The shoes are actually too tight. In particular too narrow. I have the Primus Lite and the Gobi are much narrower. I Hope that the leather stretches oder time and the shoes become wider. Do you have and experience with the stretchability of leather in the vivobarefoot shoes? Best regards
Hard for me to say for sure as I've never believed you need to 'break in' a shoe in order for it to fit better. But I did have the Geo Court 2 and they fit well but were very stiff. They softened up a bit over time at the points where they creased but I wouldn't say they got looser. These Gob Sneaker, in my opinion are pretty soft and flexible in the first place so they should feel comfortable enough as you move but I doubt they would get loose enough to actually fit better. Hence why I immediately sent them back unfortunately.
Several years ago, Vivobarefoot used to give correct information about the fit of their shoes; now, it is always "fits true to size", so there is no clue whether shoes specificities, like inside materials or warm insulation, will affect fit. I have (and have had) lots of Vivos and my size varies from 41 to 42 according to upper material (synthetic textiles usually don't stretch like leather), lining, what kind of socks I am likely to use, and use of insole or not. Sometimes I choose 42 and it is a little too large (with Vivos flexibility, it is not a great problem, even with thin socks), and sometimes 41 is a little small (removing the insole and avoiding thick socks always solve the problem). Usually I choose 42 for mountain, trail or winter shoes (and Gobis with synthetic upper material), and 41 for all other kind of Vivos. Maybe the full leather lining removes enough inside space, so this Gobi sneakers become uncomfortable. The additional leather toes protection, which seems to bend upper leather, may also reduce available space for toes... Did you try the shoes without insole ? This version of Gobi sneakers does not seem to be available anymore in full leather; a new version is now available, but I don't like it too much (in pictures; there is no shop selling Vivos where I live).
im fining this, im also a 42 in most shoes, i have gobi, ra in 42 and fit fine but my primus lites are massive in 42, i should've sent them back really so i'm stuck with them. Im really struggling on what size to order in a primus trail 2 and/or the gobi sneaker leather mens in black! 🤨
Yeah I know what you're saying. With the Gobi sneaker I did try without the insole in but while it helped they still ran a little narrow and, most importantly, too short. I always go for their biggest which is a UK 14 / EU49 and they'll either fit or not. In general they fit just right or will run short. Rarely will they be too long. Although saying that, for the first time in a while I've got a pair of the new Motus Flex and maybe, just maybe I could have got a size down, BUT i'd always rather they have a little extra space than fit snug. Like you say depending on socks etc, and for me I actually find that in warm weather and just being on feet all day my feet swell up so the whole shoe can end up feeling tight so a generally looser fit is usually preferred when I get any.
yeah that can be very annoying having to keep trying. And the sizes are inconsistent across the range so if you are in between sizes then you do have to do a lot of trial and error.
New to barefoot shoes and have bought five vivo’s in the last few months. I really struggle with them. Love the leather quality but I don’t have a super wide foot but I feel like these are made for people with flat feet? Most of them feel tight on top.
Sounds like you could have a high arch in your foot? Which would be a good thing. If they feel tight on top, apart from trying to loosen them off a bit do you still have the insole in? If so taking that out would give you a few extra mil internally which could make a difference?
surprisingly i like them! They look like a regular casual shoe kind of remind me of the reebok club C. Compared to my primus knit they feel a little more spacious but not as stretchy because of the material. The only thing i didn’t like were the corkscrew insoles. My foot kept sliding around. Easy fix just swapped out some old primus knit insoles and that did the job.
Yeah that is the thing I notice about the cork insole. It does tend to slide. I had them in a different pair and found they slid back towards the heel then I could feel the gap under my toes. But I usually remove the insoles anyway so less of an issue
What is the purpose you are looking for in shoes? I have always truly thought feelgrounds was a plastic low quality brand but I decided to try them now w the clearance 50%off and actually they are not only comfortable wide, flexible as well as I didn’t expect to ever feel like such “normal” looking w barefoot shoes! If you are looking for high performance it isn’t the place but for day to day..!!
I’ll definitely consider these. They don’t have the same range as Vivo but I’m certainly open to testing them out. They have some similar styles to the Vivos I own so could do a pretty close comparison 👌🏻
I've had my eyes on these. Being narrow footed with most vivo's slightly on the wide side I want them more now. I thought they looked narrower in the photos but it's useful to hear it from someone who has them in their hand. So thank for the review. Frustrating for you, good for me! Though I will wait until the price inevitably comes down.
😂 at least someone is happy with them 👌🏻 appreciate the comment too 🙏🏻 yeah if you can wait the season and they still have stock then they’d be worth the wait. As I said they are nice and I would definitely have kept if the fit was better. Hopefully you have more luck than me 👌🏻
I agree. I have long narrow feet and one is a half size longer than the other so when I buy for length, the shoes are wide for me around the instep and heel. Also, I always buy when they are on sale.
Given the number of Vivobarefoot shoes you've bought and your insightful review, I believe they should not only offer you a few complimentary pairs but also consider making a mold of your foot to design future models!
Haha it would certainly save me a bit of money! I took part in their first pioneer program and had my feet scanned. It wasn't a fully custom fit but the closest to perfect compared to others. It will be an exciting day when we can get the truly custom ones bespoke to our feet.
I have several pairs of Vivos and wear them all the same way, WITH the insoles and WITHOUT socks. There is definitely some inconsistency in sizing from the roomy Primus Lite 3 to the snug Ra 3. 🤷🏼♂️.
