Vibram WOMEN’S SPEED

Detailed Review

The Vibram Women’s speed is advertised as casual footwear, but numerous reviews appreciate its lightweight and flexible features that make it suitable for running and working out. With a microfiber footbed and thinner insole for more of ground feel, these are all-around shoes that look as stylish as they are functional. However, it does take time to get used to the FiveFingers design, particularly if you’re new to using Vibram footwear.

Materials

Vibram Women’s Speed is similar to the Vibram Bikila LS, but the most significant difference is its insole. The Women’s Speed uses a 2mm insole compared to the thicker 3mm from the Bikila. Furthermore, the Women’s Speed is lighter and more durable, with a flexible upper to fit many foot shapes. 

The upper of the Five Finger footwear for women is made of polyester and nylon mesh, which give more of a ground feel. When worn, it feels soft while offering proper flexibility and breathability, which are good features runners need in a minimalist shoe.

The shoes also feature Lycra nylon flex panels, which are stretchable enough to provide a good fit. It has a traditional lacing system to customize the fit, making the Vibram Women’s Speed adjustable and suitable for all types of foot shapes.

Performance

The Women’s Speed features a 2mm EVA insole and doesn’t have extra cushioning around the forefoot. This gives an enhanced ground feel, which is what barefoot runners and trainers look for.

While the shoes are advertised for casual wear such as after-sports and traveling, many consumers have shared their experience with the shoes while working out. 

Barefoot runners have noticed positive changes in their feet and workouts with the Women’s Speed. Their toes have better dexterity since they can move freely, and their feet are more relaxed as the shoes promote natural movement. 

These shoes are also great for strength training. A few reviews on the Women’s Speed commented how the minimalist shoes corrected their form and improved balance as they performed weightlifting exercises. When performing moves that involve jumping, users say they land softer, which lessens the risk of injuries and joint damage.

As for the outsole, the shoes have traction pods that follow the curves of the feet and toes, made of Vibram TC1 rubber.  This is a patented outsole technology unique to the brand, made of a thin and abrasion-resistant stretch strong polyamide fabric. This adds to adequate grip and protection, so you won’t have to worry much about walking on slippery surfaces. 

The Women’s Speed is more suitable for road running than the trails. The mesh may end up being gunked with mud, or the material might easily snag on twigs. 

When it comes to running in the gym or on the road, or even weight lifting and bodyweight exercises, the Women’s Speed offers satisfactory performance. It holds up to hours of running or workouts, keeping your feet comfy and protected the entire time. If you are looking for a more rugged barefoot training shoe for tough terrain and trails, you can compare more minimalist shoe models from our directory.

How It Feels

The Women’s Speed has a heel cup design at the shoe’s rear area, which reviewers say improves the barefoot feel. It does not push on the Achilles tendon, so you can wear these shoes for long periods without feeling much discomfort. 

The shoes also include a padded tongue and collar on the uppers, which gives them more of a shoe-like feel. Because of this, you might not get the airy feel, though it is still breathable enough to handle hot days. Many consumers compliment the breathable uppers when it gets hot, though you’ll need to wear socks when it gets colder. 

As for the toe area, the material is more flexible and with individual toe slots. Numerous reviews state that it’s easy to wiggle their toes and encourages more natural movement to improve stability and control. Each toe slot has its bumper for further protection. 

Overall, the Women’s Speed is more comfortable than the Vibram Bikila and offers more ground connection. The Speed doesn’t have a 3mm polyurethane insole like the Bikila, but a dri-lex fabric for comfort on the footbed.

Style and Design

The Vibram Women’s Speed looks like a retro-styled sneaker, which adds to its aesthetic. Numerous users complimented how the Women’s Speed looked, saying that the shoes looked cool and were one of the most attractive models the brand released. 

The shoes’ style and function suit road running and casual wear, matching shorts and pants nicely. While the Five Fingers design is not something normal you’d see from typical shoes, the uniqueness is what makes it pretty cool. Compared to the other Vibram models, they don’t look too much like ‘aqua shoes,’ which many people say the Bikilas look like.