Vibram is turning heads again this spring with a highly-anticipated new addition to their barefoot running line: The Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS.
Available in both Men’s and Women’s versions, the “LS” in the name means it has laces! Indeed, the closed lace system is the defining feature of the Bikila LS and what differentiates it from all of the Vibram FiveFingers shoes that came before it. Quick laces should assure a custom fit for a wider range of foot shapes and sizes, along with enhancing mid-foot stability.
The shoe builds upon the original ground-breaking design of the Vibram FiveFingers Bikila, introduced last year as the company’s first model built specifically for barefoot running; “for a more natural running experience,” as the company’s own website states the matter. Built on an entirely new platform compared to the other shoes in the Vibram FiveFingers line, the Bikila and Bikila LS feature a 3mm polyurethane insert — thickest in the ball — for shock absorption, and a 4mm outsole with additional plating for protection while running.
These improvements allow barefoot runners enough feedback to maintain proper forefoot-strike running form, while effectively distributing forefoot impact. Runners asked for a lace-up model, and Vibram has responded with exactly that.
Here are links to the Men’s and Women’s versions of the new Bikila LS running shoes on rockcreek.com:
We’d love to hear about your experiences running in these, especially if you’ve already been running in the Vibram FiveFingers Bikila or Vibram FiveFingers KSO shoes. Barefoot runners and FiveFingers runners, leave your comments below and let us know how the new Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS stacks up with these other models!
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