VivoBarefoot Primus Trail III SG | First Run Review (watch this BEFORE you buy!!)
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Putting the newest VivoBarefoot Primus Trail III SG's to the test in their ideal terrain (soft ground).
Join me in this video as I talk you through the need to know good, bad and ugly for these highly technical, newly released barefoot trail running shoes.
What do you think? Let me know in the comment section down below.
Featured shoes 🦶: VivoBarefoot Primus Trail III SG's
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Questions? Use the comment section below and let's chat!
Checkout our Barefoot Transition Guide for everything you NEED to safely transition to barefoot shoes while avoiding injury: www.barefootstrengthproject.com/barefoot-transition-guide
Apart from being a little smaller, my foot is exactly the same shape as yours. I even held my foot up to the screen to check. Glad I dodged a bullet on this one. Thanks!
Haha an efficient measurement method if ever I've heard it! Pleased it was useful but absolutely, if you get them, size up!
I wished i had been able to see this before buying the 2 FG, hd to send them back and get a size up. Keep up the good videos!
Ahh sucks! Hopefully you've got the right size now, I have no doubt they'll be an awesome shoe once fitting correctly
I had these turn up in size 45 and as soon as I put them on they felt too small but an exchange to size 46 sorted it right out for me. I have Primus II FG in 45 that caused rubbing and blisters in that exact area but as my toes were bunched up due to normal shoes and these being my first set of barefoot style shoes I stuck with at and they now feel great.
That’s great to hear. I find it amazing how much your foot shape shifts after a few months of wearing barefoot shoes. Mine actually grew by a size!
Hey, what is your foot size in cm? Not sure which size to order, I'm in between 45 and 46.
thank you for this review. Very helpfull for me to decide the size!
Any time!
I honestly feel like these are much more roomy in the toe box than any other size 45 vivos I have, I almost considered a size down when I first tried them on. Still not used them in anger though. Do you ever wear toe socks? I found them an absolute game changer as surprising how much regular socks bind your feet and affect stability which contributes to the sliding around in a shoe.
That’s good to know. Which toe sock brand do you buy?
@@amandaball7116 ToeToe are reasonably priced and good quality or if you want to splash out Injinji. I can’t wear normal socks anymore, my toes just feel cramped.
@@Paul9 thanks v much appreciate you replying
Hey Paul - yes I do, I find that conventional socks (particularly sport ones) actively prevent the toes from splaying out which almost nullifies the benefit you'd get from barefoot shoes (after you've been wearing them for long enough!).
Interesting note on sizing however as I had the exact opposite experience! I fed back to my contact at Vivo after this video was shot, perhaps they've already put a fix into motion?
I wish I had seen your review before I bought these. Exactly the same problem, even though I was planning to use them for walking. Will be returning them. Sadly no size up option by now.
Sorry to hear that but pleased the review was helpful (even if it was after the fact!), checkout the Primus Trail FG all weathers, I've found them to be far superior!
@@TheBarefootStrengthProjectdo the all weathers fit the same? i.e size up
@@colonelsanders4006 No the all weathers run true to size
I noticed Vivo advertise UK sizing without aligning to the exact EU conversion. I.e. A Vivo UK10 comes with EU44 in them which is technically a size 9.5. The next up is a EU45 and technically a 10.5, there's no 44.5 (presumably as it's lower demand) making them either on the small side or very roomy
That's a level of technicality I've never gotten into but could certainly tie in with some of the sizing issues. I'll look into it!
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject I only noticed it when I looked inside my UK10 and saw EU44, google'd it and mostly that conversion returns UK9.5
I wish there was a clear winner out of the two for which out of the trail FG and SG would be the best for all year trail use whether it be walking or running in all conditions
I know! But sadly not as the breathability of the FG tips the scale over the SG in hot conditions, vice-versa in winter conditions. Vivo has mentioned the release of a possible middle ground (the deacon FG) later this month. I may have gotten some early with a potential review coming up soon!
I mean I get it. A company like this ultimately wants you to buy into their echo system and not just buy one pair of their shoes. I think for now I’m going to try the FG knits and then in then feel out another pair when the weather gets worse. I’d love to know if simply sizing up would solve your problem of the pain point?
