MUPUKS?

[AlanH]

I guess I'm just a stickler about other companies trying to imitate other companies so closely. Could I get "Five Fingers" for cheaper by getting Mupuks on eBay? Sure.

But I just like to support the original creative mind instead of someone else who is merely "stealing" ones idea. Just part of my personality I guess...

[hippierunner]

We are born with toes, so I don't believe the idea of a "toe shoe" can really be patented or considered any 1 person/companies original idea.  The way the idea is executed on the other hand is a completely different story.  If these MUPUKS and other brands are in fact using the same vibram molds and machinery, then that is down right stealing.

Competition is good for any market and benefits the consumer with lower prices and higher quality products.  With the recent quality issues coming from Vibram, I'd be happy to see some new players in the market, and would surely consider giving another company my money if they offer a competetive product at a competetive price.

[ZeitHeld]

We are born with toes, so I don't believe the idea of a "toe shoe" can really be patented or considered any 1 person/companies original idea.  The way the idea is executed on the other hand is a completely different story.  If these MUPUKS and other brands are in fact using the same vibram molds and machinery, then that is down right stealing.

Competition is good for any market and benefits the consumer with lower prices and higher quality products.  With the recent quality issues coming from Vibram, I'd be happy to see some new players in the market, and would surely consider giving another company my money if they offer a competetive product at a competetive price.

This. That is all.

[gb]

well, it would be more respectable competition if they'd actually added something innovative in the design, rather than just changing the colors and the letters on the little yellow logo...  rather pathetic in my opinion.

[ap19]

Okay,

my TEFTAs have just arrived, so i want to do an initial review of them.  I also posted photos of them at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/equipmentmanager08/TEFTAPhotos#

The shoes took 15 days to ship from malaysia to scotland (i only just caught the postman in time as i was coming back from town...)  The shoes i got are the Tefta flux model (equivalent to the VFF flow) in size 43 (based on the sizing chart on the ebay shop site which was taken from the tefta website).

Inside the box, the shoes have a piece of foam to keep the shape of the toes, and a plastic arch to keep the shape of the rest of the shoe.  There was no paperwork/catalogues inside the box though.  When I first saw them and picked them up, I measured them next to my 43 classics and was sure that they were a lot smaller – for a minute i was raging that i'd got the wrong size, but as it turns out they are bigger than they first seem.

Some key points:

Straps:  The straps are made from a thin but sturdy strip of leather, and the velcro is the other way around from vibrams i.e. The hooks are on top and the loops are on the bottom.  They are a lot shorter than VFFs though, as i can only just get the top strap fastened.  The back straps are identical to the sprints.  The eyelets look like they're made from brass or some kind of metal.  The TEFTA logo on the side of the shoe looks stuck on and a bit rubbish, but that's not important to me.

Upper material:  Made from a reasonably thick neoprene (probably similar to the flows), but the material between the toes is a much thinner, more flexible version.  The stitching seems sound, and there are two internal seams but they don't protrude much.  At the back of the shoe, it feels like the cut is slightly lower, so it doesn't come as far up the achilles (plus the achilles guard is a double sided strip of leather, with no rubber).

Sole material:  Razor siped sole (forefoot pad and heel), but as you can see in the photos, there is also a slightly dimpled texture that gives good grip.  Some of the siping on the heel looks like it's not quite been cut properly.  There is a line around the edges where it has been cut out of the mould that looks a bit messy.  Both pinky toes have extra rubber coverage compared to VFF (see photo).

Once i put them on, they feel quite comfortable (although i must admit they are 1 size too small for me so they feel a little cramped when walking).  I haven't been outside in them yet so can't comment on their running performance.



SUMMARY:  They have a slightly cheap feel about them, but as they were cheap i'm not using that as a complaint.  Definitely worth purchasing if you want a cheap pair, or perhaps if you're looking for an inexpensive pair for you children.

[Vryce]

Nice review, but your link to the pictures is missing something.

[ap19]

damn,  sorry i'll go back and edit...


Does that one work?

[gb]

Thanks much!  very useful review + pictures!   

[Vryce]

damn,  sorry i'll go back and edit...


Does that one work?

Much better thank you.

[BorisTerzic]

ap19 thanks for the review. I'll keep the sizing in mind if I decide to get a pair.

[Howard]

...

Heh, I bought a pair of the Tefta primitif size 42 from ebay and just received them yesterday.  Just have a few things to add about the different model:

I totally agree with you, they definitely fit differently.  I've got M42 Classics, M42 KSO (x3), and M42 Flows to compare them to, and they're slightly more snug than the M42 Classics.  I'm in between sizes for the KSOs (M41 too small, M42 a tiny bit big), so the M42 Classics and 42 Tefta are just about perfect in size.  The Tefta also feel wider at the toes -- not sure if it's due to the shoe being wider, or more likely it's because the sole is stiffer.

Yeah, the sole is stiffer and probably thicker.  I don't have any way of measuring the thickness, but the sole feels more like the sole of my Flows.  It looks the same, it's got the siping (which in some parts, as you mentioned, didn't seem to be cut completely cleanly), but I don't feel the ground the same way as with the Classics or KSOs.

The upper material is completely different from the KSOs, too.  The part that covers the same part of the foot as the Classics feels like a very thin neoprene, and the thinner mesh part seems like a more open weave than the KSOs.  The straps at the heel are like the Sprints (instead of the single heel strap like in the Flows), and the strap over the foot is of a synthetic material like in the flows, just much thicker - like a faux leather.  The Tefta's don't have the extra material in the uppers lying just under the strap that the KSOs have.

So basically, they look like KSOs, have the straps of the Sprint, soles of the Flow, and their own materials for the uppers.

Hard to say whether they're worth the money or not -- that will depend a lot on how durable they are.  One my KSOs have had a problem with the strap, and Vibram took care of that with no hassle; obviously I don't expect that kind of customer service from an ebay vendor from Malaysia.  For an extra pair of kicking-around-on-the-weekend shoes-if my-KSOs-are-drying (Flows for cold weather, KSOs x 2 for work, KSO for weekend, Classics for both), I can live with the slightly stiffer, less sensitive sole.  And for $40 (total cost including shipping), I'm willing to take the chance.  Crazy, though, how in the last couple of weeks, he seems to be getting/asking closer to $60 plus shipping for each pair.  At that price, i would definitely be buying Vibrams instead.