7 Reasons Why I'm Done with Vivobarefoot! Stop Wearing Barefoot Shoes!

[@HumanOptimization]

yes, Vivo has some issues. but overall i'm hooked. They are light years ahead of Merril and all the other barefoot shoes.

[@primalpassion]

I'm with you man! Vivo is my fav shoe company thus far. They are trending in the right direction, they want to be a circular company, slowly adding in more natural and sustainable materials, free 100 day returns, and I've had very good luck with their leather shoes. Vivo's shoes are of higher quality than Merrell's too. But If I was going to wear a synthetic shoe, I'd still consider a Vapor Glove if they made them like they did back in the day. I predict Vivo will only get better over time. Stay well my friend!

[@martinzendejas8423]

I have had the insole slip on the asanas but not on the gobi model. Do you think it is the design of the sole and sole not matching or just a sole problem? I used a bit of double sided tape and it worked for a little. Eventually I removed the insole and its been fine

[@primalpassion]

I just think the foam is not sticky or coarse enough. The foam may be too smooth? I've had a couple other subs mention the double sided tape and they said it worked well. This only happens to me with the cork insoles, not the synthetic? Do you have a cork insole in the Asana? I would rather have no insole, but when I take it out of my Gobi, the boot is too big. I hope Vivo comes up with a better insole soon! Welcome to my channel!

[@CherufeBG]

Double-sided tape fully solves the insoles movement problem.

[@primalpassion]

You are the second person to recommend this! Thanks!

[@RagnarHoff]

I moved on because they just don't listen to customer feedback regarding the toebox. It's extremly narrow for an otherwise wide enough EE wide sole. Decided to try other brands recently that is just as minimalist, but wider footshaped toe boxes. For sneaker style, check out what Splay does and priced at under 100$. For boots, Realfoot is hard to beat in terms of comfort for obvious reasons. Bearfoot is another brand that is a different wearing experience worth checking out.

[@primalpassion]

I could see that being a problem having wide feet. I have a very skinny foot and if certain shoes fit me perfect there is no way a guy with wide feet is going to be comfortable in these shoes too. All 3 of these companies look interesting. I'm most intrigued with BearFeet because they have leather shoes with a leather insole, and that's what I'm looking for cause I'm tired of this crappy cork insole! What model shoes do you own, and recommend? Thanks RagnarHoff!

[@kbuzbee]

People with smaller feet have a lot of options. Size 15 limits the choices available. Lems has a few. Xero, but they tend to run small. I’d “size up” but… Bearfoot are nice if you like the styling but by and large, Vivo is it, in my experience

[@RagnarHoff]

@@primalpassion Their Bruin is wider with a wider toe box which i prefer, but a 15mm stack height. Their gym shoes are wide too, but the toe box tapers a bit so those didn't work for me. Maybe they work for your feet.

[@primalpassion]

@@kbuzbee I've never tried Lems, but their boots look really nice. I tried Xero a couple of times and did not like them because they looked and felt cheap, and did not feel comfortable on my feet. Vivo still makes the best barefoot shoe in my opinion. It's hard to find a quality leather barefoot shoe or boot here in the US. There are other companies outside of the US that I have not tried because of shipping charges, so I will stick with Vivo for now. Cheers!

[@primalpassion]

@@RagnarHoff Thanks, I'll check them out!

[@zodoGames]

If you're trying to get rid of them all I'll gladly take them😂. You will get dye transfer from any leather.

[@primalpassion]

Lol! Everything has pros and cons, and at the end of the day, I really like these shoes, so I'll keep them. Cheers!

[@jamesnurgle6368]

0 drop shoes and especially minimalist shoes are the easiest to make yourself.

[@primalpassion]

In this economy I need to start making my own clothes, shoes and sandals, lol! Do you make your own shoes? Welcome to my channel!

[@jamesnurgle6368]

@primalpassion no shoes yet, slippers, hats, gloves and a lot of research on shoes. That said I've done enough leatherwork that I'm convinced the cutting, patterning, and sewing will be easy if you follow a good guide. that said if you want to avoid using any glue welting is a difficult part, if you're happy using some relatively low toxicity glue you can make something in a day or two completely customised to you that should last at least a couple of years before you need to glue it back together or 10+ years before the leather wears out. I can't confirm all of that for another 10 years though to be fair...

