Customer Reviews Vibram FiveFingers EL-X

These are one of the most awesome shoes ever made! Slip these on and you can't help but answer everyone's questions about them. Everyone else seems to want a pair but just can't commit. If you like walking barefoot then these are the most comfortable shoes around, feels like going about in socks. Just don't wear them in rain...nothing feels you yuckier than these when they are wet. Take them off if it rains, you're all but barefoot already anyway. Also be very careful if wearing them on wet rocks or grass...you will slide. The sole is not made for wet grip. These have to be one of the best shoes for driving...you can feel the pedals perfectly, they can't slip around or fall off or get stuck like flip flops. Bonus they give your toes better protection vs driving with bare soles, especially if you like to engage the clutch toes first. Not great for really cold days as you will soon feel the cold. Just for kicks I tested them on freshly laid asphalt. I could walk on it for almost 5 minutes before the soles got too hot to keep on my feet any longer. The workers thought I was nuts. Overall great, fun shoes that will get noticed.

I was upgrading from a more than five year old pair of five fingers which had finally worn through on the bottom. I loved those, put a lot of miles on them running, and using them as gym shoes, Krav Maga, etc. When I saw these I was excited about a strapless design even though it seemed a bit dubious. So far though, I love these as well. Even though they lack a proper strap, the rubber reinforced mesh seems to keep them on my feet fairly well in light terrain. In anything a bit heavier, where they were being twisted around a lot more, I might worry that they'd slip or come off, but in that situation you are probably using one of the trail running models. Even though these are not open on the top of the foot, like my old pair, the ventilation is still pretty good. There is obviously a balancing act going on between keeping them on your feet and keeping them breathable and it seems like vibram are pretty close to the sweet spot with these. My feet which are always sweaty in footwear never feel like they were swimming. The siping in the sole seems like a good addition as well. It feels lighter, more flexible, and I daresay even slightly springier. It remains to be seen whether all this comfort negatively affects durability, but so far I am very pleased. Your results may vary though; my feet are slightly on the narrow side and I can see problems arising with narrower or much wider feet. In that situation you might want to check out another model or the Merrell Vapor Gloves. I actually purchased those as well, but ended up sending them back. They come big and even though I knew that and attempted to take it into account, they were still too big. They are a good product though and I can see a lot of people being happy with them if you have larger or smaller feet or just prefer a bit more shoe. I prefer more minimalist, so I went with these and I'm glad I did.

Love being connected. I use them to lift weights. Helped me grab the ground and activate muscles I hadn’t used before. Dorky as all hell but whatever.

I love these. Everything I heard about this type of shoe is right, I never pound the pavement many more; I strictly go on grass, dirt, sand and I love the "barefoot" experience. The shoes fits pretty darn well, and I'm a tough fit, so I'm thrilled all the way around.

Warning label says, "Made with cancer causing chemicals restricted in California" ... Say What? Why would I want those chemicals absorbing through my skin? Ridiculous!

These run a bit smaller than the vibram. Example, in the classics I’m a 45 but in the EL-X I’m a 46. These are the most minimalist and exceptional ground contact and feeling.

I only use Vibrams for working out and these no-frills, slip-on/slip-off FiveFingers are perfect for lifting weights. My only issue was that I needed a size bigger than my usual FiveFingers order (44 instead of 43). Vibram's page tells you to go up a size on the EL-X specifically. Zappos has a great return policy, so it wasn't a huge hassle to exchange. But it'd be helpful to put up a similar notice.

I can't vouch for the shoe yet, they are for my husband who has trouble with his rubbing together, I hope they work for him. I can vouch for Zappos customer service though!! My husband wears a size 10 1/2 - 11, so I ordered the size 42 which looked very small when it arrived. I did an exchange online and received the size 43 less than 24 hours after I initiated the exchange. I returned the first pair to Zappos today. I've never heard of a company sending a replacement before they received the original and getting it here that quickly! Thank you Zappos for the excellent customer service.

he Zappos reps could not be more helpful.I needed to return a pair of "Vibrams" cuz they were too small. They faxed a return label to me and put a size larger in the mail asap.(without waiting for the return.) I got the new shoes back in like a day and half. TERRIFIC SERVICE and very helpful and friendly staff. I will def. buy again from this great company. Steve K.

