I’m a huge advocate of barefoot footwear. I got my first pair of Vivo’s in 2020 but it too a while to build up my strength to be able to run in them. I couldn’t run 2 miles on the road without having to stop whereas now I can run 10+ miles and even run on railway ballast wearing barefoot shoes with no discomfort. I’ve got VivoBareFoot Geo Racer 2’s and Vibram FingeFinger VRun’s for running and I wear Merral VapourGloves for everyday walking etc. 2 good tips for people who are new to barefoot footwear is 1: get a foot massage ball and run your foot over in every day for a minute or two. It helps open out all the little muscles in your feet and minimises the risk of plantar fasciitis. 2: Buy some toe spacers and wear them in the evening when your watching tele at home, they really help space out your toes into there more natural position, both of these tips have helped me build up my strength massively to now be able to run daily in barefoot shoes
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate the barefoot minimalist shoe promotions I’m seeing. 🦶🏽 I’ve been running and training in minimalist style shoes for 9 years and I refuse to go back. Best shape of my life at 26 and I gotta thank my feet🤘🏽
Great video, thanks. - wish I'd researched before jumping in! I moved to the Primus knit a year ago and have 2 pairs. Love them! I bought the Primas trail fg and started road running in them without adapting how I run. I'm a heel striker so I'm suffering the effect of that now. Wish I'd research how to transition to the vivo's earlier as I don't think I'll be running for a week or 2 due to the pain. However, imo, they are the best shoes out there. I'll rarely wear traditional shoes again as it feels so odd now but I need to work on the walking and running technique to get the most from them.
I have been running in Xero Speed Force barefoot shoes for at least four months now and love them. I thought your mountaineering gloves and piano analogy was great and made total sense. I have become such a minimalist purist that I feel like I need a pair of barefoot shoes for everything now - which may not be a bad goal - but it was eye-opening for me to have you make the point that if we do most of our training in minimalist gear, we’re likely to retain that effective movement pattern if we need to put on something heavier for a more extreme special event. I have another Xero shoe that I wear for casual day-to-day, and I second your suggestion that we not only train in barefoot shoes but “live in them” as an aid to “building our base”.
I use merell barefoot shoes to practice my running form on short runs and sprints. I definitely recommend buying a pair of barefoot shoes to help improve running form.
@@hanskazan7403 your body works in a kinetic chain. You don't run properly, your feet hurt, then your knees, then your lower back, etc... maybe the person had a bad back due to poor movement with conventional shoes and now that they switches to minimalist shoes they can get feedback on their running or training and see where the issue was. Now they may be pain free from the strengthening of a minimalistic shoe.
Very informative. Thank you. I’m about 2 weeks into transitioning, and already bone-to-bone knee pain is about half of what it was, and getting better. Have experimented with minimalist Merrells and new balance, Altras escalantes and boots, Topos and vibram 5 fingers (which are the closest to true barefoot but too unsightly to wear in daylight). All of them far superior to my conventional shoes in comfort and most importantly on my knee pain. Eager to try vivos.
Watching your videos has talked me into my first purchase of Vivo barefoots. I’ve been on the fence for a while! I already prefer low drop trainers with wide toe box such as nanos but I spend a lot of time barefoot during the day. I went for the tracker dekons as a good multi purpose shoe. Can’t wait to they arrive!
Great video thanks. I can’t recommend barefoot shoes enough, I’ve been transitioning since January this year and previously had knee pain due to walking incorrectly, which I can happily say is now completely gone!
Primus trail fg are THE best basic hiking/ trail shoes. There are so many times I could have rolled my ankles and these are a life saver, I don't go on any hills or forested trails without them.
last 4 years, ive been doing douglas heel. chong xi and gary ward style training. And i've come along leaps and bounds. if you aren't training your feet then you arent connected to the ground. good luck being strong doing ANYTHING if you arent connected to the ground.
Wow what an insightful video. Thank you! I have owned a pair of vivos for a while now but only in the last few months have they become my day to day show. I have also mere minutes ago received a new pair in the post. I also must say, what a fantastic speaker you are! Thanks again.
watched this review back in August, very informative, and helped me make the decision to buy a pair of Primus Trail FGs. Wore them without any training for a 100km backpacking trip with a pack that weighed just over 30lbs for a week. Never had any foot pain, legs felt amazing every day after finishing the day's hike. The trail was in Killarney, Ontario, so it had lots of harsh terrains and vertical. Continue to wear my vivos every day, and my feet genuinely feel stronger (I had no idea my feet could FEEL strong). Pain in my left knee is virtually gone, and I have decided to buy Vivobarefoot shoes in the future, as they are THAT great for me. Thanks for the great review Fergus.
@@dcarson89 i wore them on the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney, ON. All jagged quartzite ridges. I definitely felt the rock under my feet but I think I gradually became lighter on them as the trip went on.
Enjoyed the video, Fergus. Very good summary of barefoot benefits. I just started about 3 months ago. Something that has helped me transition is that coincidentally I had started using a wobble board to improve my balance. This gave me a headstart in terms of ankle strength and mobility. The one I have also has a pimpled surface so seemed to activate/stimulate the soles of my feet too. Sort of brought them to life after being entombed in shoes all these years. I don't have any Vivobarefoot yet, but Groundies are great and so are Earthrunner sandals from US.
Great video, your comments on the benefits of barefoot / zero drop are spot on. Would you consider running purely barefoot? I run 80% in Vibram Fivefingers (V-Run) and 20% barefoot, a mix of road/pavement and trails. Just love the feeling of contact with the ground.
