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I just finished training for 130 miles and running the Boulder Half Marathon on these shoes. They're Awesome!
Showing posts with label shoes - vivo-barefoot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoes - vivo-barefoot. Show all posts
Saturday, 13 June 2015
Neo VIVOBAREFOOT
Monday, 2 April 2012
Vivo Barefoot Ultra Review
Vivo Barefoot Ultra Review
Imagine a minimalist shoe that is lightweight, has a plus-sized toe box, breathes well, provides good ground feel, has virtually no seams, and is basically a sole that wraps the entirety of your foot. What would such a shoe look like? Well, it'd look a lot like VIVO BAREFOOT's Ultra line, which recently expanded to include the $50, sockless "Ultra Pure."
How do the VIVO Ultra's pull off all of the above qualities? They unabashedly take a page from the triple platinum, fuglified shoes that everyone loves to hate (while secretly finding them quite comfortable) — yep, I'm talking about Crocs. It's the EVA foam, baby. That's how they do it.
But is there more to these shoes than meets the eye? Are functional shoes supposed to look cool? I wax poetic on these questions and more, as well as share some slow-motion running footage of the Ultras, and a whole slew of photos after the jump in my review of the VIVO BAREFOOT Ultra!
You can see how the booty has a knob at the instep that fits into a same-shaped hole on the upper of the Ultra's foam shell. It also has a rear knob that attaches to the shell of the Ultra at the heel. Also, if you'll note the two pieces of chevron-shaped fabric that also have the same front rectangular knob — that fabric bit is the tongue of the Ultra, of course! Why would you want a tongue? Basically to reduce or eliminate rubbing of the top of your foot on the laced upper if you're wearing the Ultras without the booty.
You can also wear the Ultras without tongue or booty — just the frame, basically.
Meanwhile, the interior of the Ultra features a knobby footbed; I can only assume it's knobbed to provide additional traction for the foot; personally, I don't see the point and actually find the knobbing irritating, but it, along with the upper, makes for a nifty photograph:
The sole of the VIVO Ultra sans booty is just foam and is reminiscent of the sole pattern you get with the VIVO Evo. The only key difference is that the sole of the Ultra is the insole; it's all one piece. So when you see the curvature of the sole at the arch, you see that same curvature inside the shoes.
The sole is 7mm thick though VIVO says it'll compress to 3mm with wear. I measured mine at about 5mm at the heel. Foam really does break in (more accurately break down) over time, so essentially the Ultra will get more minimally soled over time.
Here's a roundabout of the Ultra, photo-gallery style. Take a look:
I almost forgot to mention the laces! The Ultras come with a bungee cord, speed-lacing system. It works pretty well at tightening up the shoes but I actually found that I just wore them, most of the time, fairly "loose" in the laces. This didn't seem to degrade performance either. So know that the laces are there if you need them, but you might not.
For such a minimalist shoe, the Ultra can be somewhat complex — at least, it's as complex as you want it to be. I think what most will find is that they prefer wearing them a particular way; incidentally, my hunch is that most Ultra fans are likely going to like it in it's most bare-bones configuration as with the "Ultra Pure" — no inserts, no fluff — just the foam shoe.
While the booty on the Ultras makes for an interesting option, I pretty much didn't use it at all. I'm no fan of socks if I can avoid them and the Ultra sockliner, while having a sole structure, is just a little too socklike for my taste; besides, I didn't really have a need for that configuration. One interesting use for the sockliners, should you get the full-optioned Ultra, is that you could run in them sans foamy Ultra frame. Actually, Nick Hind has been doing just that and notes they work well as an ultra-minimalist running option—pretty cool!
I tried the Ultras without the tongue attachment and they seem basically fine in this configuration; however, some might find a little additional abrasion due to the elements of the upper being separated. Where you can imagine irritation is when your foot lifts within the shoes, the point at which the top of your foot meets your ankle will tend to want to move into the lace area, which could cause some annoying rubbing.
