Vivobarefoot Neo Trail M

[SeeRed]

I am, quite literally, jumping in with both feet here for my first ever MGS forum review. I needed- OK, let's be honest, WANTED- a different pair of black golf shoes. I prefer barefoot style or no-drop sole shoes, so I started there. I have my Vibram FiveFingers (seriously, fingers? why not FiveToes? but I digress) for running and hiking but am not ready to take them to the course, and I love my True Linkswear no-drop shoes. But what about Vivobarefoot? Yes, I know there was a review of the Hybrid waaaay back in 2012, and I agree in principle with the conclusion. If you'll pardon my paraphrasing, essentially they were a good barefoot style shoe for the course but were over priced. $170 for the Hybrid still. I looked. So, the question I asked was whether or not there existed another Vivobarefoot shoe that was appropriate for the course that was more reasonably priced. I found the Neo Trail M, which has the same sole pattern but not the leather upper. Upon first inspection, and you may be able to see this from the photos, it is obvious there is no way these shoes are going to keep your feet dry on a wet course. They feel great, which to me means a flat, no-drop sole and a generous toe box. The tread feels aggressive and the collar and lacing are very comfortable. Granted I was only walking around the house in them, but it's a start. Oh, and did I mention that I found them for $60? That was truly the hook for me. If they work out on the course like it appears as though they should, then they are a great deal.

 

Here is some info from Vivobarefoot, specifically the "5 Principles of VIVOBAREFOOT Shoes" (their caps, not mine):

1. Ultra-thin, puncture-resistant sole (offering maximum proprioception with protection) Yeah, I had to look that one up, too.

2. Natural foot-flex (flexible shoes allow for greater range of natural movement)

3. Neutral last (zero-drop heel to toe profile supports natural gait)

4. Anatomic toe box (shoe is shaped to allow the foot to behave as it would if bare - to expand and contract with every step)

5. Removable insole (it is suggested that this be removed as soon as you can- i.e. as soon as you are comfortable with the barefoot movement- to enjoy greater proprioceptive feedback)

 

On to the product:

 

You may be able to tell from the third photo that the insole has not yet been removed. I'm all about proprioceptive feedback (Vibram FiveFingers, remember?), so the insoles will be removed for the better part of tomorrow's round. And as there has been no rain in California since noone can remember when, I will not have to worry about their lack of moisture protection. More to come!

[SeeRed]

Finally...

 

Thanks for your patience. Before I launch into the meat of the actual review, let me agree with dru_: these are, in fact, a great product. I walk 98% of my golf rounds. Because of that- and the fact that I like comfortable shoes- I have four pair of Trues and two ECCOs. So these are my basis for comparison on the course. Granted the ECCOs are not zero drop shoes, but they are darn comfortable. I walked two rounds in the VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trails, which is enough to tell me what I wanted to know for the review. Let's get to it.

 

STYLE

So, I like my golf shoes in all three of the colors: white, black and brown. My on-course style would probably be described as relatively conservative. The style of these shoes fits in just right with my preferences. The dots that make up the 'V' on the outside of the toe box are slightly reflective, which I initially thought to be a bit ostentatious, but they are just a muted grey in the daylight on the course. Perfect. They are obviously zero drop shoes and as such they look really flat, because, well, they are. They are also very low profile and feel a bit like slippers. In fact, they look like slippers when they're on your feet. You will not find these (yet) in Puma orange or aqua. VIVOBAREFOOT does make other versions of their trail shoes in various colors, however. For me, the style rates 20/20.

 

