‘I ditched my trail runners for Vivobarefoot trainers as a barefoot newbie – this is what I thought’

Vivobarefoot shoes are designed to strengthen the wearer’s feet. Ruth Ovens ditched her trusty trail runners and put a pair of Primus Trail FG 3.5 to the test

As someone who spends most of her time outdoors when not working, I find that wearing the right footwear is really important. If I’m on a run, hiking, or getting dragged along by my dog, having comfy feet makes all the difference.

Traditionally, I wear trail running trainers for walking, running, etc., or hiking boots if the weather has been particularly wet. However, I was excited to try a pair of Vivobarefoot’s Primus Trail FG 3.5 when the brand reached out.

Vivobarefoot shoes are designed to strengthen the wearer’s feet, with a wider toe box to enhance stability, allowing toes to splay. The thinner soles are supposed to provide natural sensory feedback when walking or running. According to the brand, the flexible footwear design “allows the muscles and tendons to load and recoil, supporting stronger, more resilient feet over time.”

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Over the past month, I’ve worn the Primus Trail FG 3.5 for a mix of dog walking on rough countryside paths, slipping them on for pavement walks to the shop and have used them for a short run. I’ve worn them on both road and trails.

At £120, I’d consider these an investment, but the price is comparable to other trainers. On the plus side, Vivobarefoot operates a 100-day trial on all orders, if shoppers change their minds within that period, they can return them.

What did I think of the Primus Trail FG 3.5?

I was slightly concerned about sizing, so I read through some of the hundreds of reviews on the Vivobarefoot website beforehand. I also used the handy size guide before settling on my normal shoe size. and the recommended fit, which allows some space in the toe box but isn’t overly spacious at the same time.

The Primus Trail FG 3.5 is a lightweight trail-running trainer weighing 213g, with an outsole designed to provide good grip – something I found to be true. They also have a comfy Ortholite insole.

Instead of traditional laces, the shoes have a similar fast last system to the Salomon Speedcross 6 (£140). I found this meant there was less chance of laces coming undone midmovement. However, I did find that without traditional laces, it took a couple of adjustments to get the shoes to the perfect fit.

I didn’t find I needed to break them in – unlike hiking boots and even some trainers, which was a huge plus. I was able to pop them on straight away, and off I went. I think this was largely down to the sole’s flexibility.

Style-wise, the trainers are designed to be worn in both urban and outdoor settings and come in both black and blue colourways. They look very different to a traditional trainer, largely down to the low profile and wider toebox, which can take some getting used to.

If I were looking for an everyday pair from the brand, I think I would opt for the Gobi III Sneaker Leather, £170, from Vivobarefoot as they look more like a traditional trainer. I like the contrasts between the navy laces and the light leather upper.

Shoppers looking for an alternative barefoot trainer with a smaller budget may like the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Sneaker. The black and pink version is currently £54.95 on Amazon and has a rating of 4.5 out of five.

Or for those wishing to splurge Xeroshoes Scrambler Low EV comes in three colours and is £150. Designed to be lightweight these have a rugged outsole with Michelin Fiberlite technology.

Who are Vivobarefoot?

Set up by cousins Galahad and Asher Clark, who are seventh-generation cobblers from Glastonbury, the first early prototypes were developed in 2002. The brand is B Corp-certified, which is a plus for shoppers who are conscious about where they spend their hard-earned cash.

What do shoppers think?

Scoring 4.9 out of five stars, people who have bought the Primus Trail FG 3.5 say: “I received my first pair of Vivobarefoot shoes a few weeks ago, and I could feel the difference right away.

“My toes felt much more comfortable, and I got used to the shoes surprisingly quickly. Now I rarely wear anything else.”

Another shopper said: “This is my 5th pair of Vivos, bought as summer hiking and travel shoes, as most of mine so far are for the cooler months. They are super comfy and I spent most of the week travelling in the Azores wearing them. I sometimes have sizing issues and the knit ones are a bit too wide/soft for me but these are perfect and I’m super happy.”

One person noted that while they love them, they do need proper laces, which could be a deciding factor for those on the fence. They wrote: “Finally had to replace my Vivo Stealths, and these looked like a nice alternative. I love the shoes, but so far, I am not enjoying the pull-tie lace situation. I’ve never had this on shoes before, and it would be a deciding factor in me not choosing a shoe going forward.

“I really would prefer proper laces that I can tie. If I can find laces thin enough that match the colour nicely, then I will replace them myself.”

While a further happy shopper said: “Love these. So comfy and lightweight but still great in the woods. Not tried on rocky terrain yet but sure they will ace it. My only gripe is that I wish the laces went out a bit more to slide my foot in easier.”