Vibrams Supposed Benefits Have No Evidence

Vibram is settling a $3.75 million class action lawsuit since they can’t produce evidence that their shoes help “strengthen foot muscles” or “prevent injuries” like they’ve been claiming for years.

I’m so happy seeing Vibrams publicly unmasked as phoney. These shoes are crap and only people in peak athletic health at 18-24 can just barely handle them. Everyone I know under 18 or over 24 who tries wearing these ends up in brutal pain and blaming themselves for failing their shoes when the pain is too much. Of all the times I’ve heard the phrase, “Wait, I can’t walk anymore”, nearly every time it was uttered by a Vibram wearer.

If you were taken by this con and injured by Vibrams too, they’ll eventually be starting a website at fivefingerssettlement.com so you can join the class action lawsuit and get $20-94 in remuneration.

Author Description

Louie Helm is a Machine Learning Engineer

21 Responses to “Vibrams Supposed Benefits Have No Evidence”

May 9
Michael Wiebe

I guess I’m one of the people that can handle them—never had any problems.
May 9
Tim Suetens

Jolly won’t be pleased to hear this :p
May 9
Alli Smith

That’s a very broad and confident statement, Louie. I’m over 24 and you know me and I haven’t had problems. I only really wear them when I go hiking, not on pavement, but I find them way more comfortable than running shoes or hiking boots.
May 9
Jacy Anthis

I run daily on pavement/concrete with toe shoes, and they’re amazing! I understand if they lack statistical evidence, but I don’t plan on stopping 🙂

Note: I also run on the balls of my feet in most situations. Always have. That might be a factor. In fact, I walk on the balls of my feet when barefoot; people often point out to me how strange this is.
May 9
Richard Craib

I think a lot of their geek users care about evidence.
May 9
Oliver Mayor

They are great for anything except activities that involve running, because my toes come out of the sleeves sometimes. They seem to provide some relief from an old foot injury that flares up when I wear normal shoes for long stretches. I started wearing them a lot in 2012, at age 27, overweight, and unathletic at the time, so your generalization surprises me unless you are only talking about long distance runners. But it sucks that people are in pain, and if they were pulled in by the deceptive marketing, they should definitely get the settlement.
May 9
Nick Novitski

To someone who exercises properly, “now I (temporarily) can’t walk” is not necessarily discouraging.
May 9
David McNett

I’ve run four marathons and logged over 2,000 miles in my toe shoes. If I get any settlement money over this I will use it to buy more toe shoes.
May 9
Taurus

I wear them. 5k cross country. I love them. What about this?
http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/
May 9
Jefferson A Rogers

These shoes are awesome, my feet have never been stronger, total bs if they can’t find evidence of that. If used properly they are by far the best shoe to run/walk/hike/train in, I use them for yoga, pilates and the gym..Would not wear anything else. As David says above if I get any money from the settlement I will buy more of their shoes, excellent and highly recommended with the proper transition training. Don’t listen to BS
May 9
Christine Peterson

Louie, do your comments apply to all the shoes like this, or just this brand?
May 9
Brian Bugh

These shoes are amazing and drastically changed my foot and leg health for the better, and I really don’t understand why normally reasonable and intelligent people act like complete douchebags to people who wear them.
May 9
Silver Keskküla

Louie, we did pretty good running around bare feet before the invention of shoes. We evolved that way. i honestly can’t think of any other product i’ve been so happy with. Not considering one’s history of wearing shoes witch absorb shock is just a failure on the consumer side.
May 9
Andrew Hay

I am over 24 and used them for months a while back with no regrets. Though it was chilly walking on snow. I’m always barefoot inside so I enjoyed the increased sensations of the ground with them c.f. wearing shoes. Like others have said, when you first wear them of course it’s going to hurt – muscles and tendons long atrophied and stiff need time. I find it an interesting personal point that, whenever I get new shoes, my feet hurt for some time as well.
May 9
Bonnie Candell

If you get shoes that support and fit your feet well, they shouldn’t ever hurt. I found this out when I had to see my podiatrist because of foot pain and he prescribed Finn Comfort sandals and my feet are so happy now. I wish I could afford to buy several! :/
May 9
Ethan Currens

I’ve been wearing them as much as I possibly can from age 19-26 (currently), though that amount has decreased when I transitioned from university to the professional world. I started wearing them full-time immediately, and while I had no problems, apparently others do experience a sore adjustment period, so people should probably do that.

Besides that, nothing but positive things to say. I don’t run more than a few miles at a time, but I’m an extremely active human, and they really help ground me into the texture and footing of the ground under me.

Sure, some people say they are atrociously ugly and endlessly criticize them, but I find those people to be coming from the exact same place as the people who relish using the word “Glasshole,” with the exact same sentiment. Unwarranted and strangely emotional reactionary nonsense. Are you one of those people? The answer “because these shoes are hurting people!” is not real, because I know and have talked to dozens of people that wear them quite often, and the only ‘pain’ or ‘debilitation’ I’ve ever heard about was because of a 100% transition compounded by pre-existing posture/stride/pronation issues, and even that is rare.
May 9
Robyn Facchiano

ok I’m seeing this for the first time and even I don’t understand why it’s a lawsuit?? I mean did the person have really high expectations?, That if just by wearing the shoes you would somehow get bigger, stronger, faster?? Able to leap tall buildings? Outrun a speeding bullet? I am really confused as to what this person expected SHOES to do for them. I am honestly surprised that a judge said sure, this is a win. I mean wow! If my new shoes could clean my house for me, help me find a job and some how win the lottery? I’d be more then happy to give my shoes the credit.
May 10
Tucker Ashley

Lol…they come with a warning….mcdonalds coffee burned me…sue ’em… Similar. Sounds
May 11
Paul Jablonski

I have a pair as well! My feet are very prone to blisters. I have been through many different types of shoes and these shoes are the only ones that help. Even though most will call a blister a “minor injury” they have prevented those. Especially on a long trip where 1 blister can turn to many. They wont see a claim from me!
May 12
Jolly

I’ve been wearing them for years – freaking awesome. Lately I’ve been wearing Vivo Barefoots more, but that’s just for the workplace acceptability factor. The lack of waterproofing on VFF’s gets annoying though :/, as does the amount of heat that can be leached from your feet when it’s cold.
May 12
Nikki_Olson

It only took about one month of walking in them to have knee pain. Quit using them and went back to arch support and knees are fine. Physiotherapist said you need to gradually work towards toe shoes, and if you have other physiological abnormalities effecting stride then be to weary of them. Wish I would have consulted my physiotherapist beforehand. When the knee pain started, for some reason I didn’t think that it could have been the toe shoes.