Mmm. Been wearing vivo’s now for a couple of years. I live and road run in primus 3’s (have three pairs) and trail run in trail 2’s. I’ve done the barefoot coaching course and I’ve run many trail marathons and one 40 miler in my fg’s so with the winter mud arriving I wanted some sg’s. Really disappointed to hear that these seem to have a different fit!! Maybe I’ll try some in a size up 🤔
Started in Uk 8, barefoot over a year went up to 9. All vivo trails are 10s. Have been in previous models.
I experienced the same foot 'growth' when first transitioning to barefoot as all the ligaments and tendons under my foot started relaxing. It's a fairly weird experience but goes to show the impact more normal shoes are having on our feet!
I've been looking for a pair of barefoot shoes for football, specifically 7 a side on false grass. I thought these may be the only good option, do you think they can take a beating with a football?
Interesting that you say these come up small. I just bought a pair of FG trail knit to replace a worn out set of FG swimruns, and had to send them back as they were huge! Every other pair of Vivo's I've had over the years have been size 43 and seem pretty consistent.
The sizing has definitely been the most inconsistent part of Vivo recently. The build quality is still exceptional however and they do still have their 100 day money back guarantee so I'm fairly confident they'll get on top of it ASAP lest they'll be flooded with returns!
I usually go one size up to avoid this problem, from the image it seems that your foot is really precise inside the shoe.
Hi Matteo, thank you for your comment!
I have about 15 different pairs of Vivos now, all at a euro 45. It seems this model was released with some slightly different sizing as it's definitely snugger than the norm!
I have to agree, my last FGs were slightly smaller. To the point that I ordered 9 and 10 and initially couldn’t decide which to return. Stuck with the baggier 10s and happy with them
Thanks for this review, It's interesting to hear you have a similar issue with these shoes. I am really keen to buy a pair, for various reasons, but every time I have tried them on, they haven't quite felt like the right fit. I am also a 45, but sizing up feels too big. Out of interest my longest foot length is 28.8cm. Do you know yours?
Unfortunately I don't and haven't got a tape measure handy to find out! I'll get back to you, but in the meantime, have you tried the removing of the insole trick?
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject I haven't with these shoes, but have added or removed to fit into others. I suspect it's just the wrong shape with Vivo and I don't like the flipper feeling sizing up. Contemplating Altra LP6 instead which have a great shape and fit, but I would prefer less cushioning. 🤷🏻♂
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject I still had trouble with the hard outside edge in the 46, so ended up sizing up to 47 in the Primus trail FG. I'll see how I get used to it. Happy with a 46 in Primus Lite, but definitely hard to get my head around sizing up that much in the trail.
A very niche review of the product, thanks 🙏🏼
No problem - pleased it was helpful Jude 🙌🏽
What were your favorite trail running shoes from Vivo that didn’t have this issue.
Hands down the Primus Trail KNIT FG or, on wet days the Primus Trail All Weather SG.
The same style as these things but with a less intrusive sole that removes the friction issue 🙌🏼
Vivos are not as wide as some of the other barefoot brands. They fit true to size for most people. Unfortunately almost no shoes come in different widths as they used to when I was child, a million years ago. Size up or down if the length doesn't become problem.
I just bought a pair. The toe box is fine but the top part of the shoe that circles the ankle feels way too tight. Did you experience this & if so can you comment on whether it loosens off with wear? Many thanks
Hey and thanks for your question! TBH I didn't experience this but I was also wearing low cut and thin ankle socks which could contribute towards it. Alternatively having the laces up too tight?
If not, in my experience that section on the shoes tends not to have much give, could be worth flexing Vivos 100 day warranty?
Any recommendation for trail III SG vs FG? I want to go trail running and do some reasonably tough hikes in them (mixture of wet/dry terrain - lots of stone). Are there any noticeable differences between all weather and standard?
How are the shoes performing? Are you using them much on muddy trails?
They're performing really well now that I've sized up and been broken in. Using them plenty on muddy trails with the only slight issue I have being an ingress of mud around the cuff on a couple of occassions
Do you think I could get these for the gym? They're on sale.