Worn without socks or the booty, the Ultra is a fairly comfortable shoe. There is plenty of room within the Ultras for my feet to feel free, toes can splay well, and being "zero-drop" there's no negative impact on my natural biomechanics. If I had to cite one annoying gripe with the Ultra's design, it'd be with the raised knobs or bumps on the insole/footbed of the shoe. These provide a level of stimulation to the foot that I find a little distracting. I'd much prefer a smooth surface here and do not believe it would degrade the shoe's performance dramatically, if at all. That said, it's not so annoying as to make them totally uncomfortable; I'd just prefer it not be there.
Ground feel with the Ultras is muted a bit by the use of EVA foam. EVA foam, like all foams, has little "cells" that contain air; this allows for some structure while also being compressible. Straight up rubber (as with FiveFingers) is denser and flimsier, so you don't get the compression effects. I'd peg the ground feel on the Ultra as slightly better than the FiveFingers Bikila (or Bikila LS or Speed); it's not as good as a KSO, SeeYa or Classic/Sprint, though; it's also negatively effected by those pesky bumps! They add "noise" to the sensations of ground feel. Almost like your feet look at the ground through a filter or screen.
The overall structure of the Ultra, as provided by the EVA foam, makes them easy to flex and bend while still having a springiness to them. One thing I'll point out is that the sole curves in at the arch. Since there's nothing below this arch curve, it's not supportive so much as just a structure that will collapse under your body weight. You'll note that the KomodoSport- and Bikila-soled FiveFingers use EVA at the arch and it's sometimes called "arch support." I think that's a little too hard a line, but you will notice the bump at your arch if you pay attention. Like I said, it compresses on any load, but it's there.
The end-product with the Ultra is a shoe that has just enough structure to stand on it's own but not enough to compromise the functionality of the foot.
Here are some photos of me wearing the Ultras without the sockliner/booties:
As for specific functionality, I mostly used my Ultras a knockaround shoe, but I did manage to run in them for the sake of having done it and to catch any glaring problems. Below are some observations.
Running in the Ultras &mdsah; Hit play on the video below. It's some running footage shot in 60 FPS that I've slowed down by about 50%. It's not particularly exciting footage, but you might like the background music and it should give some idea of how the Ultras function running on the road (behind a Bob stroller anyway). I start busting it down a hill around 7:15 if you want to skip to some "high action." If nothing else I set it to some high-beat music.
Didn't really have any issues to speak of running in the Ultras. I love that they are lightweight; that just makes a huge difference to me. Running sockless in the Ultras also was a pleasant experience. I wore the tongue insert to prevent any chafing, but I don't suspect it was really necessary. The EVA sole provides the slightest bit of give to it for running that you might not be accustomed to if you've been running in rubber-soled shoes like Vibrams or Altra Adams/Samsons. The effect is mostly in the slightly altered ground feel. Not a bad thing.
Despite the roomy interior of the Ultra, my foot never felt like it was sloshing about within the shoe, something that I think can be a problem for mono-toed running shoes with large toe boxes. My hunch is that the Ultras, being so lightweight and still having an overall structure, tended to stay with the foot better than, say, a pair of RunAmocs (my feet slosh around in the RunAmocs by comparison), which are heavier-soled and leather-topped: the weight of the soles tugs on the flimsy leather upper giving the movement of the shoe a life of it's own apart from the foot. The Ultra is a unified, uniform structure, by comparison, so when the sole moves, the upper moves or vice versa.
Bottom line with the Ultra for running: they work pretty well.
General uses — I have to admit that perhaps the most intriguing thing about the Ultra is that it amounts to an affordable minimalist shoe (at the Ultra Pure $50 entry level) that is multi-functional. You can run in them or you can wear them to the store or to the beach. They're good in the gym, too.
There is something to an EVA foam shoe that is compelling. They clean easily; don't soak up water or mud. They can be affordably produced. If you have fairly efficient walking or running biomechanics (you don't drag your feet), they'll also last quite awhile. I actually could see Crocs putting out a zero-dropped, thin soled version of their clogs and it being quite successful.
