Vivobarefoot

This is more of an initial impression than a full review. I got the Vivobarefoot Ras in black, and unfortunately did not purchase it from this wonderful website (though I would have, had they been in stock in size 43!). I hope to drive more business here with this review to make up for it. These are really great minimalist shoes, whether for the office or for everyday wear. That said, they are painful to wear barefoot. These shoes' chafing inner demands socks unlike most minimalist footwear. However, I imagine that will change as the leather softens up. Initially, the leather was tight and pinched rather painfully right below the toes. It can be alleviated by sliding your heel all the way back into the heel cup, and tightening the top lace to keep your foot from sliding forward. After some initial discomfort, and a two mile hike, the leather has become more pliant. Once you soften up the leather, they are very comfortable. The heel is very snug, and comes up quite far which may feel strange at first. They are a full size smaller than marked, so order a size up. The toe box is wide and allows the feet to spread naturally. They are great shoes for people with wide feet. The sole is super-thin, flat and flexible, with no cushioning to hinder your natural walking style. You can feel the texture of whatever is under your feet, a feeling similar to walking barefoot. They are so light you barely notice having them on. They look quite formal, and would be appropriate for business settings, a rare quality in a minimal shoe. The soles appear to be stitched rather than glued, which should ensure durability in the long term. I received them as a gift, but considering how they perform now that they're broken in I would call them reasonably priced. I highly recommend this shoe.

They are bit higher in the back than I expected and pinch just a bit on the ankle. The forefoot is a bit wide looking but I can live with it. With a bit of polish, no one really says much about them being different. I will get a lot more wear out of them.

It's amazing! Best fit me and the feeling is so good! And since my feet's width is somewhat larger than normal, I want to point since it suitable to me, it may be a bit of wide for normal guys.

I ordered a size 16 and my first two toes were touching when I stood up. The label said 49EU/15US. It looks like a 49EU is not equivalent to a 16 US. I have to send them back.

I love these. The only complaint I have is that they don't come in half sizes. Even with that I still love 'em.

These shoes are the absolute best! The fit and comfort is perfect. They need some breaking in, but all good off road type shoes do. I was out in a rain storm, and they kept my feet dry. Zappos customer service is second to none. I would not buy anywhere else, even for a better price.

I tried in vain to get the Merrell barefoot shoes of similar style to fit me, but they were all too narrow in the toe box. Barefoot shoes are supposed to be roomier in the toebox compared to other types of shoes so I didn't get it at all. So I decided to try these and like a true barefoot shoe they are nice and roomy in the toebox. However, I did find that in order to get a true barefoot feel I had to remove the inserts which I think are a little too padded. Luckily with this shoe you can easily remove them and have that option. It is a bit too high in the heel area and with every step the back of the shoe crashes into my ankle bones - a heel cushion took care of it and now they are comfy for all day wear. These will be my go-to travel shoes. Light, easy to pack, flexible.

Amazing. I have played in these shoes about 10 rounds, hits hundreds of balls at the range. I am impressed with how they are holding up, how comfortable they are, how well they keep the water out. The grip on the turf is by far and away better than the other comfort shoes by Callaway, Adidas, Ecco or True Linkswear. I have not slipped out once, and I take a pretty good rip at the ball. I highly recommend these for any golfer looking for a better shoe. 4 handicap, play 3-4 times a week.

First minimalist shoes, so nothing to compare them to. However, they definitely run small. I usually wear a 13, but I got the 47 (their 14) and they're still quite tight. They're okay now after some wear though. Only complaint so far, the triangle shaped lace anchors are kind of obnoxious. Wish they had just done a regular shoelace hole their instead.

I bought this shoe to run on grass and light dirt trails. I run early mornings and most often my shoes are soaked by the end of the run due to heavy dew. These shoes are perfect for this environment. They are lighter than any shoe I currently own includng the Merill Trail Glove and NB minimis trail. Feel great and are as close to barefoot as you can get with a shoe with an upper. The only downside is that the holes do allow some debris to get in the shoe when sockless. Run them under the faucet after a run and they are dry in no time and ready to roll.

