As a child, I spent most of my summers avoiding shoes like the plague, and still feel stifled if I'm forced to wear a sock. There is something so exhilarating to feeling the earth underneath you (until that is you have to walk in a public place or step on a bottle cap or a piece of glass). Enter a happy medium: The Vibram FiveFingers barefoot alternative.

Last week at Oktoberfest in Harvard Square, I noticed several people running around in these. I will admit, my first thought was that they were the weirdest looking footwear I had ever seen, but quickly I became intrigued.

Vibram advocates "barefooting"  "barefooting (bare•foot•n) n. 1. The exhilarating joy of going barefoot without leaving yourself exposed; 2. any activity requiring unconventional footwear offering the protection of a thin, flexible Vibram skin; 3. an intelligent way to deepen your connection with your natural surroundings." on their website.

Vibram FIveFingers comes in a variety of styles that are perfect for all types of outdoor sports, running, and general foot happiness.