Discussion on the new KSO Trek

[striker]

Just got my treks and I have to agree, these are probably the best all-around VFFs!  Question: these fit perfectly right now.  I'm wondering about the long term stretching (the classics I bought in February are now a full size bigger), and whether you all find you need to wear socks for hiking/trail running in these.  My toe socks are too thick right now, but I'm wondering if

1)if people find they need socks for intensive activities;
2) they will stretch to handle socks;
3)if I don't need socks, should I go even smaller to account for future stretching?

[noelbodwell]

My Treks are 4 months old and pretty much fit the same as when I bought them. I started wearing socks whenever I wore them, but have gone without socks for trail running the past month. They feel very comfortable without socks on the trails. For hiking, I still wear my socks, but hope to transition to sockless. I've washed them in the machine, by hand, worn them in the lake, through deep mud etc and they haven't really stretched. I have heard others say that theirs have stretched though. Hope this helps some!

[Atomicunderware]

Just got my treks and I have to agree, these are probably the best all-around VFFs!  Question: these fit perfectly right now.  I'm wondering about the long term stretching (the classics I bought in February are now a full size bigger), and whether you all find you need to wear socks for hiking/trail running in these.  My toe socks are too thick right now, but I'm wondering if

1)if people find they need socks for intensive activities;
2) they will stretch to handle socks;
3)if I don't need socks, should I go even smaller to account for future stretching?

Mine seem to have stretched a little in the nearly year I have owned them, and I think most of that is due to wearing them with socks, which I do exclusively. They are definitely a little larger than my same sized normal KSO's now, but were pretty much the same when I bought them IIRC.

[striker]

Thanks for the feedback I think these are going to be my favorite VFFs yet!

[Yeti]

Hi, I have just received my brown KSO trek 47 and tried them for a second (I am in the office...  ) and they feel fantastic, sizing is OK (one size bigger than other models, so I use 47 in treks and 48 in the others) and the leather feels soft and comfortable. The sole is stiff enough to avoid discomfort, but it lets you flex your feet and toes. I have found it however much more rigid in an horizontal fashion, so I cannot spread my fingers open as I do with fabric models.

Will have to try them longer, got them for casual use but in the end I will most likely use them for trekking / trail running

[jdr00ejr]

Just ordered some Black Treks from TravelCountry.com.  My Regular KSO's are 43's and if anything a smidge on the large size, so I stuck with 43's on the Treks with the intent to be able to wear socks in them.  I sure hope that's right.  I had every intention of picking them up locally and the store by me stopped carrying Treks in favor of the Trek Sports.  Grrr...

We'll see how fast TC ships and I'm really hoping the size is right.

[striker]

Just ordered some Black Treks from TravelCountry.com.  My Regular KSO's are 43's and if anything a smidge on the large size, so I stuck with 43's on the Treks with the intent to be able to wear socks in them.  I sure hope that's right.  I had every intention of picking them up locally and the store by me stopped carrying Treks in favor of the Trek Sports.  Grrr...

We'll see how fast TC ships and I'm really hoping the size is right.

I hope it works out for you with the sock thing.  I can't wear socks with my treks or bikilas even though they have a little wiggle room because it just seems to be too much material between my toes and really hurts   .  Maybe my toes just fill up the pockets on their own, idk.  Used to be a problem with my classics, but they have softened up and stretched out quite a bit.  Hoping to try out some of the liner type soon.

[jdr00ejr]

I hope it works out for you with the sock thing.  I can't wear socks with my treks or bikilas even though they have a little wiggle room because it just seems to be too much material between my toes and really hurts   .  Maybe my toes just fill up the pockets on their own, idk.  Used to be a problem with my classics, but they have softened up and stretched out quite a bit.  Hoping to try out some of the liner type soon.

Do you get the "funK" with your treks?  If so, how do you clean them?  I don't care either way on the socks, but because I want to wear them all the time and I have sweaty feet, I'm going with socks to battle the funk.

[striker]

I don't know yet, I have only had mine about a week 

[huntmol]

Been running in my KSOs for about a year now, and a few weeks ago switched to a black pair of KSO Treks.

WOW! These things are absolutely amazing. Hands down the most comfortable and highest quality of any VFF that I've owned. (Sprint, KSO, Trek Sport)

These things eat up the miles on trails. Already thinking about buying a second pair in brown...

[meriellyn]

I am a very recent VFF convert and I love my Treks! As far as fit/sizing, they're the only ones I've gotten right on the first try (have had an exchange-fest trying to find the right size for Sprints and KSOs because I'm in between sizes.

The kangaroo leather is absolutely awesome. So soft and comfy. Superbly breathable. My feet get hot and sweaty very very easily and I have no problem with these (sans socks). Perfectly fresh feet at the end of the day. I also find them easier to get on than other styles and love the slightly lower cut, compared to the KSO. 
The brown leather is very nice looking and pretty discreet. I wore them to the office today and no one even noticed! I fully plan to purchase a black pair fairly soon. I would really love to see a model that featured the leather upper of the Trek with the more flexible sole of the KSO.
I have hand "washed" them once (just water) without incident. Speedy dry time as well.

I have not started running yet but am excited to try it out soon. Have done some walking, both around town and off-road, and they're great. Not as much groundfeel but great balance enhancement. Even without as much ground sensitivity, the barefoot feel is definitely there thanks to the thin breathable "second skin" upper. MAkes me really want a pair of Performas.

I am a huge fan of leather in footwear (seems to agree with my finicky feet more than most materials). Never thought about kangaroo but it's fabulous. I respect other people's choice not to wear leather, but I really appreciate the option being there for the rest of us.

After I described the shoes to a friend of mine, he responded by asking "If you make shoes from kangaroo, does that make them 'mar-shoe-pials'?" Lol. 

[huntmol]

After I described the shoes to a friend of mine, he responded by asking "If you make shoes from kangaroo, does that make them 'mar-shoe-pials'?"

hahaha that's awesome

[Yeti]

I need help. I am hooked on VFF!!. Just a couple of days after getting the brown treks I ordered a pair of blacks which is on the way... fortunately I cannot get any more pairs my size (48 - 47 trek). Six pairs is enough!!! (KSO black, KSO grey, Classic black, speed, trek brown and trek black). 

[striker]

First real hike in my treks today and it was awesome!  About 6.5-7 miles on rocky to gravel mountain trail.  Used the liner socks and they were just the right amount of sock.  No blisters, but my feet are a little tired.  Love these shoes!!!!

[Merlinclancy]

Hands down the most comfortable and highest quality of any VFF that I've owned.


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