FIT/COMFORT

When it comes to shoes, especially shoes in which you expect to walk 4-5 miles over different terrain, this is what really matters. As many have already stated in various threads, I never experience any foot fatigue at all when wearing the Trues. The ECCOs are a pretty close second, and I only really feel anything in the pair with the traditional soft spikes. So the bar was already set pretty high when I decided to try the VIVOBAREFOOTs. And my initial impression was not necessarily completely positive. As I mentioned in the first post, the VIVOs come with an insole. I ordered my pair in my usual size of 43, and when I tried them on (with thin, cotton socks) I thought, "Uh oh." The toe box felt cramped and the shoes tight overall. There was no way I was going to walk even a few holes in them without experiencing some discomfort. Also, there was not the nice connection to the ground that I expect from barefoot style shoes. I was expecting something close to what I feel in my Vibram FiveFingers, and this wasn't it. The answer, of course, was to remove the insole immediately. Everything was right with the world once I did this- the toe box was nice and roomy, the barefoot feel was there and they really started to feel like slippers. Grippy slippers, mind you, but more on that later. As the sole relates to comfort, I can say that you will definitely feel those aggressive knobs on the sole when walking on anything other than grass. They are firm little suckers, which is generally a good thing. It did cause me to avoid walking on the cart path, which feels a little harsh. That is truly the only slightly negative thing I have to say about the comfort of these shoes. I might mention that these are not necessarily the shoe to try if you are going "barefoot" for the first time. The Trues or a more shoe-like zero drop might be a better bet. Without the insole, these are as barefooty (?) as my Vibrams (minus the toe freedom). They are way barefoot-ier than the Trues. It can be an odd feeling at first if you're not used to it, and can definitely muck up your golf swing as a result. So, to recap: slipper-like feeling upper, generous toe box, great barefoot style sole that gives lots of feedback, and a comfortable collar. 18/20, with points deducted for some harsh-ish feedback on firm surfaces.

 

PERFORMANCE

The grippy, aggressive little knobs on the VIVOs do not slip. Ever. This tread pattern was apparently made for trail running and hiking, but it could just as easily have been designed for golf. Our NorCal courses tend to stay on the damp side most of the year, even in years with no rain. There are tight lies, thick, wet rough, beds of redwood and douglas fir needles (I did mention that I don't always hit the fairway, right?), etc. I played from all of these conditions, sadly, which hasn't been great for my scoring but is good for this review. I think that I can say with utmost confidence that, short of some very muddy nastiness from which you should probably take an unplayable anyway, these shoes will not slip. I mentioned above that these are not soft knobs and feel harsh on hard surfaces, but they also dig in like the Seahawks' defensive line. (You didn't think we were going to get through this without at least one Super Bowl reference, did you? I should actually have said 49ers' d-line.) Couple the grip with the barefoot connection to the ground and you would really have to attempt a gorilla swing to dislodge yourself from the turf. I was actually afraid of damaging the greens in these shoes. However, I imagine very few people take a full swing with the putter, so the greens are probably safe. Where these lack in the performance category is in their water-resistance, or lack thereof. But nowhere is this even listed as a feature, so I'm not sure points should be taken away. They are definitely a dry weather shoe, and the occasional (which for me can mean every other hole) foray into the damp rough will not lessen their comfort due to wet feet. Still, they aren't perfect, so 19/20.

 

VALUE

On the six pair of golf shoes that I currently own I have spent from $70-$190. I bought the VIVOs for $60 on 6pm.com. I believe they sell for $115 on the VIVO website. VIVO also sells the Hybrid (marketed for golf and reviewed by MGS) for $170 and various other trail shoes for $95-$115, all of which have the same tread pattern and would be suitable for golf. If we stick to the MGS standard of $100 as a baseline for determining value in a golf shoe, then the $60 that I paid is a steal. Honestly, if you like the barefoot style of shoe and can find these for $60 or so, buy them. Your color options will be limited, but they will perform on the course and your feet will be happy. At $115 the choice becomes more difficult. I have True Tours ($130), PHX ($70) and Protos ($140). The VIVOs are much more comfortable than the PHX for me, but not quite as comfortable as an overall shoe as the Tours or Protos. However, they grip better than any of the Trues. I have slipped at one time or another in all of the Trues and the ECCO Biom Hybrids. There may come a time when I find myself slipping in the VIVOs, but I don't really want to imagine on what type of lie it will be. Fresh cow manure? Maybe, but as the courses up here are generally only covered with goose droppings I think I'm safe there. I still think the VIVOs are a good value at $115, but you are giving up water resistance, which you will find in the Trues for $15-$25 more. Also, the VIVO upper is a fairly thin material. At $60 if they hold up for a full seaon I will be happy, but at $115 they should last longer. Time will tell how the upper material fares. Again, at $60 they are a real no-brainer. But I will base the value score on their MSRP price of $115. 17/20, with deductions only for lack of water resistance and minor questions of upper durability.

