The next best thing to going barefoot. I wore mine around the house to get used to them for a while and to make sure the fit was right. Then we went to southern Utah and they had their real test. We hiked some canyons that had mostly sandy trails and creek bottoms. (ankle deep and calf deep crossings and many places you have to walk down the creek because it goes from canyon wall to canyon wall) The KSOs really kept the stuff out. Only a tiny amount of very fine sand got inside and it was so little and so fine I didn't notice and it didn't bother my feet at all. Traction on slick rock was fantastic. You do walk differently in them and you watch where you step but they are comfortable and it becomes automatic. You get used to putting them on although it is challenging at first.We rinsed them out at camp and they dried quickly. Today I threw them in the washing machine, they were air dried in a couple hours and look great.

I would wear these every minute of every day if I could. They allow my feet to function as they were designed to function.
With all those little muscles and bones, our feet are designed to be both sensory organs and a highly flexible, responsive way to connect to the earth and move around on it. When we put hard, stiff, heavy, or padded shoes on them, they (and we) become "blind" in a way we don't even notice.
In five fingers, our unsupported arches do what they're supposed to do. Our toes function and respond individually--they flex, balance, and propel us in ways I for one had forgotten since childhood. Wearing them makes me feel supple, fleet, free, joyous, alive. Moving over hard, rocky ground is like getting a foot massage.
I wear one pair around the house and another pair for walks, runs, hikes, and weight workouts. I plan to buy more.
One more thing--I never found the human foot beautiful before, but in five fingers, they are, in the same way a healthy wild animal is beautiful.

Once you get used to them you will never want anything else on your feet. With the VFF KSO's, you walk differently, run differently, even stand differently. It takes the muscles and tendons time to get used to - go slowly at first. I quit running years ago because of knee pain. I can now run again (increasing speed and distance slowly) with no knee pain - none at all. And my feet don't hurt anymore either. I wear these almost all the time and I do not care what anybody thinks about how they look. Sizing is tricky. Try them on in the store if possible. Watch for wear on the straps - I had to repair mine.