This is a common concern among many first time FiveFinger buyers. Whether you ordered online or bought at the store, some of you may be second guessing your decision on size after wearing your FiveFingers
for a day or two. Here is how you know if your FiveFingers are too tight and need to be returned for a different size.
Vibram FiveFingers should fit like a glove. Your heel should sit securely in the heel cup and your toes should be near the end of the toe pockets. Most people that have sizing concerns worry if their big toe is too long for their FiveFingers. With traditional shoes you never want your big toe to touch the front portion of the shoe, because this will cause lots of discomfort. FiveFingers are different and do not fit like your old shoes. It may be ok if your big toe is touching the front edge as long as your foot doesn't feel squeezed into the FiveFingers. What some people think is too tight is could be a near perfect fit. However, if there is absolutely no room in the big toe pocket and your foot or toe is hurting or there is a lack of circulation, the fit is too tight.
Our advice is to go back to the store if you are feeling too much discomfort to wear your FiveFingers around the house for extended periods of time. The FiveFingers are supposed to be an extension of your foot. A loose fit is probably worse than what feels like a slightly tight fit. Also, most people that claim to have a tight fit say that after wearing them for a week or so, their FiveFingers loosened up. The message here is to not panic if you aren't hurting from just casual wear. Let your FiveFingers break-in by wearing them around the house, taking a couple walks, and doing some light running. Some slight discomfort is common among first timers and what feels tight may be the glove-like fit that you need.
Here's what Vibram says:
HOW SHOULD MY FIVEFINGERS FIT?
"Ideally, you will want your toes and heel to fit into each pocket comfortably snug, with your longest toe grazing the end of the toe pocket. You do not want the standard 1/2 inch of “wiggle” room as desired in traditional footwear."
"Although it is perfectly fine for your toes to graze the end of the toe pockets, make sure that each toe can extend fully. If any of your toes are scrunched or curled due to lack of space, you need to go up in size. Alternately, if you wiggle your toes and they slip out of the toe pockets, you need to go down in size. Ultimately, you should find a pair that you are comfortable in and that allow you to perform activities freely and naturally—as if you are wearing no shoes at all!"
31 comments for "Are my FiveFingers too tight?".
1. Well I think you have
Well I think you have analyzed the issue well.I think my fingers are well from any difficulties.
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2. Hi not sure i posted my last
Hi not sure i posted my last comment successfully. I have a problem with one foot, the other one fits just right while the other one has a tightness in the second to the last toe and the little toe. My big toe fits just fine. it also hurts in my heel. Now i do have the problem of fasciitis, could it stretch out enough to be comfortable and i should wait? or go up a size? Could my foot just be a bit swollen? Any information or advice is appreciated.
3. Hi, Just bought a pair of the
Hi, Just bought a pair of the vibrams speeds for women. Size 38. I measured my right foot and everything by the longest toe. My left foot feels just fine it it a bit snug like a glove which is fine, however my right foot is a bit tight in the small toe and it pulls on the heel. Now I have plantars fasciitis at the moment and my foot could be swollen. i was wondering if I should go up a size or let it stretch out. And how long does it take to stretch out? It's not just the last toe either but the second of the last toe, which i see now looks a bit thicker than my other foot so it might just be swollen as I just went through a very painful moment of the Fasciitis. any Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
4. Is the OP here to help answer
Is the OP here to help answer some of these comment's questions? I have a lot of the same questions concerning tightness as well.
The article is great, but I feel like some of the questions are valid too.
5. just got a pair of Bikila's
just got a pair of Bikila's .....they fit great except for the very top of my foot the lip of the shoe is cutting into my foot....will they stretch out a little or do i need to lay off the salt.
6. I will post a link to this
I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful. dr michelle
7. Hi, I just bought a pair of
Hi, I just bought a pair of Bikilas. All my toes fit perfectly but my big toe is a bit snug. It's not cramped, but it definitely touches the end of the pocket. Getting them on is also kinda tight; lots of wiggling. Is this a good thing? I tried the exact model and size on in the store (the pair in question I ordered online) and they fit just a bit better. Should I consider going up a size? I can't run on them to test them out or they won't accept the return. Please respond!
8. Try running on a treadmill.
Try running on a treadmill. There shouldn't be any wear showing on the shoes.
9. I just received my KSO's
I just received my KSO's today. The right shoe is a perfect fit, but the left is a bit tight across the first 2 toes. And the toe next to the pinky curls slightly when i flex my foot. Should i go up one size or will these stretch over time??
10. i have the same prob wiith
i have the same prob wiith the toe near the pinky did they strech out i jst bought mine 2day so yea but i have the komodos
11. i have the same problem too!
i have the same problem too! mine is a bit tight on my left toe using the komodo.
12. Hi, I always wanted to try
Hi, I always wanted to try these FiveFingers but I was always unsure as to what would be the right size for me. My foot measures 29 cm and according to many foot length tables I've checked online, the right size for me would be 46 (which is Ok because I normally wear shoes in size 47).
On a trip to Austria too weeks ago I tried the FiveFingers in size 46 and they were like a glove for my feet, perfect, but I didn't like the model they showed me and prefered to buy the Speeds online now that I knew the right size for me.
Then, I ordered my VFF Speed and when I received them I was really disappointed because the shoes were really small. In the shoe is printed size 46 but that cannot be true because these shoes actually measure 26.5 cm. At first I thought it was the women's model, but when I called the online store, they told me that it was actually the men's model. Apparently the sizing of this model doesn't match the one of the other models. Needless to say, I had to return my VFF Speed.
Have any of you had a similar experience?
