As a postie with mild arthritis, who tends to run around posting, I thought i'd give these trainers a whirl. The first thing I noticed was the lack of cushioning, I could really feel my feet pounding the concrete as I ran. I experienced the calf pain you spoke of, and also what I guessing was metatarsal pain, and some muscle strain in my right hamstring. This was after two days of wearing them. I've persevered with them and have reached week three, and they have helped alleviate the knee pain i'd usually experience after a days work. Recommended but i'd take it easy.
Yes, they definitely take some getting used too. It's been nearly a year since I made the switch and the handful of times I have not worn barefoot shoes I have experienced knee pain. So it looks like i'm stuck with barefoot shoes for life now. 😂
Hey guys I hope you like the video and found it useful! Do any of you wear barefoot shoes?? Drop your thoughts in the comments. 😊 HOW TO TRANSITION TO BAREFOOT SHOES - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-goZCeQglzK4.html
Once you cross over to BAREFOOT / MINIMALIST shoe, you'll never go back to regular shoes that do damage to the feet and body. I've been wearing them for years now and my feet thank me everyday. 👣 ♥️ 😎
Love this video! Love the new "live on purpose" intro! Love the Vivobarefoot shoes, Love the sneaky shot of the one only 😁 Keep on providing the gold Pete on purpose 🙌
I just recently had my second inner meniskus removed.... After the operation I was a week by the sea and went barefoot a lot of the time... On sand no shoes no pain... The moment I put on my adidas. Sharp pain in both of my knees. Got myself wildlings. Never going back. Only regret: I wish I had stumbled onto this earlier.. BUT. Better late than never. Cheers. Take care of your body. Listen to it. All the pain I feel is the muscles that are sore and building. Great pain. Give myself massages... No cold feet anymore. It's ridiculous.
I love my Vivos! I have three pairs now, a pair of sandals, a pair of walking shoes and the Gobi which is a more ‘formal’ shoe. All ridiculously good. I have just invested in a pair of Wildings barefoot shoes which are even lighter than vivos and feel like wearing comfy pair of socks, also look good as a work shoe! My diabetic feet are thanking me for going back to ‘barefoot’, since being diagnosed I can’t go fully barefoot due to the complications which can come with the condition so barefoot shoes are as good as I can get.
That's great to hear Nicola, barefoot shoes are great they have cleared my patellar bursitis and I can no longer wear regular shoes. I will have to check out wildings shoes, I have recently got a pair of Xero and they are incredibly comfy. Feel like I'm walking around in slippers. 😊
Hi Pete. Years ago I was having lots of pain from walking, let alone running, my arches were pretty low, had orthotic inserts made, they merely 'patched' the problem. I noticed wearing my Van's to longboard, and being in them all day, I would not ache as much. Did research, got the book Born To Run, and realized orthotics and especially those clunky ugly runners with the mile-high heels were no good. I got two pairs of Vivo, low and hightops. Best thing I did, I have never worn anything but a zero-rise since. My calves did hurt a bit at first but that went away, my arches are much better now. The caveat is the Vivo's were not the most durable. The soles dried and cracked on both pairs, Vivo had the least interest in examining them, the customer service really stank. Lost a customer, but Xero, Merrill and Sockwa filled the void nicely, and sometimes a decent amount less expensive, and actually had items in stock. Thank you for posting
Hey thanks for sharing that’s really interesting what you said, I have lived in my vivos the past three months and they are perfect and I have actually just ordered two more pairs for trail running and winter conditions. It a shame about the poor customer service my wife ordered two pairs that didn’t fit her feet very well and she was able to return them no problem. At least you found something that works for you in the end. 😀
Once you start searching you find different brands that meet your preference (for me Lems are my favorite 5 pairs) but I have Xeros and even the Vivam Five Finger that I normally wear to the gym and trail walks.
Cheers Cliff, really appreciate that mate! I believe most people could benefit from wearing barefoot shoes so the more people that know the better for sure. 😊
I for real agree it takes time to re-teach yourself to walk properly. It took easily 2 weeks before I stopped heel stomping and tripping over air. Its worth it though.