1. Magna trail and 5. Trackers look the best and I have already ordered tracker before watching this video but now I want to order magna trail as well. Both are amazing looking
I just bought my first pair of the Primus and waiting for them to arrive. I’m used to Hokas, so this will be a huge switch. I wish I could get the casual ones, but they don’t make them in my size.
I echo every but of this. I'm a full convert to minimalist running (after a lifetime of being a hobby barefoot hippie). My only critique: did you have to sell a small house to get this entire line? ;)
I have the Primus and Gobi. Great concept, but the soles tend to dry and crack. For the price charged for them this is not acceptable. My Doc Martin boots, whilst not a zero drop, have far outlasted the two pairs of Vivos. Presently rocking the Xero Toronto high top. Love them, they do well on a long board. I tried the Vivos on my board once, each pair literally burned the soles like melted plastic on foot brake stops. Vivo had no interest in inspecting the shoes, I was not expecting a free pair, merely answers why the soles cracked (long after using them on the l9ngboard). Thank you for the very well spoken lessons on minimalist footwear pointers.
Have read so much about these, seriously considering some. Had plantar fascitis a couple of years ago, so had been a bit wary of this sort of footwear, however I think they'll help my posture/feet no end!
Hey there Fergus, great video as usual. I'm only a recent subscriber. I started out in powerlifting too and only recently got into running due to the lockdown. I've been trying to maintain muscle mass for when the gyms open back home. But watching your videos gives me inspiration that I can do both endurance and strength training. Keep it up
Brilliant stuff. Also stay Edinburgh area (Kirkliston), wondering if you had any advice about Celtman? Managed to get into the race for 2022. Keep up the cool content 👍🏻
Great video! I personally really like the Merrell barefoot line. The Trail Glove and Vapour Glove are great. The toebox is not as wide as an Altra shoe, but still very comfortable. I used to run in Nike Free like 10 years ago for their flexibilty, but they still had a fairly thick heel. I love the barefoot zero-drop feel a lot better. I really like the viv hiking boot. I didn't know they made one. I will have to ckeck it out. Thanks!
you made complete sence with the piano example :) I have a old pair of running sandals and i dusted them off yesterday and did a 3 km run - starting light ! (in my regular shoes ive payed attention to using a midfoot/heeltouch stride, but as i said it makes sence, so i will run once a week, starting small, in the sandals and some ballance movements after. Enforcing the arch with the towel trick (utter and complete cramping in ENTIRE foot - but its already better) and then we will see in due time :) Ty for the great review - though the pricerange of these shoes is massive :/ for now, the sandals will do :p
Great video, really informative! I'm looking to get my first pair of Vivos because as a dancer I spend half my life in bare feet so normal trainers push my arches into a weird place and basically just hurt. I do suffer with on/off plantar fasciitis and hoping they will help. Recently I've started doing a lot of circuit/cross training now so do you think Vivos (primus lite) will be suitable?
I appreciate the information. I know for me I have a curved spine and one of the things they had me do was to stand at the ends of stairs with just the front of my feet on them and go up and down to strengthen the muscles. I can probably do the same thing in these shoes.
@@izzyh.3581 It is okay. I just use them for work. I had not been sleeping well as of late so have pains. When this first happened I thought it was the shoes but realize I was coming down with some thing. This time not coming down with a cold luckily so hard to tell. I do not run in them just walk around but do not walk properly as I hit my heel to hard so need to learn to walk again.
@@Blobbyo25 I noticed pain in my legs at first but over all I am doing well. I did not transition into them as I just wore them. I will probably buy better shows next time as I just got cheap ones from Amazon. They are okay but want to try others in the future.
Hi Fergus, I appreciate that talking about minimal shoes is only something you can do for so long, but after video, I noticed you havent mentioned them (maybe you have in the videos, sorry if you have!). I just wonder if you're still into them and using them or have you fallen out of love with them now?
Hi Fergus, thanks for this really useful round-up. I've had weak arches since I was a kid. I tried bf running 10 years ago and totally over-did it which messed my feet up for years (metatarsalgia). But I've taken the plunge again and this morning I ordered some of the trail boots. This time I'll build up slowly maybe 100 metres a day of slow walking to start. I'll probably do a video review/before and after. Anyway sub'd. Atb Jonathan 👍
Hi Jonathan! Great to hear, be sure to ease into it and listen to your body on it - thanks for the sub and do let me know how you get on in the shoes 🤙🏼
@@ferguscrawley95 UPDATE: I'm about 6 weeks in and am walking about 1km a day pain free in the boots. But that's definitely my limit at the moment. Plus I do about 30 mins of daily foot exercises 😊👍
@@SagittAries Your timing is spooky. For the last 8 months or so it's been a slow but steady progress, albeit a few minor over-strains. My routine is to do the foot exercises + a 30 minute forest walk every other day (on the alternate days I do yoga). However yesterday was the first day I decided to kick off the boots and walk with the 5 Fingers instead. In the past when I'd tried this I'd have instant tingles in my foot joints and pain for several days. But now my feet felt strong and comfortable. I'm only doing 500 metres but I intend to build distance slowly. This is a very rewarding journey. Thank you for getting in touch and enquiring 👣😊👍
What would you suggest for sizing? Do you order the size you wear or a size up or down? They are so expensive, I don’t want the hassle of returning if they don’t fit right
excellent review! wonder what do you think would work for field sports like football and what would work well for court sports like futsal, tennis, etc.
