I said it’s questionable if you should take the money and keep the shoes.

Your criticism of the Utah study nonwithstanding, but where’s Vibram’s supposed scientific evidence? They boasted about it, but never produced it.

Not having it is, after all, why they settled.

Given that I actually do know rather a lot about statistics and how to put together a good and reliable study, I have to say that the way the study you mentioned above is put together doesn’t say a thing about the quality of Vibram Fivefingers:

It is NOT indicated to start from 0 to 100 (especially not if you do long and intensive runs and are not used to barefoot running) and expect not to overburden your body.

That’s like telling a heavily obese person to immediately start running for 30 min 3 times a week and once this person doesn’t cope well, to reason: “See: Sports are NOT doing your body any good.!”

So, it’s always about making sensible use of equipment, training methods and generally speaking, probably about nearly everything in life:

Barefoot moving, walking as much as running, hiking, rockclimbing, whatever way of moving forward on your feet, is great if you let your body get used to it and do it the right way. It’s not the easiest way, neither for your body nor as a way of training, to get fit and prevent injuries, but in the end it will pay off.

Many people who do a lot of sports, don’t know a thing about it: I’m often more than surprised how bad people move in the studio or while they go for a run. So my personal conclusion is rather that people need more brains than that they should get themselves a refund for their Fivefingers.

Also, I actually hate it when people are not prepared to pay honest money for what they buy. The kind of “keep the stuff and get the refund anyway” advice you give is a very poor and embarrassing one. I actually feel sorry for you and hope it helps if you reconsider your attitude.

That’s true! The feet’s muscles should get some exercise, but I think people like McDougall extrapolated this wisdom a little too far. Our feet weren’t made for pavement.

Yes, mine too. I was very uncomfortable running with FiveFingers on pavement.

From what I gather you can get a refund and keep the shoes.

If that is ethical, given you are satisfied with the Vibrams, is of course another matter.