I’ve mentioned it before but I’ll say it again – when I first saw Vibrams I thought they looked ridiculous. I actually laughed when my friend told me how much he had paid for his.

Shame on me for being so quick to judge.

Fast forward a couple years. Then last summer when I was working in Las Vegas, Nevada, I was reading Christopher McDougall’s book – Born to Run (which I highly recommend). Not only is it a surprisingly entertaining and informative book. But he also makes a solid case for minimalist shoes which led me to research them online. I learned about how to make the transition from traditional shoes to minimalist shoes and then decided what the heck, I’ll buy a pair. Luckily, Vibram had recently come out with the Spyridon LS which is designed for trail running.

So, I spent the next couple weeks preparing my feet to make the switch.

Then on the weekend I was heading to Zion National Park, I woke up early to stop at the mall and grab a pair of the Spyridon LS.

A few hours later, I was hiking up Angel’s Landing with my new Vibrams on.

Spyridon LS Review

Specs

Upper: Stretch Mesh and Polyamide
Sole: XSTrek Vibram Rubber
Footbed: 3mm Polyurethane Insole Anti-Microbial Dri-Lex Sockliner
Machine wash.
Air dry.

Manufacturer’s Weight: Men’s size 44 – 6.88oz. each, 13.76oz/pair
I wear a 46, so they’re probably a little over 14oz.

Even worn out, these things have awesome traction.

Pros:

Very Comfortable – the neoprene hugs my feet.
Traction – These babies grip rocks, roots, and grass amazingly well.
Durable – They’ve held up after over a year of hiking and a little trail running.
Foot Protection – Reliable protection from rocks especially on the instep.

Cons:

Abrasion Resistance – A thin layer of rubber should come up between the toes so they don’t develop holes in the material from rubbing together.
Less Minimal – There’s a loss of that minimalist feeling.
Less Air – Noticeably less breathable than other Vibrams.
Debris – Could use a better tongue and upper to protect against pebbles and debris entering the shoe.

I’ve avoided walking or jogging on concrete since I bought these specifically for trail use. So, the tread has lasted really well. Like I mentioned, I’ve had these for over a year and I’ve hiked hundreds of miles.

They’re comfortable shoes to wear but you lose a lot of the minimalist feel you get with other models like the Seeya.

The tongue is kind of silly for a trail shoe, it’s too big and thick. Pebbles and debris sometimes sneak into my shoes, mostly from the sides around my ankles. However, this could be because I don’t like to tighten the laces too much because the shoes are already really snug on my feet.

I’ve found that even on steep trails, rocks and wet surfaces they maintain a solid grip. They work well crossing rivers and streams and tend to dry fairly quick.

Odor builds up more in this pair than my other Vibrams too. It’s not a big problem but you’ll want to wash them regularly.