Something about the shoe forces me to “feather” the ground and land softly. And that lines up well with the feeling of a truly minimal feel. To perform the analysis, I use University grade measurement pods to estimate ground reaction force, peak impact force, pronation angle/speed, and much more. Vivobarefoot has a distinctive fit that differs from many other minimal shoes on the market, which I believe comes from their European heritage. Otherwise, the tongue is a thin, flat design that sits perfectly over the bridge of the foot and doesn’t seem to dig in anywhere nor move around. On top of their breathable upper construction, this model is also fairly easy to clean which is awesome because you’re likely going to get these dirty on various trails. The sole and upper are super easy to spot clean and the lacing system helps to prevent dirt build-up in the midfoot. Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG Cons

To gather the data, I ran on a relatively flat 0.5-mile trail, running the first half at a 5:15 min/km speed and the second half at 4:10 min/km. Overall, the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG is a pretty good trail-focused barefoot shoe, but there are a few cons worth mentioning about this model.Users of the Primus Trail II All Weather FG shoes have mentioned that the Primus Trail II All Weather FG shoes have good responsiveness, thanks to their flexibility and lightweight features. People who have used the footwear said that since the shoes react well to their feet, feeling more of the ground connection. The biggest attribute for a trail running shoe is it’s comfort and feeling over long runs. Minimal shoes have an advantage in the feeling above the sole as they give the foot room to move naturally, splay and be comfortable. They often have a disadvantage underfoot as the sole is minimal and cushioning provides relief over long runs. This is the reason for the rise of Hoka, Altra and maximal trail shoes. The cushion over long periods helps provide relief. How does the Primus Trail perform for long periods? The forefoot has plenty of flex, much like many other minimal shoes, but it’s concentrated mainly across the under the arch and the ball of the foot. For the Vivobarefoot Primus Trails I’ve given them much more time. I’ve completed more than 1000km in these shoes including many long training miles and multiple races. Including a 50km trail ultra, held over dry trail conditions, also two sub ultra trail races both held in wet and at times super muddy conditions. All in all the Primus Trail’s are still going strong and have further running left in them at this point.

Our reviewer found the Primus Trail let his feet breath really well, and they were surprisingly good at keeping trail juice out (puddles need to be pretty deep before water gets in), but there was some tightness around the smaller toes. Again because of this tougher plastic upper, there is reduced breathability. And with these shoes being designed in England, it’s not such an issue there, but if you’re in the heat of Texas, take that in to count. I used the Primus Trail during and in my training for The Guzzler 50km and many of my long runs since. During this time I’ve found the Primus Trail comfortable and suitable for my runs of all distances. The Primus Trail is minimal, meaning for long runs the runner needs to be adept in wearing minimal footwear. The Primus Trail is a good option, it allows the foot to move naturally, while giving protection underfoot. Once the shoe is worn in the foot has ample room to splay and move without the shoe inhibiting this. This is the goal of a minimal shoe, allowing the foot to move naturally and aide performance. Long distance runs in the Primus Trail mean the shoe doesn’t inhibit performance, but the protection and small amount of cushion do aide foot fatigue to some degree. It is certainly suitable for a seasoned minimal footwear runner to wear over long distances. During a challenging 50km trail run like The Guzzler I felt the Primus Trail gave me ample support and allowed me to run over five hours feeling supported and performing well. I personally think this is a good thing because it adds to this shoe’s ability to protect the feet and not beat them up while also giving you enough to simulate being barefoot. This model has a 2.5mm base sole with 4mm lugs which work really well on light and moderately technical trails. If you’re someone that wants to save a little money and you want to go the barefoot trail shoe route, then you might want to look into the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail model. This model will cost you less and deliver a similar performance to the Primus Trail II FG.So if you’re pushing out the side of the shoe from the start, it’s unlikely that you’ll wear them in over time, or if you do, it will take hundreds of miles to soften. Harder surfaces such as pavements and city streets are not uncomfortable, there’s enough protection to walk unimpeded, although heel-strikes can become slightly jarring at speed. As with a barefoot running shoe, modifying your stride is important in some situations, but not at normal walking pace.

Vivo appear to be making a real effort to go beyond greenwashing, and also source their labor ethically. These efforts undoubtedly push the price up a little, but compared to some other running shoes, the price tag on the Primus Trail is not extreme. Starting from the heel, they hug the ankle and remain snug “fitted” up to the foot’s arch, where they spread to let those toes and forefoot wiggle.However, the amount of flex on offer here does pose a bit of a challenge when a stable platform is needed. Even on steep grassy slopes there’s no chance of seriously digging in, it’s all about working with the terrain rather than fighting it – fine in everyday situations, but potentially concerning on steeper, more exposed terrain. Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG Review: verdict A question that I’ve received a few times on my YouTube channel is in regard to how the Primus Lite III compared to the Primus Trail II FG. These questions are mostly asked by folks who want a shoe for outdoor activities, but also a model that they can train in. If the material is an issue for you, there is a knit option that you may want to try instead, which will be more forgiving and possibly reduce any sore spots.