[@primalpassion]

@@jamesnurgle6368 What do you recommend for a low toxic glue? I've watched videos on how to make sandals, and it doesn't look that hard.

[@jamesnurgle6368]

@@primalpassion thankfully most of the shoe is typically put together with a flour based cement. The very knowledgeable man at "Orthopedic shoe making" suggests: Renia - Aquilim GL - Rubber Cement - Water Based Glue. Personally I have too many awful habits to worry about the toxicity of barge cement so I'm not an expert on it, it's made with neoprene and vinyl but would be separated from direct contact with your foot by a big piece of vegetable tanned leather. If that's too much synthetic goop I'm sure you could learn to make a feather line and stitch a traditional welt in a few practice runs, though I'd advise a layer of canvas to stop the layers squeaking as they rub if you're not using a rubber cement to keep everything together. There might be better natural glues if you look, as long as it's a flexible glue. Something like a gelatin glue would shatter apart quite quickly.

[@primalpassion]

@@jamesnurgle6368 This is very interesting info. As long as the glue is cured well, and not touching my skin, I don't think it's a problem. Thanks for the good ideas!

[@LandonWilsonArtist]

Couple things: I have the same issue with the ”cork” insoles. I wish they would get rid of that and use the real cork insole that comes with the premium canvas shoe. The (lux) shoes come with a tag that says the dye will transfer the first few wears. I have the same Quality Control issues, too. Always check under the insole! The price is steep, but one thing no one mentions is that we are paying for the 100 day return policy. I think it is worth it, as I have been able to truly wear shoes out and discover they are not fitting me. Hopefully Vivo works on some of these things.

[@primalpassion]

I ordered the Premium Canvas Sneaker in the women's size to see if it would fit my narrow foot , but it's too small. However, I love this shoe! This leather smells so good, and it's very soft, and appears to be a well made shoe, so I'm hoping the men's version fits my skinny foot. I took the 98% Natural cork insole out of my Gobi Canvas Sneaker and put it in my Gobi Lux and it's a good fit. Doesn't seem to slide around like the foam/cork insole, but the one problem I ran into is this insole is staining my socks a gold color. I'm not sure if it's the cork or the binder? And you are correct, the Leather shoes do come with a cardboard tag that states dye transfer is normal, I don't think there is anyway around that. And great point about the 100 day return policy. That was actually the only reason I placed my first order with Vivo several years ago. I ordered a handful of shoes thinking i was going to send them back, but I ended up keeping the Gobi Desert boot, Primus Trail, and Magna Canvas shoes. those were my first Vivo's back in the day. And it is awesome that you can wear these shoes and make sure they are going to work for you before you commit. And I'm Ok with spending $200/pair for a quality pair of leather shoes, because my Gobi's have outlasted any other shoe I've ever owned. I think you just sparked a new idea for my next video: 7 Reason's why You should wear Vivo's! Thanks for your Feedback!

[@jamesgrant9967]

I be wanting to try out different barefoot brands but honestly right now Vivos are the best that I’ve seen, as far as variety, which can be hard to find in most barefoot brands. I do have some Rhizals that are amazing and of course the earth runners are great but Vivo is the only barefoot company I know that has a shoe for pretty much every occasion . I have tried some other brands in the past and they either don’t look as good or falsely advertised. Vivo has its issues but for now I’m going to stick with them and keep searching for other brands.

[@primalpassion]

I'm with you man! I have yet to find another company in the US that can compete with Vivo. I'm more than happy with my shoes from Vivo, and they are trending in the right direction. On their website they claim they want to be 100% circular using only recycled and natural materials, so they will only improve over time. I'm very happy with the Sensus and Gobi Lux, and I don't really need anymore shoes, except for maybe a winter boot with some wool lining. Other than that, I wear sandals in the summer. I've almost bought Earth Runners a couple of times, but kept reading bad reviews about their lacing system is too stiff and digs into your skin? I'm going to reach out to ER and see if they will send me some sandals to review. what are your Thoughts of the Earth Runners? Stay well my friend!

[@jamesgrant9967]

@ yea. That’s kinda where I’m at. I don’t want to end up with tons of shoes that I don’t wear just because I like them. I’m trying to hammer down on that. I actually am going to send back a pair of the Chelsea boots I ordered from Vivo for that reason. And I LOVE my earth runners! I own 3 pair’s. They were the first barefoot sandal I brought. I’ve never had an issue with the laces or anything. They become more comfortable the more you wear them. Those are definitely my go to’s during the summer unless I’m going out for a special occasion. I think you’d like em!