Wonder if the Gobi sneakers will get discontinued faster than the Gobi boot? Bought the bracken color Gobi boot when it came out. I was gonna buy the black boots but they're already discontinued. Looks like the Gobi sneaker is the replacement.
Hmm, it could be that they've just sold out of the boot and wont restock till the winter. If you keep an eye on their range you'll notice they have some "forever stock" or whatever the term is which means they stock all year round with some seasonal colourways to mix things up. Then you have their seasonal range which, as you'd expect they stock for the season, run a sale on any remaining till they run out then you won't see them again till next season. I'm not certain but It could be that the Gobi boot was a seasonal shoe. It was also a new style so perhaps they wanted to test the popularity near end of season to get a bit of demand without committing. Purely speculative on that but based on experience the seasonal thing is the most likely. Unless they had horrendous quality / manufacturing issues.
Do you wear them with or without insoles? I’ve had my pair just over 2 weeks and love the style. I’m UK size 8 so length is fine but wondering if I should take the insoles out.
Personally I usually take insoles out in most pairs I own. Only some I leave them in. These would be great without them though as the leather feels great under foot. If you take them out you might gain a smidgen of space but usually you know if the fit is right for you with insoles in. Removing with give you much more space
@joey-pn3xe interesting. Not sure what that would be, but potentially because they’re following the Euro sizes? E.g 30,31,32. Somewhere in that scale it doesn’t match 1 to 1 uk so it ends up doing a half. Only basing that on what I’ve noticed in the kids sizes
I keep my soles in most of the shoes for two reasons. It gives me the perfect snug. My feet are a bit too large to size down but not quite quite at the size i normally wear. Inoles help to get the most comfortable fit for me and against the concrete; I use vivo as daily shoes and I am stuck in a city.
@AlecFortescue yeah nice. That’s ideal then if they give you the perfect fit and a little cushion to go with it. I do keep some in but more often than not they come out for the space. I’ve noticed, on some they’ve been known to shift a little bit though so it bunches to the heel and my toes can then feel the gap so while not uncomfortable I’m aware of it and can’t stop thinking about them 😂 Do have any issues with that?
Hi Harrison, love these shoes but asl I feel is running small, I wonder if you have the chance to go by a size up you think these will be the solution?
I’m really not sure. I think for me anyway, going up a size if I could probably wouldn’t solve their narrowness. My feet were pressed to the sides as soon as they were on my feet so I can only imagine after wearing them for a few hours they would get worse. If you’re on the fence with them yourself, I’d suggest sizing up if you can for the length assuming your foot width is average. If you’ve got wide feet unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend them. You don’t have to take my word though as Vivo have the 100 day free trial so you can always give them a go yourself and return if they’re not a fit 👌🏻
Assuming you're in the UK right? It's dead simple. If you go to your order on your account or in an email there's a link or button to start a return. Choose the item and reason for the return and send it back. I use an InPost box at a local supermarket. When you start the return, you get a QR code in an email, so you scan that at the inpost (or post office depending where you take it) and drop it off and you're done! Make sure you keep everything it arrives with. I keep the box and the bag it gets shipped in as the bag has a tape section you can peel off and re seal so you don't have to worry about getting a box or bag and packing as you have everything you need when it's delivered.
Suppose it’s a bit of cost saving rather than making every full and half sizes. Interestingly I recently experienced discrepancies as a UK 14 in vivo is 49EU. But another brand I tried was a 14 UK but a 48 EU. So I don’t know if that’s a different scale or they rounded up or down but they were definitely smaller! It all very confusing that’s for sure
I bought the RA IV and they fixed it. The style of the shoe is a little bit different, seems to be a bit more lower style and the black leather is matte and not shiny, which it’s a plus for me
Hmm. I’m thinking about getting the new black leather gobi sneakers. I wonder if I have to size up. I don’t have wide feet though but you say they run short?
My bad! Completely miss read your comment? Thought you were talking about the boots!They look nice! Well assuming they fit the same as these I tried then yes these run short. If I could then going up a size would have solved it for me as my toes didn’t really touch the ends until I start moving in them so a few extra millimetres would have made the difference. If you can size up 👍🏻
No I'd say they're different. The Primus has more length. Width they might be quite similar but may feel slightly different based on the upper of the shoe.
I think it might be because the outsole runs up into the shoe for the sides to be stitched on to the upper that narrows it just enough for your toes to run into the sides of the outsole that aren’t as soft as the upper alone
Yeah there’s definitely that pull in from the sides so it’s likely the sole is the culprit. Just annoying as you’d hope they all just had the same space inside after the shoe is finished, not just in the early stages of the manufacturing process
I have bought a few vivobarefoot shoes, such as the gobi boot and scott. I have a pretty wide (28 x 11) and mountain shaped feet, so all the vivos I've tried were too tapered and narrow. They also do a weird arch thing which is very uncomfortable on my flat arches. I did end up keeping the addis, and although the arch area is still bit weird, they are the perfect shape for my toebox. I wish they'd make more shoes (especially boots and the winter tracker sg look so good) that are wider and mountain shaped.
