As far as I know, there is no other shoe on the market that so closely mimics the effect and benefits of barefoot walking/running as the Vibrams.  This is due to the extremely minimal design of simply encasing the feet in an extremely flexible and durable rubber while allowing the toes to sit separately instead of getting scrunched together as happens in most shoes...this allows the toes to stretch and grip the ground when walking or climbing, and when running the toes would be slightly pulled upwards (dorsiflexion) while the entire foot is allowed to stretch fully and completely, which doesn't happen in most shoes.

Runningbarefoot dot org is one excellent source of information on the growing trend of barefoot running, which is somewhat related to minimalist shoes which are favored by runners seeking a gentler, more biomechanically efficient way of running less prone to injuries than the traditional heel-striking, bone-jarring "power-running" that most traditional running shoes tend to encourage.  Barefooting can be used in lieu of shoes altogether, or to complement shod running---it basically forces you to learn correct form and equally important, strengthens the muscles in the feet and calves which protects against injury in the long term.

I use my Vibrams when running on treadmills and for those times when I'm somewhere that I can't find any safe clean asphalt or concrete roads to run barefoot on.  They are also very comfortable to wear just walking around the house, grocery shopping, etc.---it's good to spend a few days wearing them if you've never barefoot run before and want to start.

CAUTION: When running outside with them, be sure to run a lot more slowly (you should be taking far softer steps than usual) and shorter distance than you would when wearing normal shoes.  The first time I used them outside, I ran 2 miles at a 10:30 pace ... my normal moderate run would be about 6 miles at a 7:30-8:00 minute-per-mile pace ... and afterwards, my calves and Achilles tendons were sore for a good 4 days, as if I'd just run a marathon!  So they are a really unparalleled muscle-conditioning tool.

PS.  Also, I have to agree with the previous reviewer that it's best to go size these out in a store rather than ordering them sight unseen.