"Since the creation of footwear there's been a massive surge in running related injuries". Now I'm a big fan of barefoot shoes but how on earth have you measured / proved that? What date was the creation of footwear? Who was recording and classifying injuries before that date?
Thanks for this vid - great advice on the transition - My only concern is a play a lot of racket sports which require lateral movement so I will have to use both barefoot for lifting/running and cushioned shoes for sports. Do you use your old cushioned shoes for any multidirectional sports?
Cracking video - many thanks. I've been thinking about Vivo for a while, but keen to get your views on sizing. Did you stay with the same size for other shoes you have (the Asics for instance) or drop a size. The Vivo sizing app is confusing. I'm normally a 42, but it's pointing towards a 41 for a better fit.
Really looking forward to the reduced chance of rolling my ankle lol. really wish I could go back to the day I first sprained it playing ultimate, but who doesn't wish that! You say it helped your calves grow? Oh I sure hope that doesn't happen for me, I already have big calves which aren't ideal for a distance runner
Thanks, helpful video! I would like to start using vivobarefoot on dogwalks and eventually running. But in the meantime, can I use vivobarefoot for walks and 'normal' running shoes for running? Or will that feel weird to my feet
Walking barefoot = good Squatting and deadlift barefoot = good Feeling your feet actually doing something = good. So.... if they work, I don’t know.... but same price as Nike, look alright, and has a “possible” benifit over the other... good enough for me
thank you for such a great video!! For someone who is just getting into barefoot shoes, would you recommend a shoe that you could wear everyday and run in if necessary or an everyday shoe like the 2nd pair you showed?
Great info buddy.. I've already got the primus lite and lite 2. Im looking at getting a pair for doing some mountain walking. Im doing snowdon next week. What what you recommend? I was thinking of the first ones in this video whats your thoughts? Cheers 🍻
Hello, i just found your video looking for some Vivo PRimus Lite reviews, but i´ve enjoy your wide Vivo collection review and all your comments. Could you kindly recomend any video tutorial for improving my walking technique? i´m walking on minimal shoes for barely one year but combined with conventional shoes. Nowadays i´m totally convinced of the importance of re-learning to walk, train and strengthen both my feet and specially my toes, so any help is really wellcome. Best regards, congrats for your videos.
I bought the tempest and was very disapointed. I wore them without socks and they have distroyed the skin of my small toes. I think that i will stay with my 5fingers.... Perhaps the upper material of the tempest is still a bit to experimental and not evolved enough .
10 with the London Vivo shoes and the Altra shoes. That's a ton, but makes sense for a serious athlete into road, trail, and triathlon training. You shouldn't wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row if you want them to last, and if he trains every day, that means lots of redundant athletic shoes. Endurance athletes can wear out shoes in only a couple months, so rotating shoes and extending their lifespan saves big money in the long run despite front loading the expense. That said, Vivobarefoot is pricey! I rotate with my clearance Xero Shoes and Lems, which are sometimes less than half the price of an equivalent Vivo shoe.
Hey, Great review! I've just ordered myself some Magna's. my ankle mobility is quite bad, especially my right ankle due to long distance longboarding for years. hoping these shoes will help with that! Have you ran in the magnas? cheers!
Quite honestly, I can't notice a huge difference. I should be continuing with ankle mobility exercises instead just relying on the shoes to extend my range of motion. What i will say is that I absolutely love the shoes and that I use them everytime I leave the house. They are grippy, warm, durable, comfortable and feel supportive. I have ran in them a few times even though they are not a specific running shoe and I've found them great to run in and I really love the feeling at the end of the run where my legs feel worked, in the right way because I've had to change up my running style to deal with the extra impact. Feels great. The shoes I must say have pretty poor grip in the mud and grime. I'm slipping all over the place, so much so that I bought a pair of Inov8s for my trail running needs. In the dry though, they'll be great. Hope this helps!
I've been running with vibrams v run since they were called bikilas (a decade-ish) including marathon mileage. I love the feeling, but they aren't very socially acceptable haha. Thinking about picking up some vivo barefoots, the Geo court to be specific. If you had to run in them, say to chase toddlers around (my own, not randoms 😉) do they still feel good when you run? I also prefer to wear rainbow sandals. They have the thong in-between your big toe and second. Does that counteract barefoot type shoes? Allow me to answer one of your questions. I'm a chef and the Michelin tire company is the same as the stars.
Do you still ever go back and wear normal runners, such as the asics you demonstrated with? I'm considering trying Barefoot shoes to strengthen my feet and ankles, and interested how that will affect me and my stride, etc. when I want to go back and wear other sports shoes like tennis or basketball? Be interested in any insights, thanks!
Thanks for an informed review. I have Vivo FG, but think I should have ordered a larger size. Can anyone tell me the difference between men and women's shoes. I have wide feet.
Fergus Hamilton thanks man! You do a little yes, but if you view them as a tool rather than an alternative it won’t make you slower overall. So if you incorporate them alongside your standard running work then you can reap the rewards, plus, it takes a veryyyy long time to build up the resilience in ankles etc to do consistent speed work in them. For example, I do all my speed work in standard trainers at the moment, but will run in the hills in my vivos as that’s much slower and less solid ground. Anything in between I wear the altras for the time being, and I’ll ultimately be able to run longer distances in the Vivos’
Great video! I have the Vivo Primus Lite 3 and Trail 2 FG on order and also have a couple of pairs of Altra and the Merrell Vapor Glove 4, which is a great minimalist running shoe! Can’t wait to get the vivos to see how they compare to the Merrell Vapor Gloves. Your collection is great, thanks for sharing your views on them 👍
hey great video Fergus. I have a question about the magna trail mens they are my first barefoot shoe and my usual size feels a bit too big in the toe area now I don't know if that is intended and I will get used to it or if I should buy a size down. What was your experience like?
