Customer Reviews Vivobarefoot Primus Road

I have been purchasing Vivobarefoot shoes for most of the company's existence. The Primus, in my opinion, is the worst shoe I have purchased, and perhaps they've made to date. Why? I have narrow feet. Almost any shoe fits the width of my foot. But guess what? A shoe company that makes "wide" and "foot-shaped" shoes managed to manufacture one that was tight on my toes and rubbed my foot. This shoe felt weird from the second I put it on. For a shoe that is so insubstantial, everything about it made me aware of it -- the plastic-like upper, the weird, not foot-like shape; everything. I can't believe this shoe is sold by Vivobarefoot, nor can I imagine how this would work for very many people's feet. This is a terrible shoe and I do not recommend it at all (despite owning several pairs of shoes from this brand that I do indeed love).

This is probably like my 9th or 10th pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes. The quality of the build seems to improve with each iteration - I had some earlier pairs that just fell apart, but I kept buying because I really like the barefoot feel. The quality and design of these feel top notch - about two weeks in and I'm really happy with them. I usually buy size 43 (I'm usually a U.S. 9.5 - 10), but I bought 42 to minimize space in front of my big toe. It worked, but the shoes felt somewhat narrow on my pinky toe - not bad, but I noticed the snug feel. I've given them a shot, and so far really good - no blister or bad wear on my toes. I use toe-sox as well, and this really helps my steps.

I received these as a birthday gift and absolutely enjoy them. The style is very interesting. I personally prefer the subtle schemes of these European shoes over many of its American counterparts. Black and charcoal will go with any workout attire. It is flexible, as are all Vivobarefoot shoes. As a test, I lightly kicked my toe into the wall a few times and was surprised that it handled the impact quite well. They are supposed to have a thumb's width of space between your toes and the toe box. Do not be alarmed if they fit big. I expect to use these only for exercise purposes. They are nicely made and I want to maximize its shelf life. The mesh feels that it will breathe more easily than my older Evo Pure shoes, so that's an upgrade. Going minimalist has made a huge difference for my feet's health. Vivobarefoot is quality.

The black and white pattern on the inside of these shoes is much uglier than they look online. My wife calls these my "Harley Quinn" shoes (after the Batman villain). I think they look a little like bowling shoes. The shoes are plenty wide but I often develop a sore spot from the pressure of the laces on longer runs. If my kids hadn't given me these shoes for Father's Day, I would have returned them. If you have wide feet (like me), I recommend you consider the "Merrell Vapor Glove 2" (which aren't as wide, but have been less painful for me) for running and the "Vibrobarefoot Ra II" for casual/business wear (as they are nice looking leather shoes).

Excellent shoe for those wanting a wide toebox. I need it to avoid aggravating my neuroma. Fits my Pedag Holiday inserts without issue. Wide lace spacing for a secure hold without "two-blocking" the eyelets. The heel cup is normal (not wide as the toebox) for a secure fit. Normally wear a 47, but went a size up after reading other reviews. The 48's fit well. Don't run in them, but find them an excellent 'Drivers Shoe', thin sole gives exceptional feeling for the car pedals/clutch. Great shoe for toe-splay, and for those knowing the importance of that. Would have liked some arch support, but lacking that; appreciate the flat foot bed to make use of inserts easy. As stated before; A perfect Sport-looking driving shoe.

Good barefoot shoe, definitely the thinnest sole you'll find so be prepared for a significant change from a standard shoe.

I love these shoes, They could be a little more durable, which is the only thing holding back 5 stars. Their best points are that they are ultra breathable, and offer no support. Which is exactly what I was looking for. I don't love the look but i don't hate it either. I wear them at the gym and get compliments on them all the time, as they look different than most shoes.

As others have said, the company has changed things in their manufacturing. This shoes fit in a very odd way, unlike previous shoes. I am very disappointed. I hope the company responds to customer complaints.

I have many other vivos and these fit completely different than the others. These shoes fit long and narrow, totally opposite of what primal/minimal footwear is all about. I should have returned these, but now I'm stuck. Don't be like me.

Like the Scott and the One (other shoes by Vivobarefoot), the Primus is expensive; not as durable as it should be, especially for the price; and prone to intractable odor issues, which aren't helped by throwing them in the wash. The odor is the biggest problem. I don't even want to keep them in my closet and it feels rude to take them off at someone's house. On a positive note, these are some of the most stylish vegan shoes I've come across.