VivoBarefoot Shoes Review

Last year I purchased 3 different pairs of Vivobarefoots: the neon red/orange Primus Lites, the Jing Jing Ballet Flats, and the Gobi Hi Top Eco Canvas shoes. I wear a 7.5 in the Primus and Gobi shoes, and an 8 in the flats.

​Alright, we’re going to start with my least favorite of the three, and that’s the Gobi Hi Tops. Long story short - I would probably like them better if they were a size 8. I got them on clearance and wasn’t able to return them. They’re a little tight, but I removed the shoe inserts they come with which helps quite a bit. But that’s not what bothers me the most. Maybe it’s just me, but because they’re high tops, they RUB. The interior is kind of fuzzy (they’re meant to be warm), but they bother me even if I wear longer socks with them and if I wear them for long periods of time.

Next up are the Jing-Jing Ballet Flats. I really like these flats - I don’t gravitate towards wearing flats that often, but when I do wear them, there’s are my go-to. I really appreciate that they've got elastic material around the lip of the flats - this ensures they'll stay on my feet (and I'm less likely to slip them off while I'm in a meeting...I can't be the only person who wants to slip their shoes off under the table, right?!). They look a little funny because they have the wide toe box, but I love that I don’t have to deal with a toe dungeon anymore. 

So that leaves the Primus Lites. I love these shoes. In my first video, I mentioned that my feet got pretty tired after walking a few miles in these shoes. Here’s where I’m at a year later, and please keep in mind that this is my opinion and my experience. I’ve definitely gotten more used to these shoes and can walk longer distances and feel fine. BUT most of us walk on concrete and other unnatural surfaces the majority of the time. I’ve definitely noticed that walking on grass or sand or a more natural surface for instance has a much softer impact than concrete or cobblestone. ​

My favorite time to wear my Primus Lites is when I’m slacklining. If you’ve never heard of slacklining before, basically it involves balancing on a 1-2 inch piece of webbing between two anchor points. There are different kinds of slacklining, and I prefer walking or doing various poses. And as a quick side note, I’ve found slacklining to be a great way to strengthen the muscles in my feet and the stabilizers throughout my body. Because of this, it’s important for me to be able to feel where the slackline is hitting my foot. My Primus Lites are perfect for this, and I love having a little extra protection for my feet when I jump (or fall) off of a line.

I hope you found this information helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to comment below. 

If you're interested in purchasing your own Vivos, feel free to use my link and the code BALANCINGLAURA for 10% off! I get a small kickback if you use my link, which will help me keep  reviewing more great products!