By Becky Howlett

After extensively researching FiveFingers, as well as talking to at least three separate people claiming to be “the biggest spokesperson” of Vibram’s, I decided to convert and get a pair. I was kind of a like a kid at Christmas as I snuggled up in my bed and dreamed of FiveFingers, rather than sugarplums. The real drama of shopping for them came from my mom.

I went with my mother to get them and I insisted she also get a pair, as she had just taken a hard fall that same day. It took some abrasive scolding, but my mom didn’t back out and she actually got a pair. She was resistant at first as she struggled to maneuver her individual toes into their respective place. (She hadn’t believed me that it would literally take five minutes to put the first shoe on.) “They feel weird.” “Well of course, Mom. You’ve never worn anything like them in your 59 years of life. You really expect them not to feel weird?” “I just don’t know…”

She furrowed her brow as she walked around the store for more than 15 minutes, assessing the shoes’ comfort and debating if they were worth the investment. ($100 to my mom should be stretched to more than 10 articles of clothing so this was a big deal.)

She finally agreed to get them and has been wearing them inside the house, still hanging on to the possibility of returning them in 30 days. I’m intrigued to see if she’ll take the next step and wear them outside; in public! God forbid.