Hello , thank you for your video . Just a quick question I spent lot of time in the gym (CrossFit , cardio and lifting ) I bought the lite but I destroyed them in six months from the top side . Thinking to buy now new pair which would you recommend with this kind of activities ? Thank you in advance .
Quick question, do these shoes run big? For example I’m a 9 in Vans shoes, but I’m an 8 in converse. Iv been wanting to get some vivo shoes but scared that I might get a size to big or to small
Thank you for your video! I have been wearing vivo shoes for a while and want to get a pair for running, mostly in forests. Would you recommend the Magna trail or the Primus trail Firm ground (these are the two i've been considering and since you have both, why not ask someone who has actually used both and can compare their benefits).
Hey Fergus, if you are someone with flat feet and looking to maintain the last remnants of an arch in your foot then which model would you recommend? Just looking for something o wear walking around every day
Nobody makes a work safe, safety certified boot yet that is zero drop, wide toe box, and somewhat thin but it's alright. spend all the time that you can outside of work either barefoot or in these minimalist shoes. Some benefit will still come about.
17:50, mention of "Toego" or "Toe Go" which sounded like a program to develop the strength/mobility of the feet. I've never heard of that before, would like to look into it. Does anyone know what he was referring to?
Hi Fergus. I transitioned into barefoot cold turkey a couple of months back and I started being barefoot for 80% of the day. I have these tight calves and heel pain since a month. I think this is because of sudden overloading and I should have transitioned slowly. How do you think I can fix that ? Go back to wearing old slippers/shoes and then start again slowly. Would that help ? I would appreciate any suggestion/advice.
Toughen up, give it 100000% then rest with just the basic movements needed. Always have a massage roller as it helps with inflamation reduction. Btw inflamation and soreness are the verry best things you can wish for, it is a direct sign your body is adapting. The only reason why you should slow down is if you can't do daily chores due to pain, that's a problem
I’m a huge advocate of barefoot footwear. I got my first pair of Vivo’s in 2020 but it too a while to build up my strength to be able to run in them. I couldn’t run 2 miles on the road without having to stop whereas now I can run 10+ miles and even run on railway ballast wearing barefoot shoes with no discomfort. I’ve got VivoBareFoot Geo Racer 2’s and Vibram FingeFinger VRun’s for running and I wear Merral VapourGloves for everyday walking etc. 2 good tips for people who are new to barefoot footwear is 1: get a foot massage ball and run your foot over in every day for a minute or two. It helps open out all the little muscles in your feet and minimises the risk of plantar fasciitis. 2: Buy some toe spacers and wear them in the evening when your watching tele at home, they really help space out your toes into there more natural position, both of these tips have helped me build up my strength massively to now be able to run daily in barefoot shoes
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate the barefoot minimalist shoe promotions I’m seeing. 🦶🏽 I’ve been running and training in minimalist style shoes for 9 years and I refuse to go back. Best shape of my life at 26 and I gotta thank my feet🤘🏽
Do you wear them aswell like everyday shoes or just running? What brand is best for you over this 9 years?
Best shape of your life at 26?... yeah, that's kind of how it normally works 😅
@@frequentclearance9641 maybe the clown 🤡 meant 62
Great video, thanks. - wish I'd researched before jumping in! I moved to the Primus knit a year ago and have 2 pairs. Love them! I bought the Primas trail fg and started road running in them without adapting how I run. I'm a heel striker so I'm suffering the effect of that now. Wish I'd research how to transition to the vivo's earlier as I don't think I'll be running for a week or 2 due to the pain. However, imo, they are the best shoes out there. I'll rarely wear traditional shoes again as it feels so odd now but I need to work on the walking and running technique to get the most from them.
I have been running in Xero Speed Force barefoot shoes for at least four months now and love them. I thought your mountaineering gloves and piano analogy was great and made total sense. I have become such a minimalist purist that I feel like I need a pair of barefoot shoes for everything now - which may not be a bad goal - but it was eye-opening for me to have you make the point that if we do most of our training in minimalist gear, we’re likely to retain that effective movement pattern if we need to put on something heavier for a more extreme special event. I have another Xero shoe that I wear for casual day-to-day, and I second your suggestion that we not only train in barefoot shoes but “live in them” as an aid to “building our base”.
Loving the videos. This really made me think about my trainers/footwear when training. Can’t believe you’ve not got more subscribers
I use merell barefoot shoes to practice my running form on short runs and sprints. I definitely recommend buying a pair of barefoot shoes to help improve running form.
@Douglass Hipwell yeah you’re right, no one gives a fuck
Vivobarefoot n°1. Changed my life and my back..
Great to hear!
your back?
@@hanskazan7403 your body works in a kinetic chain. You don't run properly, your feet hurt, then your knees, then your lower back, etc... maybe the person had a bad back due to poor movement with conventional shoes and now that they switches to minimalist shoes they can get feedback on their running or training and see where the issue was. Now they may be pain free from the strengthening of a minimalistic shoe.
