“I don’t keep track of my miles, so I can’t tell you how long they last in that regard. I have 4 pairs at the moment: 1 Sprint (purchased in August 2006), 2 KSO (purchased in August), 1 Trek (October). The Sprints I’ve been using in the gym and some running until reading Born to Run in June, since then I’ve been running 3/4 days a week in them (on and off road) and doing some hikes (up to 7 miles in tough conditions).

The Sprints show almost no signs of wear. The only reason I bought the KSOs, in fact, was because the Sprints on my hikes would fill up with sand and stuff, so I would have to stop and empty them out. Kind of annoying. I use these now for the gym exclusively.

I wear socks (Injinjis) for longer runs and if it’s cold. I prefer not to. Usually if I do a longer run I’ll stick a pair of socks in my pocket in case I get an abrasion (which happened once for some strange
reason with the Sprint, after two years of wearing them), so I can stop and put the socks on. On a hike in Maine in the Sprints I went about 10.5 miles over two days without wearing socks, and then put
them on for the last 3.5 miles when I started getting an abrasion.

I had a medical issue with my foot last fall that caused me to stop wearing them, not caused by the Vibrams but I couldn’t wear them. After reading Born to Run, I put my Sprints back on, and did a one mile run on the treadmill in the gym. That felt so nice that I went home and did my regular 3-mile loop. Which was great, except for the last mile when my calves began to hurt. What shocked me was my feet felt great the entire time. I’ve never had any issues with foot pain since June when I started using the Vibrams exclusively for running and hiking. Generally, if you are having pain of some sort, your form is off for some reason. For instance, if the balls of your feet hurt, you’re landing too hard. If you’re making sound running, your form is off, so that’s a good indication.

I’ve not tried running fully bare, for a variety of reasons, but there are a couple of issues with my form that I’ve realized would best be dealt with by going fully bare. I’ll probably start with shorter, slower runs with my wife (who is also running with Vibrams now).

I’ve also gotten a number of people into wearing Vibrams. Everyone has been very happy, including one friend who has had back pain for twenty years since having an accident, and has had both knees operated on. He was unable to run without serious pain. He’s discovered his back pain goes away entirely when he stops wearing shoes with heels, and he can run in the Vibrams without knee pain. It’s been life-altering for him, as he’s been taking pain pills for years, and no longer needs to.

Hope this helps.”

And before you give up on running barefoot for longer distances, Google Charley Robbins, who came in the third in the ’46 Boston Marathon, and ran for 66 years, BAREFOOT.

I just got in from an hour trail run in Vibrams, and my feet feel great, rocks and acorns and all. Like getting a foot massage.