Significantly improved insulation compared to other FiveFingers modelsGood water resistance in puddles, mud and rainSolid traction on wet or muddy terrainComfortable interior lining for sockless runningGreat barefoot ground feel Difficult to put onHigh ankle may irritate Achilles tendonFit too snug for most socksVelcro strap is largely ineffective to improve fit If you love FiveFingers but hate the way your toes easily get cold or soggy in winter conditions, the Lontra gives you all the protection you need to make it through the winter. They’re more cumbersome to use than other FiveFingers models, but maintain all the design and performance features that make this footwear so fun to wear. WeightWith the Lontra, Vibram managed to add protective features without compromising weight. The Lontra weighs 6.75 oz, which isn’t too far removed from their 6.0-oz Bikila road running model, and actually lighter than the company’s outstanding 6.9-oz Spyridon LS trail shoe released last year.

Fit and ComfortThanks to a high, very snug ankle collar, the Lontra is definitely the most difficult FiveFingers model to get on your feet. Once they’re on, the soft microfiber lining and light cushioning make the Lontra quite comfortable against bare skin, and there’s very little movement of the foot inside the shoe even on irregular terrain. The neoprene ankle collar may dig into your Achilles tendon and cause irritation or even minor cuts on your first few runs, but softens with continued use. Thermoregulation is solid, providing adequate warmth for sockless running even with temps in the 30s. FlexibilityStrong flexibility from heel to toe and in all directions laterally and diagonally. Your feet can contour around most ground objects on the trail. Ground FeelTotal stack height is 7mm – 4mm outsole/midsole plus 3mm footbed – placing you fairly close to the ground. While this isn’t the thinnest of Vibram’s offerings, the combination of low stack height and full-range flexibility allow you to feel most rocks and roots on the trail.

TractionAs recently as a year ago, this TC-1 rubber tread pattern was Vibram’s top of the line offering for trail running. That changed with the introduction of last year’s Spyridon LS, but this pattern provides very adequate traction in wet and muddy conditions. It loses grip slightly on steep gravelly descents, and knobs in the heel area wear down after about 150-200 miles of trail use (or sooner with hybrid road/trail mileage). DurabilityWater resistance of the Lontra is outstanding, and keeps the elements at bay even during multi-hour mud runs. The stretch mesh upper demonstrates good resistance to tearing when bushwhacking off-trail. Interface between uppers and outsoles shows no problems with holes or tearing. It would be nice if the outsole knobs lasted a little longer before grinding down. ValueAt $150, you’re definitely on the high end of the minimalist spectrum, but the price point is similar to other winterized trail shoes. How We Tested It Approximately 150 miles of running in Monterey County CA, predominantly on fire roads and single track with occasional asphalt exposure.

Terrain included dense forest trails, moderately steep (10-20% grade) climbing and descents, multiple stream crossings, and frequently muddy conditions. The products featured in this test have been loaned to the Gear Institute. For more on our policies regarding editorial objectivity and sample returns, see here.» • » These amazing Furoshiki Shoes from Vibram are designed to literally wrap around your feet!Installing Laminate Flooring In Several Rooms There are no trackbacks yet.Lap Dogs For Sale Uk Japanese high school girl Saya returns to blow everyone away with her new look for 2016Life Expectancy Of Home Ac Unit Start your day with a wake up call from Re:Zero’s Emilia or Rem! Sony’s newest commercial for the Persona 5 PS4 bundle has 5,000 reasons to love it【Video】

The train station that stayed open for a single school girl finally closes down Manga materials website offers thousands of reference poses for budding artists to download Japan’s Twitterers ponder this “don’t feed the pigeons” sign found at train station Pokémon Go in Japan: 7 top sightseeing spots where you can catch Pokémon in Tokyo Impress your Japanese history professor with this T-shirt “Oh hello there, human!” Cute cat peeking through paper turns hilariously cat-astrophic 【Pics】 Breathtaking Japanese moss garden cafe is like a real-life setting for a Studio Ghibli anime film We search for the best sushi in Kenya Western artist challenges Japanese 2020 Olympic logo designer with new logo proposal NowWeeklyMonthlyYearlyNowJapanese high school girl Saya returns to blow everyone away with her new look for 20161 Start your day with a wake up call from Re:Zero’s Emilia or Rem!2 Sony’s newest commercial for the Persona 5 PS4 bundle has 5,000 reasons to love it【Video】3

The train station that stayed open for a single school girl finally closes down4 Manga materials website offers thousands of reference poses for budding artists to download5 Japan’s Twitterers ponder this “don’t feed the pigeons” sign found at train station6 Pokémon Go in Japan: 7 top sightseeing spots where you can catch Pokémon in Tokyo7 Impress your Japanese history professor with this T-shirt8Cute cat peeking through paper turns hilariously cat-astrophic 【Pics】9 WeeklyThe train station that stayed open for a single school girl finally closes down1 Nintendo’s been hiding a secret about Pokémon’s Snorlax for 20 years 【Video】2 Pokémon GO Plus accessory already amassing heaps of complaints – even before it’s released3 Chinese pop idol bringing sexy back to baseball turns into a GIF4 Busty cosplay brings Ariel from The Little Mermaid to life like you’ve never seen her before5 The provocative images of high school girls causing a stir in Japan6

Samurai sword in new Japan Self-Defense Force emblem causing controversy7 Enter the dark world of anime and manga urban legends8 Japanese Twitter user’s comics depicting office-lady life will hit you right in the feels9 Japanese kitten has adorable reason for not heading into his tissue box fort 【Video】 MonthlyPokémon Go in Japan: 7 top sightseeing spots where you can catch Pokémon in Tokyo1 Sega’s been hiding a snarky message on its arcade bags for two years but no one noticed until now2 The train station that stayed open for a single school girl finally closes down3 Nintendo’s been hiding a secret about Pokémon’s Snorlax for 20 years 【Video】4 Japanese artist’s comic “I am an 18-year-old idol otaku” shows the dark life of one diehard fan5 Only one out of five Japanese people can pronounce these hiragana — can you?6 Tokyo has an all-you-can-eat cookie cafe, and the amazing deal costs less than 10 bucks7

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