Customer Reviews Vivobarefoot Evo II

Deciding to make the switch to minimalist running was the easy part, finding the right shoe, well that's a whole different story. I initially experimented with Vibram KSOs but, like many others, I just could not get past their ridiculous look. I know this shouldn't matter, but it did. After experimenting with various other brands, I finally came across Vivobarefoot. The Evo's are the perfect solution for runners who want minimalism without the "toes." While the ground feel is not quite as complete as Vibrams, it is the best I have experienced in a lace-up shoe. My only issues with the Evo thus far is a slight pinch at the base of my big toe when using the shoes without socks and, for whatever reason, the insoles will not stay in place. Overall this is not a major issue as I was planning on removing the insoles eventually. I would definitely recommend these shoes for someone transitioning to minimalism or for barefoot runners who would like some extra protection on the trail or during the winter months.

I have been transitioning to barefoot style running for about a year now starting with the Nike Free Run+ (7mm drop) and then moving to the NB Minimus Trail (4mm drop). I took another leap to a zero drop shoe when I ordered and began wearing the VivoBarefoot Evo II. I wanted a zero drop shoe without the goofy look of the VFF. While I have not logged a ton of miles in the Evo II, I feel like I have found the next best thing to running barefoot without worrying about cuts and bruises on exposed feet. Upon receipt of the shoes, I immediately took the midsoles out as the shoes are designed to run with or without the midsoles. I wanted maximum ground feel and sans midsoles has provided what I was looking for. The Evo II is incredibly flexible and feel much lighter than the listed weight of eight ounces due to the well balanced build. The shoe is comfortable and I have not had any issues with blisters although I have worn the Evo II with socks as it is pretty cold in the Northeast. My use has been on asphalt and concrete but the Evo II is designed as multi-terrain shoes. Based on my experience with this shoe, I can't foresee myself going back to traditional padded running shoes. I am currently training for the upcoming running season (two ten mile races, a half marathon and a full marathon on my schedule) and the Evo II will be my shoe of choice for these races.

The shoe insert on one side kept sliding back. Finally, I took it out and started wearing the shoes without them. Still comfortable, but for the price I shouldn't have had the problem.

Only had them a short while, but it is like being barefoot with enough protection to walk anywhere.

After reading "Born to Run" I decided to give the "barefoot" running movement a try. I have always hated running as I tend to get cramps in my feet, calves, and pain in my knees almost immediately into any run or jog wearing "traditional" athletic shoes. I have tried nearly every major brand, inserts, etc, to no avail. The Vivobarefoot Evo II has completely changed my perspective on running. Wearing these for the first few times is like learning to run all over again. I have less pain and cramping, and I can run longer distances than I was able to with my old running shoes. I would highly recommend The Vivobarefoot Evo shoes to anyone who walks, jogs, or runs. I will never go back to traditional athletic shoes unless I am using them for casual walking, bike riding, or taking my son to the park.

Great shoe. I have been running (~30mi/week) in them for about a month now and don't think I will ever go back to a cushioned shoe.

I've had these shoes for several weeks and have been slowly increasing my distances as recommended by others. At first they were definitely hard on my feet and ankles, but that problem is decreasing. I recommend that your first run be less than a mile, then wait a day to see how sore you are. I have some mild pronation and after extended wear that causes some soreness, which I hope will also go away with time.

These, so far, are the best shoes I've found for running the barefoot; style. At first, they felt a bit loose all around my foot, but that's by design. They let your feet do what they need to without restricting their movement and flexibility. The tongue is very soft and the laces tighten the whole shoe when tugged as all shoes should, but rarely do. When running, I feel like they aren't even there. They protect your feet, and stay out of the way. They are also warmer than I thought they would be. I have ran in 30 degree weather without issue. They're pretty odd looking with a pair of Jeans. I do think they cost too much, but we'll see how long they last, as I've only had them about a month. At this point, they show no signs of wear with over 100 miles on them.

A friend of mine got me interested in these because of the wide toebox. I picked these up and they're the best shoe I've ever worn. My feet never hurt or complain, the shoes are light and comfortable and breathe well. Walking in these I forget I'm wearing a shoe. Going to buy more vivo for different terrain and surfaces. Can't recommend these more. I also wear 11 American, but the 44 euro (10) fit better. So tinker with the sizing.

Great. Have 60 miles on them, no visible wear on sole yet. Inserts didn't stay in place, so I ditched them after 15 miles. I've also used them for crossfit, which they are good with the exception of jumping onto hard surfaces repeatedly.