@@PeteOnPurpose currently I have just a super cheap pair of Sport-Z water shoes off wish. Its really all I can afford. They're really flexible and stretchy though and I love the zero drop design.
Dont know what you are talking about….your Vivobarefoot look great and stylish on you 🤗 I am a 6 ft tall female - and this height comes with big feet! I normally wear size 8’-8.5s and was concerned my feet would look gigantic in the recommended barefoot size 9 (Vivobarefoot advise you add about 1 cm to your normal foot size). My reason for attempting to wear barefoot was after reading so much and looking at RU-vid videos. It all made sense to me and I always walk round indoors in loose socks so thought it might work for me. In addition, I have had an operation on each foot (many years ago) and suffer from metatarsalgia (when walking for 2 hours in walking boots) - I have rigid AFO’s but don’t wear them as they do nothing for me. My foot is wide and if I stand directly on the footbed to most of my shoes the footbed is far too narrow - so my toes are always being squashed (but I have got used to it so it appears normal to me!) My first pair arrived this morning and I crossed my fingers hoping they lived up to the hype. as I pulled them out of the box. I bought the leather Geo trainers in leather (black with white soles) as want something I could also wear for work. They are size 9 and I had to get the men’s as the women’s weren’t in stock. I put them on, walked around and was ecstatic- I felt like a child again in shoes where my toes could spread. They feel so comfortable and I can feel all those little foot joints working away. They will be on my feet later when I go food shopping - I am so happy. I am interested in fashion and like to feel good in what I am wearing and these still tick that box for me. I was so happy that I immediately went on line and ordered the size 9 women’s Chelsea boot. Now I am all set for the winter with my 2 pairs of Vivobarefoot. The rest of my shoes will be back ups, if needed and until I can replace them all! Also it is worth viewers being aware that you don’t have to bin your shoes when the soles wear out… you can get them repaired by Vivobarefoot at a reasonable cost (although they don’t repair all the styles) So they are a good investment and maybe could last for life 😊😀🖐
Maria I am so happy to hear that you love your vivo shoes as much as I love mine! That’s really cool that you can get them fixed I didn’t know that, I have had mine over a year and they are on almost perfect condition so I would say it would be a awhile until you have to worry about having to fix them anyway. Welcome to the barefoot club 😀
Nice video. I moved to using vivo’s a few years ago for similar reasons -ie my feet started to really hurt wearing trainers and then for some reason pain went away when i took the shoes off. However, like you said, takes a long time to get used to running in them. Something that helped me a lot was to ice the calves after every run.
Thank you so much I am glad you enjoyed the video. After about a month the pain of using the shoes has completely gone for me! Granted I am not a long distance runner, usually only distance between 5-10k but I have been feeling great since using them none the less. Thanks for the tip. 😀
Hi Pete! Cool video. :) How has your barefoot running experience continued? I have been running in Vibram Fivefingers shoes for about 6 months now. I switched from ordinary running shoes gradually. I really enjoy running in them, and my knee pain has gone but it became painful to watch all the other runners with their heel-strikes. :) Since then I have bought another pair of barefoot shoes (Merrell Vaporglove) for everyday use and I love them.
Hey, thank you! Yes I still wear my vivo barefoot shoes most days and have been pain free ever since making the switch. I am actually looking at getting some vivo barefoot trail shoes so I can go on more versatile terrain during the winter in the Uk. I am glad to hear your knee pain has gone as well that’s awesome. 😀
I live in poor country, so the price of Vivobarefoot is even more ridiculous for us. But, man I really want a foot shaped shoe! All my life I buy shoes that are size above mine in order for my toes to be able to splay out freely, and even than it's not completely free. I have a lot of shoes (cheap), and I don't feel it's right to invest in a new expensive pair when I have good shoes... Maybe I'll donate some of them or something... Meanwhile I am using a pair of cheap canvas shoes to get used to the zero drop, minimal feel. Other thing I want to say is that vivobarefoot are the best looking minimal shoes that's out there. They are good looking even compared to traditional shoes. I dunno what are guys talking in the comments about them being ugly?.. They look fine. Amazing design - maybe no, but they look good enough.
