Are these the ULTIMATE barefoot shoes? - MOTUS FLEX Review

[@gregaustin8114]

Hey, it’s my fellow big footer! Good to see another review. Each time I watch you, I get the urge to get another pair. You have quite the collection, I’m jealous.

[@harrisonmudge]

Hey bud! Thanks! Yeah it’s probably getting a little out of hand now 😅 I can’t help but give some of the new styles a try. In my defence though I do try to buy pairs that serve a purpose that I can wear on specific occasions or scenarios. Although I may be getting a bit of overlap now. I really need to send some off to Revivo to make space for more 😬

[@SteRumbelow]

I personally think the Primus Lite Knit is a better everyday shoe, mostly from an aesthetics side but I also think the sole is better for walking around in. The Flex isn’t something I’d choose to wear casually, unless it was an all white or all black version, which currently don’t exist (both either have two-tone soles and/or coloured insteps. For training, the Flex is brilliant. I’ve been using mine for weight lifting and general training and they’re exceptionally comfortable and flexible. One thing you do find is that your foot can push/roll over the side slightly if you’re doing something with a wide stance or dynamic sideways movement. Only a minor thing, though. They’re generally fantastic.

[@harrisonmudge]

Yeah I hear you, this is certainly more “casual” perhaps because it’s got the more playful colour ways. I think I would have gone all black / black and white if I could as the lime green arch is a little extra but I personally don’t mind it. The Primus Lite Knit has that sharper look thanks to the tighter knit pattern and clean flat sole. Agree with your training point too. The loose nature of the sock overall means it lacks that stiffness if you’ve got a lot of lateral movement in your feet. Interestingly I can’t say I’ve experienced that with my Biomes so I guess that shoes just how much impact the different sole designs can have on performance, hence why they do the MOTUS Strength too.

[@guraygu]

The flex is so much more comfortable though. Depends on your foot shape but I can only wear my Knits for an hour or two before I'm ready to take them off.

[@harrisonmudge]

Yeah loving my flex. They’re the only things I’ve worn for the past month 😂

[@XRPrepared]

Just bought these... your video just sold me on it being a good decision for everyday wear in decent weather.

[@harrisonmudge]

Yes! I'm loving mine so I don't think you'll be disappointed. I don't think I mentioned in the video but they're also so simple to slide on and off they become the easy choice to sling on super quick so if you keep them by the door they'll quickly become your go to!

[@XRPrepared]

@harrisonmudge perfect! Nice and easy

[@ArtixBlader]

Hey I've really enjoyed watching some of your recent videos looking at the more "normal" looking barefoot shoes even if i have come round the more unique sometimes striking looking ones. I've just ordered the Splay 101s from Splay and I'm waiting then to arrive - they do up to a size 14 and it seems the toe box and midfoot are really wide. Just thinking it might be a good shoes to review without breaking the bank like some of the other shoes! Love from Liverpool

[@jackjohnson3318]

Hi Harrison, we talked before. I just received a pair of the Magna FG. They look amazing. I tried them on but don't have time today to really try them on. They seem a little tighter in the toe box. Will that lose up as they break in, I wear US12 in all the pairs I have. My toes don't appear to be touching.Let me know your thoughts and will that loosen up? Hop all is well, saw where they had snow in the UK. Have a wonderful day.

[@harrisonmudge]

Hey. Awesome! Interesting you mention that, I had the same reaction when I first got mine. Assuming it’s just the width you’re feeling them a little tight in, is it more around the sort of mid to front foot? Not at the does but just before them? I had the same. Id say it will loosen a bit for sure but its not going to be that dramatic that in loses that snug feel. If they’re simply too tight then it won’t correct itself through wearing them so you’ll have to decide on that one but like I say, if they just feel a little snug then they should be ok. Worth giving them a try and just return them if no good. Hopefully you don’t have to though. And yes snow came and then the snow went 😅 now it’s just freezing!

[@slavasss2189]

4:26 what?? I thought vivo gave bioms for you for free as a tester

[@harrisonmudge]

No, we did actually pay to be part of it. It’s obviously funded their process a bit but in return we got 3 pairs in total.

[@slavasss2189]

@@harrisonmudge pfff ...i would expect they give you pair for free AND also cash 😁

[@harrisonmudge]

@slavasss2189 that would certainly be nice 😅 unfortunately I’m a mere mortal who must pay for all my shoes. I justified the cost because I’d get 3 pairs and at the time I could afford it. Their other biomes they’re testing were over DOUBLE and I simply couldn’t justify paying that much. Even if I got multiple pairs it was close to £500 to trial them. My fear is that’s also the price of their fully bespoke mocks they’re making. Even someone like, me who I consider to be a huge fan, has to draw a line at over £400 for some shoes!