Absolutely, but I personally would go something with a little less lug like the Primus Trail knit which are also on sale at the moment!
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject I ended up going full price on the primus lites. 😅 But I'm very happy with them.
Hey, could i just check are these the All Weather or the normal? If scan my foot on the Vivo site, it says im a 9 in the "normal" trail SG (as i am in my Primus Lites) but to size up to a 10 in the All Weather version.
These are the soft ground, so if you're looking at the Primus Trail SG these would be them. The All Weathers are an FG (firm ground) sole. TBH from the experience I've had, I'd size up in both these (the SG) and the all weather FG
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject thank you 😀
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject I wanted to give an update on this as I thought it might help other looking to buy the Trail SG. I have just received a pair in size 9, which is my normal size that I have a perfect fitting pair of Primus Lites in. Having tried them on, straight off the bat I would definitely agree that a size 10 would probably fit me better. The Lites size 9 give me a cm or so wiggle room at the big toe and the overall toe box is nice and roomy. The Trail SG size 9 gives me less than 5mm room at the big toe and overall feels "tighter" around the toe box. However..... I am primarily going to be using these to play football in, and for this I want a fairly snug fitting shoe (so not feeling flappy at the end). But I would prefer the overall toe box being a bit roomier. So...... I took the insole out, and as if my magic, it's pretty much the perfect fitting barefoot shoe for football! Not too much excess space at the end, but also not too tight over the toe box. Barefoot shoes for football is a bit of an unknown, and definitely a niche market, so I will do a review after my first training session 😀
what would you rwhat would you recommend as a minimalist shoe for trail running (to someone with wide feet) I do OCR and wan't to use minimalist/barefoot shoes, but need some grip when running through the mud
Personally, I think the Primus Trail 2 FG from VivoBarefoot are the best trail shoes out there. I did a torture test review after wearing them almost nonstop for a year, they take an insane amount of abuse!
I have these shoes and wear EU37 with Injinji toe socks. The issue I have is on my left foot where the top of the shoe fabric bends / creases it rubs the top of my little toe. It’s not a sizing issue as they’re roomy enough (in fact they’re slightly larger inside than my FG version). I’m not sure if it’s the thickness of the rubber rand that is causing it but it’s super annoying as I don’t know if they’ll bed in and loosen 😕
Hey Anni, I had the same issue and I agree - very annoying! Unfortunately I can't offer any suggestions other than try them without the insole to see if that opens up space and failing that - hope they bed in and loosen!
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject maybe Vivobarefoot extended the rubber rand to preserve the longevity of the mesh upper, as I know some guys have reported early holes there on the Primus FG version. Definitely a design flaw. I did a 2 mile dog walk in the SGs today and felt it pretty much the entire time. If I remove the insole they will be too big. Going to try a different insole and storing them rolled up in a ball to see if a stretch to the rand helps. Will report back!
@@anniwilson2534 Sounds good! I'm writing a barefoot transition guide at the moment and as I was writing the section on proper movement mechanics it occurred to me that you may have have an issue with over pronation where the big toe is not properly engaging in the push off phase letting the foot over rotate with each step causing the issue you're experiencing with your little toe.
Worth exploring if the different insole doesn't work out for you.
What is your foot size in cm? Mine is 28cm and I'm wondering whether to buy 45 or grab 46 because of this rubber issue. Thanks.
Just grabbed the tape measure out and it's 28cm from toe to heel on both sides so I'd size up to 46 if I were you!
Would be great if you do a follow up review video on these given that you have sized up.
Unfortunately my opinion is the same on these despite sizing! High sole is too intrusive compared to the like of the Primus Trail all weathers
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject its almost as if the high sole defects the purpose of the barefoot shoe? However, there are not any such zero drop / minimalist / wide toe box mud shoes on the market so surely this show is unique in this category unless you know of alternatives?
@@bilaltahir9978 pretty much! But that’s what I rate about Vivo, unlike a lot of other brands they aren’t afraid to give it a go and see what happens. It won’t be long till they have it perfect and I’ll have to change my stance 😂
Are these good for just walking? Thanks!