This shoe is great. It's truly minimalistic. It feels more like a foot-glove than a shoe, due to its flexibility and complete lack of support. This is a good thing, as the feel walking in these without socks is almost that of being barefoot. You can feel every pebble on the ground, and movement feels natural. I would advise walking in these a lot before you run, to get used to the feeling of forefoot striding. These shoes are incredibly grippy, with a golf shoe-like level of cleating. On pavement you can feel the lugs on the sole pushing into your feet. I feel like the lugs would wear down after prolonged walking on pavement, but that's not really what these shoes are for. I got them as an all-around shoe, and they are stylish enough for the purpose, but they are really for the trail. Get them if you have short, wide feet like mine. I ordered a size 43 after returning a size 44 and it's perfect. For comparison, I wear a 9 wide in Chaco sandals. If you have narrow feet, you might have a hard time in these shoes because they are wonderfully wide. Due to their roomy fit, you might experience some rubbing that can cause blisters during prolonged walking. Thin socks help with this. These shoes are also very warm, meant for cold weather. If you're exercising in a place warmer than 60F most of the time, consider getting the Breatho Trail instead. The glued sole and synthetic materials make me worry about this shoe's long term durability. If I use it as my main pair, I can't see it lasting more than a year. Hopefully they will prove me wrong.

Wears out too quickly. Awesome minimalist shoe, but it needs to last more than 3 months for this price. If you're a low mileage minimalist runner, I highly recommend this shoe. It's also a great summer shoe. This is a follow-up to a previous review where I had thought the shoe would last. I bought these shoes twice, but I won't buy them again until they create a sole that will last. I'm still searching for the perfect minimalist shoe for a higher mileage runner (30 miles/week). I would probably wear the 5 fingers, but I have to wear socks because my feet sweat too much. I don't feel like buying 5 finger socks.

These shoes changed my life. I have short wide feet and trouble with balance unless I am barefoot. These are the only shoes that I can get on and walk around in with ease balance and comfort. Do not waste minute. Get them and see. They are really good for people in rehab I would bet, people getting back on their feet who do not want to worry about balancing in shoes that put you above the green dirt. They are truly barefoot simulation experience but not uncomfortable. They are breezy easy and cute with jeans shorts and dresses.

I love this shoe! It is so comfortable and it is vegan! I am a PE teacher and I do a lot of walking, jogging, etc...and this shoe is perfect. You will love it!

An adorable shoe that everyone asks me about. Very light and comfortable. I originally got it to work out at the gym but it actually looks cute enough to wear with jeans. I am getting another pair in a different color.

Great shoe. Looks good and feels good. Literally feels as if I am wearing slippers. I prefer to keep these shoes on when hanging around the house rather than going barefoot. Cozy and comfortable. After wearing these a couple of days I will never wear anything else. The shoe itself is expertly designed. It slips on an off easily and sits very low on the foot itself. This is what gives it the barefoot feel. Your foot has the entire range of motion as if you were shoeless. Worth the extra money for sure. My only complaint is that the sole is so thin (although they claim it is puncture resistant) that you will notice stepping on something jagged verses a shoe with a normal sole. I am curious as to how long the sole will hold up under normal walking conditions as I walk to work about 1.5 miles both ways. These shoes are so comfortable you will literally not want to take them off. Great investment and work casual, finally! If you are in between sizes, order the next size up and you will have the perfect fit.

I LOVE these shoes. Props to Zappos for getting them to me the day after I ordered them! They have replaced Merrell Pace Gloves as my non-running shoe of choice. I run in Vibram Five Fingers; any other shoe feels like my feet are suffocating. The Vivos are much flatter, wider and roomier than the Merrells (compare the sole shapes from the bottom & sides). Extremely comfortable; great ground feel, especially if you take out the liner. I plan to order more since this is exactly what I was looking for in a minimal everyday shoe.

Great looking shoe, but the B width is too narrow for my foot. I had to return it.

I'm constantly on the lookout for the "perfect" shoe in terms of comfort. Having had back surgery at the age of 24, comfort is by far the most important factor when buying shoes. I took a chance by trying these, and I love them, even after spending all day on my feet. I ordered a 1/2 size up from what I normally wear, and they felt perfect. I hope they last a long time.

Great trail running shoe. Runs true to size--in other vivobarefoot styles I've had to size up, but not so with this shoe. Very comfortable to run in and looks great! Easy overnight shipping. Thanks Zappos!