Vivobarefoot Gobi II Leather - Women's Review

The Vivobarefoot Gobi II Leather has an accommodating fit that looks good and feels great for all-day wear. After a brief break-in, the leather uppers mold to your feet, and the cork insole/thin outsole combo offers both minimalism and protection. Our team loved this shoe for the day-to-day, and even wore them during travels where versatility was a must.

Ground Feedback

Right out of the box, these shoes feel somewhat stiff compared to other barefoot shoes (still very flexible compared to regular non-barefoot styles). The first wear ground feedback wasn't the most obvious, as our feet didn't mold around the ground as easily. However, after just a few days of wear, this changed dramatically.

The leather uppers became more relaxed, which allowed the rubber outsoles to flex more. The shoes became much more willing to flex around rocks and twigs and the overall ground feedback had increased significantly. Our tester noted, “I walked through a patch of mulch and could feel the contours between each piece.”

Stability

The shoes are notably thin, but don't flop around. They stay secure on the foot without restricting movement. We loved how the leather uppers broke in to perfectly fit our feet within a few wears. Plus, the removable cork insole offers a little extra support and comfort underfoot without being cushioned.

The Gobi II has a nice, wide base that increases the shoe's stability. None of our toes were squished, and we had a proper toe splay the entire time wearing them. The laces can be cinched tighter like an athletic shoe for a more secure fit, and the heel cup kept our foot in place from step to step - no sliding around inside the shoe.

Traction

For most day-to-day encounters, the Gobi II has adequate traction. We walked on dirt, rocks, tile, and much more without issue. We wore these through the airport and never had trouble with the general traction. However, we did nearly slip when stepping on freshly mopped tile. These are not slip-resistant shoes, nor are they meant to be.

Like most barefoot shoes, the traction comes from the softer outsole that allows your foot to mold around outdoor obstacles. Likewise, the sensitivity engages your own sense of balance, which can improve traction. After these shoes break in, this sensitivity increases. Though we still weren't thrilled about slipping on indoor wet tile, and other shoes offer better traction.

Weight

The leather uppers weigh more than mesh, which is to be expected. These weigh 18.7 ounces per pair in women's size 9. While this is still remarkably light compared to traditional, non-barefoot shoes, they aren't the lightest in our lineup.

Still, they don't feel bulky on. The leather is light and not too thick. Plus, the outsole is only 3.7 millimeters thick. There isn't any substantial padding anywhere, so the shoes still offer a barefoot feel, which can be difficult in a casual-style shoe without adding more athletic-looking materials like mesh. That said, the leather isn't as breathable as mesh.

Durability

The same leather that makes these heavy is the same leather that makes these extremely durable. Most barefoot shoes break down fairly fast due to the light, minimalist materials, especially mesh. These don't.

The leather withstood us walking around on various surfaces and bumping into rocks and concrete curbs. We noticed some minor scuffs, but nothing to cause concern for the longevity of the shoe. The outsole also held up great. They are slightly stiffer than other barefoot shoes' outsoles, which did a better job preventing punctures from everyday encounters, like rocks and twigs. These are one of the few barefoot shoes that we have confidence in tackling more than a year of wear, even if they are your daily driver.

Should you run into durability issues, Vivobarefoot has a repair program called Revivo. Here you can replace outsoles and fix laces, eyelets, stitching, and more. We haven't needed to send in our shoes to test it out, but we love that the option exists to help keep shoes out of the landfill.

Should You Buy the Vivobarefoot Gobi II Leather?

It is no secret that these shoes are pricey. However, we think the investment is worth it if you're looking for just one pair of shoes to handle the day-to-day in multiple seasons. They are extremely durable and will last longer than most other barefoot shoes, meaning your dollar stretches further.

What Other Barefoot Shoes Should You Consider?