Yes you are right they definitly look good enough, funnily enough, I am looking at turning regular shoes into barefoot shoes, my girlfriend says it is possible so that could be a solution for your canvas shoes?
@@PeteOnPurpose yes, it's very easy to do that. they are almost barefoot as they are. but more minimal than that I don't think i'm ready for and it's not that practical i think. and i'm more looking for the wide toebox and no drop than the no cushion aspect of them. sadly only vivobarefoot offers this, and in a good looking form. really good video i missed to say, good job and was fun to watch. ;)
@@kylestephens9593 Yes wide toe boxes are not easy to come by it seems?! Thanks so much I am glad you enjoyed it, this was one of my early videos and makes me cringe a little now. 😂
Thanks so much Dan! Yes definitely check them out. I actually have three pairs now, I was thinking about making another video? Let me know how you get on. 😀
@@PeteOnPurpose I bought a pair for mainly working out in the gym, doing weights etc so kept them indoors but now decided to get a pair to start running in! You should make a follow up video!!
@@DanEscapes Yes you will love them! Just take it slow as it takes a week or two to get used to them and then you should be up and running 😅 I will make a follow up video soon.
Nice video! I have a pair of these shoes too but in vivid blue, very bright! I only took up running due to lockdown but my transition to these shoes didn't take long at all. I went straight in and stopped using my old ones and other than sore calves/achilies in week 1 it's been fine. Never looked back. As you say the info on their site makes a convincing arguement as to why these are better than the big cushioned shoes we're used to! I've started running off road now so tempted to get some of their trail shoes as well, and they also have a good selection of day shoes/trainers... Just a shame they are as expensive as they are though.
Hey Chris I am glad you found it useful, I absolutely love mine as well and they are still the only shoes I wear currently. They have a sister site which sell used vivo-barefoot for like half the price, I don't know if that would be something you would be interested in? I am just uploading a full body hiit workout as its getting cold in the UK, which you may also find useful? Pete 😊
Did not know about this brand of shoes and they look quit nice! They look also nice to us on long walks and I'm tempted to try them! I always walk barefoot at home, and during warm season I use aired merrell shoes or sandals outside the house! I do hate flipflops cause they make me walk unnaturally funny. Thanks for this review
Only the heel lift which probability isn’t a very expensive part of a shoe tbh? They are expensive but it depends if they can help alleviate pain like they did for me then it’s worth it.
The only minimalist part of them is the sole, which sint an expensive part anyway. The labour and materials are not actually any cheaper than a typical highis end running shoe. Add the premium for it baing a gimmick (not necesarily bad) and that people are willing to pay extra for their health, and it makes total sense.
I started 5 years ago, still have my first shoes (Vivos) and they still look great and are fully intact. No one expects them to be that old when they see them. I only had to change the laces two years ago.
Oh, nice! I have never heard of the Ecco biom lite. You are very right though once you go barefoot you never go back, I find my Xero shoes the comfiest however I also like my Vivo barefoot and Feelgrounds too.
If you like barefootshoes try Wildling Shoes. Really thin and flexible soles, more flexible than vivos. Most of them are vegan except for some wintershoes with wool. I have 13 pairs of Wildling Shoes and 3 pairs of vivobarefoot.
I’ve started going barefoot more and I’ve ordered my vivos which are coming in maybe a couple days. Doing anything barefoot just feels so much more natural and better, since that IS the natural way our feet are supposed to move. My recurring back pain and shin splints are FINALLY clearing up. It was so annoying how I had to go weeks without running for them to go away, and then as soon as I started running in my trainers again, they would immediately start up again. Now, I feel like I can run whenever I want, as long as I want. It’s really fascinating how the only solution was to just take your shoes off. People have been really overthinking it and saying you need more cushioning, when in reality that’s exactly what’s causing it. People need to stop trying to innovate the solution to feet when our ancestors have already had it figured out for thousands of years.
