Submitted by adonis-in-the-making t3_109f4jd in BuyItForLife
i have really wide feet and came across barefoot shoes in the market. i feel like they’ll really help me walk normally and not feel like my feet are being suffocated.
are there any good recommendations for barefoot shoes which will last me a long time ? looking for an everyday/casual shoes.
the only brand i found and came across was vivo barefoot.
thank you for the help 😁
Pizza boxes but stay off the grass .
what’s ur opinion on vivo barefoot ?
I haven’t tried Vivo. But I forgot to mention Xero. I have a pair and they work pretty well for me as a workout shoe indoors. So far they’ve stood up very well and they’re comfortable.
I have three pairs of vivos
Primus Lite IIIs: I’ve had them a little less than a year. The part where the shoes crease when you flex your toes are wearing out quick and I can see them getting holey pretty soon. I’ve used them everyday for walking, hiking and skating around. I suspect the wear comes from skating because the shoes bends the most at that area. I would personally get another shoe from vivo or a different brand for an everyday shoe of that type
Magna FG/Trail: hiking boots, not as much wear I only use them on hikes or when it rains. Probably the most comfortable boot I’ve ever worn (also the most expensive). I don’t see any signs of testing just normal wear.
Gobi IIIs: I haven’t really worn them much yet, but I hear their the more durable shoe from vivo because of the leather and stitched soles. Hopefully they last a longer time
I am on my third pair pf Gobi IIs (one canvas two leather). The soles have worn thin sooner than I like in the heels. Been trying to keep them going with shoe goo and e6000 but despite wiping w alcohol first, the goo starts to peel on edges of goop/sole within days.
Ahhh shit. I was hoping for a more durable shoe. Might look for another brand then
While Altras are comfortable, their durability leaves something to be desired. The traction ripped off the sole after less than 80 miles, and when I asked about warranty they said it was normal wear and tear, and this not covered. Comfy shoe, not even close to BIFL
Damn, that sucks! I’m sure there are much more durable options out there.
I have had very mixed experience with vivos. The Ra II shoes are great. I had 1 pair for 5 years and only retired them when I burned the front toe warming my feet too close to a fire. I replaced them and the replacements aren't holding up as well. The sole is stitched on, but the glue that is also used is coming apart. I think the stitching will keep them going for a while, but I worry water will more easily get in to them...
which brings me to my experience with their hiking shoes/boots. I got a pair of Magnas, which were extremely comfortable but the sole separated from the upper at the crease after just a couple months, ruining the waterproofing. I then tried a pair of the Forest ESCs and had the same problem. They're stitched, so the boots still held together (for the short time I had them at least) but the separation allowed water to get in so I returned them.
In short, get ones with stitched on soles, and don't expect the sole/upper seam to be waterproof because the glue that holds it together will separate.
Have you tried softstars? If I'm not mistaken, at least some of their shoes can be resoled.
i wear vivobarefoot, lems, xero shoes and carets for dress shoes. i can’t put any of them in the bifl bucket. Xeros wear out quick, vivos soles wear out for me too quick and can’t be repaired, lems held up better for me than the others. Carets are great for minimal dress shoes that don’t look like clown shows, and they used to have resole program putting it in the bifl category for me, but from 2018 on they discontinued the resole program so again can’t put them in bifl category imo. In terms of bang for buck - vivos are great but $$$, lems and xeros are at least cheaper, and carets are super pricey but for dress shoes that serve a purpose looking professional in that environment, they at least offer value in that sense so they pay for themselves imo.
I have 3 different pairs of xeroshoes that I wear for the occasion and no issues so far.
Maybe try some of the cheaper Amazon brands like Whitin or TSLA before shelling out the big bucks. They’re both pretty well reviewed. My personal favorite brands are Vivobarefoot (true barefoot, expensive) , Lems, (transitional barefoot shoe) and Altra (wide toe but not minimalist sole).
Despite my beef with thin soles on some vivos that wear too quick, i just noticed that they have this refresh/repair program at least in uk for now. Costs $ and not global yet, but it’s a good sign in my book.
Xero shoes. Your won't regret the purchase. Well made affordable and comfortable. Altra's suck. They start falling apart when you take them out of the box
Merrels. i had their shoes for years.
Softstar
Soft Star Shoes or Unshoes
I would recommend never skimping on shoes. If you are just after the wide toebox that you can repair and resolve, rather than a true barefoot shoe, you may want to ask the folkx over at r/goodyearwelt.
teatimetay t1_j3xw538 wrote
Feelgrounds. Lems (barefoot-ish). Altras are another good wide toe box option although it’s not barefoot. As far as BIFL, the shoe’s lifespans depends on your usage imo. The options I’m recommending are casual shoes, not necessarily made out of materials like leather that are designed for a longer lifespan. But these are good options I’ve found for my own preferences, and my pairs have all lasted a fair amount of time with general wear and tear.