Hello, my name’s Andrew, and these are the Primus Lite’s, the best Vivobarefoot road shoes for gym, work, and run.

Features

Back in 2017 I bought a pair of the original Primus Lite’s, and at this point I’ve been wearing them for six years and over 4,000 miles.

But I figured it was time to ask Vivobarefoot for a pair of the new versions to test, so…let’s check ‘em out!

Design

Aesthetically the Primus Lite’s are super modern with an all-black option that’s basically what Darth Vader would wear if he transitioned to zero-drop.

But for more of a Luke Skywalker vibe they also come in navy, white, grey, and yellow.

Upper

Frontways the Lite’s have a wide toebox, and the upper is made from recycled fabric with mesh panels on the top, side, and heel for breathability.

But there’s also a ton of reinforcement to prevent tear-outs, and a removable insole for extra padding.

Tread

Underneath the Primus Lite’s have an ultra flexible 4mm sole with a minimal tread for roads….

…which doesn’t seem like much, but the tread on my old one’s was even thinner, and most of it still looks brand new after 4,000 miles.

Performance

Going out for my first run the new Primus Lite’s seemed a bit thicker and softer than the old version, so they felt great right out of the box.

Running

Although I did miss the heel padding, and I had to move the laces to the second eyelet to keep my foot from sliding around.

Also, the minimal ankle liner was surprisingly comfortable, and the Primus Lite’s stayed locked down, whether I was cruising on pavement or sprinting all out at the track.

Training

Which is also useful for cross-training with dynamic movements like jumping, lunging, and balancing.

Plus, because a thin sole is much more stable than cushion, the Primus Lite is a great gym shoe, and back when I was weightlifting I routinely used it to leg press 400–500 lbs with no problems.

Working

Finally, back when I was a running shoe salesman I got plantar fasciitis from working long shifts on concrete.

But when I switched from my squishy cushion shoes to the Primus Lite’s the pain was gone in a week, and they felt so natural that I could go eight hours on a hard floor without getting tired whatsoever.

Conclusion

Overall, the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite’s are one of the most versatile barefoot shoes you can buy.

Pros/Cons

Because they’re ultra light and flexible with excellent breathability, and solid reinforcement for road running, cross training, and standing jobs.

However, the toebox does get a little pointy near the end, the heel could use some padding, and the lack of half sizes might be an issue for some people.

Pricing

Also, the Primus Lite’s come at a higher price, but what’s great is that you can buy refurbished Vivobarefoots for as little as $70 at revivo.com.

Alternatives

In terms of similar barefoot shoes…

Resources

That said, if you want to support the channel, you can shop with the referral links above/below…

…and if you want to learn more about barefooting, you can watch my Zero-Drop Transition video, or check out Vivo’s Barefoot Fundamentals course.

Lastly, if you have questions about the Primus Lite, or about barefoot shoes, in general, let me know in the comments. Yes…even you, Darth.

Thanks for reading. Catch ya next time. Peace!