Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG - Women's Review

The Primus Trail II FG is one of our favorite minimalist shoes for style, but the features don't add up to make it a go-to for running or training.

Performance Comparison

Natural Feel

The Trail II FG checks all of the boxes to seem like an ideal shoe for minimalist trail running. However, in testing, we found some serious limitations to the natural feel of our feet in these shoes. The first, and most noticeable, is the stiff sole. It feels particularly bulky and cumbersome around the heel, even disrupting proprioception and movement when walking (rocking from heel-to-toe). That stiffness then also creates a pinch point where the toes flex, which is uncomfortable for vigorous activities, but not bothersome if you're just wearing them around town. The single material and consistent pattern of the sole allow it to twist well; it is mainly the forward roll that feels clunky.

The shoes also feature a zero drop from heel to toe and a stack height of only 6.5mm, again consistent with minimalist design, but the stiffness of the sole disrupts the performance of this shoe. We want our barefoot-inspired footwear to feel barely there, and these instead tended to feel clunky and cumbersome.

Weight

At 19 ounces for a size 10 women's shoe, these minimalist shoes are the heaviest in this review. The weight distribution, however, further impacts the score in this category. The sole feels heavy while the uppers are relatively light, making the shoe feel imbalanced and heavy on the bottom. This is felt in swing weight, making it feel clunky and imprecise for running.

Traction

The lug pattern on these trail shoes is deep and suitable for all-terrain. The lugs are a bit more pronounced, which makes them optimized for trails where they can get a solid grip. However, they are less well suited to long road runs, which will put undue friction on those lugs and will likely wear them out faster. The sole is made of a sticky rubber compound as well, which we found to be reliable on a variety of surfaces, including the slick beach driftwood we used as balance beams for this test.

Versatility

After testing the Primus Trail II FG on various terrain types and for different activities, we concluded that they are really best suited to casual use. They look cool and perform well in the occasional athletic move, so they're a nice casual shoe for the athletic user. But if you're looking for a running or training shoe, look elsewhere in this review.

Durability

The Trail II FG turned up no notable durability issues during our testing period. The one thing that did raise concern, however, is the hinge point where the toes flex. This is the spot that put pressure on our toes when bent and also folds the shoe fabric in a specific spot which will likely degrade over time. Otherwise, these shoes are durable and well suited to off-road use, with the reinforced toe rand and the rubber sole wrapping up higher on the shoe.

Value

These shoes are among the most expensive in our review, even double the price of some other models. We do not think they are a good value due to the limited use and high price.

Conclusion

The Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG are a stylish minimalist shoe. The performance, however, does not hold up to our expectations enough to recommend them for athletic pursuits. The sole feels stiff, clunky, and mismatched (imbalanced) when paired with the lightweight uppers. There is a hinge point at the toes which pinches, and the fit feels insecure at the heel. If you're looking for a minimalist shoe for casual use which can hold up to a few sporty moves throughout your day, this might be the shoe for you. Otherwise, we suggest you keep looking.