Toe shoes on the playa

Alexisaok · Post by **Alexisaok** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:50 pm

Does anyone have experience with vibram five fingers or other toes shoes on the playa? I rock them with toe socks cause otherwise they get mighty stinky. I've got the komodo sports or ksos(I always forget), I got them last year after an unfortunate barefoot hitch hiking accident(yeah that was dumb). I love them and wear them everyday(that I'm not barefoot). Any playa experiences? Tips? Tricks?....horror stories

Post by **Savannah** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:58 pm

No one can really be sure what your unique feet will do. So try them. And bring at least 1 pair of toe socks per day. More if you have them.

Bring a backup pair of alternate shoes or boots that are well broken in, and some pairs of non-toe socks in case your toes hate you.

Inspect your feet daily at minimum (check behind the toes) and wash 'em with vinegar or lemon juice, lotion 'em, etc.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:59 pm

Something to think about... Burningman is, in some ways, a huge construction site for the week of the event. And before and after, actually. Stuff gets lost on the playa floor because of the dust. We do our best, but we're not perfect. I'm not certain how big of a deal it actually is, but there are elaborate structures thrown together under stressful circumstances.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:05 pm

Alexisaok wrote:Does anyone have experience with vibram five fingers or other toes shoes on the playa? I rock them with toe socks cause otherwise they get mighty stinky. I've got the komodo sports or ksos(I always forget), I got them last year after an unfortunate barefoot hitch hiking accident(yeah that was dumb). I love them and wear them everyday(that I'm not barefoot). Any playa experiences? Tips? Tricks?....horror stories

You might be the first! Please write up a report when you get back.

Rice · Post by **Rice** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:38 pm

Guess it depends on what you find comfortable. I saw a few people on the playa wearing those last year.

I prefer to have my foot and ankle covered except when in my camp. I need my feet to move around, so I guard them carefully

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:37 pm

Japanese-style shoes. Japan doesn't have playa dust.

tahiti_treat · Post by **tahiti_treat** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:40 pm

One of our campmates had them last year and loved them. If you wear them all the time already I think you will probably find them great.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:29 am

Is it too early to suggest checking with the ballerinas?

Alexisaok · Post by **Alexisaok** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:21 am

Thank you for all the good advice eplayans!!!

Post by **Savannah** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:24 am

theCryptofishist wrote:Is it too early to suggest checking with the ballerinas?

That's what I'd initially been hoping this thread was about.

VampireKitten · Post by **VampireKitten** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:37 am

I have a pair I was going to bring with me, my suggestion would be to get some thin toe socks, the vibrams have venting and more often than not I get rocks in my shoe and I would pull the socks up as high as they can go (if they even fit in the shoes due to them being form fitted). I'm not sure about the Playa, but it doesn't hurt to try.

Alexisaok · Post by **Alexisaok** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:38 pm

Toes shoes kick ass on the playa! Bring plenty of toe socks though. My girlfriend brought boots that she hadn't worn in before which gave her blisters day 1. So I let her use my morels all week and used my toe shoes even though I was planning on switching between the two turns out I would just have been wearing my toe shoes all week!

MacGlenver · Post by **MacGlenver** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:59 pm

Thx for the info! I got some recently and am curious to try them out next burn. I got a good deal on the leather kind, which have less ventilation than the mesh kind, so I am a little concerned about it getting sweaty/mucky in the shoes. Sounds like you didn't have any sweat/ventilation problems, eh? Presume you were wearing the mesh kind, as they're more common....

alexcaste · Post by **alexcaste** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:59 pm

is there any specific kind of toe shoes (vibrams) that you would recommend over the others? I've been debating over buying a pair of vibrams or a pair of boots.

Don't the vibrams have a bunch of venting that allows the playa to get in?

lucky420 · Post by **lucky420** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 2:04 pm

I have the vibrams toe shoes and love them...off playa

They do have a lot of vents/holes etc that would let in a lot of playa. I think the playa dust rubbing between your foot and the shoe could cause s you some issues.

nixiebunny · Post by **nixiebunny** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 5:08 pm

I have a pair of Vibram toe shoes that I wore to the playa last year, and I thoroughly loved them. I didn't use socks. They kept my feet clean, fresh and wonderful feeling.

Drawingablank · Post by **Drawingablank** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 5:17 pm

Last year my son brought toe shoes but not toe socks and wore them on bare feet. After about 3 days he could hardly get his feet into them.

Hope that helps a bit.

Monkeystyle · Post by **Monkeystyle** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:08 pm

I have set of komodo sports, and another more heavy duty pair and I wear the komodos without toe socks and have no issues...

Post by **Sham** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:29 pm

Reminds me of a few years back when I opened my suitcase and I forgot to pack all my footwear. Nothing but the sneakers I wore on the plane.
I REALLY enjoyed passing those sneakers through the TSA check point so much at the end of week. I know they were talking about me when I left the area.

lucky420 · Post by **lucky420** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 4:18 pm

I have toe shoes that I wear for working out ( no socks). I absolutely love em. I would be hesitant to wear them on the playa. I think dust getting between my bare foot and toe shoe would rub something awful and create some glorious blisters

Glorious

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:01 pm

Come on, Savannah and I cannot be the only one's who think of this every time we see this thread title...

alexcaste · Post by **alexcaste** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 12:24 pm

Wearing vibrams or toe shoes on the playa is very nice I thought. There were a couple problems however. My feet seem to swell a little on the playa which means that you can't get your vibrams on very easy at all because they are basically skin tight. Second, they are pretty porous and dust gets in them pretty easily. Not much because they are so tight on your foot but it gets in there. But, then dust gets i everywhere.

Monkeystyle · Post by **Monkeystyle** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 1:18 pm

I do have one pair that are pretty old and worn in to the point of being a little loose so ill probably bring then along. A little foot swelling would make them fit a little better and i dont mind if they get thrashed by the dust.

Dr awkwarD · Post by **Dr awkwarD** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 2:52 pm

I had a pair I wore last year. Your feet will get dusty, but then, so will everything.

Honestly, I wore mine for a while, and then said "f- it" and just went barefoot for the rest of it.

So much dust gets trapped in them and held against your feet, it gets kind of uncomfortable (but not unbearable).

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 3:44 pm

I'm with Crypto and Savannah ...

every time.

lucky420 · Post by **lucky420** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 4:09 pm

2012 wore my uggs with no socks (like I do in the real world) got a nasty blister on the back of my heel first night out

guerrillayogi · Post by **guerrillayogi** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 8:31 pm

With thin toe-socks, mine were perfect for daytime. Got a little chilly at night (my comfort level is pretty much dictated by how my feet are feeling), but otherwise worked great all week.

Even my ladyfriend brought hers and wore them. Inspired me to write this reggae number:

I was walking down the avenue
with my silver cape and 5-finger shoes

You came walking up in your skeletoes
and your sparkling eyes, dangerously close

We drank all day, and danced all night
and made sweet love, in the morning light

you can make me laugh, you can make me cry
baby you and me both, there's no higher high

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