All of this, of course, assumes you don't mind the aesthetic of a foam shoe. Foam shoes are a little funny looking; it's just the nature of the beast. As far as the aesthetic of the Ultra, I've actually seen the red/grey and black/yellow varietals in person and I'd say both look markedly better than the grey/greens I've got. If I had to guess, it's because the grey is just too "light" in color and the holes of the upper stand out more with them as opposed to the darker colored red Ultras or the black Ultras. I'm speculating.
But if you consider the $50 pricepoint of the Ultra Pure, well, there you may have something interesting. Get the Ultra Pure and you've gotten a pair of shoes/footwear that can be worn in a slew of applications. You can wear them casually, to the beach, to the gym, to the store, to do yard work (they clean crazy easily); you can wear them for a run. They're so airy as to be wearable in the heat of the summer almost like a sandal. That's kinda cool, don't you think?
Just own that crazy Crocs-like look and you got yourself a winner here.
Finally, I'll say that I really want a $30 pricepoint for the Ultra Pure and I want that for toddlers and kids. That would be absolutely fantastic.
FOUND A SALE: if you like the grey colorway of Ultras with the sockliner, you can actually snag them in a few sizes over at Champ's Sports for 69.99. That's 10 bucks cheaper than the full-blown Ultra price, so it's not huge savings, but it's something. They also have various women's Ultras at $50 or less, so if you're a woman or wear women's sizes, you're in luck.
How do the VIVO Ultra's pull off all of the above qualities? They unabashedly take a page from the triple platinum, fuglified shoes that everyone loves to hate (while secretly finding them quite comfortable) — yep, I'm talking about Crocs. It's the EVA foam, baby. That's how they do it.
But is there more to these shoes than meets the eye? Are functional shoes supposed to look cool? I wax poetic on these questions and more, as well as share some slow-motion running footage of the Ultras, and a whole slew of photos after the jump in my review of the VIVO BAREFOOT Ultra!
Modularity: What's in the Ultra Box?
VIVO BAREFOOT designed the Ultra with modularity in mind. Basically, the exterior of the Ultra, which is effectively one piece of EVA foam that makes up the sole and holey upper is a shell. If you get the full Ultra and not the "Ultra Pure," you get two additional configuration options including a sock-liner booty that can be worn inside the Ultra's foamy frame and adds a kevlar protective element to the soles; or you can add a chevron-shaped tongue of sorts. Pictures are worth a thousand words here: |  |  |  |  |
 |
You can also wear the Ultras without tongue or booty — just the frame, basically.
The Ultra's foamy frame brings the mojo
You probably are sitting there, just sorta staring in awe at the honeycombed, cored out upper of the Ultra. It's kinda wild looking, I know. By being so full of holes, the upper provides an incredible amount of breathability to the shoes while also making them "amphibious" — they're going to let water in completely, but it'll also go right back out. The honeycomb also provides structure to the upper while reducing weight. Without the booty (but with the tongue), my size 44 Ultras weigh in at a smidge over 3.5 oz. That is crazy lightweight — moreso than just about any minimalist shoe out there.Meanwhile, the interior of the Ultra features a knobby footbed; I can only assume it's knobbed to provide additional traction for the foot; personally, I don't see the point and actually find the knobbing irritating, but it, along with the upper, makes for a nifty photograph:
The sole is 7mm thick though VIVO says it'll compress to 3mm with wear. I measured mine at about 5mm at the heel. Foam really does break in (more accurately break down) over time, so essentially the Ultra will get more minimally soled over time.
Here's a roundabout of the Ultra, photo-gallery style. Take a look:
 |  |  |  | |
 |  |  |  |  |
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For such a minimalist shoe, the Ultra can be somewhat complex — at least, it's as complex as you want it to be. I think what most will find is that they prefer wearing them a particular way; incidentally, my hunch is that most Ultra fans are likely going to like it in it's most bare-bones configuration as with the "Ultra Pure" — no inserts, no fluff — just the foam shoe.