13. The sizing is different
The sizing is different across different models. e.g. a 46 bikila is not the same fit as a 46 kso is not the same as a 46 komodosport.
14. I just bought a pair of the
I just bought a pair of the Vibram Komodosport. Today I recieved them in the mail. When I wear them they feel okay but when I point my toes upward they become scrunched. Should I go up a size or is this normal for a new pair?
15. WOW-EEE guys, I am a 23 year
WOW-EEE guys,
I am a 23 year old 130lbs athletic male with very wide, short feet btw, and i run between 30-50miles/month both trail/road.
I Just bought a size 37 WOMANS KSOTREK(Only womans because the size was right and they were out of males) And i must say they are awesome! I ve been wearing them since they came through the door, and no discomfort yet. I kind of winged it and got what i hoped would be the right size(just used sizing chard and tape measure), and to my disbelief it was a snug but good fit(SNUG being the OPTIMAL word here)! I ran a few test miles in them and came out with a few cool sub 8 minutes miles so i was happy (Calves hurt like hell the next day, but at leist it wasn't my knees/ankles!!!). It is very snug tho, like i would be uncomfortable if this was a normal shoe, but its not, it will stretch, so ill get use to it. Now if only it lasts!! Or so i hope, well find out either way!! Great buy tho, only 100$
16. hi I bought my five finger
hi I bought my five finger classics about 2 days ago and i've been wearing mine and after awhile my big toe starts to become numb are they too tight?
17. I tried on a 39 in store, but
I tried on a 39 in store, but got a 40. After 2 days of casual wearing I was a bit worried that maybe I should have gotten a 41.
The left is perfect though and I wouldn't want them being too big especially if they do stretch a bit (which I'm hoping it will give just a little).
It's too late to take them back anyways!
18. Just bought a pair of vibrams
Just bought a pair of vibrams sprint today and tried on the size 38 which according to the foot size chart should be my size. however, they felt really snug and actually were kinda hurting me on the big toe and heal. my foot felt cramped and like the circulation could get cut off. when i tried the 39 they felt awesome. thought i do have a wee bit of room in the back by my heal but my foot doesnt pop out of them. my question is this: should i have waited and let the 38 break in?? i read on the internet that they should feel uncomy and snug at first. Or wa i right by going with my gut and what felt better??
thanks.
19. Mine feel really tight around
Mine feel really tight around my achilles. The toes and rubber bottom seem the right size, but they seem tight in the opposite spot most people are concerned.
20. Hi, I bought a pair of Vibram
Hi, I bought a pair of Vibram KSO's about a month ago. The length is fine but my foot is too narrow for the shoe. It fits the width fine near the toes but when I pull the velcro strap tight around my ankle, the extra material touches the ground. Any ideas on how I can resize the strap? Is it possible to just do some cutting and sewing? I know Vibrams have 2 small pieces on the strap that you can cut off but I need to cut off even more than that. Plus, I need to make sure the male and female ends of the velcro still have enough room to connect. Any help would be great!
21. Hi there, I ordered a pair of
Hi there,
I ordered a pair of vibram five fingers in a 41, as that is what I thought I was measured into. When I tried them on, they were too loose and so I sent them back to the company ( I could wiggle all my toes out except my big toe.)
I re-ordered a pair a size smaller (40s) and they feel much better. The big toe is just underneath the lip of the toe cap. The other toes do not reach all the way to the end of their pockets, but do not slip out easily (I'd have to assist my toes with my hand in order to slip out of the pockets.) However, my pinky toe is very easy to slip out.
Do you think these are sized correctly? I don't want to go a size smaller because I'm afraid they'll be too tight in the big toes, especially on my left foot since my left foot is slightly longer than my right.
22. Got a pair of the
Got a pair of the Bilika-model today. Chose size 41, since the size chart recommended they should fit perfect. I`m a bit concerned because the toes seems/feels crumbled, though seem to match the lenght of the pockets. The problem seems to be that my toes are too big to squeeze into the pockets.
I`ve been googling around for this issue, and the impression I get, is to go for comfortable toe-space rather than perfect heel fit. I did try 42 in the store, but was not sure. The dealer said i could swap size if I wanted.
Should I go for 42, or is there a possibility they will stretch/widen?
23. Great info, I'm glad to find
Great info, I'm glad to find these answers cause I just bought a pair online and have ran in them twice so far and was wondering if they were too tight cause they fit like a glove, my feet don't hurt during or after running so they must be fine, just gota get them stretched in a little, thanks for the info, I was just about to try to return them for a bigger size too
24. I have the opposite problem I
I have the opposite problem
I have very long narrow feet and a long second toe and while the toes feel comfortable, the heel is really loose - to the point that I can slip my feet out of the TREK SPORTS even when the strap is tightened. The size down felt too tight in the shop. Should I exchange them for a smaller size?
25. Thanks. However my toes are
Thanks. However my toes are snug in size 42 but the top of my foot is so tight and after a large run it swells even more. Should I go a size up?
26. Thanks, my vibrams are too
Thanks, my vibrams are too big. I have short toes and my pinkies tend to slip almost out and ache from not being in the pockets all of the time. I cannot wait for my Jayla vibrams to arrive.
27. thnx... one of my big toes is
thnx...
one of my big toes is kinda squished. i'm going to try on a size up right now.
28. Yes, definitely go a size up.
Yes, definitely go a size up. If they are too small you will get blisters and pain when your wear them for extended periods of time.
29. Me, too. Thanks for the
Me, too. Thanks for the article. My right big toe touches the tip and feels snug but not squished.
30. I had the same issue and was
I had the same issue and was concerned if it was too small. thanks for the article.
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