[@primalpassion]

@@jamesgrant9967 I'm having a problem with my Toetem sandals locking down my foot, so now I'm very interested in the Earth Runners because they have the canvas foot bed. I'm going to give them a shot! Thanks!

[@HokanaMatata]

Haha nice clickbait😁 But a good video that sums up some of the issues. I wish they used less plastics and that they use more undyed leather inside the shoes when possible. My tracker forest esc:s are still staining my socks a lot even after many days of usage and it annoys me. One thing I like about vivo is their return policy and customer service. For me it’s worth paying extra for. And it’s easy to find 20-25% discount codes on the internet almost year around.

[@primalpassion]

Lol! Yeah, click bait for sure. I'm with you on the undyed leather, and wish I could have a shoe made with undyed leather, and I think it would look pretty cool too. I really like the look of undyed cotton shirts, and don't need the fancy designs or colors. That sucks about your Tracker ESC's. It took about 2 weeks to get the dye out of my Sensus shoe. When I turned my sock inside out, I didn't see much dye on the inside of the sock, so I don't think most of the dye actually gets to our skin, I hope.... I've been a long time customer because of their 100 day free return policy, and their customer service has always taken care of me when i had problems. Overall, they are a great company and trending in the right direction. Stay well my friend!

[@alicemiramondi9839]

I never expected it from you, but we thought the same thing! I've been wearing the brown gobi desert boots for about 3 and a half months, and the sole in the back is practically completely worn out, and I also started having pain in my feet. Honestly, I don't think I will buy others from this brand, they are not cheap shoes and therefore I will think carefully before buying others. I momentarily went back to my sneakers. If you are interested, I can forward you the link to an Italian shop that produces various types of shoes entirely in vegetable tanned leather and also lined in leather. But are not barefoot. Greetings Alice

[@primalpassion]

Hey Alice, don't give up on your Vivos just yet. It takes time to strengthen your feet, ankles, knees, etc... when you transition from conventional cushy shoes to a barefoot shoe. Stop wearing them until you have absolutely no pain. Then ease into wearing your Vivos little by little. Start out by wearing them 15-30 minutes/day and gradually increase your time. Most of us have been wearing shoes that weaken all of these muscles since we were little, and it really takes along time to build strong feet. Since you like Merrell, you might like the Trail Glove, it has a little cushion, and i think this is a great transition shoe to a true barefoot shoe. Now, I can only wear a barefoot shoe, with wide toe box and firm sole or it will drive me mad! Good luck Alice!

[@alicemiramondi9839]

@primalpassion Thanks for the advice, you're very kind. I'm doing exactly this thing. I currently have my nike dunks on my feet lol! I am followed by my physiotherapist, as soon as the pain goes away I will start wearing them again a little every day. I am a walker, I do at least 7/8 km a day in nature, and basically I wear shoes more than the average person, if I wear barefoot shoes I have to change them every 3/4 months and it's not very economical hahaha.

[@primalpassion]

@@alicemiramondi9839 Walking in nature is the best! I remember when I got into barefoot shoes, I thought i could hike barefoot, and that was a really bad idea! I bruised my feet and made my nerves very angry. That took along time to heal from, so we have to just be mindful of our feet. Did you ever find any warm socks? I can't find any thick natural socks, so I'm sticking with my Darn Tough socks for winter. I will be doing a sock video soon. And Nike's never go out of style, lol! Your feet will heal, just give them time. Stay well Alice!

[@alicemiramondi9839]

@@primalpassion thanks🤍

[@alicemiramondi9839]

@@primalpassion Nope. unfortunately I couldn't find socks without polyester.. :/ in the barefoot shoes I inserted a wool insole with aluminum foil on the bottom. This way the feet remain quite warm (now in Italy it is around 2 degrees)

[@olfrud]

Never had any issues with my running shoes from vivo.

[@primalpassion]

Yeah, Vivo makes quality shoes. They had some quality issues back in the day: The old Primus trail sole cracked on me, and I've not seen that in any of their new shoes. The shoe lace hook/eyelet on my Magna Canvas broke, and some subs have complained about the sole coming loose on the new Tracker leathers, but overall they make quality shoes, and you can't beat their free 100 day trial. what running shoe are you using? Primus Trail FG? Welcome to my channel!