Very informative. Thank you. I’m about 2 weeks into transitioning, and already bone-to-bone knee pain is about half of what it was, and getting better. Have experimented with minimalist Merrells and new balance, Altras escalantes and boots, Topos and vibram 5 fingers (which are the closest to true barefoot but too unsightly to wear in daylight). All of them far superior to my conventional shoes in comfort and most importantly on my knee pain. Eager to try vivos.
How's your knee pain these days?
Watching your videos has talked me into my first purchase of Vivo barefoots. I’ve been on the fence for a while! I already prefer low drop trainers with wide toe box such as nanos but I spend a lot of time barefoot during the day. I went for the tracker dekons as a good multi purpose shoe. Can’t wait to they arrive!
Great video thanks. I can’t recommend barefoot shoes enough, I’ve been transitioning since January this year and previously had knee pain due to walking incorrectly, which I can happily say is now completely gone!
Great to hear!
Primus trail fg are THE best basic hiking/ trail shoes. There are so many times I could have rolled my ankles and these are a life saver, I don't go on any hills or forested trails without them.
last 4 years, ive been doing douglas heel. chong xi and gary ward style training. And i've come along leaps and bounds. if you aren't training your feet then you arent connected to the ground. good luck being strong doing ANYTHING if you arent connected to the ground.
Wow what an insightful video. Thank you! I have owned a pair of vivos for a while now but only in the last few months have they become my day to day show. I have also mere minutes ago received a new pair in the post. I also must say, what a fantastic speaker you are! Thanks again.
Thank you! Appreciate it and great to hear!
I don’t really run but I trail walk a lot. I can say that all my foot and lower leg pains have disappeared since I started wearing barefoot shoes.
Great to hear man!
watched this review back in August, very informative, and helped me make the decision to buy a pair of Primus Trail FGs. Wore them without any training for a 100km backpacking trip with a pack that weighed just over 30lbs for a week. Never had any foot pain, legs felt amazing every day after finishing the day's hike. The trail was in Killarney, Ontario, so it had lots of harsh terrains and vertical. Continue to wear my vivos every day, and my feet genuinely feel stronger (I had no idea my feet could FEEL strong). Pain in my left knee is virtually gone, and I have decided to buy Vivobarefoot shoes in the future, as they are THAT great for me. Thanks for the great review Fergus.
Dry terrain the whole way? I've the same footwear and I felt them hard on the feet in rocky terrain during a race I did.
@@dcarson89 i wore them on the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney, ON. All jagged quartzite ridges. I definitely felt the rock under my feet but I think I gradually became lighter on them as the trip went on.
Enjoyed the video, Fergus. Very good summary of barefoot benefits. I just started about 3 months ago. Something that has helped me transition is that coincidentally I had started using a wobble board to improve my balance. This gave me a headstart in terms of ankle strength and mobility. The one I have also has a pimpled surface so seemed to activate/stimulate the soles of my feet too. Sort of brought them to life after being entombed in shoes all these years. I don't have any Vivobarefoot yet, but Groundies are great and so are Earthrunner sandals from US.
One of the best simple explanations out there. Thanks!
Great video, your comments on the benefits of barefoot / zero drop are spot on. Would you consider running purely barefoot? I run 80% in Vibram Fivefingers (V-Run) and 20% barefoot, a mix of road/pavement and trails. Just love the feeling of contact with the ground.
How long do the soles last on vivos?
1. Magna trail and 5. Trackers look the best and I have already ordered tracker before watching this video but now I want to order magna trail as well.
Both are amazing looking
Thanks so much for the lengthy review!
I just bought my first pair of the Primus and waiting for them to arrive. I’m used to Hokas, so this will be a huge switch. I wish I could get the casual ones, but they don’t make them in my size.
I echo every but of this. I'm a full convert to minimalist running (after a lifetime of being a hobby barefoot hippie). My only critique: did you have to sell a small house to get this entire line? ;)
I have the Primus and Gobi. Great concept, but the soles tend to dry and crack. For the price charged for them this is not acceptable. My Doc Martin boots, whilst not a zero drop, have far outlasted the two pairs of Vivos. Presently rocking the Xero Toronto high top. Love them, they do well on a long board. I tried the Vivos on my board once, each pair literally burned the soles like melted plastic on foot brake stops. Vivo had no interest in inspecting the shoes, I was not expecting a free pair, merely answers why the soles cracked (long after using them on the l9ngboard). Thank you for the very well spoken lessons on minimalist footwear pointers.
Have read so much about these, seriously considering some. Had plantar fascitis a couple of years ago, so had been a bit wary of this sort of footwear, however I think they'll help my posture/feet no end!
Did they help with your plantar? I have flat arches and heel pain and want to try barefoot but am scared I'll have more pain
Hey there Fergus, great video as usual. I'm only a recent subscriber. I started out in powerlifting too and only recently got into running due to the lockdown. I've been trying to maintain muscle mass for when the gyms open back home. But watching your videos gives me inspiration that I can do both endurance and strength training. Keep it up
Great to hear man! Thank you!
Brilliant stuff. Also stay Edinburgh area (Kirkliston), wondering if you had any advice about Celtman? Managed to get into the race for 2022. Keep up the cool content 👍🏻
Such an informative and well informed video,
Thank you!
Nice review. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
Cheers Joseph, glad you enjoyed it!
Love the review! I’m excited to have stronger feet and ankles and even more excited to see my calf’s grow 😂
That’s my favourite thing about them 😂 I’m sick of the small calf jokes 🙃
Apostrophes for all plural words! Lol
Will you get bigger calfs and ankles when wearing Them everyday?