With the arch bit do you mean they’re still too narrow for you? I know what you mean though and have heard from others that Vivos can generally be narrow overall. I personally get a generally good fit across most of the range, I just end up finding some that simply don’t fit at all so it’s a bit hit and miss sometimes. I look forward to the day we can get some semi custom fitted shoes. Not necessarily 100% bespoke but to be able to choose “extra wide” for example would be great
@@harrisonmudge It's more the narrow toebox that's an issue. While the arch bit can be annoying, it just feels a bit too snug but not a dealbreaker. Talking about custom fitted shoes, I did sign up for their VivoBiome program, I hope they make that public in the future because those look very cool. Having "extra wide" versions of all the shoes would also be cool, but I feel like sometimes they prioritize that narrower and more "atheistically pleasing" look. If there's no financial benefit/incentive of making the wide versions, they probably have no other reason to.
I've found these to be stiffer also. Bought them since I saw the same shape of the Gobi Boots which I found to be almost perfect. Will consider to send them back..
That’s really interesting you find them stiffer. I don’t have the boot so couldn’t compare but I wonder if the sneaker has more leather panels or material that it’s caused it to be stiffer? Do they fit the same for you though even if they don’t flex as much?
Since I saw your video I tried removing the insoles, and without the insoles they are waaaaay better, meaning more flexible, almost like the Gobi Boots, which are definitely thinner!
I had to return them, they hurt my toe when I bent my foot. No Vivo model has ever hurt me or I have needed time to break them in. For me, Vivo shoes have to fit like a glove and be soft from day one. I have narrow feet so they are a little bit wide for me.
Ah that’s a shame! Yes I agree, you should be able to put on a pair of shoes and know pretty much immediately if they’re going to fit / be comfortable or not. In rare occasions something can change after a bit of time but in my experience that’s usually in the negative sense. Something you thought fit well then starts to pinch or run a little short or narrow so when your feet expand they’re not right. My feet are roughly in the middle when it comes to width so a lot of Vivos tend to fit just right, or in some cases can feel a bit narrow
Dude - love your videos. I've commented on your stuff in the past as I'm also UK14 - what size did you buy these in as I only saw them in UK13... did they stock them in 14? I also had the same issue with the Novus... Best 2 looking trainers they've made AAAARRGHGHHHGHGH!!! Also feel your pain with not finding shoes anywhere generally. BigFooters not getting the proper love we deserve.
Hey bud, thanks for the kind words! Yeah I got these in a UK 14. Not sure if they're back in stock at time of writing but they also added a canvas type version so worth double checking. I always check out their site every so often as they add stuff on there without too much promotion. Not sure why. For example they're adding a couple of other shoes such as Primus Lite "3.5" which is using a new material. But I've seen nothing about them through ads, emails or even their home page. I often just stumble onto them. It is a real shame these and the Novus ran small. Both look so cool. And yeah, us larger footed folk definitely get the raw end of the deal at present! Vivobiome is definitely a step in the right direction but it'll take some time for that concept to become more ubiquitous.
Uncomfortable or comfortable? 😅 I tried the Ababa. The width was amazing and so was the feel but it just just way too short in the length! It was like it was a size down but it was supposed to be a UK 14. Was pretty gutted as I really liked them.
So they’re great shoes unless they don’t fit. It must be difficult with a size 14. Glad you have the option to use vivos new technology. In the subreddit, everyone is pretty saying that they run small. I wasn’t sure so I contacted them and they also said they run small compared to the Primus and motus. So I purchased a whole size bigger than my Primus/motus. Im interested in if you could get the gobi boots in the different variations, and see if they fit the same way.
Correct 😅 Some people have naturally narrower feet and wouldn't notice. Some people have shorter feet, they can adjust their size. Me, I'm stuck with middling to slightly wider feet and very loooong! So you've got a pair? What do you think of them? Do they fit well now that you sized up? The it baffles me on the discrepancy between them all.
issue understood... for me too- majority of Vivos styles are narrow and short for me, even if they look wide, but in fact Merrell or XERO much more comfortable inside, and for half-price...i can only wear Primus lite, Geo races , RA, geo court..... Ra and Primus i keep as i like style but they are still not the best in toe box area...
I already got 3 pairs of Vivos: Primus Lite III (I boughr those on 2021, so it was my first pair) then came RA II, Magna Lite and Scott boots. Absolutely fantastic shoes, they have a wide toe box at least for me, in order to re-shape your footprint- definitely my arch is less flat than before and toes are much more splayed too. I am really want to try those shoes of the Slovakian brand Be lenka: is there anyone from this group who has tried these? Quality looks very good, at least in their website. Saludos desde Mexico.
Yeah it is very frustrating at times. Especially when there’s a style you like but it just doesn’t fit. I’ve said before but I’d have a pair of almost every style they make if I could but they don’t all fit me 🥲
Honestly Vivo has a sizing issue. I love the shoes, they are great and the are superdurable if used correctly. I had a primus lite 3 for 3 years and It was one on the best shoes I’ve ever had for the gym. Sold has it had a crazy bad issue with the sizing. I have a size 10 for almost every shoe but my feet are narrow and long. Basically with the 10 I had like 1 and 1/2 longer feet and i often trapped my self. I tested the 9 and they were great but the right feet was sliding enough to touch the toe of the shoe when I was running and walking. Now same thing with the all weather primus. I’ll probably take this Gobi as soon as they are available hoping that like You said they are shorter and narrower. Thanks a lot for this review superhelpful
Yeah it seems like they're all over the place. I know that padding and suff can play a part but no one can deny that from one shoe to the next the size is definitely different! At least you've got a bit of flexibility to size up or down accordingly. It's just a shame you have to go through the headache to do.
