I originally got my sockwa X8s something like a year ago. Didn't like them. I was wrong, they are really awesome.
Back then I was running with fivefingers, that's probably reason I didn't like them - fivefingers are pretty well locked to feet, whereas sockwas are looser, so with too much push off foot slides inside looser fitting shoe. Now I'm running barefoot and use sockwas to get through rougher sections.. There isn't any sliding inside shoe, I guess it was running form problem initially and running barefoot solved that form problem.. At first I thought there's bit too much ground feel with sockwas, it was actually painful to run at the rougher sections but it seems that problem was also about not enough barefoot running.. Now they feel like they add just enough protection and comfort. Whereas vff kso evo now feels almost like I can stomp through any terrain without feeling much.
Compared to vffs sockwas are much faster to put on and to take off. It's bigger thing than it would seem, it's not just little extra effort to adjust laces or put toes to toepockets. Here in Finland mosquitos attack pretty fast when you stop, with fivefingers I get lot more bites than with sockwas. And when there's some extra effort to put on shoes, it makes me more reluctant to stop to put them on, so I find myself going through rougher sections barefoot and slow down and mosquitos catch me..
Sockwas also can be tucked into running belt, they stay put and don't bother. Some heavier minimalist shoes tend to move a bit and need to be adjusted occasionally. And more structured minimalist shoes might feel bit awkward.. Much better carrying option than hydration vest or carrying shoes at hand.. Especially with shorter runs I used to have this carrying problem, it felt too overkill to take some hydration vest just to carry shoes and carrying shoes at hand sucked.
BTW, I started barefoot running this time because I broke my little toe at orienteering. It was still bit sore on some test run and then I realized that it was shoes that irritated it, so I removed shoes and barefoot running felt great and painless. That toe is healed now, I still run barefoot.
Aaaaand, since winter will eventually come, hows sockwa G HI ? Like width, sizing compared to G3 or X8 and do they behave?