Whether you're traveling or caught in the rain, keep walking with ease. Shoes with Vibram soles

This time, we're focusing on shoes with "Vibram" soles.

As the name suggests, these are shoes that use soles made by the Vibram company.

Adopted by shoe brands that pursue comfort and functionality above all else,

Vibram soles offer benefits like reduced fatigue even after long walks, and strong grip that holds up in rain and snow.

In fact, there are many advantages to these soles, making them perfect not only for everyday wear but also for travel and rainy days.

Let's take a closer look at the "sole"—a part of the shoe we rarely think about in daily life—

and unravel what makes it so special.

Sandals: SUICOKE Sport Sandal GRAY

White shoes: TRAVEL SHOES Cap Toe Rain WH

Stole: Stole TRACY NUDE

Sunglasses: SUN BLUE TORTOISE

Passport case: ELEMENTS TRAVEL

Bag: Weekender Organic Sage

The Appeal of Vibram, a Sole Specialist Maker

Vibram is an Italian company that specializes in soles.

What makes Vibram unique is that it isn't a shoe brand at all, but a manufacturer devoted exclusively to soles.

In other words, the company doesn't produce entire shoes—it supplies soles to shoe brands.

This raises a natural question: why focus on soles alone?

The answer lies in the story behind Vibram's founding.

In 1937, an Italian mountaineer named Vitale Bramani

experienced the tragic loss of a fellow climber in an accident, and this event

inspired him to create a safe shoe that could withstand even the harshest snow-covered mountains.

At the time, ordinary mountaineering boots were simply leather nailed together,

and a single slip on an icy or snowy slope could mean the end.

For shoes meant to protect a person's life, the construction was remarkably basic.

This was the context in which the Vibram sole was born.

The very first Vibram sole was a rubber sole named "CARRARMATO,"

which means "tank" in Italian.

With its rugged, chunky pattern resembling a tank's caterpillar treads, the Vibram sole gripped the ground firmly,

and it quickly became the talk of the mountaineering world.

In 1954, shoes fitted with Vibram soles

were worn by the Italian mountaineering team that achieved the first ascent of K2—second only to Everest in fame—bringing the brand worldwide recognition.

Since its founding, Vibram has continued to create soles for a wide range of purposes—sports, everyday city walking, sandals, and more—

protecting people's feet and helping them walk comfortably and safely in countless situations beyond mountaineering.

Shoes are essential to how we move through life—walking, climbing, running—

and to living each day safely and comfortably.

You can feel Vibram's deep commitment to this idea in every product they make.

All of the shoes shown in this photo feature Vibram soles.

Each one carries the brand logo in a subtle way, and some feature a striking yellow logo mark.

Of course, the soles are matched to different shoe types—sneakers, leather shoes, sandals—

but Vibram's strength lies in its broad lineup designed for a wide variety of uses and occasions, including women's heeled shoes and shoes made for rainy days.

Comparing them like this, you can see how the tread pattern differs from shoe to shoe.

From large, chunky treads reminiscent of the original sole,

to striped patterns that make walking on sandy beaches easier,

to even highly decorative designs featuring illustrations.

You'll also notice details like soles in colors that complement the upper without clashing with its design—

subtle touches of care that reflect Vibram's role as the quiet, unsung hero supporting every shoe.

Now, let's take a look at some shoes that feature Vibram soles.

Sneakers That Put the Sole First—Perfect Companions for a Walk Around Town

Shoes: Sneaker Montjuich blanco

Bottoms: Cotton Wool Denim Wide Pants

Stole: Linen Stole

Bag: 2-Way Square Bag Kinari

When it comes to walking long distances—whether around town or while traveling—sneakers are the go-to choice.

The sneaker boom has been going strong in fashion for quite some time now,

and what was once a trend has become a staple—it feels like almost everyone owns a pair.

These sporty designs offer excellent cushioning.

But because the shape has become so familiar, we tend to focus on design and forget what really matters most: how comfortable they are to walk in.

Pictured here are "MaTeS" from Spain (left) and "WALSH" from England (right).

Though they originate from different countries, these two brands share something in common:

both grew out of sports shoe heritage,

and of course, both use Vibram soles.

MaTeS shoes are made using calfskin, a type of soft leather from young cattle.

Soft leather is shaped over a slender wooden last, then cut and joined piece by piece, all by hand.