 

PEANUT GALLERY

I have very little to report here. The peanut gallery consisted only of my somewhat regular foursome, one member being my better half who already thinks I have too many shoes in general, never mind golf shoes. IMO, eye rolling does not qualify as peanut gallery feedback. Another member simply busted up laughing because I had purchased yet another pair of golf shoes. Once that was over he asked if they were VIVOs and said they looked good. He also wears Trues and was sporting the Protos that day. NEW Protos, I might add. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. The fourth member said nice shoes and that was that. His golf shoes may date from the late-80s, so there you are. Once the men's club season starts again I will likely have more to share in the way of peanut gallery feedback, but for now that's all I got. I doubt there will be much anyway because the style of the VIVOs is very understated. No score for PGF at this time.

 

TOTAL SCORE: 74/80 (extrapolated to 93/100)

 

I think there is still an item that needs watching with these shoes, and that is durability. I wear them to and from the course like I do with all of my spikeless shoes, so we'll see how long the grippy knobs last. I wonder how their firmness will affect their longevity. I will likely do a little hiking and trail running in them as well. I have had a pair of Vibram FiveFingers for almost three years now (many miles of hiking and trail running) and am just about to toss them due to loss of traction. Their soles are less aggressive than the VIVOs, but the material feels similar. If the VIVOs last a few seasons I will be more than happy with the purchase. In summary, if you are in the market for a dry weather, barefoot style shoe I highly recommend checking out the VIVO trail shoes.

[dru_]

Fwiw, I wear vivid barefoot a as my every day walking shoe. Great product.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Now that's an interesting looking shoe -- and for $60?  Available on their website?  Good stuff...

[SPY ZINGER]

This is the same as their $170 dollar shoe, just not waterproof. An excellent value and product. Thanks for sharing it.

[Hula Rock]

ZINGER !!!!!!!!  Group Buy on these puppies?  Even you cannot rock these.......

 

 

 

[SPY ZINGER]

ZINGER !!!!!!!! Group Buy on these puppies? Even you cannot rock these.......

 

toes.jpg

You're exactly right, I cannot!! They make you resemble an ape when they're on the feet. Just can't do em, but they have their function, purpose and merit. Just not for me.

[Max F]

Looking forward to the review.  I am interested in trying a zero drop shoe for golf since I got my Merrill running shoes but the TrueLinks are too wide for me.  My balance and swing feel better when not wearing the taller heeled shoes like Ecco Biom Hybrid and older Adidas Tour 360s.

 

Not wishing you bad luck, but try to hit a few from a downhill, sidehill lie and maybe from some wet rough. 

[SeeRed]

Review (finally) posted.

[SeeRed]

Holy mackerel, those Vibrams are ridiculous.

[SeeRed]

Looking forward to the review.  I am interested in trying a zero drop shoe for golf since I got my Merrill running shoes but the TrueLinks are too wide for me.  My balance and swing feel better when not wearing the taller heeled shoes like Ecco Biom Hybrid and older Adidas Tour 360s.

 

Not wishing you bad luck, but try to hit a few from a downhill, sidehill lie and maybe from some wet rough. 

So can I blame you for the miserably small percentage of fairways I've been hitting lately? I wish. But the shoes have not slipped, I am happy to report.

[Max F]

Thanks for the stellar review.  You hit all the points I was hoping to read about.

 

You can certainly blame me for the score that round.  Chalk it up to keeping your readers happy.

 

Beware - I read some reviews of this shoe in a non-golf setting  before I found your post and some people complained that the lugs broke off while trail running.  If you like them that much you may want to save them for the course.

[SeeRed]

Thanks for the stellar review.  You hit all the points I was hoping to read about.

 

You can certainly blame me for the score that round.  Chalk it up to keeping your readers happy.

 

Beware - I read some reviews of this shoe in a non-golf setting  before I found your post and some people complained that the lugs broke off while trail running.  If you like them that much you may want to save them for the course.

Yeah, those knobs don't give much. I'm wondering if they'll wear faster because of that. You can really feel almost each one of them when walking along a paved cart path or across the course parking lot.