Vibram Women's FiveFingers Alitza Loop Shoe

I rarely take the time to review a product...which is a shame because that's what I largely base my purchases on. I have good intentions and some long road is paved with it. The fact I am taking the time to write this speaks volumes for these shoes. The first day Nike Studio Wraps came out I bought a pair. I didn't really like the shoe part and the ribbon was just silly...but I did like the wrap and wore them for my combination weight/yoga workouts 5x a week until they fell apart. I was going to repurchase, but I started reading the Nike reviews...turns out they are on version 4 and the verdict isn't favorable. The Vibram Alitza came up as a similar item I might be interested in... I started researching...it sounded favorable and I knew I could return them if they weren't. Not only are they superior to the Nike wrap as a gym/yoga shoe...I wear them around the house and running errands. It truly is like being barefoot but protected. Getting the toes aligned on the first try is a crap-shoot...but the 5 seconds it takes to piddle around with it is worth it. I'm not big on the usual 5-toe look...but in all black I don't really notice the separation and I really like the criss-cross over the foot. They are terrific if you combine stretching with weight training and want to grab your big toe for leverage or flex your feet. I've worn these out running errands and my feet are comfortable which is amazing because I thought I needed highly cushioned (think crocs). They are fairly warm in the cold and definitely cool in the heat...fits my lifestyle perfectly.

So these little shoes are super cute. Takes a minute for your feet to get used to them if this is your first time in these types of shoes. Wear them for a little time each day till you break them in. Also, for your feet to obtain the memory of this is where each little piggy goes inside the shoe. They are extremely light weight. Mine seem to be slip resistant as well. The soles seem to be very grippy. Never rubbed blisters on my heals.Cons: inside the toes there is material that seems to roll a bit very uncomfortable. These are made for skinnier feet; meaning if you have a toe that lays a little funny or wider this shoe will be uncomfortable to you. The toes are very narrow. When I’m at the gym on certain machines I find they slip around and I have to re-adjust my foot. I wouldn’t buy these again not for the $ they cost. I also no longer wear them, due to the cons.

If you're not familiar with Vibram shoes, know that:a) you should really buy your first pair at a store, if possibleb) they will take some getting used to, andc) once you're used to them, you will never want to wear anything else on your feet.If you're already a Vibram convert, these are just another stellar addition to the line. They're so freaking cute and quite feminine, and fit as expected--same size as the other two styles I own. They fit a bit lower around the sides of my foot, if that makes sense--kind of like a no-show sock liner, but not so low that they slip off at all.The webbing in the middle is a nice, thick elastic that holds your foot securely but not in a death grip.I am plagued with a billion different foot problems, and it's incredibly difficult to find shoes that don't hurt my feet in one way or another. Generally, I can't walk longer than a mile or so before I start limping. Today, I got these in the mail, put them on, and headed straight out the door for what ended up being an 8-mile hike. Pebbles, sharp rocks, super muddy mud, freezing water, grass, you name it.... and I didn't think about my feet ONCE. No blisters, no hot spots or aching heels... just a perfect, perfect shoe that fits my foot like a second skin. LOVE EM!

I love these shoes but they don’t accommodate my sideways pinky toe. If you have weird toes like me they require lots of stretching and twisting to get a comfortable fit. Other than that these are excellent shoes.

Love it

I’ve had three pairs of the same style. These were oddly way too tight. Had to return. Must be a fake Vibrams. Wish they worked out because I love these and can’t find them anywhere anymore.

These are probably the best shoes I've ever worn. I've been struggling with toe and overall body posture for years, and these shoes have already helped after only wearing them for two days. I get home and don't even want to take them off, they're almost better than being barefoot! I have no trouble on roads or grass/trails so far but you can definitely feel it on rocks and the grocery store floor wasn't super comfortable either, so just pay attention to what your body needs and let yourself adjust properly (wear them only on specific turf or wear them less frequently, etc).I usually wear a size 9 and ordered a 41 and it fits well! I figured the toes would be a little funny because I have long toes but there's actually room leftover, luckily its not really noticeable and doesn't hinder movement at all. I only wear them without socks and the backs rub my ankles a bit, no blisters so far but I had to oil the fabric a bit to help, and expect to maybe have to sew in a pad. The straps could probably be the tiniest bit tighter but it also doesn't hinder movement whatsoever! Ultimately, the cons are barely an issue, these shoes are amazing! I'll try to update this review if any issues come up after having them a while.