The shoes made by skilled craftsmen are simple yet feature a classical design with a rounded toe and a single line running across it,

making them a valued item as a fashion piece too.

These are shoes that leave a lasting impression, both for the way the leather gradually softens and molds to the foot, and for their refined air.

The sole of this MaTeS is characterized by its rugged, deep, wide grooves.

The strong grip lets you walk as if firmly gripping the ground,

and it's a bold design where the grooves don't disappear even with a bit of wear.

"WALSH," named after Norman Walsh, who chose the path of a shoemaker in 1945 at just 14 years old.

Norman's shoemaking skills were so advanced that by age 16 he was already making shoes for the British Olympic team.

After athletes' records improved dramatically at the Olympics,

Norman's shoes became known to top athletes around the world.

From then on, the brand produced sneakers for use in track and field, cricket, football, rugby,

and every other kind of field.

It makes perfect sense that WALSH adopts Vibram soles tailored to each specific use.

Standing tall, walking with poise. Reducing the fatigue of heeled shoes

There are also brands that use Vibram soles in feminine heeled shoes.

We'd like to introduce "catworth" (left) and "chausser" (right).

Cute, but a little tiring. A certain amount of endurance always comes with maintaining a beautiful posture.

Every woman has painful memories of wearing heeled shoes.

Of course, compared to flat shoes or sneakers, the burden on the feet is not insignificant,

but Vibram soles are a reassuring ally for women who wear heels.

CATWORTH has produced all of its products at its own factory in Northampton, England, since the brand's founding.

It's a valuable, long-established shoe brand with two hand-lasters of dance shoes on staff—a craft practiced by only a handful of people in the entire UK—

and each pair is finished with meticulous care, one at a time.

These are ordinarily dance shoes meant for indoor wear, but because they're built to withstand frequent steps and taps, they're highly durable,

making them perfectly suited for everyday outdoor wear as well.

The soft texture of the leather molds to the foot more with each wearing,

and the Vibram outsole gives a light, easy stride and a gentle look underfoot. 

Heeled shoes crafted by chausser, a Japanese shoe maker devoted to the pursuit of comfort.

At 4.5cm, the heel isn't too high, yet it's just the right height to make legs look beautiful.

The wedge type distributes the wearer's weight, so the point is that they're not tiring even after long walks,

and because the entire sole surface has texture, the grip is strong.

True to the brand name "chausse" (meaning "to wear/put on"), these are shoes that go beyond mere appearance—

a pair that also lets you glimpse the designer's philosophy, that a shoe is only complete once someone actually wears it and walks in it.

A special sole developed specifically for the shoe brand

SUICOKE sandals let you move as lightly as if running in sneakers, with straps that hold the toe and ankle in place,

and the straps use a Velcro system that allows for fine size adjustment. 

SUICOKE's defining feature is the footbed developed jointly with Vibram—

the world's first Vibram-made footbed. 

This footbed takes into account the forces and pivot points at work when a person walks, raising the heel and arch areas.

It offers excellent comfort by reducing the burden on the feet while walking,

while also having a design presence that stands out even when the sandals are taken off. 

chausser's TRAVEL SHOES, made from a leather material independently developed to be waterproof yet breathable.

The outsole uses a custom rubber compound ordered specially from Vibram.

A straight-tip design—with a single horizontal line across the toe—is normally prized for its formal look,

but this reliable pair can actually be worn on rainy days too. 

Using a Vibram sole called "ICETREK," known for its especially high-grip compound,

it maintains flexibility even below freezing and delivers excellent grip on icy ground. 

It comes in a cloth drawstring case, perfect for carrying while traveling,

and having such a wonderful pair of shoes tucked into your trunk is sure to make traveling to your destination feel a little lighter. 
 

This time, we've focused on Vibram soles and introduced a number of shoe brands.

Though the designs may differ, what they all share in common

is a desire to make every scene comfortable—whether someone is walking, running, or traveling—

wherever their shoes take them.

The Vibram name may not be visible from the outside,

but it quietly lives on between the ground and the shoe, a true unsung hero supporting every step.

▶︎A stylish companion for walking around town

▶︎Sport sandals that let you feel the sole's appeal directly

▶︎A star pupil sneaker, born in England

▶︎Japanese shoes that cherish the act of "wearing"