Vibram FiveFingers V-Trail 2.0 look like gloves for your feet. After almost a year and around 300 km — 150 km running and 150 km hiking in the mountains — they became one of my favourite options for getting out on the trails. It was not love at first wear. Before I appreciated the ground feel and grip, I had to get used to a very different experience from heavily cushioned shoes.
My interest in barefoot footwear started after knee arthroscopy, when I was looking for ways to improve stability. That was my personal starting point, rather than evidence that these shoes treat knee problems or prevent injury. This review describes my experience; it is not a rehabilitation guide.
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Getting started: adapting to a different feel
At first, I felt every small stone and pine cone underfoot. My calves and the areas around my Achilles tendons made themselves felt too. That experience taught me to treat this as more than a routine change from one shoe model to another.
I started with short walks and gradually added running. In my case, that meant runs of 3–5 km, then 10 km and eventually 15 km. This records my progression, rather than providing a plan for everyone. I would not take it to mean that you should immediately run several kilometres or force a forefoot landing. Getting used to the new ground feel mattered most to me at the beginning.
My Vibram FiveFingers V-Trail 2.0 video review
The Tatras, the Karkonosze and La Palma: grip and ground feel
I used V-Trail 2.0 in forests, on grass and sand, in the Tatras and the Karkonosze, and on La Palma’s volcanic trails. Grip and a clear sense of the ground were the biggest positives for me. In the Tatras, I felt that my feet could pick up the shape of the rocks better, making it easier to control each step. That is my impression from those routes, rather than a promise of secure footing on every rock.
What did I notice after around 300 km?
Over time, I felt that my feet and calves coped better with this way of moving. I also felt that my running technique improved, even in other shoes. However, I did not measure muscle strength or changes in technique, so these remain personal observations.
I did not sprain my ankle during the period described, although it had happened to me in cushioned shoes before. That does not let me attribute injury protection to the Vibrams themselves. For me, the biggest difference was feeling what I was stepping on, along with the shoe’s flexibility.
Practical drawbacks: socks, fit, rocks and water
- Socks: wearing them without socks led to an odour problem. Toe socks worked better for me. That is a preference from my test, rather than a rule for every wearer.
- Putting them on: placing each toe in its own pocket took patience at first. It became easier with practice.
- Fit: my second toe is longer than my big toe, which sometimes caused discomfort. Check the space for each toe when trying them on; I would not reduce the fitting process to automatically buying a larger size.
- Rock impacts: the thin, flexible shoe did not feel as protective as footwear with a rigid toe cap. I painfully struck the same toe against obstacles several times on mountain trails.
- Water: water entered easily during my test, but also drained out quickly. Running in the rain did not bother me, although I did not treat these shoes as waterproof.
When do I choose them, and when do I prefer other shoes?
I reach for them most often on forest trails and mountain walks, when I want a clear sense of the terrain. Those are the settings where I most enjoyed V-Trail 2.0. For running on asphalt, I would personally choose different footwear. That is my preference, rather than a claim that FiveFingers cannot be used on hard surfaces. For contrasting cushioned trail designs, see my On Cloudultra 2 review and Saucony BlazeTR review. Those reviews describe different experiences, rather than shoes requiring the same adaptation as barefoot footwear.
Preparing for a trail outing
My test taught me a simple lesson: grip is only part of the experience. Toe fit, getting used to the ground feel and recognising the limited protection against striking obstacles mattered just as much. When planning another outing, I would consider all of these rather than relying on the excitement of one successful run.
Browse all my reviews in the running shoe testing library, grouped by roads, trails and other uses.
Verdict: I like them for their feel, not a promise of injury prevention
After almost a year, V-Trail 2.0 earned their place through grip, flexibility and contact with the ground. They also have clear limitations: challenging first outings, exposed toes when hitting obstacles, and a fit that needs checking on your own feet. I bought them with my own money; the review was not sponsored. The partner banners in this article are separate from that assessment and do not mean that the Vibram review was sponsored.
FAQ — answers from my test
Did V-Trail 2.0 work for me in the mountains?
Yes: I walked and ran in them in the Tatras, the Karkonosze and on La Palma. Ground feel was the main benefit for me, but hitting rocks with my toes was painful.
Do I wear them with socks?
Yes. After encountering odour when wearing them directly on bare feet, I chose toe socks.
Do they prevent ankle sprains?
I did not sprain my ankle during the test. A single person’s experience does not establish protection against injury.
Were my first runs comfortable?
The beginning was difficult: I felt the ground intensely, along with my calves and the areas around my Achilles tendons. That is why I describe my own adaptation rather than offering one timetable for everyone.
Are they waterproof?
Water entered during my use. I did not rely on them to keep my feet dry in puddles.
Have you used V-Trail 2.0 or other barefoot shoes? Tell me in the comments where you wear them and what you found most challenging.