[@Unduplicatable]

I genuinely believe the insoles are not meant to be kept/used and they're merely a start for long-term storage purposes, hence "barefoot" in their name. The improvement I really demand for is undyed shoes. I do expect leather to wear though, so I'm sure it can color socks. I agree with the materials and pricing you proposed: these cost so much, I just don't see it worthwhile to buy something that can't be completely natural when I can simply buy undyed natural socks and $30 discount shoes instead. I noticed they decided to have a new sale on a lot of their shoes, but the stock is low and the compromises you mentioned are what keep me from buying (not because if your opinions but mine, like I said I totally agree). As for QC, I can tell by the lack of competence their support provides in actually caring about what you ask or say: they don't care at all and it shows all around. I don't believe you still "get what you pay for" regarding the issues we've discussed.

[@primalpassion]

Vivo does state the insole can be removed for more of a barefoot ground feeling which I prefer, but than my shoe runs large, and if i size down, than I don't have enough toe room, so I think Vivo needs to design the shoe without an insole all together. I prefer to wear organic cotton undyed shirts and would also prefer undyed leather shoes. These materials actually look really good in their natural state. I've also noticed they are low on stock because of their holiday sale. There is no excuse for quality control when we are paying this kind of money for a pair of shoes. There is clearly nobody working in that department. They must be receiving the shoes from the manufacturer then just throwing them on the shelf ready to ship. I've found several other flaws on my shoes, and had to send them back. It really can be frustrating. All this being said, I'm still a fan of this company because I do believe there is value with some of their leather shoes and boots. I've been wearing the Gobi Desert boots since 2018 and have certainly got my money's worth. I'm always glad to see others are trying to live a healthy lifestyle! Stay well my friend!

[@hiddenstorypl6688]

Man, you complains about chemicals but you have them forever under your skin as tatoos.

[@primalpassion]

You raise a good point. I am a different person today than I was 10 years ago when I got the tattoo. Stay well my friend!

[@KMF4LIFE]

Thanks for the video! I had the same issue with sliding cork insoles and fixed it with double-sided tape. I also do agree that Vivo should use better materials given the high price. That said, if you’re done with Vivo, I’ll unsubscribe since that’s why I followed you. Hope you do more Vivo reviews-I’ll be back if you do. Take care!

[@primalpassion]

Good idea! Do you feel the tape under your foot? That double sided tape is pretty handy. I've used the 3m double sided tape for several things such as holding down my leather on a block to create a leather strop to sharpen my tools. Vivo is trending in the right direction and I think over time Vivo will be using more sustainable and natural materials. I've already lost a handful of subs because of this video, lol! I'm certainly not done making Vivo video's. It's still my go to shoe company, and my 3 current fav shoes are the Gobi Lux, Sensus, and Gobi Sneaker Premium Leather. I ordered the womens Premium Leather to see if it would fit my skinny foot but it's too small, so I'm waiting for the men's version to get back in stock. But man, this premium leather shoe is soo nice, and smells soo good! I really want this shoe, lol! Trust me, I'm not done with Vivo, lol! Thanks for your support!

[@royborg009]

​@@primalpassion Dude, I like and appreciate your reviews and the fact that you come out with reviews of the newer models faster than others. But I unsubscribed because personally I'm kind of tired of all the chemical preaching in all your videos. I get it and I don't disagree with it, but it feels like it's getting longer in each video and my time is limited. Why not create a dedicated longer one and link to it instead? Or at least create chapters so I can skip over that part? Your KZbin channel of course but I'm just here to see the shoe review. Also, not a fan of clickbait titles like this or facepalm thumbnails etc. Instant unsubscribe from me. I don't understand why young channels feel like they have to debase themselves with these tactics just to increase views. So annoying. Your channel is already good quality in a space with few others just keep the pace up.

[@primalpassion]

@@royborg009 "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Joking. I appreciate the honest feedback and will consider these ideas for future content. The main focus of my channel is to promote organic cotton clothing and foot wear, and bring awareness to others about the hidden toxins in our environment. But I can see how me repeating this info every shoe review video gets old. Stay well my friend!

[@royborg009]

@@primalpassion keep the reviews coming and I’ll be back.