Ground feel and function
I tried the Ultras without the tongue attachment and they seem basically fine in this configuration; however, some might find a little additional abrasion due to the elements of the upper being separated. Where you can imagine irritation is when your foot lifts within the shoes, the point at which the top of your foot meets your ankle will tend to want to move into the lace area, which could cause some annoying rubbing.
Worn without socks or the booty, the Ultra is a fairly comfortable shoe. There is plenty of room within the Ultras for my feet to feel free, toes can splay well, and being "zero-drop" there's no negative impact on my natural biomechanics. If I had to cite one annoying gripe with the Ultra's design, it'd be with the raised knobs or bumps on the insole/footbed of the shoe. These provide a level of stimulation to the foot that I find a little distracting. I'd much prefer a smooth surface here and do not believe it would degrade the shoe's performance dramatically, if at all. That said, it's not so annoying as to make them totally uncomfortable; I'd just prefer it not be there.
Ground feel with the Ultras is muted a bit by the use of EVA foam. EVA foam, like all foams, has little "cells" that contain air; this allows for some structure while also being compressible. Straight up rubber (as with FiveFingers) is denser and flimsier, so you don't get the compression effects. I'd peg the ground feel on the Ultra as slightly better than the FiveFingers Bikila (or Bikila LS or Speed); it's not as good as a KSO, SeeYa or Classic/Sprint, though; it's also negatively effected by those pesky bumps! They add "noise" to the sensations of ground feel. Almost like your feet look at the ground through a filter or screen.
The overall structure of the Ultra, as provided by the EVA foam, makes them easy to flex and bend while still having a springiness to them. One thing I'll point out is that the sole curves in at the arch. Since there's nothing below this arch curve, it's not supportive so much as just a structure that will collapse under your body weight. You'll note that the KomodoSport- and Bikila-soled FiveFingers use EVA at the arch and it's sometimes called "arch support." I think that's a little too hard a line, but you will notice the bump at your arch if you pay attention. Like I said, it compresses on any load, but it's there.
The end-product with the Ultra is a shoe that has just enough structure to stand on it's own but not enough to compromise the functionality of the foot.
Here are some photos of me wearing the Ultras without the sockliner/booties:
 |  |  | |  |
 |  |  |
Running in the Ultras &mdsah; Hit play on the video below. It's some running footage shot in 60 FPS that I've slowed down by about 50%. It's not particularly exciting footage, but you might like the background music and it should give some idea of how the Ultras function running on the road (behind a Bob stroller anyway). I start busting it down a hill around 7:15 if you want to skip to some "high action." If nothing else I set it to some high-beat music.
Didn't really have any issues to speak of running in the Ultras. I love that they are lightweight; that just makes a huge difference to me. Running sockless in the Ultras also was a pleasant experience. I wore the tongue insert to prevent any chafing, but I don't suspect it was really necessary. The EVA sole provides the slightest bit of give to it for running that you might not be accustomed to if you've been running in rubber-soled shoes like Vibrams or Altra Adams/Samsons. The effect is mostly in the slightly altered ground feel. Not a bad thing.
Despite the roomy interior of the Ultra, my foot never felt like it was sloshing about within the shoe, something that I think can be a problem for mono-toed running shoes with large toe boxes. My hunch is that the Ultras, being so lightweight and still having an overall structure, tended to stay with the foot better than, say, a pair of RunAmocs (my feet slosh around in the RunAmocs by comparison), which are heavier-soled and leather-topped: the weight of the soles tugs on the flimsy leather upper giving the movement of the shoe a life of it's own apart from the foot. The Ultra is a unified, uniform structure, by comparison, so when the sole moves, the upper moves or vice versa.
Bottom line with the Ultra for running: they work pretty well.
General uses — I have to admit that perhaps the most intriguing thing about the Ultra is that it amounts to an affordable minimalist shoe (at the Ultra Pure $50 entry level) that is multi-functional. You can run in them or you can wear them to the store or to the beach. They're good in the gym, too.
There is something to an EVA foam shoe that is compelling. They clean easily; don't soak up water or mud. They can be affordably produced. If you have fairly efficient walking or running biomechanics (you don't drag your feet), they'll also last quite awhile. I actually could see Crocs putting out a zero-dropped, thin soled version of their clogs and it being quite successful.