Definitely making the conversion to barefoot shoes/boots
Good stuff! Remember to do it cautiously/slowly!
@@ferguscrawley95 definitely, thank you for the advice!
Great video! I personally really like the Merrell barefoot line. The Trail Glove and Vapour Glove are great. The toebox is not as wide as an Altra shoe, but still very comfortable. I used to run in Nike Free like 10 years ago for their flexibilty, but they still had a fairly thick heel. I love the barefoot zero-drop feel a lot better. I really like the viv hiking boot. I didn't know they made one. I will have to ckeck it out. Thanks!
I have the Vapor Gloves from Merrell and Altras too great shoes 👍
Cheers mate! Great video breakdown.
you made complete sence with the piano example :) I have a old pair of running sandals and i dusted them off yesterday and did a 3 km run - starting light ! (in my regular shoes ive payed attention to using a midfoot/heeltouch stride, but as i said it makes sence, so i will run once a week, starting small, in the sandals and some ballance movements after. Enforcing the arch with the towel trick (utter and complete cramping in ENTIRE foot - but its already better) and then we will see in due time :) Ty for the great review - though the pricerange of these shoes is massive :/ for now, the sandals will do :p
I just been walking in the Scottish Highlands with my my Whitney Trailfinders , £30 on amazon , no BS
Great video, really informative! I'm looking to get my first pair of Vivos because as a dancer I spend half my life in bare feet so normal trainers push my arches into a weird place and basically just hurt. I do suffer with on/off plantar fasciitis and hoping they will help.
Recently I've started doing a lot of circuit/cross training now so do you think Vivos (primus lite) will be suitable?
Thank you! Great to hear, and yes, I think the primus lites will be the ideal starting point 🙌🏼
I appreciate the information. I know for me I have a curved spine and one of the things they had me do was to stand at the ends of stairs with just the front of my feet on them and go up and down to strengthen the muscles. I can probably do the same thing in these shoes.
How's it coming along?
@@izzyh.3581 It is okay. I just use them for work. I had not been sleeping well as of late so have pains. When this first happened I thought it was the shoes but realize I was coming down with some thing. This time not coming down with a cold luckily so hard to tell. I do not run in them just walk around but do not walk properly as I hit my heel to hard so need to learn to walk again.
@@jmdennis1967 How's your progress coming along now?
@@Blobbyo25 I noticed pain in my legs at first but over all I am doing well. I did not transition into them as I just wore them. I will probably buy better shows next time as I just got cheap ones from Amazon. They are okay but want to try others in the future.
Would you say the Primus Trail SG are the best for sprinting or running in general? Great video by the way mate.
Hi Fergus, I appreciate that talking about minimal shoes is only something you can do for so long, but after video, I noticed you havent mentioned them (maybe you have in the videos, sorry if you have!). I just wonder if you're still into them and using them or have you fallen out of love with them now?
Great video Fergus!! Keep it up👍
Fred Sport thanks mate appreciate it!
Hi Fergus, thanks for this really useful round-up.
I've had weak arches since I was a kid. I tried bf running 10 years ago and totally over-did it which messed my feet up for years (metatarsalgia). But I've taken the plunge again and this morning I ordered some of the trail boots. This time I'll build up slowly maybe 100 metres a day of slow walking to start. I'll probably do a video review/before and after. Anyway sub'd. Atb Jonathan 👍
Hi Jonathan! Great to hear, be sure to ease into it and listen to your body on it - thanks for the sub and do let me know how you get on in the shoes 🤙🏼
@@ferguscrawley95 UPDATE: I'm about 6 weeks in and am walking about 1km a day pain free in the boots. But that's definitely my limit at the moment. Plus I do about 30 mins of daily foot exercises 😊👍
@@My24hradventure and now? thanks
@@SagittAries Your timing is spooky. For the last 8 months or so it's been a slow but steady progress, albeit a few minor over-strains. My routine is to do the foot exercises + a 30 minute forest walk every other day (on the alternate days I do yoga). However yesterday was the first day I decided to kick off the boots and walk with the 5 Fingers instead. In the past when I'd tried this I'd have instant tingles in my foot joints and pain for several days. But now my feet felt strong and comfortable. I'm only doing 500 metres but I intend to build distance slowly. This is a very rewarding journey. Thank you for getting in touch and enquiring 👣😊👍
@@My24hradventure How about now?! Always great to hear people progressing!
Fantastic video I brought the trackers eps brilliant boots
lol this guy has the whole vivo collection
It’s like 2000 dollars worth of vivos
@@franklinlucaslima that’s cheap. My piano cost 20,000
That’s the point, replace your whole shoe wardrobe with shoes healthy for your feet.
I like your comparison saying "playing piano with gloves on".
That is what we have been doing! Free you toes and feet~
What would you suggest for sizing? Do you order the size you wear or a size up or down? They are so expensive, I don’t want the hassle of returning if they don’t fit right
it's either the hassle of returning them or damaged knees overtime ;)
excellent review! wonder what do you think would work for field sports like football and what would work well for court sports like futsal, tennis, etc.
very good presentation….I also wear Vivo shoes and like them a lot
Are they true to size or did you have to order a size up?
Great explanation, thank you
I'm excited about the idea of my calves growing😅
Aren't we all!