You know that’s a really good point! Never thought about that. What happened when they got wet? Did they discolour? Their magna FG do change colour from wearing but that’s just general wear, water doesn’t make them any worse if that makes sense. I imagine the new leather ones they’ve released would be much more durable in that respect
On mine the color leached out, the white trim around the upper heel came off, and then the upper material became rock hard when it dried. I loved the shoes before that happened.
Ah that sucks! Yeah I guess everyone has a different challenge. If you're on the extremes, big or small, then you face very limited stock at best. If you're in the common sizes area then there's more stock but also more people wanting to buy them. Always worth keeping an eye on these. Depending on the success of the style they often either re stock or add a new colour.
😂 cavernous! Yeah that’s strange, they look the same to me. I don’t know if they’re consistent across models, but also what size are you, and how wide are your own feet. There’s a lot of potential variables but like I say, if one style fits then so should another IMO.
@@harrisonmudge nearly half your size mate - an 8/42. 😂 Pretty wide feet that’ve become wider from wearing Vivo’s for 14 years. Definitely lots of variables but also some inconsistencies in their lineup.
@SteRumbelow 😂 feel like I got yours then 🙈 yeah agree. I’m hearing a lot about how Vivo are probably some of the narrowest. Not sure how accurate that is but I’m certainly looking for other alternatives but they tend not to come up to my size that often
@SteRumbelow 🥲 that’s a shame. I do believe that Vivos are generally the best looking of them all and putting themselves firmly in the premium category which is fine, but if they’re going to preach wide and natural they need to stick to it. I’m aware they are putting in the work for the future but still, sometimes feels like they’re not still letting things go because there’s still no better alternative 🙁
It seems to me like a lot of these companies will have a few pairs of barefoot shoes that are too narrow. My guess to why this is the case is for new people to barefoot shoes. A lot of them look very ugly, and some of these slightly narrower ones are more appealing to people that don’t like the clown shoe look. I just wish that the companies would be open about that. Barefoot primus lite is probably one of the whitest, barefoot shoes that I own. But I also tried another pair from VIVO, and it was significantly thinner in the toebox. I wish more companies would be open about this. There are some companies that disclose how wide their shoes are. I’ve seen other barefoot shoe companies that will put a chart and they’ll show whether it’s narrow compared to their other shoes or whether it’s wide compared to their other shoes.
Yeah interesting points. If I remember right, vivo did used to have something that showed if the shoe ran short or long and narrow or wide. Might have been coupled up with the customer reviews. I think if they were able to show the internal dimensions for each size that would be great, then you could accurately measure and compare your feet to the shoes and make an educated guess to wether it’ll fit well or not.
I find all vivos to be too narrow. Other than the Addis which I love, and I’ve also had a little luck with the Tracker Decon FG2 with insoles removed. But all the primus variants were too narrow go me as well as motus strength
Yeah that's really frustrating. I certainly don't have the widest feet relative to others so if I struggle then they must be awful! The Abba I mentioned had a great width but lacked the length. I was gutted. The whole thing is really annoying. I know Vivo aren't unique with this issue but it would be great if you could just find a brand and know that what ever size you bought, shoes, T shirts, jeans or whatever would actually fit the exact same way from item to item.
Thank you for the review. I’ve had my eyes on these for a week now
Thanks, hope it helps. If you’re able to get a pair that fit right for you then I think these would be a great choice 👍🏻👌🏻
The shoes are actually too tight. In particular too narrow. I have the Primus Lite and the Gobi are much narrower. I Hope that the leather stretches oder time and the shoes become wider. Do you have and experience with the stretchability of leather in the vivobarefoot shoes? Best regards
Hard for me to say for sure as I've never believed you need to 'break in' a shoe in order for it to fit better. But I did have the Geo Court 2 and they fit well but were very stiff. They softened up a bit over time at the points where they creased but I wouldn't say they got looser.
These Gob Sneaker, in my opinion are pretty soft and flexible in the first place so they should feel comfortable enough as you move but I doubt they would get loose enough to actually fit better. Hence why I immediately sent them back unfortunately.
Several years ago, Vivobarefoot used to give correct information about the fit of their shoes; now, it is always "fits true to size", so there is no clue whether shoes specificities, like inside materials or warm insulation, will affect fit.
I have (and have had) lots of Vivos and my size varies from 41 to 42 according to upper material (synthetic textiles usually don't stretch like leather), lining, what kind of socks I am likely to use, and use of insole or not. Sometimes I choose 42 and it is a little too large (with Vivos flexibility, it is not a great problem, even with thin socks), and sometimes 41 is a little small (removing the insole and avoiding thick socks always solve the problem). Usually I choose 42 for mountain, trail or winter shoes (and Gobis with synthetic upper material), and 41 for all other kind of Vivos.
Maybe the full leather lining removes enough inside space, so this Gobi sneakers become uncomfortable. The additional leather toes protection, which seems to bend upper leather, may also reduce available space for toes...
Did you try the shoes without insole ?
This version of Gobi sneakers does not seem to be available anymore in full leather; a new version is now available, but I don't like it too much (in pictures; there is no shop selling Vivos where I live).
im fining this, im also a 42 in most shoes, i have gobi, ra in 42 and fit fine but my primus lites are massive in 42, i should've sent them back really so i'm stuck with them. Im really struggling on what size to order in a primus trail 2 and/or the gobi sneaker leather mens in black! 🤨
Yeah I know what you're saying. With the Gobi sneaker I did try without the insole in but while it helped they still ran a little narrow and, most importantly, too short.