All of this, of course, assumes you don't mind the aesthetic of a foam shoe. Foam shoes are a little funny looking; it's just the nature of the beast. As far as the aesthetic of the Ultra, I've actually seen the red/grey and black/yellow varietals in person and I'd say both look markedly better than the grey/greens I've got. If I had to guess, it's because the grey is just too "light" in color and the holes of the upper stand out more with them as opposed to the darker colored red Ultras or the black Ultras. I'm speculating.
Let me conclude on this ...
I'm going to part ways with the full-blown Ultra (with the sockliner) and say that if you're after a minimalist shoe in the $80-100 pricepoint, you probably should look at something else. The Ultra is cool for it's modularity with the sockliner insert, but it also makes it considerably more expensive ($50 for the Ultra Pure vs. $80 for the full Ultra) and there's an excellent chance you'll find yourself rarely, if ever, using the sockliner, anyway.But if you consider the $50 pricepoint of the Ultra Pure, well, there you may have something interesting. Get the Ultra Pure and you've gotten a pair of shoes/footwear that can be worn in a slew of applications. You can wear them casually, to the beach, to the gym, to the store, to do yard work (they clean crazy easily); you can wear them for a run. They're so airy as to be wearable in the heat of the summer almost like a sandal. That's kinda cool, don't you think?
Just own that crazy Crocs-like look and you got yourself a winner here.
Finally, I'll say that I really want a $30 pricepoint for the Ultra Pure and I want that for toddlers and kids. That would be absolutely fantastic.
Where to buy it.
If you're a female looking for the Ultras, I'd hop over to Google and do a shopping search; you're likely to find at least one or two pairs of the full-fledged Ultra (including sockliner) at a deep discount to the original price; for you men, you're going to have less luck with that approach (sorry). For that matter, I recommend Zappos.com because you can get the Ultra Pure there for $50 (or Ultra @ $80). If you've yet to buy shoes from Zappos before, they have free shipping both ways. One of my first experiences shopping there; I bought a pair of shoes, it got upgraded (for free) to next day shipping; I received them and they were the wrong size, so I used the free return shipping while ordering the right size; UPS picked up the return and delivered the correct size the next day. It was mind-boggling at the time. I'm a fan of Zappos, in other words.FOUND A SALE: if you like the grey colorway of Ultras with the sockliner, you can actually snag them in a few sizes over at Champ's Sports for 69.99. That's 10 bucks cheaper than the full-blown Ultra price, so it's not huge savings, but it's something. They also have various women's Ultras at $50 or less, so if you're a woman or wear women's sizes, you're in luck.
Other reviews of the Ultra
If you want to do a bit more online research on the Ultras, do yourself a favor and check out these reviews:
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Review of the VivoBarefoot Neo (versus Vibram) « ZERO DROP
Review of the VivoBarefoot Neo « ZERO DROP
A “barefoot running” shoe is a curious concept, or what is often called an oxymoron such as “doing nothing,” “friendly fire,” “dry martini,” or “deafening silence.” You either run barefoot or you run in shoes. You can’t do both at the same time, unless you’re one of those quantum-theorizing physicists, who always name your cat Schrodeinger and like hanging out at the neighborhood multiverse Starbucks simultaneously drinking a caffe latte and caffe mocha. A barefoot running shoe, however, has developed into a valuable marketing concept ever since it commercially rode bareback into stores on the natural running and minimalist movement. Here’s a shoe that can simulate going unshod (in an approximate sense), but your soles won’t turn jet black from street crud (like Homer Simpson’s once did when he decided to become a sixties’ poncho-wearing flower child for one episode).
Vibram’s FiveFingers was the first to get a significant toehold in the barefoot running shoe market, and sales continue to soar upward each year. But for all its popularity, VFFs don’t seem to make the BFF list with many traditional runners who love hurling all sorts of derogatory epithets at the simian-looking sneaker. “Monkey feet” is a favorite anti-VFF expression. So when other companies like Merrell and Terra Plana came out with a more conventional-looking barefoot running shoe, it was easy to imagine what happened next: it generated many new converts to barefoot-running shoes.