"Since the creation of footwear there's been a massive surge in running related injuries". Now I'm a big fan of barefoot shoes but how on earth have you measured / proved that? What date was the creation of footwear? Who was recording and classifying injuries before that date?
Excellent info. Thank you .
Glad it helped!
Thanks for this video!
Hello Fergus, great video , just one question : which specific shoes are you using when you are skipping ( jump rope ) ?
Airaj Isaacs hey man! Thankyou, I use the Magna Trails then but to be honest almost any of the active of the active range would work well!
Thanks for this vid - great advice on the transition - My only concern is a play a lot of racket sports which require lateral movement so I will have to use both barefoot for lifting/running and cushioned shoes for sports. Do you use your old cushioned shoes for any multidirectional sports?
Not sure why you need cushioned shoes for other sports.
Why are you not taking the separate insole out? you should do that after some months starting, you are missing out a lot with them in :)
REALLY informative.
Cracking video - many thanks. I've been thinking about Vivo for a while, but keen to get your views on sizing. Did you stay with the same size for other shoes you have (the Asics for instance) or drop a size. The Vivo sizing app is confusing. I'm normally a 42, but it's pointing towards a 41 for a better fit.
Really looking forward to the reduced chance of rolling my ankle lol. really wish I could go back to the day I first sprained it playing ultimate, but who doesn't wish that! You say it helped your calves grow? Oh I sure hope that doesn't happen for me, I already have big calves which aren't ideal for a distance runner
Thanks, helpful video! I would like to start using vivobarefoot on dogwalks and eventually running. But in the meantime, can I use vivobarefoot for walks and 'normal' running shoes for running? Or will that feel weird to my feet
I am not a runner. I wear Altra’s as an everyday shoe. How do vivo compare. Also I have heel spurs, so should I forget about these vivo’s?
Which one do you use for everyday? They are more barefoot than altra, more like waking with a socks no cushions at all
@@andrea07pr I wear Altra torin 4.5 Plush
Walking barefoot = good
Squatting and deadlift barefoot = good
Feeling your feet actually doing something = good.
So.... if they work, I don’t know.... but same price as Nike, look alright, and has a “possible” benifit over the other... good enough for me
thank you for such a great video!! For someone who is just getting into barefoot shoes, would you recommend a shoe that you could wear everyday and run in if necessary or an everyday shoe like the 2nd pair you showed?
i jumped the gun on my comment! haha i hadnt finished watching the video so i think ill go for the primus lite :D
Great info buddy..
I've already got the primus lite and lite 2. Im looking at getting a pair for doing some mountain walking. Im doing snowdon next week. What what you recommend? I was thinking of the first ones in this video whats your thoughts?
Cheers 🍻
Hello, i just found your video looking for some Vivo PRimus Lite reviews, but i´ve enjoy your wide Vivo collection review and all your comments. Could you kindly recomend any video tutorial for improving my walking technique? i´m walking on minimal shoes for barely one year but combined with conventional shoes. Nowadays i´m totally convinced of the importance of re-learning to walk, train and strengthen both my feet and specially my toes, so any help is really wellcome.
Best regards, congrats for your videos.
I bought the tempest and was very disapointed. I wore them without socks and they have distroyed the skin of my small toes. I think that i will stay with my 5fingers.... Perhaps the upper material of the tempest is still a bit to experimental and not evolved enough .
Great video.
How about shoe rack dude, ikea or whatever brand
Hey which single shoe would you advice that is all round? Regular use(good looking) and for running on both trail and roads every now and then?
Try altra. They have 0 drop and a wide toe box but they have more options padding and terrain wise
Missed opportunity calling this "shoe review" haha you could make it into a series
Harrison Turner *frantically edits* probably will actually change it tbh!
Did you seriously buy 8 pairs of shoes in 4 months?
10 with the London Vivo shoes and the Altra shoes. That's a ton, but makes sense for a serious athlete into road, trail, and triathlon training. You shouldn't wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row if you want them to last, and if he trains every day, that means lots of redundant athletic shoes. Endurance athletes can wear out shoes in only a couple months, so rotating shoes and extending their lifespan saves big money in the long run despite front loading the expense.
That said, Vivobarefoot is pricey! I rotate with my clearance Xero Shoes and Lems, which are sometimes less than half the price of an equivalent Vivo shoe.
Their shoes seem nice but they are so outrageously expensive. You have to be rich to afford to buy so many pairs practically at once.
Hey, Great review! I've just ordered myself some Magna's. my ankle mobility is quite bad, especially my right ankle due to long distance longboarding for years. hoping these shoes will help with that!
Have you ran in the magnas?
cheers!
Notice any improvement
Quite honestly, I can't notice a huge difference. I should be continuing with ankle mobility exercises instead just relying on the shoes to extend my range of motion. What i will say is that I absolutely love the shoes and that I use them everytime I leave the house. They are grippy, warm, durable, comfortable and feel supportive. I have ran in them a few times even though they are not a specific running shoe and I've found them great to run in and I really love the feeling at the end of the run where my legs feel worked, in the right way because I've had to change up my running style to deal with the extra impact. Feels great. The shoes I must say have pretty poor grip in the mud and grime. I'm slipping all over the place, so much so that I bought a pair of Inov8s for my trail running needs. In the dry though, they'll be great. Hope this helps!
Hi Fergus, just seeing this video now: what do you think about cycling in these on standard flat pedals? Particularly those Primus Lites. Thanks!
