Customer Reviews Vivobarefoot Ultra M

At first I thought this was the perfect minimalist running shoe, but there are some minor issues. The inner boot is a little small for me to wear with socks. Fits fine without socks, but the boot absorbs like a sponge. If you have sweaty feet like me, running without socks is not an option during the hot months. Especially with this shoe. Might be an issue during rain. I tried wearing just the shell with no socks while running, but my foot slipped around a lot and squeaked while I ran (think wet flip flops). Worst issue was that it created a blister on one of my toes. By the way, this is the way I wear the shoes day to day. Works great as a minimalist casual shoe with shorts. Also good for pool. I've found the best solution for running is to wear socks with just the shell and no boot. Maybe if I had a bigger size, I could use the boot with socks. Although, I wonder if I would be as happy with the shoe overall. Sometimes debris gets in the shoe through the holes, which can be annoying. This has only been an issue as a casual shoe, but hasn't happened while running. I've only run about 70 miles so far in the shoe. My longest run being about 6.5 miles. I run on country roads that are not as smooth as a typical road and sometimes can be as rough as gravel. I was worried about the durability of the shoe, but it seems to be holding up. My past two Saucony CC shoes were extremely durable on these roads, and I'm hopeful the Ultra M will be the same. I literally ran holes in the bottom of my first Saucony CC shoe. Great ground feel for the minimalist runner. Plenty of room in the toe box. I highly recommend giving this shoe a try if you're a minimalist runner. Fortunately, a shoe like this will not cost a lot in a couple of years. It probably only costs very little to make this shoe including the liner.

I am switching all my shoes to the barefoot type, because they are so comfortable and help my feet, posture, and lower back. This pair is going to be more-or-less my kick-around after-work and weekend shoe, because of their casual look. They feel great, and are roomy, but not sloppy looking. The Euro-to-US sizing feels true to me.

This shoe is great. Fits very well and running feels very natural in them. It took me a few times to get used to running in them. My calves were extraordinarily sore the first few times. I really enjoy these.

Great shoe. Size runs small. I have many pairs of Vivobarefoot shoes size 45 but on these shoes I needed 46.

I use the Vivobarefoot Ultra for working out at the gym and they are wonderful. They are extremely lightweight and the minimalist feel and lack of support really help the muscles in my lower legs. They took a little getting used to but they a comfortable and feel great. They run a bit tight with the insert in but have loosened up a little with wear.

I've had these shoes for about 2 weeks now and they are very cool. I've worn them mostly indoors, but am venturing out with them on and it's very interesting. It feels good. One of the eyelet loops has come out several times - so I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a problem! They get one ding for that...otherwise awesome.

Ease into these. The first time I went out I hurt my calf and couldn't run for about two weeks. Since then, I've eased into them by running one mile at a time. I'm now up to 4 miles and they seem to be working great.

This shoe is expensive. Amazing comfort with a wickedly cool look! A true barefoot experience. It has my Vibrams beat. Try it!

These barefoot running shoes changed running for me, the advertisements are true. I am able to run further and feel less fatigued afterward. An added bonus is that by wearing fewer socks on a daily basis you are reducing your carbon footprint. The design is remarkable as they look way less dorky than the running shoes like a big rubber sock.

Can't say enough good things about these. They are comfortable and durable. I liked them so much that I bought the EVO II from Vivobarefoot as well. Bought my wife the Ultra's and she loves them too. Great for travel because they can be your beach/pool shoe and your exercise shoe (warning - I am not a runner but I exercise with them).

These are surely the most comfortable shoes I have worn. They can be worn in a number of ways depending on what parts you wish to use. The only thing that bothers me is that I cannot find them in black. JS Michigan

I bought these for my son, at the recommendation of my daughter. Whereas my daughter had to get used to the barefoot gait (which initially caused some calf pain), my son had no such difficulty. (Personally I had a lot of difficulty, as it aggravated the arthritis in my left hip and I had to return my pair, unfortunately). They are nice looking and lightweight, and my children have enjoyed wearing them this summer.