For the past several weeks, I have been running in Terra Plana’s barefoot running shoe that is called the VivoBarefoot Neo; it’s a less expensive version (by forty bucks) of the first-generation Evo. A name like Neo can become a tricky issue if you are a fan of the “Matrix” trilogy, and don’t like being used as a tool by secret, sinister forces. But I never saw any of the films. I had the urge to try out the Neos because I wanted to experience more of a barefoot-running, zero-drop sensation than I get with my Nike Frees. There was no Morpheus urging me to morph to more minimalism. No red pill. No blue pill. In other words, I was literally exercising my own free will.
Because I have wide Fred Flintstone feet, many minimalist shoe brands are inhospitable to my dogs. Going through life as an EEEEE ain’t easy. (Prom night was especially painful--narrow rented shoes, ridiculously looking tux, and reluctant date in that quick order.) So you learn to read online running shoe reviews with a healthy skepticism and an abiding hope that maybe, just maybe, the shoe being described by a blogger is the long-awaited one for your tugboat-size feet.
Mark Cucuzzella, M.D, elite runner, and owner of Two River Treads, first told me about the Evos. He’s a huge fan of them. Here’s how they are described on his store site: “The 4mm outer sole provides excellent ground feel and response time and is very durable and puncture resistant.....the same material as lightweight bullet-proof vests. The fit of the Evo is unique compared to other minimalist running shoes. The shoe hugs the area around the upper heel. The entire midfoot and forefoot area have ample room to move within the shoe. This creates the unique experience. Unlike other minimalist shoes that attempt to mold to your foot, the Evos allow your foot to move within the shoe without producing friction. I love this shoe for all activity from running, to golf, to walking around town, and occasionally sneaking into work on casual day.”
Another minimalist running pal, Nick Pang, who is the creative force behind the popular blog, Minimalist Running Shoes, wrote that “going from the Vibram FiveFingers KSO to the Evo II is like upgrading from coach to first.” Nick especially liked the shoe’s intimate rapport with Mother Earth. “The ground feel and my running form is unaltered in the Neo just like the Evo II. If this is your first pair of VivoBarefoot minimal shoes, you will feel the ground immediately with your first foot strike and you may have to adjust your running form (unless you came from barefoot running) – run lightly. If not, you will hear your shoes striking the ground in a loud and noticeable noise. Listen to your foot strike and tread lightly.”
On my first run in the Neos, I went five miles-- a distance far too much for a zero-drop newbie, but more on that later. I was amazed at how comfortable my feet felt in them-- I had removed the inner soles and I wore normal socks. I could have a sublet the extra space in my shoes to a family of gypsies and still have plenty of room for my toes. They are especially light. I also immediately noticed several other things. I was running too loudly, the soles slapping the road like a pissed-off beaver with its tail. With the Nike Frees, in contrast, I loped quietly. The excessive decibels came from an altered foot strike-- more up front near the ball than I was accustomed to. My soles also felt the pavement. It was definitely not a smooth ride during that initial run.
Hoping for a bit more cushion, I re-inserted the inner soles for subsequent runs in the Neos. Moreover, I decided to only run two or three miles each time in them, because I felt something odd or twingeing going on in the plantar area in the right foot. Because my feet were landing differently, new muscles, tendons, and ligaments were being put to the test. And since I was well aware of the high frequency of foot injuries to those who don’t take sufficient time to ease into a barefoot running shoe regimen, I saved my longer runs for the Frees. Shoe rotation is a good thing; it doesn’t mean you are backsliding.
On the aesthetic side of the ledger, the Neo’s canvas-like uppers and colors are rather ho-hum, whereas the honeycomb tread pattern of the soles are killer to look at. I was sent a black pair by the company to review. I had never run in black sneakers before, so that took some time getting used to.