@@PeteOnPurpose That’s what I’m gonna do as well. My new shoes are almost here. It would be really nice if they came today, but they’re more likely to come tomorrow. I’m really excited to get them!
@@PeteOnPurpose I got them today, and tested them. They do have that barefoot feel to them, which is quite nice, however the size was a bit small so I’m going to send them back for a larger pair. Would you happen to have any advice? The length of my foot is 26.06 cm and the site tells me im a mens US 8
Quick question did you wear socks with the shoes? If so what kind. I have bought zero shoes like them without socks but i feel they will get pretty nasty smelling after awhile. Are socks recommended or what else is better in the long run? Yes I realize washing them is one thing. Thanks, and awesome video.
I think they say it is personal preference, I personally wear socks as I wore them without socks once and like you said they stank so i had to wash them. I just wear regular cotton socks stop the shoes from smelling and I find it more comfy to be honest. Hope that helps 😀
Thanks so much! If you are new to barefoot shoes the initial couple of weeks may lead to some calf pain as you adjust however I never experienced this. I hope that helps 😀
You’re welcome bud. No I haven’t tried Altra shoes they look pretty good I can’t imagine ever wearing anything other than vivo barefoot from now to be honest. 😀
@@PeteOnPurpose I’ve tried hoka, saucony, Nike, new balance and Birkenstock’s. They are all highly cushioned and have blown my knee and hip out. If I walk barefoot the I’m fine but the second I put shoes on I get trouble. I’m going to buy some vivo’s tonight and try them out. I’m confident they will work out.
@@thebigredwagon Oh yes, I thought you meant you had tried many pairs of barefoot shoes and none had work. Yes, these have been a gamechanger for me and I will never wear non-barefoot shoes again. I hope you enjoy them. 😊
@@PeteOnPurpose they make sense to me. I’m sure evolution knows whats better for you feet than Nike does. I think I’ll go with the trail 2’s first and see how I get on. Im glad you’re having success with the vivo’s.
@@thebigredwagon Yes I love them I also have some Xero shoes that I love too. I actually wore my flip flops for a walk the other day and experienced knee pain so I am now going to have to get some barefoot flip flops. 😂
Was my first review almost two years ago so i may have sounded a little bit robotic, i have reviewed lot more barefoot shoes since then. I don't even wear vivo's anymore.
What puts me off from these is buying shoes that cost more than regular shoes, but have less material and are still made in China and still wear off as fast as regular shoes.
Are they made in China? I cant seem to find any information on that? They have another website called Revivo where you can buy second-hand shoes at a discounted rate.
I bought casual barefoot shoes from feel grounds just for school and to walk around, do I need to transition? I’d figure I really don’t need to because I’m just gonna be walking around school and sitting in class with them. Plus I’m barefoot in the house a good amount, so what do u think
I think the transitioning is more important if you do A LOT of walking or running. My girlfriend and her brother both switched to barefoot shoes and they had no problems so I think you will be fine. 😊
I’ve been reading up on these for the last maybe 2 weeks to see what peoples reviews are on them. Purchased a pair on Friday and meant to get delivered today or tomorrow. I get a lot of knee pain when doing anything so I’m hoping they help me too as I wear flip flops any other time.
@@PeteOnPurpose just got news they’ve been delivered. If I remember I’ll come back and let you know my progress in a week and in 3 months as well! Also, it may be in another video and I’ll continue to look but do you wear the toe socks or no socks?
@@Leewee1990 yes mate, would love to hear how you get on. I actually just wear regular socks with my shoes, though i hear toe socks are better for spreading your toes.
