Introduction
Vivobarefoot sell the Primus in a number of different colours and a variation of outer fabrics. The Primus Lux range come in both a Men's and Women's versions and have a leather outer, making them dressier than other versions of the Primus.
I chose this pair as my first barefoot shoe because of their trendy look. I felt like they'd go well with most of my wardrobe. With Alex having already owned a pair of Vivo Primus Lite's, I knew they would be a reliable fit for my first pair.
Company Overview
Vivobarefoot Limited manufactures and sells shoes for men, women, and kids. The company offers casual wear, court sports, golf, gym, hiking, indoor sports, lifestyle, road running, trail running, walking, winterproof, and work shoes for men, as well as water sports shoes for women; and play, school, and water sports for kids. Its shoes are available online and through stores in the United Kingdom and internationally. Vivobarefoot Limited was formerly known as Terra Plana international Ltd. and changed its name to Vivobarefoot Limited in December 2015. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
Galahad Clark, a 7th generation descendant of the Clark Shoes company founded Vivobarefoot with his cousin Asher Clark in 2012. Their mission is to change the footwear industry based on one simple insight—shoes should let your feet do their natural thing. Every shoe features a patented, ultra-thin, puncture-resistant sole that protects the foot and allows maximum sensory feedback.
Initial Impressions
As this was my first pair of barefoot shoes I wasn't sure what to expect from wearing them. At first they felt too big like I was wearing flippers. I'm usually a size 37 and I purchased a size 37 with a lot of room in after being told you should have around a thumb size worth of space between the tip of your shoe and your big toe.
The minimal sole was definitely something different to get used to for me, but the ability for my foot to feel the ground when walking, and spreading out so naturally, quickly become something I really enjoyed about them. The leather in this pair is very flexible and I was able to wear them in quite quickly.
Performance:
These shoes feel as though they excel in casual everyday use, as opposed to a performance shoe. An insole wasn't included, and I find them extremely comfortable without one... The leather acts as an insole.
The toe box is the perfect shape to allow my foot to completely splay, and allow me to have a natural gait. The leather is soft, and makes everyday wear comfortable, whilst the outsole is minimal with maximum ground feel. This has increased my awareness of how to walk, and made me feel more grounded.
Overall, there is no looseness around the heel, or pinching due to the leather.
Technical Specifications:
Upper: Wild Hide Leather. Made of African leather sourced responsibly from cattle, tanned by Pittards.
Footbed: Leather
Sole: PRO5. The special patented PRO5 layer is super thin for no added bulk and is puncture resistant for lightweight, flexible protection. According to Vivobarefoot, it’s 5 times more puncture resistant compared to normal soles with the same thickness.
Weight: 180g
Stack Height: 5mm
Conclusion:
These are now a shoe I wear every day, they are my current go to sneaker because they fit and have adjusted to my foot so well. Strangely enough my foot has expanded since wearing barefoot shoes and I'm now more of a size 38 and will purchase a 38 from now on for extra comfort but these current Primus Lux still fit great. After wearing these I felt that I could never go back to non-minimal shoes.
The best thing for me about these shoes is that they look great with everything because they're a neutral colour, whilst giving me the benefits of a barefoot shoe. Working in the fashion industry, it's still important for me to look and feel trendy. Whether I'm wearing dresses to work, or jeans on the weekend, I can still wear my Primus Lux for lots of different occasions and feel really comfortable.
- Jade, The Barefoot Shoe Review