I will continue to run in the Neos because they will help strengthen my feet and make me more aware of an optimal "loading rate," which is the foot's relationship to the body's center of gravity during each stride. With that said, running on the rocky trails in Neos has not been a picnic. I was required to pay extra close attention to where each foot landed, and I definitely felt the small rocks underfoot. But running on asphalt is a different story. On this more even surface, my proprioception was able to switch to cruise control. I still need to learn to run more quietly. Come this fall, there will be a trail version of the Neos. By then, I hope to be running as noiselessly as Natty Bumppo in “The Leatherstocking Tales.”
"....Nick Pang, who is the creative force behind the popular blog, Minimalist Running Shoes, wrote that “going from the Vibram FiveFingers KSO to the Evo II is like upgrading from coach to first.”
The low-slung, uniquely designed Neo is a minimalist running shoe that doesn't look like a running shoe.
Vibram’s FiveFingers was the first to get a significant toehold in the barefoot running shoe market, and sales continue to soar upward each year. But for all its popularity, VFFs don’t seem to make the BFF list with many traditional runners who love hurling all sorts of derogatory epithets at the simian-looking sneaker. “Monkey feet” is a favorite anti-VFF expression. So when other companies like Merrell and Terra Plana came out with a more conventional-looking barefoot running shoe, it was easy to imagine what happened next: it generated many new converts to barefoot-running shoes.
For the past several weeks, I have been running in Terra Plana’s barefoot running shoe that is called the VivoBarefoot Neo; it’s a less expensive version (by forty bucks) of the first-generation Evo. A name like Neo can become a tricky issue if you are a fan of the “Matrix” trilogy, and don’t like being used as a tool by secret, sinister forces. But I never saw any of the films. I had the urge to try out the Neos because I wanted to experience more of a barefoot-running, zero-drop sensation than I get with my Nike Frees. There was no Morpheus urging me to morph to more minimalism. No red pill. No blue pill. In other words, I was literally exercising my own free will.
Because I have wide Fred Flintstone feet, many minimalist shoe brands are inhospitable to my dogs. Going through life as an EEEEE ain’t easy. (Prom night was especially painful--narrow rented shoes, ridiculously looking tux, and reluctant date in that quick order.) So you learn to read online running shoe reviews with a healthy skepticism and an abiding hope that maybe, just maybe, the shoe being described by a blogger is the long-awaited one for your tugboat-size feet.
Mark Cucuzzella, M.D, elite runner, and owner of Two River Treads, first told me about the Evos. He’s a huge fan of them. Here’s how they are described on his store site: “The 4mm outer sole provides excellent ground feel and response time and is very durable and puncture resistant.....the same material as lightweight bullet-proof vests. The fit of the Evo is unique compared to other minimalist running shoes. The shoe hugs the area around the upper heel. The entire midfoot and forefoot area have ample room to move within the shoe. This creates the unique experience. Unlike other minimalist shoes that attempt to mold to your foot, the Evos allow your foot to move within the shoe without producing friction. I love this shoe for all activity from running, to golf, to walking around town, and occasionally sneaking into work on casual day.”
Another minimalist running pal, Nick Pang, who is the creative force behind the popular blog, Minimalist Running Shoes, wrote that “going from the Vibram FiveFingers KSO to the Evo II is like upgrading from coach to first.” Nick especially liked the shoe’s intimate rapport with Mother Earth. “The ground feel and my running form is unaltered in the Neo just like the Evo II. If this is your first pair of VivoBarefoot minimal shoes, you will feel the ground immediately with your first foot strike and you may have to adjust your running form (unless you came from barefoot running) – run lightly. If not, you will hear your shoes striking the ground in a loud and noticeable noise. Listen to your foot strike and tread lightly.”
On my first run in the Neos, I went five miles-- a distance far too much for a zero-drop newbie, but more on that later. I was amazed at how comfortable my feet felt in them-- I had removed the inner soles and I wore normal socks. I could have a sublet the extra space in my shoes to a family of gypsies and still have plenty of room for my toes. They are especially light. I also immediately noticed several other things. I was running too loudly, the soles slapping the road like a pissed-off beaver with its tail. With the Nike Frees, in contrast, I loped quietly. The excessive decibels came from an altered foot strike-- more up front near the ball than I was accustomed to. My soles also felt the pavement. It was definitely not a smooth ride during that initial run.
