Samurai marketFighter Black Jikatabi (Outdoor Tabi) (JP 27.0 approx. US Men 9; EU 42)

I do historical reenactment as one of my hobbies, and these are one pair of two types of footwear I use during those presentations. I mainly use the jikatabi for activities that require a lot of movement, such as dancing, fencing, or combat forms demonstrations. These jikatabi have held up very well through all manner of surfaces and weather, though I would warn against using them in especially wet/muddy conditions as they require a lot of work to rehabilitate if they've been soaked through. The rubber sole provides good traction, while at the same time not "sticking" too much when you have to move your feet in a shuffle or sliding motion. Walking on hard gravel can be a little uncomfortable, but still stable and not dangerous.I have worn these many times for more than 12 hours, without removing them or swapping them for other shoes. Let me be clear, they are not comfortable to wear for this long if you are on your feet most of the time. Unless you are used to going barefoot, or wear minimalist running shoes, then you probably won't want to wear them more than a few hours. I have a wider foot, and didn't notice any pinching, but these don't have the support of an athletic shoe, so foot fatigue will almost certainly set in if you are a regular shoe wearer. Even as often as I've worn them, I usually start feeling the discomfort around the 6 hour mark. For this reason, I recommend taking regular breaks off your feet every few hours, unless you are determined to condition yourself to wearing them.I also recommend two things if you plan to wear these more than once, and for more than, say, an hour or so. The first is tabi, traditional Japanese split-toe socks. These significantly reduce discomfort from friction at the toes and edges of your feet. The second is some sort of gel inserts. Since the split-toe design is not common in the US, you'll have to modify a standard set with scissors, but the added cushioning is significant, and really helps you get used to these if you've not worn minimalist footwear before. I've reached the point I can wear them without the inserts, but I always wear the tabi.

I'm a huge fan of these and am glad the pair I ordered fit me well. They're comfortable and I like how adjustable they are around your ankles/calves.If you're used to shoes that have minimal sole and little to no arch support (think Vibram or Feiyue), you'll feel right at home with these. Just make sure to purchase a pair or two of toe/tabi socks. The first pair I wore with them were the 'Injinji Run 2.0 Lightweight No-Show Toe Socks' and while they felt great for me, I can imagine some people wanting a toe/tabi socks that goes much higher on the ankle/calf to prevent the fabric from rubbing--just something to consider.My regular shoe size is between a US9.5 and 10, so a EU 43/JP28 is generally ideal, but in this case, I ordered the EU42/JP27 instead, as another friend of mine ordered based on what *should* have fit (we have the same shoe size), and they were too large to be comfortable. I even tried his pair on and there was a good .5-1" of a gap for my toes when standing.After I received mine and tried them on (confirming they fit), I washed them on a gentle, cold cycle and the size was not affected after drying them on a low temperature.

I've been wearing minimalist shoes since my first pair of Vibrams a couple of years ago. I had purchased my last pair of Vibrams, the Bikalas in September 2011 and was disgusted to find out that while they more expensive than the Vibram Classic, they wore out twice as fast. Thus my interest in checking out other minimalist shoes.After very extensive research into the many alternatives to Vibrams, I decided to give Jika-tabi a try. I was concerned about the sole (it didn't look as durable as the Vibram's Classic sole made of vulcanized rubber), but the price made it worth a try.The Rikio Fighter Jika-Tabi are extremely comfortable and very light weight, qualities that are not at all dissimilar to Vibram Classics. The kohaze (metal tabs) are a unique and effective method of fitting the canvas shoe to the ankle and calf. Though slow to hook up (they unhook quickly), they are a low profile closure method, unlike velcro straps. My wife who compare my first Vibram Classics to gorilla feet, thought that Jika-Tabi were actually quite stylish. In fact many strangers in the subway have commented the same, when they do look down at my feet. Unlike the Vibrams that scream out, "LOOK AT ME", the Jika-Tabi are quite subdued, and can usually go unnoticed in a crowded subway.Walking in the Jika-Tabi is the same as in Vibrams or any other minimalist shoe; fore-stike or mid-strike as opposed to heal-strike. As such flexibility in the shoe becomes critical and the Jika-Tabi do not disappoint. They are just as flexible in the main sole as Vibrams, except for the lack of individual toes, save for the big toe. However, in my case this is a positive, as I found that I wore out my Vibrams primarily at the second and third toes. Since these toes are merged in the Jika-Tabi, my initial guess, that at these specific toes, the sole will wear out less faster than in the Vibrams, has so far proven correct.I have given the product 4 stars and not 5, because of the sole material. The rubber sole is quite flexible, however the rubber material is not as durable as the vulcanized rubber sole of Vibrams. After a month of daily use, there is wear. The shoes are cheap though (the shipping from Japan is a different story), so the wear is acceptable. I would be willing to pay a little more for a Jika-Tabi with a vulcanized rubber sole.All-in all though, I am more than satisfied, and will be purchasing more Jika-Tabi in the near future. I've recommended them to another minimalist shoe enthusiast (who is wearing the Adidas). However, I will be looking out for a vulcanized rubber sole.el_nath in Brooklyn, USA

i love these shoes! i got them to wear to fencing and it feels like i am walking on air! the closures are a little tricky but overall better then a tie system because they stay closed.

Way too tight in some places (ankle) a bit tight in others (length) too big in others (toe) Order size up and good luck to you. Not worth the bother or price for me.