Customer Reviews

Feelmax Panka (46 M EU, Black)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In short, don't buy these shoes.

As a barefoot runner dude I was looking for a thin shoe that would allow me to run barefoot and keep all my skin. When I encountered these I was very happy to see that they were exactly what I was looking for. I was a little put off by the price tag, but I decided to give them a shot.

I have been wearing these shoes every day for about two months, and I have two major complains:
1. These shoes are WAY to hot. They do not breathe at all. The material the shoe is made of does not allow any air-flow. My feet began to sweat almost the instant I put the shoes on. These shoes are so hot I have been tempted to just whip out a knife and cut holes in them.
2. They are wearing way too quickly. The soles on both my shoes near the ball is almost entirely bald. After two months of wear this is completely unreasonable. I have only been on 6 or 7 runs in these shoes and they are in a poor state already.

When it comes down to it, don't buy these shoes. They are not worth the high price.

After reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougal, I went on the search for footwear that would allow my feet to gain strength in a way close to going barefoot. I tried Vibram Five Fingers, but they're not practical for every day wear. These FeelMax shoes are now my everyday shoe and I love them. They actually make walking/running a sensuous experience. I can't imagine going back to wearing "normal shoes". Highly recommended.

I have two pairs of these. I walk upwards of 4 miles a day. I love them. BUT 1) the soles are wearing much too fast at the front edge. I suspect I'll have to buy a new pair every month or two and I cannot afford that. ALSO in the rain my feet get wet rather quickly. STILL the barefoot-like experience is everything its cracked up to be. The shoes do almost feel like socks. I've been waiting for shoes like this for over 60 years. However, I know they are not for everybody. For example, you will feel the pebbles you step on--just not as much as if you were fully barefoot.

I got my Feelmax Niesa today. I normally wear a 10 1/2 US wide (UK 10 and EU 44), so I ordered a size 44. I was worried from previous reviews and the company sizing chart that the shoe would be too big. The answer is...yes and no. I am glad I got the size 44, because even with that size, my left second toe touches the tip of the shoe - granted it does not do it all the time, but when it does, it is a very disconcerting feeling. However, the rest of my foot is swimming in the shoe! I bought the shoe to run in, and I found that when I am running, I do not really care that the shoe is too big, because I do not expect it to support me. I imagine it is very close to barefoot running because I can feel every nuance of the road through the thin rubber sole (that I am told is highly abrasion resistant). I've put in a quick 4 mile run in these shoes and overall I must say it was pleasant. I would like to use them with thicker socks (maybe some wool socks), to see if taking the extra dead space around my feet will enhance the experience!

Now when it comes to walking in them, it's a different matter, because it is not quite so comfortable. Having all that extra dead space around your feet when walking is not for me. That may be because I have been spoilt by my Vivo Barefoot Aqua sneakers. Those provide snug comfort! But that's why there is such a price difference between the two. For running I believe the Feelmax are better than the Vivo Barefoot Aquas. Now some of you may wonder, how do the Feelmax Niesas compare to the granddaddy of the 'barefoot' running shoes - the Vibram Fivefingers. They compare rather well actually. But at a pinch, I still prefer the Vibram Fivefingers. I miss that slightly 'splayed out' feeling of the toes that we get from the Vibram Fivefingers that bothered me ever so little when I first put on my first Fivefingers. So, maybe the fact that my feet are 'swimming' may eventually be something I will actually like! Running with the Feelmax shoes was a nice experience today, but I did not have that 'AHA' experience I got when running with the Fivefingers - that probably only comes once for barefoot runners (or minimal barefooters) when they ditch their sneakers for good!

Overall, not a bad shoe. I know I will come to love running with it - it tested great on my treadmill too.

Happy Running!

After I took up running a few years ago, my husband bought me the book "Born to Run" and I was fascinated by the idea of barefoot running. I found the following website where I learned more about it: [...]. Still, I was hesitant to actually try it, until tendonitis got the best of me and I realized, for me, it was going to be barefoot or nothing.

I bought these shoes not for running but for "passing," they allow me to go as if barefoot in social situations where being barefoot would be unacceptable, such as shopping or walking around town. They work perfectly because most people never notice them.

I own both Nike Free and Vibram Fivefingers, and the Feelmax is by far the closest of the three to going barefoot. While it's a full "shoe", the very thin sole provides maximum feel for the sole of the foot, and the shoe is roomy enough to provide flexibility for the toes. The reinforced soles of the Free and Fivefingers just do not give that same feel at all.

The downside to that, of course, is that you absolutely feel every pebble, lump, or crack of whatever surface you're walking on. But then, that's the point of going "barefoot".

I wear these shoes as much just for general activities as I do for running. It doesn't have the funky look of the Fivefingers, so you generally don't get the stares or questions, either. If you're looking for "shoes" that provides maximum freedom for your feet, I highly recommend these.

I would give these shoes a five star rating if they came in more styles and colors. They are comfortable, durable and have even worked well in the Oregon rain.