Vibram KSO Evo review - Nearly

This should be a review of my new Vibram KSO Evos. The first of a new generation of Vibram's Five Fingers that supposedly offer lighter weight and more feel.

However you'll notice there isn't a review here instead there's a bit of a blank space.....

I can show you a picture of the Evos......

I can say they indeed appear to be lighter and more flexible than previous models I've tried, I can even tell you they come with a neat little bag to keep them in. However what I can't tell you is much more than that.

I currently have two pairs of Vibrams, a pair of KSO Treks and a pair of Spyridons. Both in size 46 and both are a perfect fit. I've done countless miles of running and walking in them and never had as much as a hot spot or pressure point let alone a blister.

So when ordering the Evos from the Vibram website I had no reason to think anything more than my usual size 46 would be needed. Unfortunately it seems the KSO Evo has different sizing to previous VFFs.

Even out of the box the Evos look small, whether its just a trick of the eye I don't know but as soon as I put them on my feet I knew there was a problem. My VFFs have always been super comfy but straight away my left big toe was touching the end of its toe pocket in the Evos. After five minutes of trying to persuade myself they would stretch and bed in I came to the inevitable conclusion, I was going to have to send them back.

After checking they were indeed size 46 I put them next to my KSO Trek's and the problem was immediately obvious. 

The new Evos are approx half an inch shorter in length than the older Trek model, standing them next to my Spyridons told the same story. For me the whole point of them is the comfort and feel they give, if they're causing pain this is going to be a no go. 

Be warned if you're planning on getting a pair of the Evo's I'd highly recommend trying them before you buy.

At this point I must apologise for not getting a photo of the difference between the two shoes. I put the Evos back in the box while I looked up how to send them back and before I knew it the wife had sealed and sent them. You can't blame her for being efficient.

I bought the Evos direct from the Vibram website so they have had to be sent all the way back to Italy, not ideal. Note to self: next time go to my local barefoot shop and buy them there. Now I'm waiting on the roomier version to arrive.

I'm not sure why Vibram have felt the need to change the sizing of their shoe, its very frustrating to not be able to trust the sizing when you buy. Surely a size 46 is a size 46 no matter what shoes it is. I understand some shoes may have a sightly different fit but not to the extent that they a considerably too short and don't fit. 

I'm hoping it won't be too long a wait for the larger size 47s and of course there will be a detailed review as soon as I've had chance to put some miles under them. Just as long as they fit this time.

Finding my way

Ok, here's the deal. I decided to take a break from this blog, while I enjoyed writing about life barefoot in Sheffield I just felt there was room for more.
I love trail running and barefoot shoes, but...... I love the outdoors even more. Anything, running, hiking, camping and especially cycling it doesn't matter.
The thing that hooked me on barefoot shoes in the first place was the connection with the world under your feet. Barefoot shoes remove that insulating layer, that numbing feeling, the padding between you and the world around you. And for me that is the very reason we look for adventure in the first place? To remove the padding of everyday life and make us feel more connected with the world around us.
So with this in mind I've taken the decision to expand the scope of this blog.
Yes I'll still be covering hiking and trail running and yes I'll still be doing most of it in barefoot shoes but now I'll also be featuring and reviewing a much wider range of outdoor equipment and adventures including some cycling adventures.
I hope the blog not only continues to entertain those people who have enjoyed the blog but attracts those people for who life isn't about how quickly you complete your run but where the trail takes you and how much fun you have on the way.
Just remember, the race may be long and hard but ultimately it's only with yourself. So go out and just enjoy yourself.