I always go for their biggest which is a UK 14 / EU49 and they'll either fit or not. In general they fit just right or will run short. Rarely will they be too long. Although saying that, for the first time in a while I've got a pair of the new Motus Flex and maybe, just maybe I could have got a size down, BUT i'd always rather they have a little extra space than fit snug. Like you say depending on socks etc, and for me I actually find that in warm weather and just being on feet all day my feet swell up so the whole shoe can end up feeling tight so a generally looser fit is usually preferred when I get any.
yeah that can be very annoying having to keep trying. And the sizes are inconsistent across the range so if you are in between sizes then you do have to do a lot of trial and error.
New to barefoot shoes and have bought five vivo’s in the last few months. I really struggle with them.
Love the leather quality but I don’t have a super wide foot but I feel like these are made for people with flat feet? Most of them feel tight on top.
Sounds like you could have a high arch in your foot? Which would be a good thing. If they feel tight on top, apart from trying to loosen them off a bit do you still have the insole in? If so taking that out would give you a few extra mil internally which could make a difference?
@@harrisonmudge Yeah good point. I remove all the insoles from Vivo's. Hope they change that!
surprisingly i like them! They look like a regular casual shoe kind of remind me of the reebok club C. Compared to my primus knit they feel a little more spacious but not as stretchy because of the material. The only thing i didn’t like were the corkscrew insoles. My foot kept sliding around. Easy fix just swapped out some old primus knit insoles and that did the job.
Yeah that is the thing I notice about the cork insole. It does tend to slide. I had them in a different pair and found they slid back towards the heel then I could feel the gap under my toes. But I usually remove the insoles anyway so less of an issue
What is the purpose you are looking for in shoes? I have always truly thought feelgrounds was a plastic low quality brand but I decided to try them now w the clearance 50%off and actually they are not only comfortable wide, flexible as well as I didn’t expect to ever feel like such “normal” looking w barefoot shoes! If you are looking for high performance it isn’t the place but for day to day..!!
I’ll definitely consider these. They don’t have the same range as Vivo but I’m certainly open to testing them out. They have some similar styles to the Vivos I own so could do a pretty close comparison 👌🏻
@@harrisonmudge that is something I am sure I am not the only interested in!
I've had my eyes on these. Being narrow footed with most vivo's slightly on the wide side I want them more now. I thought they looked narrower in the photos but it's useful to hear it from someone who has them in their hand. So thank for the review. Frustrating for you, good for me! Though I will wait until the price inevitably comes down.
😂 at least someone is happy with them 👌🏻 appreciate the comment too 🙏🏻
yeah if you can wait the season and they still have stock then they’d be worth the wait. As I said they are nice and I would definitely have kept if the fit was better.
Hopefully you have more luck than me 👌🏻
I agree. I have long narrow feet and one is a half size longer than the other so when I buy for length, the shoes are wide for me around the instep and heel. Also, I always buy when they are on sale.
Given the number of Vivobarefoot shoes you've bought and your insightful review, I believe they should not only offer you a few complimentary pairs but also consider making a mold of your foot to design future models!
Haha it would certainly save me a bit of money! I took part in their first pioneer program and had my feet scanned. It wasn't a fully custom fit but the closest to perfect compared to others. It will be an exciting day when we can get the truly custom ones bespoke to our feet.
I have several pairs of Vivos and wear them all the same way, WITH the insoles and WITHOUT socks. There is definitely some inconsistency in sizing from the roomy Primus Lite 3 to the snug Ra 3. 🤷🏼♂️.
Yeah it’s frustrating for sure and baffling. If one fits then another should, in my opinion
Wonder if the Gobi sneakers will get discontinued faster than the Gobi boot? Bought the bracken color Gobi boot when it came out. I was gonna buy the black boots but they're already discontinued. Looks like the Gobi sneaker is the replacement.
Hmm, it could be that they've just sold out of the boot and wont restock till the winter. If you keep an eye on their range you'll notice they have some "forever stock" or whatever the term is which means they stock all year round with some seasonal colourways to mix things up. Then you have their seasonal range which, as you'd expect they stock for the season, run a sale on any remaining till they run out then you won't see them again till next season.
I'm not certain but It could be that the Gobi boot was a seasonal shoe. It was also a new style so perhaps they wanted to test the popularity near end of season to get a bit of demand without committing. Purely speculative on that but based on experience the seasonal thing is the most likely. Unless they had horrendous quality / manufacturing issues.
Do you wear them with or without insoles? I’ve had my pair just over 2 weeks and love the style. I’m UK size 8 so length is fine but wondering if I should take the insoles out.
Personally I usually take insoles out in most pairs I own. Only some I leave them in. These would be great without them though as the leather feels great under foot.
If you take them out you might gain a smidgen of space but usually you know if the fit is right for you with insoles in. Removing with give you much more space
@@harrisonmudge interestingly Vivo are offering an 8.5 never seen them do half sizes before
@joey-pn3xe interesting. Not sure what that would be, but potentially because they’re following the Euro sizes? E.g 30,31,32. Somewhere in that scale it doesn’t match 1 to 1 uk so it ends up doing a half.
Only basing that on what I’ve noticed in the kids sizes
I keep my soles in most of the shoes for two reasons. It gives me the perfect snug. My feet are a bit too large to size down but not quite quite at the size i normally wear. Inoles help to get the most comfortable fit for me and against the concrete; I use vivo as daily shoes and I am stuck in a city.
