I tested the most popular barefoot brands for support, balance, flexibility and grip. Only Vivobarefoot turned out to be tough enough for rock climbing and trail running. Read hands-on reviews of my favorite models.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. Vivobarefoot Primus Trail III - Best for hardpack trail adventures
Highlight: Water resistant material makes it ideal for outdoor runs.
Helpful review: I usually wear socks on the thinner side and I can actually feel the breeze through them, and I love it. They’re exactly what I wanted in barefoot shoes. I’ve tried out a lot of different brands, and usually my feet go so hot and sweaty that they wear out the insole, but that’s not the case with these things.
Their insoles are just designed differently. Not only are you supposed to feel the ground, but you can get that broken-in feel. What’s great is that if the insoles do wear out there’s a cheap replacement for like three dollars. I genuinely think that that extends the life of these shoes–that is, if you actually continue to buy new insoles.
If you don’t, you’re likely going to get about three months out of the insoles if you’re wearing them every day, like I do. I typically keep mine until they’re falling apart, but that’s mainly because these shoes are pretty much the only thing I ever wear. Not only do I run in these, but I lift weights, do yard work, and run errands. They’re great for both indoor and outdoor use. I love them so much that I ended up getting a second pair in a different color. Oh, and I love them so much I end up using these instead of my work boots at work.
My only real complaint is that the dark gray color is not really that dark, and I wanted something closer to black without being black, but that might just be me being picky. Overall, I love how they’re designed and I definitely want to keep wearing them.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
I’ve had zero issues with slipping inside these like some people have reviewed, so no idea what they’re talking about. I used to live in my sneakers, but I would end up slipping in those almost immediately, and these are the first shoes I’ve ever worn where that’s no longer the case. I ever wear these during my trail hikes and I’ve had zero issues slipping even on the muddy banks. I just feel so grounded when I’m on my hikes, I can actually feel the rocks and roots beneath me and I feel like I can connect to the earth more, without worrying about getting splinters haha. The fit is just awesome in general. I ended up getting my normal size 11 that I wear with other sneakers and they fit perfectly. Really can’t recommend enough. — Tim Andrews
Get it from Amazon now: $110.00 & FREE Returns
2. Vivobarefoot Ultra III Bloom – Best for exploring along the shore
Highlight: Quick drying, flexible and lightweight.
Helpful review: I wasn’t entirely sure what size to get for these, all of my shoes have always been a size 12. I knew I wanted to wear these without socks so there was some extra room as other reviews recommended that. I ended up going with a 12 and a half just to give myself that space. And I’m so happy I did.
I think the size 13 would be way too big and loose around my ankles. The 12 likely would have been on the narrow sides and I know that with this type of shoes you’re supposed to have the option to splay out your toes. I found that the 12.5 size allows me to do just that.
Now, maybe I jumped in too quickly with transitioning to these but I did end up causing some pain on the outside of my feet. Mainly at the spot where the rubber pressed into my feet. It usually happened when I crouched down to grab stuff. Just a little forewarning you’re not going to be able to wear these on the beach comfortably unless the sand is wet, otherwise you’re going to get sand and dirt inside the shoes. The lining allows your feet to breathe but can also allow dirt to come in, so keep that in mind.
UPDATE:
Okay, there was definitely a learning streak with these things, in the sense that you have to get used to them. I’m really happy I gave myself a chance to see how they would work. They ended up loosening on their own and getting a lot more comfortable and causing no more pain. It took about a month of warming them up, and now I can honestly wear these all day without any pain at all. I’ve found that my stride in general is just better and I have a lot better balance in general. I love using these shoes for water sports and they’re so light weight and I can tell they’re built to last. They’re definitely designed for feet that are low volume, and I just love that there’s grips on the soles of the feet that give them extra support.
A FEW WORDS FROM MY FRIEND, RICK BOONE:
I still have my first pair of Vivos from years ago and they actually still hold up, but I knew I wanted a more updated pair. I was so excited and really didn’t want to wait for shipping so just got them through Amazon and they arrived so quickly. I ended up getting them half a size larger than my older pair, at a size 11.5 and I should have stuck with the size 11, which is my normal size. There’s definitely a lot of extra room in these, and the laces are super long, too. Maybe that’s just how the new model is, I don’t know, but they do seem different than my older pair. Either way, it’s just nice to have good quality shoes again and I stand by their quality. — Tony R. Crawford
Get it from Amazon now: $118.10 & FREE Returns
3. Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III - Best for those new to barefoot performance
Highlight: Great for barefoot running.
Helpful review: As a travel writer who reviews shoes for extra cash, this is the first time I’ve bought minimalistic shoes to test out. And wow, Vivo really did it this time. The pattern is awesome, and these shoes fit like a glove, and you can tell the materials are super durable. I was not expecting them to be as comfortable as they are.
WIDE TOE BOX:
I love how the toe box of these is wide enough to have a good room for my shoes and overall they just feel so natural and I know it sounds dramatic, but I genuinely feel like these things have improved my life to the point of saving me. Sounds like a lot, but I had so much ankle and knee pain for getting these and now that pain is completely gone.
CAUTION:
I’d definitely recommend working your way into these. You don’t want to just go straight from normal shoes into wearing these nonstop. Go slow, and the transition should be gradual, and yeah, it will feel like you’re completely bare foot, so keep that in mind.
AFFORDABILITY:
They’re definitely not on the cheap side, but I think for the most part, they’re still affordable when you research and compare everything else in the market. They’re reliable, and they’re made to last, I would say at least a year and a half, which if you wear them as much as I do, it’s going to be worth it. Amazon is typically cheaper than department stores so make sure you do your research.
SIZING:
I personally buy all my shoes about half a size larger. Your feet naturally swell when you’re on them for long periods of time, it just happens. And especially with barefoot shoes you’re going to want that extra space, and I’d say that this does it well in the sense because they have that wide toe. It really allows you to feel more comfortable.
SHIPPING:
I had zero issues with the shipping and the delivery was super quick.
OVERALL:
I loved the fit of these things, and it genuinely feels like I’m floating in the clouds. Definitely ideal for barefoot shoes.
A FEW WORDS FROM MY NEIGHBOR, MIKE CORBIN:
Even if you get these in your normal shoe size, they’re going to feel like they’re on the larger size, but honestly that’s part of it. You’re going to have room for your feet to swell, so it’s definitely important to keep that in mind, and don’t return them without giving them a fair try. The wide toe box is so you can stretch your feet out inside these, and you want to be able to do that in order to feel like you have extra comfort. Not only is that going to get rid of extra pain but it’s going to let you really get that barefoot feel. I’ve tried a lot of these before and this brand is by far the best out there. I have multiple colors for these too, and even my sister, who is flat footed loves these things. They’re that good.
CODY HUDSON'S REVIEW:
I was always hesitant about getting minimalist shoes, mainly because I assumed they’d hurt my feet. But honestly, Vivo proved that this isn’t the case and I didn't end up worrying. I have wide freaking feet, folks, and these things finally have made me like my feet again haha. They fit so well, they actually hug my feet, and it like, allows my toes to move around in my shoes for the first time ever. I love running in these, I no longer have any pain of feeling like the shoes are too small. Seriously, if you’re on the fence, let this be your sign that you need these. You won’t regret it! — Trent J. Buckley
Get it from Amazon now: $102.27 & FREE Returns