If your a wearer of say Vibram Classics the first thing you will notice is Bikila's are comfy. The fit is like a glove and the little pads on the sole add a little extra cushion. If your a true barefoot runner this may not be your thing but this dude has baby feet and the little extra is nice. Even though there is more to the sole of Bikila's the ride still has barefoot qualities.
What do I think about Bikila's ride? You get the control only your foot gives you. No shoe gives you ground feedback like these babies. No matter the terrain: pavement, steep hills, grass, creek bed, roots, rocks (ouch) I always feel balanced and in total control of every step. That's something I really dig about Vibrams. I just never get that in shoes!
So how do Bikila's hold up you ask? Great in my view. So far I have maybe 50 miles on them in all kinds of terrain, well the terrain that Raleigh, NC offers. The wear is almost nothing as you can see.
Are there any negatives? Not really in my view, I can tell you on my last trail run there was a 1/2 mile section of rocks and one sharp rock cut through the sole and stuck my toe. Not good, but that's the price of not having an inch of rubber on the bottom of your foot.
Overall I like them, they offer great feedback from the ground to your foot, offer more cushion and protection for us with baby feet and are as durable as you could expect with a shoe with so little material.
