Fivefingers classified as shoes?

Chrizzz

Chrizzz

Barefooters
Dec 8, 2012
22
3
3
50
Broome, Australia
#1
Hi all,

I would like to buy fivefingers so I can wear them at work but when I told my supervisor the first thing she said was: "You can't wear them here". I told her that they are classified as shoes, but I'm not sure if they really are :( . Has somebody found problems wearing those shoes to work? And are they classified as shoes?

Thanks
 
#2
this is one of those un-winnable arguments imho. terra plana do some good "work look" minimalist shoes (3mm sole), the dharma is popular I believe, and there's an ankle-boot one as well but I can't remember what that one is called. They do look a bit like "special" shoes, as the toes box is extra wide, but people will only notice if they're staring at them. Strangely my gym tell me off for going barefoot (they cite the reason as being "in case I drop something on my foot"), yet VFFs are fine with them! I didn't realise that the thin nylon mesh on my KSO's was so protective!!!

As an aside, I've been wearing terra plana aqua's (black ones with the tan rubber sole) to work for over 12 months now - they really help to start your feet adapting.
 
#3
Hi Chrizzz,
If you can wear fivefingers at work or not depends also on the kind of work you are doing: For instance on a construction site fivefingers would NOT qualify as security shoes with a steel cap toe.
Also if you work in a place where you would need to dress up: fivefingers would look very strange when worn with a three piece suit and a tie. And that would convey a rather strange image of the company...
There is another aspect you might wish to consider: If you are walking with fivefingers on a wet ground (grass with dew, street with puddles...) you'll get wet feet: most of the fivefinger models have some kind of fabric between the toes which does not keep water out. For a run it's ok but I wouldn't like wet feet all day long at work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dutchie53
#4
I agree with what others have said. If your workplace won't allow them, there are a lot of great alternatives these days, like Vivobarefoot (VB), SoftStar, Leming and Merrell to name a few. I can and have worn VFFs to work (office), but decided something else would be more appropriate. So now I usually wear VB or Softstars.

Sometimes, you just have to pick your battles.

You might also want to check out the Birthday Shoes site and forums: www.birthdayshoes.com
 
#5
Five fingers ARE shoes and I have no problem wearing them at work. I wear them almost everyday.
Good luck.
 
#6
Thanks for your replies. I work at the post office, sorting mail. We don't have postmen/women here in Broome so people come to us to get their mail and parcels what can mean a lot of walking. I'm going to buy a pair of fivefingers (if I like the feel of them) and another pair, thinking of VivoBarefoot Breatho Trail shoes. I'm going on a holiday in a few weeks, hopefully they have a nice range of minimalist shoes :) where we are going.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Support Your Club

Luna Sandals

Forum statistics

Threads
19,158
Messages
183,626
Members
8,702
Latest member
wleffert-test

Latest posts

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back
Menu