@AlecFortescue yeah nice. That’s ideal then if they give you the perfect fit and a little cushion to go with it.
I do keep some in but more often than not they come out for the space.
I’ve noticed, on some they’ve been known to shift a little bit though so it bunches to the heel and my toes can then feel the gap so while not uncomfortable I’m aware of it and can’t stop thinking about them 😂
Do have any issues with that?
Hi Harrison, love these shoes but asl I feel is running small, I wonder if you have the chance to go by a size up you think these will be the solution?
I’m really not sure. I think for me anyway, going up a size if I could probably wouldn’t solve their narrowness.
My feet were pressed to the sides as soon as they were on my feet so I can only imagine after wearing them for a few hours they would get worse.
If you’re on the fence with them yourself, I’d suggest sizing up if you can for the length assuming your foot width is average. If you’ve got wide feet unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend them.
You don’t have to take my word though as Vivo have the 100 day free trial so you can always give them a go yourself and return if they’re not a fit 👌🏻
How is the process of returning? Do you notify them or just us the return label ?
Assuming you're in the UK right? It's dead simple. If you go to your order on your account or in an email there's a link or button to start a return. Choose the item and reason for the return and send it back. I use an InPost box at a local supermarket.
When you start the return, you get a QR code in an email, so you scan that at the inpost (or post office depending where you take it) and drop it off and you're done!
Make sure you keep everything it arrives with. I keep the box and the bag it gets shipped in as the bag has a tape section you can peel off and re seal so you don't have to worry about getting a box or bag and packing as you have everything you need when it's delivered.
For a company that have these asking prices, I would expect half EU sizes
Suppose it’s a bit of cost saving rather than making every full and half sizes.
Interestingly I recently experienced discrepancies as a UK 14 in vivo is 49EU. But another brand I tried was a 14 UK but a 48 EU. So I don’t know if that’s a different scale or they rounded up or down but they were definitely smaller! It all very confusing that’s for sure
@@harrisonmudge as I said, I expect less cost saving from them when they sell for this prize
Thanks for the video! Did you try the new RA IV ? I really curious if they fixed the issue you had with the III
Oooh! No not tried them yet but certainly will check them out
I bought the RA IV and they fixed it. The style of the shoe is a little bit different, seems to be a bit more lower style and the black leather is matte and not shiny, which it’s a plus for me
Interesting. I’ll check them out. I noticed they do a ‘luxe’ version now too which seems like the shiny leather alternative 🤔
Keep up your good reviews. Many of us benefit from them
Thanks bud. Appreciate the comment and will do 👌🏻
Hmm. I’m thinking about getting the new black leather gobi sneakers.
I wonder if I have to size up. I don’t have wide feet though but you say they run short?
Yeah these definitely run on the shorter side. It's hard to know if the Gobi boot would be the same exactly though even though the sole is the same.
@@harrisonmudge Alright!
Yeah but I’m not talking about the gobi boot but the new black version of this one in your video 😄
My bad! Completely miss read your comment? Thought you were talking about the boots!They look nice!
Well assuming they fit the same as these I tried then yes these run short. If I could then going up a size would have solved it for me as my toes didn’t really touch the ends until I start moving in them so a few extra millimetres would have made the difference.
If you can size up 👍🏻
Had the Gobi v1 and found them wide, so I guess I'm good.
Hope so, sounds like you have narrow feet 🤞🏻 Always worth trying them :)
Are the Gobi sole-shape shoes the same fit as the Primus-type shoes, or are they wider?
No I'd say they're different. The Primus has more length. Width they might be quite similar but may feel slightly different based on the upper of the shoe.
I think it might be because the outsole runs up into the shoe for the sides to be stitched on to the upper that narrows it just enough for your toes to run into the sides of the outsole that aren’t as soft as the upper alone
Yeah there’s definitely that pull in from the sides so it’s likely the sole is the culprit. Just annoying as you’d hope they all just had the same space inside after the shoe is finished, not just in the early stages of the manufacturing process
I have bought a few vivobarefoot shoes, such as the gobi boot and scott. I have a pretty wide (28 x 11) and mountain shaped feet, so all the vivos I've tried were too tapered and narrow. They also do a weird arch thing which is very uncomfortable on my flat arches. I did end up keeping the addis, and although the arch area is still bit weird, they are the perfect shape for my toebox. I wish they'd make more shoes (especially boots and the winter tracker sg look so good) that are wider and mountain shaped.
With the arch bit do you mean they’re still too narrow for you?
I know what you mean though and have heard from others that Vivos can generally be narrow overall.
I personally get a generally good fit across most of the range, I just end up finding some that simply don’t fit at all so it’s a bit hit and miss sometimes.
I look forward to the day we can get some semi custom fitted shoes. Not necessarily 100% bespoke but to be able to choose “extra wide” for example would be great
@@harrisonmudge It's more the narrow toebox that's an issue. While the arch bit can be annoying, it just feels a bit too snug but not a dealbreaker. Talking about custom fitted shoes, I did sign up for their VivoBiome program, I hope they make that public in the future because those look very cool. Having "extra wide" versions of all the shoes would also be cool, but I feel like sometimes they prioritize that narrower and more "atheistically pleasing" look. If there's no financial benefit/incentive of making the wide versions, they probably have no other reason to.
Random question but where did you get your brew dog t shirt from?😂
😅 if I remember correctly it’s actually from Tesco!
I was on the fence today. Gobi Sneaker Leather or Sensus. Thanks for the review.
Glad I could help. What did you go for?
