Vibram Jaya versus Vibram Classic

I can't believe it, but my Classics are second string to my Jayas in my Vibram line-up. I honestly thought my second pair of Vibrams would play second-fiddle to my beloved Classics.

Vibram Classics the day I bought them, back in May '10.

The Jayas weigh quite a bit less than the Classics. Weight coupled with the shoe form means the Jayas are much more "barefoot" feeling than the Classics.

Jayas (39) weigh in at 6.3 oz while the Classics (40) weigh in at 10.5 oz.

While many report issues with the spine, or backbone, of the Classics, I never had problems. I never felt the need to tighten the Classics with the single-pull lace, nor have I felt that the single-lace dug into my feet. There is a little pillow of cushion at the top of the Jaya backbone that is quite nice. It's nothing extravagant, but it is there, about 1.5" wide, and just slightly puffed, wrapping around the achilles.

I reported previously that I had difficulty getting my foot into the Jayas, saying that it felt like I had to put my toes in at what felt like a 90° angle. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I was accustomed to putting my toes into the toe pockets of the Classics and then with a quick snap, 90% of the time, popping the Classics over my heel.

Jaya toe insertion is exactly the same as the Classic, but I treated the Jayas like they had a rigid backbone behind the heel. Now that I've gotten over that, I can easily insert my toes and heel into the Jayas by ignoring the imaginary heel backbone, flattening the heel spine completely. A finger used as a shoe-horn is quite-often required with the Jayas and only infrequently necessary with the Classics.

Compared to my Dr. Martens, the Classic sole is exceptionally thin and flexible. The Jaya sole, flexibility-wise, is as different from the Classic as the Classic is to Docs! Sitting side-by-side you can see the Classics are "flat" while the Jayas form a bit of a "U" shape. The Classics tend to keep the flat shape while on my feet and the Jayas are more a "custom" form to my foot(s). Once my feet are in the Jayas, their shape is no longer a "U" as they, well, accomodate my feet.

My Vibram Jayas and Classics

Having worn primarily Jayas the past few weeks, when I put the Classics on I realize that I can feel the built-in arch of the sole and the toe pockets feel rigid.

The Jaya shoe is so flexible that they will bend under pressure of even a vacuum cleaner. When vacuuming, I can use the vacuum to push my Docs and Vibram Classics out of the way. Turns out, when I attempt the same with the Vibram Jayas, my Hoover literally runs over them producing a sound similar to what I get when running over a thick electrical cord, like the one that powers the Hoover. Just sayin'.

Wearing only my Classics outside of work, I had no "feet problems" the past 11 months. Then I started wearing the Jayas. I've been wearing the Jayas outside of work daily since I bought them (and thus, the Classics not very often) and have noticed increasing discomfort when wearing my Doc's.

My feet are now typically achy and absolutely uncomfortable in the Doc's after 3-4 hours. (The soles of my feet, especially, are uncomfortable which suggests that the soles of my Docs are burnt out). The last hours at work are almost excruciating with my dogs barking constantly. I can't wait to get into my truck and pop my shoes and socks off to let my feet be feet instead of flattened stumps. Once that happens, my feet take about 5 minutes to be feet again.

Toes grip the gas, brake and clutch pedals, and actually play a role in what I'm doing instead of being tiny useless appendages that act in unison by force of leg muscles. I used to think that the pinky toe was an appendage worth being surgically removed. While it's worth is still questionable, I see now how that little guy actually does attempt to do something when allowed the opportunity!

I've essentially trained my feet over the last year to be functional, and my toes, particularly over the past couple weeks, to be functional appendages. Shoving those functional feet and digits into foot coffins, aka conventional shoes, is plain misery.

Jayas vs Classics? Jayas win, feet down.