Back-To-School Must-Have: Vibram Five Fingers!

By Gratia Claire Sullivan, 12, a 7th grader at Glen Ridge High School

Walking around town recently, you might have spotted some peculiar shoes. Vibram Five Fingers, "The Barefooting Alternative," are your all-around running, trekking, fitness, and everyday shoe.

What makes them so different, you might ask, goes with the name. Five Fingers have individual pockets for each toe, made of a thin polyamide fabric, and are meant to fit like a glove for your feet. Vibram's testing shows that by wearing them, you can improve your balance, agility, and proprioception. Five Fingers weigh a mere 4.25 ounces each, about as much as a small bar of soap, whereas a converse shoe hovers around 12 ounces.

Another added bonus: Five Fingers are completely, 100 percent machine washable so you can get rid of any odors you may pick up walking around town.

Although they do not come in youth sizes, many of the smaller woman's sizes will fit people of a younger age.

Wondering where to find them? The Outdoor Store at 30 Church Street carries many different types and colors, such as the Classic, the KSO, Performa, and more. Prices start around $80 and sales are on the rise here in Montclair. So what are you waiting for? Pick up your pair today.