Hoping for a bit more cushion, I re-inserted the inner soles for subsequent runs in the Neos. Moreover, I decided to only run two or three miles each time in them, because I felt something odd or twingeing going on in the plantar area in the right foot. Because my feet were landing differently, new muscles, tendons, and ligaments were being put to the test. And since I was well aware of the high frequency of foot injuries to those who don’t take sufficient time to ease into a barefoot running shoe regimen, I saved my longer runs for the Frees. Shoe rotation is a good thing; it doesn’t mean you are backsliding.
On the aesthetic side of the ledger, the Neo’s canvas-like uppers and colors are rather ho-hum, whereas the honeycomb tread pattern of the soles are killer to look at. I was sent a black pair by the company to review. I had never run in black sneakers before, so that took some time getting used to.
I will continue to run in the Neos because they will help strengthen my feet and make me more aware of an optimal "loading rate," which is the foot's relationship to the body's center of gravity during each stride. With that said, running on the rocky trails in Neos has not been a picnic. I was required to pay extra close attention to where each foot landed, and I definitely felt the small rocks underfoot. But running on asphalt is a different story. On this more even surface, my proprioception was able to switch to cruise control. I still need to learn to run more quietly. Come this fall, there will be a trail version of the Neos. By then, I hope to be running as noiselessly as Natty Bumppo in “The Leatherstocking Tales.”
VIVOBAREFOOT | The original barefoot shoe | Barefoot Running | Barefoot Shoes | Why VIVOBAREFOOT
VIVOBAREFOOT | The original barefoot shoe | Barefoot Running | Barefoot Shoes | Why VIVOBAREFOOT
As scientific support for barefoot health grows, so does demand for VIVOBAREFOOT and the collection features the most comprehensive line of minimalist shoes on the market. The VIVOBAREFOOT difference is in the sole. We make a series of constructions specifically designed for varying elements, terrains, and activities. From high performance off-road and trail running shoes, to work and kids shoes, VIVOBAREFOOT offers a total lifestyle solution for the whole family and options for transitioning from walking to sports.
As with all Terra Plana products, VIVOBAREFOOT footwear is produced sustainably using recycled, locally sourced materials, with efficient and eco-friendly production techniques, in independently monitored ethical factories. Sustainable, it must also be comfortable and durable in quality and style.
Disclaimer: At the time of print our shoe box leaflets had an inaccuracy in the text. Above is the correct description of good barefoot running posture. Please refer to our instructional videos on successful transition to barefoot running, for further guidance.
Why VIVOBAREFOOT
In 2004, Terra Plana became the pioneers of the barefoot-shoe movement by launching VIVOBAREFOOT, the first minimalist shoe with a patented, ultra thin puncture resistant sole that offers maximum sensory feedback and maximum protection.
In 2010, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Harvard University, both released studies to support that barefoot reduces injuries, reserves energy, and improves technique.As scientific support for barefoot health grows, so does demand for VIVOBAREFOOT and the collection features the most comprehensive line of minimalist shoes on the market. The VIVOBAREFOOT difference is in the sole. We make a series of constructions specifically designed for varying elements, terrains, and activities. From high performance off-road and trail running shoes, to work and kids shoes, VIVOBAREFOOT offers a total lifestyle solution for the whole family and options for transitioning from walking to sports.
As with all Terra Plana products, VIVOBAREFOOT footwear is produced sustainably using recycled, locally sourced materials, with efficient and eco-friendly production techniques, in independently monitored ethical factories. Sustainable, it must also be comfortable and durable in quality and style.
Disclaimer: At the time of print our shoe box leaflets had an inaccuracy in the text. Above is the correct description of good barefoot running posture. Please refer to our instructional videos on successful transition to barefoot running, for further guidance.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
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