CategoriesCQOTW, GOTENA, Injinji, Vibram FiveFingers by

Do I need to size-up in Vibram FiveFingers to accommodate toe-socks?

If you wear Vibram FiveFingers, or are thinking about buying a pair of Vibrams, this can be a common issue. First of all, you need to decide whether you want to wear toe socks under your FiveFingers – and then – if you did use toe socks – would you need to get a bigger shoe size to accommodate the extra bulk from the sock?

Should I Wear Toe Socks Under My Vibram FiveFingers?

This all comes down to personal preference. At Feetus, we find that around 30% of our customers wear toe socks in the summer, but in winter, this percentage increases to around 90%. As you can expect, the colder months prompt barefooters to reach for socks to add an extra degree of warmth.

Personally, I wore Vibrams for years before I started to wear toe socks. My first pair of FiveFingers was the original KSO. I wanted to try toe socks, but was always put-off by the price (£10+ for one pair!). I eventually took the plunge and found that the quality just didn’t meet the price tag. This, HOWEVER, was back in 2011 – and Injinji have drastically improved the quality of their toe socks.

Now, I know that their range of toe socks are WORTH £10+, given their very high quality, longevity, and performance benefits. At Feetus, we like to offer discounts on toe socks too, so you can always pick up toe socks for less than £10, and we always have a toe sock ‘special offer’ for you to get extra value.

Nowadays, I very rarely wear Vibram FiveFingers WITHOUT socks.

Do I Need To Get A Bigger Size Vibram FiveFingers To Wear Toe Socks?

No.

There is a common misconception that in order to wear socks under your Vibrams, you need to get a larger shoe size. This is not the case.

Think about the conventional shoes you’ve been wearing over the years. How many times have you thought ‘I need to wear socks today – these shoes are going to be too small’? The answer is probably ‘Never’ – and the same applies to your Vibrams.

Toe socks come in a variety of different styles, with the common factor between each being the weight. Using the original performance toesock brand Injinji as an example, they offer Lightweight, Original Weight, Run MidWeight, Trail MidWeight, NuWool Original Weight, and the range is constantly growing and evolving.

Side Note – Please be aware that MidWeight socks (both in the RUN and TRAIL series’) may be a little too thick to wear in your Vibram FiveFingers. Injinji’s Yoga Socks are also not recommended for use in shoes. 

 

What Other Toe Sock Brands Are There?

Injinji are definitely the pioneers. They’re the original creator of the performance toesock, however, we’re proud to offer GOTENA and V-Toes.

GOTENA make fabulous-quality toe socks. Their Merino Wool sock is fantastic quality, and they have also filled the gap by offering their GHOST sock, which is very similar to the (now-unavailable-in-the-UK) Injinji PED.

V-Toes offer an all-black toe sock, similar to Injinji’s Original Weight Mini Crew.

 

Check out the full range of Toe Socks here

CategoriesBarefoot Running, Vibram FiveFingers by

How Should My Vibram FiveFingers Fit?

Whether you plan to wear your Vibram Five Fingers for running, for hitting the gym or CrossFit training, for yoga or even just for everyday casual wear – getting the right size is paramount.

The Space: No More Half-Inch Wiggle

You will probably find that in your ‘conventional’ shoes, and by conventional I mean your smart work shoes, your daily casual footwear, or your standard Asics-type running shoe, you allow a bit of room. Typically known as a half-inch wiggle at the toes.

When wearing your FiveFingers, your feet should be able to flex naturally, with each toe being able to extend fully. It is completely fine for your toes to graze the end of the toe pockets.

If you find that when you wiggle your toes and they slip out of the toe pockets, you need to go down a size. Alternatively, if your toes are scrunched up when you extend them, you need to opt for a size larger.

Further, if your toes are already grazing the end of the shoes when you wear them in bare feet, yet you plan to wear Injinji toe socks under them – it is recommended that you go for a size bigger.

Ultimately, your pair should allow you to perform activities freely, comfortably and naturally – as though you were wearing no shoes at all! 

 

Getting the right fit is essential
Getting the right fit is essential

True, you may find that some toes seem set back further than others. For example, I often find that my first two toes (the big toe and his neighbour) graze the end of my Vibrams, but the little toe has almost a full centimetre of room. This is completely fine. My toes can be fully extended, yet some toes graze the end while others have more room – but none of the toes are squashed nor do they fall out of the toe pockets.

So, to round it off, use these three points as a checklist to ensure your FiveFingers fit OK:

  1. My toes can extend fully
  2. My toes ARE NOT scrunched up inside the toe pockets
  3. My toes DO NOT fall out of the toe pockets when I wiggle them

 

See the full range of Vibram FiveFingers at Feetus.co.uk

See our range of Injinji toe socks