So here are my thoughts on running in the Vivobarefoot Ultra M's: All in all the shoes are nice. You can do the inner sock thingy or you can take it out and use the shoe like a running Croc. So far I've used the sock as the running Croc and is a little too loose for me. Unfortunately, one thing I realized was my left foot fit better in the size 8s and my right foot in the size 9s--I went with the 9s and that has left my left foot prone to a little irritation in the back of the foot. I've tried two ways of dealing with it, one just folding the in-sock down inside the shoe some, and/or duck tape, or band aids. The former if I forget to grab the latter. These shoes are decent if you're like me and wanted something different than Vibrams.

Great shoes. I have only had them for about a week but they are great. I have wider feet and no running shoes ever feel right, but these do. I always wore skate shoes for everyday shoes, but now I think I need to change it up to a different style of Vivobarefoot. If you are hesitant, just buy them, trust me.

Fairly comfortable with the liners in, I'll agree with the other reviewer that the size increases significantly with the liner removed. I'm a little disappointed with the grommets for the laces being not the most secure (I have to be sure I don't pull too hard when lacing them up, otherwise a couple of the grommets at the top are at risk of popping out). Otherwise, they're very comfortable, casual shoes. For running in the rain or through puddles/water I think they're great, but with the liners removed debris is likely to get in, so I haven't worn them on trails, only roads. Another note about the liners is that the puncture resistance is a part of the liners, so with them removed you lose a bit of protection against sharp objects.

If you want to wear socks and use the inner lining (which is optional), then go a size or two larger.

The Ultra has proven to be a very comfortable and lightweight shoe after months of use. The shoe is incredibly breathable and is enjoyable to wear in very wet conditions. I used mine for a couple of months when I first started CrossFit and they worked well. However, buyers should be wary that the sole on the Ultra severely lacks grip and will wear out extremely quickly on pavement. I was disappointed that my soles only lasted 5 months before I encountered my first hole. Make sure to consider the longevity of the shoe before purchase. I usually get a year or more out of my other shoes.

I've had these for about a month now, so far so good. In my opinion they are uncomfortable to wear with the insert, sure I could put a bandaid on my achilles region to prevent the annoying friction, but that would defeat the purpose if convenience and coolness. Careful, these shoes aren't exactly non-slip, I almost fell really bad doing p90x on my tile floor at home.

In terms of original design, this shoe wins the prize. It is barefoot-like, and easy to run in. I took out the sock-like insert and wear it with or without socks depending on the weather. I like the shoe but question how long the sole will last. The shoe itself is plastic, so it's slightly uncomfortable in warm or hot weather. The shoe insert also doesn't breathe well, but is okay.

This barefoot shoe is great, although, when you take out the lining, the size increases significantly. Almost to the point where you can't where the shoe without it. Other than that, it's awesome.

I really like these shoes. The eyelets on my first pair broke after just a few weeks so I had to return my first pair, but I plan on purchasing another.

Just got the shoes and had to send them back. I ordered a size 13, which is what got shipped; however, their sizes are running too small and the shoes didn't fit. I am very disappointed because I really liked the shoes and they were for my birthday. Too bad they didn't have a size 14. So anyway, order a size up when getting the shoes because they are running small.

My life is now divided into times I can wear my Ultras and time until I can wear my Ultras.

These shoes are great! They have a very distinctive look to them especially with the black liner (or a black sock!). I think they fit the best when used with only the shell and your own sock. The liner is pretty comfortable but I found, at least for me, that the back of the liner tends to cut into my achilles tendon. I've tried this shoe with only the cage (no sock) and it works moderately well. My feet abnormally prone to sweating which means the foot bed can get quite slippery. This only happened when walking or hiking at slow paces. Running with only the cage was fine and the ventilation was more than enough to keep my feet dry. I would suggest either wearing socks or using the liner when running on trails because both help keep your foot planted in the shoe. Your foot may shift around too much due to the elastic lacing system. In hind-sight I would have probably preferred to buy this shoe without the liner because I think using your own pair of socks is just as good if not better (due to comfortablity). Just a note - only the liner is puncture resistant. The outer cage is not puncture resistant and if you step on sharp rocks without the liner on you will feel the rock. Overall, I really enjoy these shoes but they cannot match the durability and utility of my Merrel Trail Gloves. If you want tough shoes that will protect your feet on trails with thorns and sharp rocks while keeping weight to a minimum (and maintaining minimalist running style), I would suggest getting the Trail Gloves.

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.