I've found these to be stiffer also. Bought them since I saw the same shape of the Gobi Boots which I found to be almost perfect.
Will consider to send them back..
That’s really interesting you find them stiffer. I don’t have the boot so couldn’t compare but I wonder if the sneaker has more leather panels or material that it’s caused it to be stiffer?
Do they fit the same for you though even if they don’t flex as much?
Since I saw your video I tried removing the insoles, and without the insoles they are waaaaay better, meaning more flexible, almost like the Gobi Boots, which are definitely thinner!
@a1b3r7o9 amazing! Yeah it’s funny what that insole can do 👌🏻
I had to return them, they hurt my toe when I bent my foot. No Vivo model has ever hurt me or I have needed time to break them in. For me, Vivo shoes have to fit like a glove and be soft from day one. I have narrow feet so they are a little bit wide for me.
Ah that’s a shame! Yes I agree, you should be able to put on a pair of shoes and know pretty much immediately if they’re going to fit / be comfortable or not. In rare occasions something can change after a bit of time but in my experience that’s usually in the negative sense. Something you thought fit well then starts to pinch or run a little short or narrow so when your feet expand they’re not right.
My feet are roughly in the middle when it comes to width so a lot of Vivos tend to fit just right, or in some cases can feel a bit narrow
Dude - love your videos. I've commented on your stuff in the past as I'm also UK14 - what size did you buy these in as I only saw them in UK13... did they stock them in 14? I also had the same issue with the Novus... Best 2 looking trainers they've made AAAARRGHGHHHGHGH!!!
Also feel your pain with not finding shoes anywhere generally. BigFooters not getting the proper love we deserve.
Hey bud, thanks for the kind words! Yeah I got these in a UK 14. Not sure if they're back in stock at time of writing but they also added a canvas type version so worth double checking. I always check out their site every so often as they add stuff on there without too much promotion. Not sure why. For example they're adding a couple of other shoes such as Primus Lite "3.5" which is using a new material. But I've seen nothing about them through ads, emails or even their home page. I often just stumble onto them.
It is a real shame these and the Novus ran small. Both look so cool. And yeah, us larger footed folk definitely get the raw end of the deal at present! Vivobiome is definitely a step in the right direction but it'll take some time for that concept to become more ubiquitous.
@@harrisonmudge Really appreciate the reply mate... Will keep an eye out.
No worries. Fingers crossed for you bud 👌🏻
Have the leather Addis and I get the most compliments on the look. It is by far my most uncomfortable vivos.
Uncomfortable or comfortable? 😅 I tried the Ababa. The width was amazing and so was the feel but it just just way too short in the length! It was like it was a size down but it was supposed to be a UK 14. Was pretty gutted as I really liked them.
So they’re great shoes unless they don’t fit. It must be difficult with a size 14. Glad you have the option to use vivos new technology.
In the subreddit, everyone is pretty saying that they run small. I wasn’t sure so I contacted them and they also said they run small compared to the Primus and motus. So I purchased a whole size bigger than my Primus/motus.
Im interested in if you could get the gobi boots in the different variations, and see if they fit the same way.
Correct 😅 Some people have naturally narrower feet and wouldn't notice. Some people have shorter feet, they can adjust their size. Me, I'm stuck with middling to slightly wider feet and very loooong!
So you've got a pair? What do you think of them? Do they fit well now that you sized up?
The it baffles me on the discrepancy between them all.
I’m also at the max size so I share your frustration. Great review
issue understood... for me too- majority of Vivos styles are narrow and short for me, even if they look wide, but in fact Merrell or XERO much more comfortable inside, and for half-price...i can only wear Primus lite, Geo races , RA, geo court..... Ra and Primus i keep as i like style but they are still not the best in toe box area...
Yeah it is quite annoying. I hear Merrell and Xero a lot but typically don't have the sizes. I'm on the lookout though for sure.
@@harrisonmudge they are up to US 15/UK14, so no issues for you
I already got 3 pairs of Vivos: Primus Lite III (I boughr those on 2021, so it was my first pair) then came RA II, Magna Lite and Scott boots. Absolutely fantastic shoes, they have a wide toe box at least for me, in order to re-shape your footprint- definitely my arch is less flat than before and toes are much more splayed too. I am really want to try those shoes of the Slovakian brand Be lenka: is there anyone from this group who has tried these? Quality looks very good, at least in their website. Saludos desde Mexico.
Hey bud, Great to hear you love your Vivos. I've not tried the Be Lenka myself. I did take a look but they don't go up to my size sadly :(
I found the same issue; they use to change the fit of the shoes for each one of their different models; it's very frustrating
Yeah it is very frustrating at times. Especially when there’s a style you like but it just doesn’t fit. I’ve said before but I’d have a pair of almost every style they make if I could but they don’t all fit me 🥲
Honestly Vivo has a sizing issue. I love the shoes, they are great and the are superdurable if used correctly. I had a primus lite 3 for 3 years and It was one on the best shoes I’ve ever had for the gym. Sold has it had a crazy bad issue with the sizing. I have a size 10 for almost every shoe but my feet are narrow and long. Basically with the 10 I had like 1 and 1/2 longer feet and i often trapped my self. I tested the 9 and they were great but the right feet was sliding enough to touch the toe of the shoe when I was running and walking. Now same thing with the all weather primus. I’ll probably take this Gobi as soon as they are available hoping that like You said they are shorter and narrower. Thanks a lot for this review superhelpful
Yeah it seems like they're all over the place. I know that padding and suff can play a part but no one can deny that from one shoe to the next the size is definitely different!