[@TadeuszCantwell]

How does the rubber sole compare to the primus lite? Would you say it's firmer?

[@harrisonmudge]

The Flex has a slightly thinker sole to the Primus but we’re talking millimetres so they’re so similar you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. The only real thing you would notice is because of the gaps in the flex it feels like things can protrude into the soles of your feet a bit more. Not in an uncomfortable way but you can notice the extra movement.

[@TadeuszCantwell]

@@harrisonmudge Thanks, do you get the impression the flex rubber is harder wearing?

[@jackjohnson3318]

Hi, I live in California. I was going to buy a pair of these, the reason I didn't was because I thought the soles would absorb water. What I mean is, if I wear to wear them to the grocery store and I come out and it's raining. My thought are they will let water in on the sides. Hence I am then walking in wet shoes. What are your thoughts on this happening. I love the look and especially that they are a sock shoe. Thank you.

[@harrisonmudge]

I honestly thought California never experienced rain 😅 In all seriousness, to be honest if it is raining, enough to create puddles and you’re out in it for a relatively short period of time your feet could certainly get wet. I acutely had that exact experience with them. Long story short your assumption is right, if it’s is or has been raining a lot and you go out with these on they’re very likely gonna pick up the moisture and begin to soak it all up. Surface moisture fine, but if it’s wet to the point you’re kicking a little water up they’re just gonna get soaked on a long walk

[@jackjohnson3318]

@@harrisonmudge Thank you very much for getting back, greatly appreciated. Your videos are great and very informative. They have helped be a lot. I dove in and bought 4 pairs, I really wanted the Modus but didn't buy them for that reason. I decided I am going to get them. Been in love with sock shoes ever since my first pair of Nike. I have had other barefoot shoes but must say I am very impressed with all my vivo's. I am a sports medicine doctor on the PGA TOUR. I first saw them on a golfer I worked with. I also just did some work on a guy who plays in the NFL and he was wearing a pair. Later he was actually taking passes in his bare feet. Impressive. I travel a lot and I know on my other barefoot shoes if it was raining a lot my feet would get soaked. I will just wear them on dry days...lol Yes, it does rain in Southern California in the winter and very occasionally in the summer. Thank you very much, enjoy your day.

[@harrisonmudge]

@jackjohnson3318 no problem and glad I could help. Sounds like you have a really cool job! I’ve got a wide range of Vivos now and they all have strengths and weaknesses but it’s actually something I really like about their design philosophy, everything has a specific purpose so yes sometimes you have to compromise on aspects but it’s because they often excel in other areas rather than being pretty middling across the board. Good luck with those and enjoy your weather, I’m sure regardless of time of year southern Cali is still much more enjoyable than England 😅

[@rosswiegel5649]

did you size down or keep your normal vivo size? vivo says on their website that they run long and to size down

[@harrisonmudge]

It’s funny I swear I never see this info when I look on the site! To answer, yeah they definitely to have extra space in the length. I stuck with my usual size 14 as I didn’t know but I would have gone with that anyway. As to how long they actually are, we’re talking only about half a cm of space from my big toe to the end of shoe so if you typically already have what you feel is a lot of space then yeah size down. For me I’m often just inside their average 14. So if it runs long I actually get some space which I like, if they ever run short they’re too small for me. Hope that helps and sorry for the long answer (pardon the pun 🙈)

[@Lasse3]

​@@harrisonmudge I had to size down with the Flex, and that made it a perfect fit. Better than the lite III

[@harrisonmudge]

@@Lasse3 Yeah I have some space it mine. I may have been able to size down on these but I like the space. I rarely get any extra room so appreciate it when I do!

[@Lasse3]

@@harrisonmudge no. You do not want the sole of the shoe larger than the sole of your foot. "Extra room" will result in unnecessarily large shoe sole that will cause you to "roll" less on your foot

[@harrisonmudge]

@@Lasse3 I would disagree with that because if they literally fit my feet when flat with limited space then my toes will 100% hit the ends of the shoes when I walk, so for me space is appreciated. That being said, the 'extra' space in these compared to others is realistically only a couple mil and based on the many pairs I've bought that little bit more is often appreciated to prevent that horrible toe press on the tips.

[@cesarguerra5052]

Have you ever try the wildling nebula grey??

[@harrisonmudge]

No I haven’t but those Wildings have been mentioned before. They’re interesting but a lot of the time they don’t have my size, or I’m just not a big fan of the styles

[@slavasss2189]

Technically motus flex is identical with bioms?

[@harrisonmudge]

Not identical as their design, materials and how they’re made is different BUT for me their comfort is equal and, because of how the flex is made, if you’ve got wider feet then they may give you more wiggle room as the sock will flex