Review : VIVOBAREFOOT Ultra

• Type : Barefoot
• Use : Multi-use
• Price : $100

Introduction
The VIVOBAREFOOT Ultra is not a running shoe, per say. It sure wasn’t intended as such by the company, but it presents features close enough to other models like the Evo II. It didn’t take more for some runners to give it a try.

Obviously, the Ultra is a multi-use shoe with water sports in mind. Its outer part is completely made out of a very soft rubber with a hollowed-out honeycomb pattern that makes it light, flexible and impervious to wet environments. Its most interesting feature is the possibility of removing the neoprene inner part of the shoe, which makes the Ultra a real Transformers-type footwear that outdoor enthusiasts will love.


Outdoor testing
I first used the Ultra as a camping shoe. In warm weather, I used only the outer part as a barely-there layer between my feet and the ground. It’s so breathy that it feels as light as a sandal. Then, when the temperature would cool down, I would add the neoprene part to keep my feet toasty and nice around the campfire or while walking around in dewy grass. I also liked that I could use the neoprene part only as an “indoor” shoe while in a cabin or shelter, as it has its own little micro-outsole. Then, when going out, I’d just slip my feet into the rubber outer part and be good to go.


Hiking
If you’re looking for longer-distance walking, I suggest you make sure you can be comfortable barefoot inside the Ultra. I found out with a little disappointment that I have to wear socks if I am to wear my Ultras for distances over 2km (say, walking more than 20 minutes). If I don’t, my Achilles get blistered. Bummer. However, I have gone on light to moderate hikes in my Ultras and found them very comfortable, decently grippy and very flexible, offering a great level of proprioception.


Running
I haven’t done any serious running in the Ultra. However, I think it’s fantastic that the shoe offers just enough features similar to a lightweight barefoot running shoe so that you can run in them pretty much anywhere, pretty much anytime. Which brings me to my next point.


Casual wear
This, to me, is where this shoe really stands out. I was sent the black-colored version which, although funky from its honeycomb-patterned top, is far from an eyesore and quite neutral-looking. It won’t look stupid when worn in the workplace (say, with a pair of jeans) and offers the best of barefoot-type wear, a blessing for office-dwellers like me. And when I go out at lunch and run errands, well, I can really run them! I have a very pedestrian lifestyle and often run short distances in my everyday clothes and this shoe is truly ideal for that purpose.


Analysis
The Ultra is a great all-around option for anyone looking for a barefoot-type shoe not uniquely focused on running, but that you can wear on a run, too. Enthusiasts of the concept, usually ultra-minimalists, will wear them over longer distances and I’ve even crossed a guy at the Montreal Marathon this year who ran in them the whole way. To me, the Ultra is great because it can do so much, I can wear it casually and I can transform it to fit whichever activity I’m doing. For the same reasons, it’s a very good shoe to travel around with.

As a side note, I've never used the "tongue" bit provided with the shoe, and it is not at all essential to my comfort.


High points 

• Super light and flexible
• Quickly transforms 
• Neoprene inner can be worn separately 
• Great all-arounder

Low points

• Can’t quite wear them without socks (is it just me?)

The equipment for this personal review was supplied by VIVOBAREFOOT free of charge, without any conditions.

Review : VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail

Important
Before transitioning to minimalist (or “barefoot”) footwear, make sure you understand what the whole concept entails. Here’s an intro text if you need it.

• Type : Barefoot / Minimal
• Use : Trail Running
• Price : About $140 (unverified)
  
  
  
  

Introduction
There have been so many new products in the minimal / barefoot market recently, I find it hard to even keep track. It’s a blessing, on one side; because a wider choice is often a good thing (provided the offered products are well-conceived). On the other hand, there seems to be many crappy, confusing, nonsensical products which have hit the shelves, and they are not bringing anything of interest to the table (The Fila Skeletoe is just one example of the latter).

So when I opened the box to check out the VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail, I did it with a healthy dose of scepticism. I had been searching for a viable shoe fit for serious trail running for some time now, and aside from the Merrell Trail glove (reviewed here), which is a sound choice but doesn’t offer enough grip for single-trail conditions and harsh terrain, I had found nothing.

First impression
I usually don’t analyze packaging or marketing, for obvious reasons, but I have to make an exception here. First of all, VIVOBAREFOOT uses recycled materials for some of the shoe’s parts, like the inner lining. Second, the shoes are guaranteed not to be produced in sweatshops, something commendable, which every apparel maker out there should be doing. Finally, your shoes come wrapped not in throw-away plastic or paper, but in individual, washable, reusable bags that work wonders when you have to carry your mud-stained shoes in a backpack.

The shoe
At 8,25 oz, the Neo trail is light but not a featherweight. This didn’t bug me, as the shoe feels tough and ready for action. It is built with a very wide toe box and a fairly flat end, something I think is now the proven way to go for any minimalist shoe. With that said, however, the sizing is a little tricky, as it relies on the European charts and the shoes run about one size short. (For example, I’m typically a size 7.5 and was advised to get a size 42, which was too big and had to be replaced with a size 41).

The lacing on the pair I got was done from the outside in, which I changed for a more straightforward, pull-to-tighten approach. The shoe doesn’t slim down at the arch section like other barefoot shoes do and leaves ample room for up to 7 diagonal rubber lugs on the outsole and a rock plate under the arch. This is where the Neo Trail really expresses itself: it screams trail.

Trail test
I wore the Neo Trails for a full day at the office before trying them out for a run (I’ve learned that trick from blistering experience). Turns out they didn’t need a break-in. Then I wore the shoes for an outside walk, then a light trail run, then a single-trail cross-fit run, and finally a full-fledge mountain trail run.

The Neo Trail delivered beyond my expectations. At first, I thought the aggressive sole pattern would take away some ground feel for sure, but somehow it doesn’t. You will feel as much terrain as you do in a pair of VFF Komodos, but with the proper protection against protruding rocks and other trail hazards. I was amazed to step in deep mud and feel every inch of the experience, while in the meantime being able to run hard in very rocky downhills relying on the excellent protection of the rockplate and rubber studs.

The grip of this shoe is amazing. I was lucky to run one of my tests with a Training Mobs group wearing regular running shoes and trail shoes and my Neo Trails outperformed the former and were definitely on par with the latter, if not better. The low-to-the-ground, zero-drop 6.5mm sole clearly puts you at an advantage while it not only lets your foot twist and turn like it should, but offers aggressive traction even on wet surfaces.

The upper fabric seems to be truly 100% waterproof, as I stepped in puddles of water, mud patches and ran on trails thickly covered in damp leaves and never got my feet wet. This is fantastic for Canadian runners, as we have to face harsh snowy winters and slushy paths. The combined water resistance and traction of the Neo Trail makes it a serious choice for multiple running conditions throughout the seasons, something not a lot of minimal shoes can pretend to offer.

Conclusion
This is one solid trail running shoe, and thus far my choice when it comes to serious single-trail running. With the excellent proprioception of a true minimal shoe and the traction / protection of a standard trail runner, The Neo Trail offers the best of both worlds. I am very impressed with it and will keep using it for many more happy trail miles in the future.

High points

• One of very few serious minimal trail runners
• Sturdy, yet flexible outsole with excellent traction
• Offers plenty of protection on harsh single trails
• Roomy toe box for free movement
• Zero-drop construction with removable insole
• Waterproof

Low points

• Sizing's a little tricky

The equipment for this personal review was supplied by VIVOBAREFOOT, free of charge, without any conditions.