At least you've got a bit of flexibility to size up or down accordingly. It's just a shame you have to go through the headache to do.
@@harrisonmudgeyeah! just took the vivobiome v3 hopefully they fit😂 I'll get the gobi from revivo I'll let you know how it goes
Maybe the reviewer should size up on this model
@robertavedon6983 I would love to but they don’t go bigger. I’m a UK 14 or EU49 and that’s the size I got. 🤷🏼♂️
@@harrisonmudge Too bad that they aren't consistent in the sizing. I have noticed some small differences too. Big difference in your case.
These are ruined if they get wet. Vivo took my return though. I’m hoping the updated version fixes the cleaning and getting wet issue.
You know that’s a really good point! Never thought about that. What happened when they got wet? Did they discolour?
Their magna FG do change colour from wearing but that’s just general wear, water doesn’t make them any worse if that makes sense.
I imagine the new leather ones they’ve released would be much more durable in that respect
On mine the color leached out, the white trim around the upper heel came off, and then the upper material became rock hard when it dried. I loved the shoes before that happened.
They look so nice but my size is always out of stock 😭 (eur 40 according to their size chart)
Ah that sucks! Yeah I guess everyone has a different challenge. If you're on the extremes, big or small, then you face very limited stock at best. If you're in the common sizes area then there's more stock but also more people wanting to buy them.
Always worth keeping an eye on these. Depending on the success of the style they often either re stock or add a new colour.
It’s weird. I have the Gobi Winterised Boot, which use the same sole (I believe) and they’re really wide. Cavernous even.
😂 cavernous! Yeah that’s strange, they look the same to me. I don’t know if they’re consistent across models, but also what size are you, and how wide are your own feet.
There’s a lot of potential variables but like I say, if one style fits then so should another IMO.
@@harrisonmudge nearly half your size mate - an 8/42. 😂 Pretty wide feet that’ve become wider from wearing Vivo’s for 14 years. Definitely lots of variables but also some inconsistencies in their lineup.
@SteRumbelow 😂 feel like I got yours then 🙈 yeah agree. I’m hearing a lot about how Vivo are probably some of the narrowest. Not sure how accurate that is but I’m certainly looking for other alternatives but they tend not to come up to my size that often
@@harrisonmudge I’ve tried some others but the grass isn’t always greener from what I’ve found.
@SteRumbelow 🥲 that’s a shame. I do believe that Vivos are generally the best looking of them all and putting themselves firmly in the premium category which is fine, but if they’re going to preach wide and natural they need to stick to it. I’m aware they are putting in the work for the future but still, sometimes feels like they’re not still letting things go because there’s still no better alternative 🙁
are they 0 drop?
Yes, zero drop and super thin sole. (Also comes with a thermal insole too)
The different toeboxes would be fine if they would declare them in the descriptions.
Yeah I hear you. I remember they did used to have a bit on the website that said if they ran wide or long etc but they seemed to have removed it
It seems to me like a lot of these companies will have a few pairs of barefoot shoes that are too narrow. My guess to why this is the case is for new people to barefoot shoes. A lot of them look very ugly, and some of these slightly narrower ones are more appealing to people that don’t like the clown shoe look. I just wish that the companies would be open about that. Barefoot primus lite is probably one of the whitest, barefoot shoes that I own. But I also tried another pair from VIVO, and it was significantly thinner in the toebox. I wish more companies would be open about this. There are some companies that disclose how wide their shoes are. I’ve seen other barefoot shoe companies that will put a chart and they’ll show whether it’s narrow compared to their other shoes or whether it’s wide compared to their other shoes.
Yeah interesting points. If I remember right, vivo did used to have something that showed if the shoe ran short or long and narrow or wide. Might have been coupled up with the customer reviews.
I think if they were able to show the internal dimensions for each size that would be great, then you could accurately measure and compare your feet to the shoes and make an educated guess to wether it’ll fit well or not.
I find all vivos to be too narrow. Other than the Addis which I love, and I’ve also had a little luck with the Tracker Decon FG2 with insoles removed. But all the primus variants were too narrow go me as well as motus strength
Yeah that's really frustrating. I certainly don't have the widest feet relative to others so if I struggle then they must be awful!
The Abba I mentioned had a great width but lacked the length. I was gutted.
The whole thing is really annoying. I know Vivo aren't unique with this issue but it would be great if you could just find a brand and know that what ever size you bought, shoes, T shirts, jeans or whatever would actually fit the exact same way from item to item.
I guess I won’t be trying these. I’m pretty sure that I’d have the same problem as you.
Yeah sadly I’d have to say steer clear 😢
Like this guy
Thanks 🙏🏻
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I think you just need to size up man
😅 yeah I agree but I’m a UK 14 and that’s the biggest size they make! That’s the biggest challenge I have, I’m at the top end with nowhere to go! 😢
All vivo are ridiculously overpriced. They are not particularly even well made.
What shoes do you go for? I’m definitely in the market for some alternatives
I tried almost everything vivo makes and sent them all back. Xero isn’t as aesthetic in general but honestly they are so good for me
@ThePeterCompton yeah I see these come up a lot. What size are you bud?
@@ThePeterComptonhad 4/5 of my xero shoes snap and degrade so fast, their newer models are better, but not impressed at all.
Yes I primarily wear Vivo’s but due to their price point tried Xero but they quality is much worse