Despite Lawsuit, 70% of Vibram Owners Will Continue to Wear FiveFingers

Last week, we learned that Vibram had settled a lawsuit that accused the company of offering misleading claims about the health benefits of its FiveFingers toe shoes. As we noted in a previous feature, the company is required to pay out $3.75 million to customers who purchased Vibram FiveFingers after March 21, 2009.

Moreover, Vibram can no longer make any claims about the health benefits of its shoes without scientific research to support it. Given the conflicting nature of studies on barefoot running, this may be difficult for Vibram to circumvent. In light of the dilemma, we asked DealNews readers — who have been very interested in FiveFingers shoes over the years — what they thought.

As it turns out, a full 70% of respondents who own Vibram shoes will continue to wear them, despite the hubbub about false claims. Whether those same people will file for a refund of up to $94 (once the settlement website is up and running) remains to be seen.

Running Shoes That Aren't Vibram

Of course, there's still a full 30% of people who are less likely to continue wearing Vibram footwear while running this spring. And since we'd hate to see these outdoor enthusiasts miss out on the suddenly-grand weather we're seeing, we've rounded up a few of the hottest sneaker deals on the site to tide you over.

Nike Men's Flex Experience 2 Running Shoes

JCPenney offers the Nike Men's Flex Experience 2 Running Shoes in Black/Red/White for $37.99. Opt for ship-to-store pickup to dodge the $8 shipping fee. That's tied with our mention from last week as the lowest shipped price we could find in any color by $7. They're available in sizes 7 to 14.

Avia Men's A5024 Running Shoes

6pm offers the Avia Men's A5024 Running Shoes in Chrome Silver/Black for $24.99 with free shipping. That's $20 off list and the lowest total price we could find, although we saw them for $2 less last month. They're available in most sizes from 8 to 13.

Nike Men's Air Max Defy Running Shoes

Finish Line offers the Nike Men's Air Max Defy Running Shoes in Summit White for $59.98 plus $5.49 for shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $10. These are available only in size 10.5.

New Balance Women's 580 Running Shoes

6pm offers the New Balance Women's 580v3 Running Shoes for $39.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $10. They come in standard and wide widths, in sizes 5 to 11.

Nike Women's Free 5.0+ Running Shoes

Road Runner Sports offers the Nike Women's Free 5.0+ Running Shoes for $69.95 with free shipping. That's a low by $5. These shoes are available in sizes 6 to 11.

Readers, what shoes do you recommend for former Vibram-lovers in search of a new pair of kicks? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!