoot.  (Based on the preceding paragraphs I hope that was obvious.)  This is the closest to being barefoot as one can get.  You have the use of all your toes independently of each other and you can still feel the ground beneath your feet.
• Being barefoot is healthy for your feet and legs.  Our feet were created the way they are for a reason.  Have you ever run around barefooted?  Doesn’t it feel grand?  There is a reason for that.  Your feet are one of the most complex bone and muscle structures on your body.  When they are allowed to move and flex the way they were created to it strengthens them and your legs.
• Being barefoot improves balance.  Why do you think gymnasts do their balance beam routines without shoes on?  Your toes are a large part of what keeps you balanced.  When you encase them in a tradition shoe you eliminate a large amount of their balancing power.

All of these are especially true during exercise, which is one of the main reasons I got them.  I bought them as running shoes but I am already using them for so much more.

All of the above I knew before I bought the FiveFingers.  So what do I think of them after I have used them for a bit?  I like them a lot!

The first time I tried to put a pair on I had some trouble.  My toes did not want to separate to go in their individual pockets.  Apparently this happens to everyone because the muscles that work our toes are not developed very well because of the shoes we wear. In a traditional shoe the toes work as a unit, many of them not even being used in your stride.  As you develop the muscles by being barefoot or wearing FiveFingers it is much easier for your toes to work independently of each other.  I am sure that an increase in balance and running power will come from strengthened toes.

The first time I ran in the FiveFingers I immediately noticed a difference in the way my foot hit the ground.  In a normal running shoe the heel strikes first.  This can cause a lot of strain on the joints of the leg. In the FiveFingers I ran more on the ball of my foot.  From what I have read this difference allows the arch of the foot to take a lot of the impact so it doesn’t translate up to your knees and hips which could help prevent injury.

I bought these as primarily running shoes but I have found that they serve many functions.  I have enjoyed wearing them around like normal shoes.  They are very comfortable.  I usually take long trips in sandals so that I can take them off while in the car.  FiveFingers allow me to have the barefoot feeling while not having to worry about taking my shoes on and off.  Very handy.

I haven’t tried them in this way yet but I am sure that they would work great for the lake or other water sports.  They would also be great for hiking and climbing.  I would also like to give them a try during weight lifting.

Oh, and they are machine washable and dry very quickly.

I own the KSO model of the FiveFingers but I am also looking into the Sprints and Treks.

I have only had them a short while but I can tell you that they are great.  They allow me to be essentially barefoot in situations that I normally would not allow it.  Whether it is exercising or going to the store these shoes deliver the comfort and performance that only barefooting can give.

Brian

Here are a couple websites to look at that will give you some more info on these remarkable shoes:

www.vibramfivefingers.com

www.birthdayshoes.com

Update:  I have made my first real run in my FiveFingers.  I ran a little over a mile and I understand why people say that it takes time to break your feet and legs into wearing them.  I found it most comfortable to run on the balls of my feet and by the end of the run they felt hot (friction I am guessing).  Also as predicted I felt the most soreness in the arch of my foot and my lower calf muscle.  It felt very natural to run in these shoes.

We kept hearing that they were planning on opening in August. That didn’t happen. Then we heard September. That didn’t happen either. Now, finally, in December they opened the doors of their new building and we were there. First of all, the building is beautiful. As you walk to the front door you are greeted by a small bridge crossing a beautiful pond. The inside of the building is covered in wood grains, granite, and etched glass. The wait was long but that was to be expected on opening night. The atmosphere inside is amazing the the attention to detail is very noticeable. People were even commenting on how comfortable the chairs at the tables were. The entire kitchen area is walled in by glass so that you can watch the chefs at work. I think this also gives a piece of mind to those who might worry about how their food is prepared. Speaking of the food, it was amazing. If you like something a little spicy I highly recommend the General Tsu’s Chicken. I tried a little of everything we had at the table and all of it seemed to be of the highest quality. If you live in Abilene or are traveling through, you should definitely stop in and give it a try.

Brian

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars