Will I be the first forum member to play in five finger shoes?

[the_theologian]

Hi friends,

Just wondering if I'll be the first forum member to play table tennis in five finger shoes. I recently ordered a pair from REI.com and they should be arriving any day.

If anyone else has played in such shoes, I'd like to hear your feedback.

I was very skeptical of these shoes... for any activity. But after talking to some serious athletes I've decided to try them.

Hopefully the picture shows up:

[the_theologian]

if the picture link doesn't work, you can go here:
http://www.rei.com/product/798240/vibram-fivefingers-kso-multisport-shoes-mens
(I went with the black/black color scheme... not that that matters)

[RebornTTEvnglist]

You may be the first forum member Theo, but a guy in my club wears them. They are weird looking for sure. He hates wearing shoes as he has wide feet or something. He paid a pretty penny for them, but reckons they're the bomb!

[the_theologian]

I've seen one guy playing in them here in Kuwait. He loved them.

Hopefully I will also, especially at one of the locations I sometimes play where the floors are dangerously slick. I'm hoping to get a "boost" in traction... you know, legal boosting.

[Der Echte]

You may be the first forum member Theo, but a guy in my club wears them. They are weird looking for sure. He hates wearing shoes as he has wide feet or something. He paid a pretty penny for them, but reckons they're the bomb!

Bombs away Reb :)

[blue_smartie68]

They are seriously weird looking shoes!!! 

[pingpongrob]

Had a customer turn up one day with these on, and I thought it was a joke, but according to him quite a serious subject. They were very expensive as well.

[big ears]

How much are they, is there a web site?

[the_theologian]

Mine were 85 U.S. Dollars, including shipping, from REI.com
(http://www.rei.com/product/798240/vibram-fivefingers-kso-multisport-shoes-mens)

Amazon.com also carries them

According to vibram.com, you have to be careful where you buy them from (counterfeits)

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Do they make 5 finger socks as well?

[the_theologian]

Do they make 5 finger socks as well?

but of course: http://www.amazon.com/injinji-Performance-Micro-Toesocks-Medium/dp/B000LRHN1Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1316775834&sr=8-2

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Wow, I guess it makes sense, but thats even weirder than the shoes somehow LOL. I doubt I'd get used to these. I hate it when my socks creep between my toes even!

[pingpongrob]

How much are they, is there a web site?

http://www.barefootinc.com.au/

[the_theologian]

So I finally received the shoes yesterday. After donning them I headed off to play table tennis at my usual place. Unfortunately, a Dart tournament had the table tennis shut down (if you ever want to get me ranting about something at that recreation center, just mention darts.... I've been so tempted to hide those dartboards in the dumpster). So, I headed off to a further location on post. This venue has the slick tile floors; which was part of my reason for getting the shoes. Well, the traction problem is solved. Even though I got the shoes dusty as I walked there, my traction while playing was excellent.

It was funny how much my visual perspective of the table changed when using soles only a few mm's thick versus normal athletic shoes. I'm wondering how I'll like this over time. I have felt a desire in the past to be lower to the table; or have the table higher in relation to me. I'm 6'1" (185.4cm).

I believe these shoes will naturally encourage the wearer to shift his/her weight from the heels to the balls of the feet. That's probably a good thing for my game... more than half the time if I find myself off-balance in relation to distance from the table, it's that I'm leaning backwards and my loop/hit goes long.

Overall I wore the shoes for about 3 hours. It was only in the last twenty minutes that I noticed the muscles in my feet getting fatigued. There's definitely going to be a conditioning phase.

I really can't say enough about the improved traction though. Previously I had real concern for injury at that rec center. But last night I played for over an hour and I don't remember even slightly slipping once.

So far, thumbs up.

Cheers

[Der Echte]

Haha Nathan, slippery tile floors, eh? I cannot tell you how much trouble I got into with those rec center staff trying to improve the traction. Rec centers everywhere try to put too much stuff into the wrong space and have no idea how to allocate space. Too much space is wasted. They wouldn't put a dartboard or pool table just behind the shortstop or second base in baseball, but that is exactly what everywhere does to TT. It is a losing battle and you pretty much have to build your own facility.

Good luck my friend.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

but of course: http://www.amazon.com/injinji-Performance-Micro-Toesocks-Medium/dp/B000LRHN1Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1316775834&sr=8-2

So did you already have the socks Theo or did you order with the shoes?

How cushioned do your feet feel in these? Is there any "jolt-protection" in them at all?