Finally! A Barefoot shoe that fits. These are very light and so far I've had good luck getting up to speed on them. They are comfortable and are great for weightlifting as well.

This is a great walking shoe for long hikes with the dog over a variety of terrains. They are light weight and feel like gloves on your feet. They look cool too!

My first pair of Vivo's. Was very impressed to say the least. Takes a bit of getting used to, but after a while you won't want to wear anything else. Does make me feel bad about the money I spent on AirNike...but I suppose those will be used for rough outside wear. The toebox was actually larger than I thought, a very nice feel to it, as I have a wide foot I appreciated the stretch factor over time with this shoe. Overall, you won't be disappointed, but remember, as a shoe that is meant to help you walk naturally, it takes some getting used to. I do, however, to my surprise, find that I like these better than my Vibram Five Fingers. A positive switch for me!

Not to be cheesy. This shoe changed my life. Recently read "born to run" and really researched the proper shoes, technique, and ramp up schedule for barefoot running. Vivo barefoot came out on top because of the larger sizes (15) which in my opinion, fits pretty true to size, especially with the sole out, and even more if you don't wear socks. I personally prefer socks for these shoes mainly because they really add no support, and it only makes the Shoes smelling better longer. Although these are a very friendly washing machine shoes IMO. All around great shoe, take your time of you're getting into the barefoot deal. One of the biggest benefits was my back pain reduced significantly after really running the way the body was designed for. Listen to your legs and have fun.

I normally wear a size 47. The recommended size for this shoe is a 46. I spoke to the retail rep and confirmde that 46 is the correct size for me. I ordered a 46 and they fit me just great.

I has aspirations of becoming an elite semi-barefoot runner by buying this shoe. As I type this I am wearing the shoes. Running? Out in the wild? No. Just here in my cube at work. Do I blame the Vivobarefoot Evo II for my plight? Not at all; apparently there is no magic shoe that can get me to run.

These are the best barefoot shoes you can buy if you have size 16 feet. The 49 is accurate to size, and very comfortable. I use these for lots of exercise, including trail running, climbing, running, walking, weightlifting, and many more.

My podiatrist recommended flat barefoot shoes but I also need support for my back. These are the only shoes that provide both. Plus love the colorful styling.

Best barefoot shoe - I tried out of New Balance MW01, New Balance MR1400, and inov-8 F-lite 195. This shoe ran about a half size large. I usually wear a 7.5 to 8 but comfortably fit in a 7. Only one minor hot spot on my left toe but chalking that up to a break in period. Large toe box makes this shoe a clear winner over the rest.

The experience of wearing this kind of shoe is definitely different than that of wearing a more typical shoe with a thicker, more padded sole. So you should take that into account when considering this shoe. I like the overall experience - you have more natural flexibility in the ankle, can achieve a more natural gait, and work some different foot muscles than you would with a more constricting shoe. However, I will note that the absence of padding can certainly be felt in the ball of the foot over time (maybe that's just due to my particular gait, but if you tend to land on the ball consistently, some tenderness will result). I guess my only real issue is with the materials that the shoe is constructed of. Regarding traction, I think that the sole could be great for outdoor running on pavement or on an indoor rubberized track. But when using it on a gym court for something like plyometrics, I find that I don't get the greatest traction (it's not a pure rubber). I realize that this is probably not the type of surface that the designers had in mind when making the shoe, but I don't completely understand why they couldn't go with something like a more standard rubber sole. Also, the upper seems to be some kind of a weird plastic-y material. It is not perfectly flexible, but rather undergoes pronounced indentations when you try to bend your foot, like if you were to bend or "push in" a plastic milk bottle (the shoe material is not as bad as that of a plastic milk bottle, but this was the best analogy that I could come up with). Also, I happen to wear socks with these shoes (although I know that one could wear them barefoot), and when my feet get sweaty during exercise, the tops of my socks turn red from the shoe's tongue (which is dyed red). I thought that this would eventually cease to happen, but after around a month, it still occurs (so plan to go through a lot of socks, or wear socks that are the same color as the tongue). The sizing is pretty accurate, I think. I've seen reviews that suggest that they run a little small, and I would disagree with that. I got a size 11 (44; which I usually wear), and if anything, I think they feel a little bit looser than I would like (in contrast to something like Pumas, in which the 11 definitely feels more snug than it should). I generally like ample toe room, but I think that this shoe might actually have a little bit too much (especially given the inflexibility of the upper body, which makes them sometimes feel like I'm wearing slightly oversized clown shoes). With all of that said, I actually like the shoe overall, although I think that I mostly just like the "barefoot" experience. Next time, I will probably try a different model or brand.