I was looking for a pair of Vibrams I could wear out casually, almost like a sandal. These EL-X's fit the bill well. Easy to put on and well ventilated. You will want to make sure these fit properly, however, given that there are no straps to tighten things up. The stretchy material that goes over the top of the foot holds the shoe in place, but I imagine if you have high feet that they would be very tight. I've worn size 41 Vibrams for a while now and the size 41 EL-X fits me like a glove. These may be the best, most form-fitting Fivefingers I've ever worn. Perfect for beginners and experienced "barefooters" alike.

These are my new favorite Vibrams. They are the lightest, thinnest ones I've tried. Not great for intense activity, but they stay on surprisingly well.

Fantastic shoe, absolutely love FiveFingers! This is my third pair of this type of shoe (not the same model). Takes some getting used to, but once you do, regular shoes become ancient artifacts in your closet.

Really love these shoes, besides being some of the more light weight variety of the now famous Vibrams they're really easy to wash. More so than the KSO's. I put these in the wash with my normal gym clothes then take them out and they're dry in 30 minutes without even hanging them or anything. As far as comfort goes I find that the webbing between the fourth and fifth digit (pinky toe) is kind of cramped but I live with it and could just be my weird feet. They are a bit on the snug side but definitely feel light and comfy even while walking around Manhattan.

I have been wearing Fivefingers since 2010. This pair is slightly on the snug side, but within expectations. Seems like there are minor production variances over time (some - not all - past EL-X pairs labeled this same size have been slightly looser but still functional), and I'm not referring to when Vibram changed their Fivefinger sizing system). The EL-X lasts me about 8 months of daily wear before a forefoot hole develops.

The shoe is great just too small and the fit was uncomfortable and i do not think they are right for my son (whom I purchased them for).

My fourth or fifth pair of Vibrams at this point. They fit well and I find them very comfortable, sometimes more so than standard sneakers. Great for walks or a day quick slip on for some errands.

fit and size was perfect. no complains. felt true to width. slightly feel it on the arc.

I purchased these shoes specifically to drive an automotive video racing game. Yes I have the complete "cockpit", pedals and all. They are easily the best shoes for driving that I have ever owned. I wish I had a pair when I still owned a sports care. They are ugly as sin, but not an issue since I only use them in my home when playing the video game. They take a little get use to, especially when it comes to putting them on. It took me quite a few times before I figured out a "system" to put them on, now no issue.

Excellent for paddle boarding, swimming, boating, fishing. Took them hiking and even went off trail and they did great!

I cross referenced Vibram’s website and saw that these run small, order up, so I ordered a 44; whereas I’m usually a mens 9.5, and they fit great. I love the lack of Velcro compared to my first KSO pair. I’ll probably try the 5-toe socks to absorb excess moisture, but I’m very pleased. I feel them working stabilizers that haven’t been touched by years of merrell’s vibram soles

Phenomenal shoes. These are my favorite five finger shoes because they lack a tongue and laces. Ultimately comfortable and surprisingly versatile.

This is my third or fourth pair of Five Fingers. I like them. They’re funny looking but comfy. I mostly wear them around the house instead of slippers, and sometimes as beach shoes. For running I like a shoe with much more structure. Really liked the first pair I owned best (they were smartwool-lined), but that model was discontinued years ago; this minimalist version is a good alternative.

Great earthing shoes

I like vibrams. I have a couple pairs. These are my favorites. They are very thin and comfortable, and have good airflow.. socks are not as mandatory in my opinion

I bought these for my son for Christmas. He was delighted with them! The feel of walking barefooted yet with a shoe.