Some weeks ago there was a thread about “bogu-tech” shoes (I believe an Adidas model with microchip cushioning adjustment) and several mentions of the old school style Vitruvians. Out of curiosity I went to the website and impulsively ordered a pair of the $30 Proportions. They arrived a week later. Now, I usually wear an 11.5 or 12 and ordered the 12s but they were clearly too small and the website showed they didn’t carry a 13. The next morning I call the number on the packing slip and Chuck LaBonte (owner/founder?) answers. We discuss the situation and he offers to send me the newer model Proportion II for $45 (reg $60) along with a shipping label to send the others back. The 13’s fit like slippers. I have run on them for 2+ weeks now, 3-7 miles, 4-5x/wk, 20-25 mi/wk.
My assessment: The shoes fit like slippers. I have had occasional numbness in my right foot from tight laces in the past but I can lace these loosely and my feet still don’t move around in them. I usually lose a few toenails at this time of year as I up my mileage, but not even a hint with these shoes. In fact, my feet are feeling better with each run. They are also quite light. I don’t have any numbers but they feel just slightly heavier than my Nike racing flats. My only complaint is that I would like just a tad more cushioning in the forefoot area. I don’t have any stability issues so I can’t address that.
Conclusion: Shoes- I will definitely get them again. The best I’ve been on in many years.
Customer service-Excellent.
Price-Can you beat $45? Shipping is free also.
Appearance-Who cares? Not as groovy looking as most but kinda fun to have a shoe nobody recognizes.
on appearance… i kind of dig them… they most closely resemble the NB simple, retro look which is actually quite popular amongst hipster non-runners, although in black and blue colors, not white.
on comfort… these shoes really are like slippers! i have been doing a fair amount of sockless running in them (up to 90mins) with absolutely no discomfort. With ds trainers i would often get chafe on the top of the foot.
on construction… i usually wear “neutral” shoes… have gone from ds trainer to mizuno wave creation, but all of these shoes develop wear pattern of a supinator, i.e., the tread wears away first on the outer edge of the soles. for whatever reason, this has not been the case with the vitruvians.
on weight… someone told me they are not particularly light for racing flats. however, they feel extremely fast & lighter IMO than the DS trainer.
I also took the plunge. At $30, there was really nothing to lose. I ran in them for about 60 miles before giving up on them. I also had an issue with the upper when tightening the laces. It was better when leaving then very loose, but not 100% better. They feel very ‘flat’ in the same way that a pair of NB 990’s felt flat when I ran in them for awhile. Something about them makes my foot slap the ground really hard and encourages my heel strike even more than usual. Also, my achilles doesn’t like the shoe very much and I miss the feeling of ‘snugness’
All of this I find strange as I used to wear test for Runners World and I can usually run in almost any shoe without difficulty. I applaud Chuck’s efforts in trying something different and in bringing a simpler, more affordable option to the market. I’m sure many will like them. They just don’t work for me. Still, $30 isn’t much for a pair of kick-around shoes.
Try the newer models, the heel is lower, by 3mm, and the sole is molded instead of cut. Dr 'Dre emailed me recently. He finds them very different and likes them even better, so far…or so I gather. He does love his old model, though. He’s the one who got me using them.
I ordered a pair of closeout Symmetry’s a couple of weeks ago. The first thing I noticed is that I run so quietly in them. No ka-lomp, ka-lomp, ka-lomp, ka-lomp. Just pit-pat-pit-pat. I haven’t had running shoes this quiet in decades! And I don’t know if they are light but they sure feel light. They are very comfortable. I normally wear 10 for running shoes (9.5 for street shoes) and I ordered 9.5 and they fit perfect. I did a triathlon with a 5K run last Sunday and forgot the Bodyglide for my sockless feet but had no friction problems at all. I love these shoes!