Because they look like cleats, if they would get in the way of walking.
It’s a great question and though you definitely could, it would be overkill IMO. Could be worth checking out the Primus Trail Knit FG instead 🙌🏽
Do you think these could be used as fell running shoes?
Definitely, I’ve used them extensively in the Lake District for that but you just want to nail the sizing 🙌🏽
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject thanks. That's helpful. Do you think the grip is on par with an inov-8 fell shoe? I noticed that lugs are 5mm whereas some fell shoes have up to 8mm lugs
I’m trying to decide on a VIVO shoe to buy for light trail walking / hiking. So these or say the Magna’s. I’ve got the Primus Lite III for everyday use. Im unsure whether to go for SG, FG, Primus, Magna or even Forest ESC.
Im not experienced enough on trails to know what I need but my running isn’t likely to be on anything very technical or rocky.
Any thoughts appreciated & thanks for this review
Hi Amanda, I currently own all of the shoes you list (I had a slight vivo buying addiction last year) 😬 for general walking and hiking the Magna FG leather/wool is a great allrounder, it’s going to offer you some water resistance plus it comes with a thermal insole for the winter. If you plan on trail running probably go for the Primus FG, they are lighter and much more breathable but lack any water resistance. I would only go SG for use in wet winter muddy conditions (the SG sole is amazing for mud this but slippery on wet rocks). The forest ESC boot is more of a heavy duty boot, heavier but amazing grip from the Michelin sole. They do actually make a Magna ESC also, which I’ve not tried yet which might be worth looking at, as it has the low cut of the Magna with the Michelin sole but is apparently heavier than the regular Magna. The Tracker II is also a great walking boot, light and waterproof with thermal insole, I’ve used these all year round, a bit warm for hot days though. At least with vivo you get 100day trial, make sure you look around for a 20% off code also.
@@Paul9 this is sooooo helpful thanks Paul. Maybe you should release any hold on your buying addiction and try out the Magna ESC 😉
My gut feel is that I am not (yet) strong enough to run on trails so I may get better use out of a ‘boot’ than a ‘shoe’ as I can then wear it for everyday use in the winter as well as walking. My decision now is whether to keep my Primus Lite III which can be my go to good weather shoe and buy another pair or send back these Primus and exchange for a ‘boot’. Yeah I agree I need to get 20% whatever the outcome as I’m not able to work. Thanks again
@@amandaball7116 Have you checked out the Revivo site? Occasionally get a bargain on there. It took a while to build up to running so I’d take the transition slow. If you’re in the UK, the good thing about the vivo boots is you can also send them to be reconditioned and resoled when needed for around £50 which significantly extends the life and value. If they get the Magna ESC back in black, it will be very hard to fight temptation 😬
Hi Amanda,
I'd definitely agree with Paul's suggestion on the Magna Forest ESC for all around hiking, the Michelin soles are well worth it and I've not once lost traction in them. For trail running or summer hiking, the Primus FG are my go to! They are releasing a new shoe called the Deacon FG soon however which could be a contender to consider!
Did you end up getting the size 46? I
I did and they're much better for fitment!
These must’ve been short lived. I can’t seem to find this colorway anywhere except in females.
Sadly so! The Primus trail all weather is a solid alternative and what I tend to rely on in questionable conditions
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject found a pair after days of search and they showed up in the mail today! 2 mile run and I think they’re gonna work 👍🏻 👍🏻
@@ADyess086how are they performing for you? Do you use them just for mud?
I was a fan of vivo until I started walking loooong distances in them. Like jesus do they test these? Its like nobody ever put them on or something and they just launch new untested products all the time. I have 4 pairs, one is super stiff for a barefoot shoe, one destroys my heel skin in like 2km of walking, one wants to detach my toenails and one is so wobly and unstable that is feels like I taped a piece of rubber to my foot with a ribbon.
Doesn't sound like they're suiting you well at all! Could potentially be a sizing issue but short of throwing the ones you do have out the best recommendation I can make is in some high quality socks to act as a buffer. I've found stance to be particularly good though the elastic is a bit tight around the toes meaning customisation is always useful!