It could only be described as raw.  My feet hit the sidewalk and the concrete provided shock after shock up my knees as if barefoot.  Oh, wait… 

I carefully adjusted my stride to compensate for my newly found foot freedom.  Each step was taken as if I did not know how to use my body.  I pressed the remote and heard two chirps.  *CHIRP*CHIRP*  I got in the car with a slight bit of fear.  I inserted the key in to the ignition and moved my foot over the left pedal.

As a petrolhead, the connection between man and machine is at the core of my being.  I live for the control and the feeling of being at one with my steed.  I put my foot over the clutch and stepped in to it.  It then became painfully clear that Subaru engineers did not design this car for barefoot driving or that I had terribly undeveloped feet.  Probably both.

The next few minutes became the most fun I have ever had driving to the store.  As my feet became more accustomed to the return pressure of the stiff clutch I began to focus on the fun pedals.  Go and stop.  I found I could wrap my feet around the brake pedal and the Vibram FiveFingers gave new meaning to heel-toe shifting.  I could now use my real heel and my real toe.  I have never felt such amazing feedback.

Arriving at good old Trader Joe's, I tried to move as swiftly as possible, so as not to be seen in my embarrassing toe shoes.  There were points where I forgot I had them on, but then my self-conscious self would take over.  All in all it was a normal trip to the store.  Until…

Later that night I sat down to get some work done when I felt a slight soreness in my calves.  I spent no more than 10 minutes grocery shopping and yet my legs were sore.  It seems the VFFs are awakening leg muscles that have probably sat dormant for the better part of 27 years.  

It seems a trip to the store is a perfect ease in and goes with all the advice I have read about barefooting.  Ease in to it!  Don't go out expecting to run a few miles your first day with the VFFs.  You won't because you can't.   Here's to newfound leg muscles.

-barefoot steven