Great info
(I think it’s gross to touch the bottoms of the shoes. Am I too germo-sensitive? :)
I've been running with vibrams v run since they were called bikilas (a decade-ish) including marathon mileage. I love the feeling, but they aren't very socially acceptable haha. Thinking about picking up some vivo barefoots, the Geo court to be specific. If you had to run in them, say to chase toddlers around (my own, not randoms 😉) do they still feel good when you run? I also prefer to wear rainbow sandals. They have the thong in-between your big toe and second. Does that counteract barefoot type shoes? Allow me to answer one of your questions. I'm a chef and the Michelin tire company is the same as the stars.
Do you still ever go back and wear normal runners, such as the asics you demonstrated with? I'm considering trying Barefoot shoes to strengthen my feet and ankles, and interested how that will affect me and my stride, etc. when I want to go back and wear other sports shoes like tennis or basketball? Be interested in any insights, thanks!
Thanks for an informed review. I have Vivo FG, but think I should have ordered a larger size. Can anyone tell me the difference between men and women's shoes. I have wide feet.
Any update on those Tempests? How are they for a hiking shoe?
Will you get bigger calfs and ankles if working out with them?
Great video, I know it isn't all about speed but do you lose significant pace when running in Vivos? Thanks
Fergus Hamilton thanks man! You do a little yes, but if you view them as a tool rather than an alternative it won’t make you slower overall. So if you incorporate them alongside your standard running work then you can reap the rewards, plus, it takes a veryyyy long time to build up the resilience in ankles etc to do consistent speed work in them. For example, I do all my speed work in standard trainers at the moment, but will run in the hills in my vivos as that’s much slower and less solid ground. Anything in between I wear the altras for the time being, and I’ll ultimately be able to run longer distances in the Vivos’
Fergus unite
Great video! I have the Vivo Primus Lite 3 and Trail 2 FG on order and also have a couple of pairs of Altra and the Merrell Vapor Glove 4, which is a great minimalist running shoe! Can’t wait to get the vivos to see how they compare to the Merrell Vapor Gloves. Your collection is great, thanks for sharing your views on them 👍
They're SO expensive though! I've started off with buying some shoes for £40 from Amazon
hey great video Fergus. I have a question about the magna trail mens they are my first barefoot shoe and my usual size feels a bit too big in the toe area now I don't know if that is intended and I will get used to it or if I should buy a size down. What was your experience like?
Hello , thank you for your video . Just a quick question I spent lot of time in the gym (CrossFit , cardio and lifting ) I bought the lite but I destroyed them in six months from the top side . Thinking to buy now new pair which would you recommend with this kind of activities ?
Thank you in advance .
I've been eyeing the white geo courts for some time....3 pairs in, do I need another 🤔
Quick question, do these shoes run big? For example I’m a 9 in Vans shoes, but I’m an 8 in converse. Iv been wanting to get some vivo shoes but scared that I might get a size to big or to small
@@hdgrimey You can measure your feet (cm) and look at their sizing table to see which size you need.
Thank you for your video! I have been wearing vivo shoes for a while and want to get a pair for running, mostly in forests. Would you recommend the Magna trail or the Primus trail Firm ground (these are the two i've been considering and since you have both, why not ask someone who has actually used both and can compare their benefits).
which did you choose and why
@@ummche14 Ended up ordering the magna trail and the black/orange michelin shoe, I now use the orange one
Were you wearing orthotics before buying the vivo shoes?
What do you recommend for flat feet? I realise a slow transition is necessary.
Love my vivos as well💪🏼
how do the geo courts hold up in rain? think it's safe to spray some anti rain stuff on them?
Hey Fergus, if you are someone with flat feet and looking to maintain the last remnants of an arch in your foot then which model would you recommend? Just looking for something o wear walking around every day
bring the mustache back
Don’t you worry, Movember 1st 🤙🏼
What are the weatherproof ones like do you’re feet sweat a lot more in them
Do they rough your heels up when walking about in them a lot?
Do you have any tips for people like me that have to wear steel capped boots with reinforced (and very thick) soles for work during the day?
Nobody makes a work safe, safety certified boot yet that is zero drop, wide toe box, and somewhat thin but it's alright. spend all the time that you can outside of work either barefoot or in these minimalist shoes. Some benefit will still come about.
17:50, mention of "Toego" or "Toe Go" which sounded like a program to develop the strength/mobility of the feet. I've never heard of that before, would like to look into it. Does anyone know what he was referring to?
I think he said "toega" like toe yoga lol
Do you have a new discount code?
If you had to choose one for day to day with hikes in between. The Magna or Tracker?
Magna for sure
What does FG stand for?
Can anyone help. I'm debating between Vivo bf and vibram FF any reason Fergus doesn't use vibrams? Thank
Hi Fergus. I transitioned into barefoot cold turkey a couple of months back and I started being barefoot for 80% of the day. I have these tight calves and heel pain since a month. I think this is because of sudden overloading and I should have transitioned slowly. How do you think I can fix that ? Go back to wearing old slippers/shoes and then start again slowly. Would that help ? I would appreciate any suggestion/advice.
Toughen up, give it 100000% then rest with just the basic movements needed. Always have a massage roller as it helps with inflamation reduction. Btw inflamation and soreness are the verry best things you can wish for, it is a direct sign your body is adapting. The only reason why you should slow down is if you can't do daily chores due to pain, that's a problem
Hi, thanks for this video. I’m starting to get mild plantar fasciitis. Would the more flexible barefoot shoe help me?
They might help you, a transition is usually required. Definitely do foot strengthening exercises.