Vivobarefoot Primus Lite IV - Women's Review

Ground Feedback

Built on just a 4 millimeter base, the Primus Lite IV has some of the best ground feedback in our lineup. Our feet were able to freely move in these shoes, settling confidently on hard floor and wrapping around uneven terrain with no resistance. We were able to feel everything underfoot, even sidewalk cracks. The lightweight upper and ultra-flexible outsole are to thank for the excellent feedback.

These are one of the few shoes that we feel truly close to barefoot in. The materials are light, breathable, and lightly hug the foot without causing hot spots. We love that Vivobarefoot includes a removable insole, so you can adjust your feel, should you want any less underfoot.

Stability

The wide base and low-to-the-ground stack makes the Primus Lite extremely stable. Plus, the secure fit means your foot won't be sliding around in the shoe. The heel is a soft material that sits close, almost like a second skin, which aids in this secure fit.

These are the shoes we prefer for weightlifting due to their stable, minimalist feel. We were able to cinch them up tight when a more secure fit was needed, or loosen them up for a more relaxed feel.

The flexibility from the upper and outsole also means that the shoe moves freely with you, never restricting movement in any direction, which we loved for stretching pre and post workout.

Traction

The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite IV is best suited for hard surfaces indoors and out. We had excellent traction on dry tile, concrete, hardwood, and similar. However, they have almost no lugs to grip into gravel or dirt.

They also struggle on wet surfaces, so we wouldn't recommend walking on freshly mopped tile. That said, the flexible and secure nature of these shoes does offer some natural traction off-road. If you are crossing over granite rocks and uneven surfaces, your foot can naturally wrap around to create more grip. Still, you'll have about the same traction that a normal road running shoe would offer on gravel and dirt, which could be good enough if you're not doing anything steep or extensive.

Weight

Our women's size 9 pair weighed just 12.7 ounces, which is very light. They feel light, too, with a thin mesh that allows for plenty of airflow.

Part of the update from the III to the IV was a change in materials, aimed to be more sustainable. The new version is about two ounces lighter than our former version. We haven't noticed any changes in performance otherwise. If you want to cut even more weight, you can remove the insoles, though we didn't find that necessary to achieve a light fit.

Durability

The lightweight, breathable materials aren't the most durable. These shoes should last about a year with normal wear, but we wouldn't expect anything longer. The mesh upper is prone to wearing away more quickly than the rest of the shoe, especially if you are frequenting the outdoors in them.

It is difficult to find a barefoot shoe that is both very minimal and very durable. This is often a tradeoff, and is shown with the Primus Lite IV. Vivobarefoot has a program called Revivo, which allows you to send in your beat-up kicks for a refresh. You can have soles, stitching, laces, eyelets, and more repaired through this program. While it is almost as much as a new pair of shoes, this helps cut down on waste, keeping your shoes going for longer.

Should You Buy the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite IV?

This line has been loved by barefoot wearers for many years now, and for good reason. They embrace what it feels like to be barefoot, while still wearing shoes. They are flexible, breathable, and extremely stable. That said, we love them for gym use and weightlifting, where stability and excellent form are essential. They'll also work as an everyday shoe, but you'll want to keep an eye out for wet surfaces, as they don't have the best traction.

What Other Barefoot Shoes Should You Consider?