@@teddyQuake sorry, I didn’t realise I had replies to my comment. If I didn’t have to wear my steel toe work boots, I think they would be fantastic now. The only thing I’ve found is my heels seem cracking more since I got them, although we are coming into summer here now so it could also been the cold during winter that helped cause that too.
i'm currently in the process of buying a cheap version on amazon and i'm looking forward to them... my mum must of had a pair of shoes that scrunched up my big toe, it flicks up... but i've noticed that my ankles have started clicking due to a load of cycling so i'm hopin this sorta thing helps
That's awesome you have managed to score a cheaper pair as they are a pricey shoe. Switching to barefoot shoes helped me alleviate my knee pain so hopefully, it helps with your ankles. 😊
@@PeteOnPurpose thank you, it's not so much a pain, just something unusual that's annoying... And this type of shoe kept poppin up in my head as a "chainmail sock" that I saw on RU-vid a few years ago
@@AyyRainer haha, yes I understand. I was very skeptical until I saw my friend wearing them and saying how much he liked them. They have definitely come along way over the years. 😀
Apologies if I just missed it in vid or comments, but what is your foot type (flat, mid, or high arch)? I wonder if my high arches are to blame for my inability to get through break-in due to pain. I have mostly gotten used to the sensation of rocks and other surface issues transmitting through thin soles, but my foot STRUCTURE always seems to hurt.
Hi Trey, I have 'normal' feet to the best of my knowledge? I have never had them checked out or had any problems. I got 'paterlla bursists' when I was labouring a lot of years ago and always on my knees. Ever since then when I went for a run it would flare up almost immediately to the point where I stopped running completely. My friends suggested I try out barefoot shoes and ever since making the switch I have been problem-free. So that's my barefoot story however if you are having feet pain it may be worth going to see a specialist as they might know specifically what to do for you? I never realised how important footwear was until I made the switch so finding the right shoes could make a big difference for you. 😊
How do you stand and move yoyr feet? I have high arches and started having pain in them. My gp said they were beginning to fall and passed it off as normal for middle age. Arch supports were suggested but not prescribed. I didn't accept the inevitability of deterioration. From yoga experience I observed what my body was doing, posture and movement. I noticed that my feet and knees were leaning inwards. Consciously stood straight putting my weight on the outside of my feet and immediately felt better. Tiredness and stress had been causing my posture to slump a bit. Your pain may well have a different cause. Just notice when it comes, the activity, posture, movement, footwear including any changed shoes. Midfoot/ball of the foot hitting the ground first is supposed to be the natural step. Heel strikes send shockwaves through the feet and spine, especially without cushioning. Seeing your gp/physio is stil wise.
Great advice Michelle, my pain only occurred when I went running and switching to barefoot shoes alleviated the problem but seeing a gp is always wise. 😀
@@PeteOnPurpose I genuinely appreciate your thoughtful response and advice for a conservative transition into the world of barefoot shoes. I gifted 2 pairs of the VivoBarefoot shoes to my physio/trainer and after his adjustment period, he SWEARS by them. He also notes that wearing a conventional athletic shoe now, after adjusting, feels like he is walking on marshmallows, and not in a good way. Anyway, excellent channel, great videos and your detailed replies are rare and deeply appreciated - will keep me coming back. Cheers!
@@feg3akatrey144 Thats great to hear about your trainer I am the exact same I can no longer wear regular shoes they hurt my feet and cause me problems. Thanks so much for the kind words I really appreciate it and I am glad you find my videos some what enjoyable, that’s what I do this for. 😀
I am not a runner (yet) but I’d like to transition to barefoot shoes in everyday life and at work. I make my living as a gardener/groundsman and do the occasional bit of landscaping too. I work year round in all weathers on all surfaces. I normally wear sturdy hiking boots. Is there a footwear option out there for people like me that will protect my feet from sharps at work and give me traction in muddy winter borders? Any help appreciated.
Hey Rob, Vivo have quite a big selection of all-weather shoes such as these - www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/magna-fg-mens which should be perfect to wear all the time. I hope that helps bud 😊
@@PeteOnPurpose Thankyou Pete. They look like very sexy boots! Will have to dig deep for those of course, think there may be a non leather pair on revivo.