[the_theologian]

So did you already have the socks Theo or did you order with the shoes?

How cushioned do your feet feel in these? Is there any "jolt-protection" in them at all?

I think those socks are only meant for regular shoes, for those wishing to seperate their toes (which has hygiene benefits). I'm positive I couldn't even get my pair of shoes (five finger) on with those socks on because it is a VERY fitted fit... and I used Vibram's measuring guide to get the precise size for me.

My feet feel reasonably cushioned; of course this is subjective. I did notice that when I slightly jumped to reach out and counter hit that I landed on my right heel and there was some jolt. But again, this makes me ask myself... "why am I landing on my heels in the first place?"

[JT]

Don't you guys find normal table tennis shoes excessively grippy anyway? I'm always almost snapping my ankles on rubber floors even wood is bordering too much traction

[the_theologian]

Don't you guys find normal table tennis shoes excessively grippy anyway? I'm always almost snapping my ankles on rubber floors even wood is bordering too much traction

I haven't tried table tennis shoes although I've wanted to. I normally just play in asics running shoes or crocs, believe it or not.

That's a good point though. I wonder how I'll like these on a surface that already has good traction.

[the_theologian]

Haha Nathan, slippery tile floors, eh? I cannot tell you how much trouble I got into with those rec center staff trying to improve the traction. Rec centers everywhere try to put too much stuff into the wrong space and have no idea how to allocate space. Too much space is wasted. They wouldn't put a dartboard or pool table just behind the shortstop or second base in baseball, but that is exactly what everywhere does to TT. It is a losing battle and you pretty much have to build your own facility.

Good luck my friend.

During this deployment I've filled out three "customer feedback" forms about the lack of lighting over one of the tables (picture playing by candle light... as in, one candle), and the proximity of the dart boards. I think I would have had the same impact if I folded those forms into paper airplanes and flew them towards the berm.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Don't you guys find normal table tennis shoes excessively grippy anyway? I'm always almost snapping my ankles on rubber floors even wood is bordering too much traction

Yep, I snapped my achilles in a pair of TT shoes. I think some of it had to do with the shoes not giving underneath me and just letting me slip. Instead they held on and the achilles "gave" instead  Haven't worn those shoes to play TT ever again!!

[JT]

I haven't tried table tennis shoes although I've wanted to. I normally just play in asics running shoes or crocs, believe it or not.

That's a good point though. I wonder how I'll like these on a surface that already has good traction.

Until this year I always played in running shoes too, there's a profound difference in traction between a running shoe a a gum style table tennis shoe, I really think it's too much on the rubber floors, at least if you aren't used to moving around in a proper skippy jumpy way to suit the table tennis shoe.

[blue_smartie68]

I've been wearing Butterfly shoes the last few years... and quite like them, but agree that they can be too grippy and find it very hard on my knees and ankles... and give my crook hip some grief! Especially on rubberised floors (Albury is the worst I've found for this!). I do like a little bit of slide on the floor surface and after the shoes have worn in a bit and have got a bit shiny underneath, they are great on boards :).

I can't see myself in "finger" shoes... no matter how good they feel!! 

[blue_smartie68]

I think those socks are only meant for regular shoes, for those wishing to seperate their toes (which has hygiene benefits). I'm positive I couldn't even get my pair of shoes (five finger) on with those socks on because it is a VERY fitted fit... and I used Vibram's measuring guide to get the precise size for me.

My feet feel reasonably cushioned; of course this is subjective. I did notice that when I slightly jumped to reach out and counter hit that I landed on my right heel and there was some jolt. But again, this makes me ask myself... "why am I landing on my heels in the first place?"

So Theo... do you not wear socks at all with these shoes??

[the_theologian]

I can't see myself in "finger" shoes... no matter how good they feel!! 

I thought the same thing when I first saw them about a year ago. But the look has really grown on me and once I learned the purpose, to shift your impact point from heel strike to a forward part of the foot, I realized they really make sense for the body.

Tonight I ran on a treadmill in them. I was pleased.

[the_theologian]

So Theo... do you not wear socks at all with these shoes??

nope.

and I stand corrected on something I said earlier, actually Vibram does makes socks for the purpose of wearing with five finger shoes... but that is an uncommon choice from what I've seen and read

[the_theologian]

Tonight was the first night I played in a tournament wearing the five fingers shoes. Took 3rd (only 9 players... and truthfully I would have ranked myself the third best there).

It was maybe the 5 or 6th night I've played in these shoes. It's just about to the point that I don't even think about them any more.