Durability sucks on these. I have the exact same blue pair of Vivos and the outsole started to completely wear down in some areas after only 30 miles just hiking on pavement. My Lowa shoes that I regularly use are on the verge of falling apart too and I've worn them down to the midsole, but only after I've put about 2k miles into them. I like the whole barefoot thing, but not at such a price.
I am sorry to hear that mate, I have had mine for nearly a year and they are great so it may have been a bad pair. Vivo does have a really good returns policy so did you manage to return them? Barefoot shoes are expensive but I believe its an investment in your health with all the benefits I have received such a curing my plantar fasciitis but that's just my experience. 😊
@@PeteOnPurpose Luckily returning them was a real breeze, no questions asked. I will give Vivo another try some day, as the fit was just perfect for my slightly wider than usual feet.
@@markuskrinke1886 Yes they do have a very good return policy which is why I think they are good for people to try. I also really like Xero shoes the pair I have feel like slippers. 😊
@@ZAMOLXEDARK Yes! It definitely takes time to make the switch. I was living in Bali for 6 months and was pretty much barefoot the whole time so I found the adaption period very quick and easy however I have heard it can take a while. Definitely worth it, in my opinion. 😀
Hi just a quick question. I've just got a pair of vivo all weather. My normal shoe size is 45 EU and my vivo are also 45 EU but I have a good amount of toe space in them maybe too much. What would you recommend ? Thanks in advance. Sebastian
Hi Sebastian, how much toe space are we talking? The shoes are made to feel more natural so the toe box is bigger enabling your toes to spread out more. It may seem weird at the beginning but once you have worn them for a while you will wonder how you ever stuffed your poor feet into regular shoes. However if your feet are swimming in the shoes they may be a little too big, I wear the same size vivo as my regular shoes so I assume it’s not the latter?
@@sebastianradford9723 That does sound like quite a lot extra but it's really hard to tell via text. You could always order a size down and see how they fit? They have free returns so that could help put you at ease and make sure you have the correct fit.
@@PeteOnPurpose actually that helps quite a bit. I thought the soles were the ' Achilles heel ' , but evidently not. Thank you , I will try a pair through your links. On Saturday. Ta.
@@plusbonus1165 Yes, maybe it depends on how much you run? I only run about 1-2 times a week and the rest of the time I just walk in them and they've held up fine. You don't need to use the links I don't get anything for them I just put them there so people can get to the website quicker I am not affiliated with them.
@@PeteOnPurpose thanks ; on Saturday I'll get you a good coffee. They do look good though and I only run 3 times a week usually, but do lots of bush walking and easy riding on a no frills bike . Secret , I don't own proper Crocs ! 🙃
@@plusbonus1165 Cheers mate but you don't have to get me anything, commenting on the video is more than enough! 😊 I hope you like the shoes, I actually have a pair of croc flip flops but as they have a slight heel I can no longer wear them. 😂
@@PeteOnPurpose Wow, quick response, thanks! I'm asking for my daughter, and will pass this on to her. I'm 67 and thankfully have no foot issues. But I am intrigued by the comfort claims. I'm also vegan, to your knowledge are most barefoot shoes vegan made?
@@sarahdee374 haha, I was on my phone when your comment appeared so thought it would be rude not to respond. I find barefoot shoes very comfortable however you can feel pebbles and other things when you walk on them which takes some getting used too. I believe most barefoot shoes are usually pretty ethical, most using recycled materials to make the shoes. Xero also make barefoot shoes which I love and they fit my feet better than the the Vivobarefoot shoes do. However I think it’s due to the wider toe box so depending on your daughters foot shape they may be worth checking out too. 😀
@@PeteOnPurpose I got mine for the first time 2 days ago and without 10 minutes I've got a blister on each foot on the Achilles/heel ☹ I'm hoping this won't be continuous
@@PeteOnPurpose No, my feet have always been okay, and I ordered the same size as I always wear which is 10, I'm just putting it down to maybe breaking the shoes in? But I do run a little which I later found out it probably wasn't a good idea right away haha
