Hello, my name’s Andrew, and these are the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail All Weather FG, a lightweight barefoot shoe with a water-resistant upper and semi-aggressive tread for hiking and trail running.

Features

Last summer I reviewed the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG, which is a super tough trail shoe for warm dry weather, but for winter and spring when its cold and wet, the mesh upper is less ideal.

So I asked Vivobarefoot for a pair of Primus Trail All Weather FG’s to test and they’re kind of like a zero-drop raincoat for turning miserable conditions into wild adventures.

Upper/Inner

Because the All Weather’s have a medium-wide foot-shaped toebox with a water-resistant vegan upper, rip-stop and reinforcement panels for durability, grippy eyelets for customizing tension, and drawstring laces for quick on/off.

Inside there’s minimal tongue, lightweight heel padding for lockdown, and removable foam insole for extra padding.

Sole/Tread

Underneath you’ve got a medium 5.5mm zero-drop sole with great flexibility in all directions, plus a semi-aggressive tread that’s flat enough to handle rocks and gravel but spaced enough to grip on moderately wet terrain.

Testing

Even though the Vivobarefoot Primus All Weather has the same sole as the Magna FG’s, the lower cut does make it lighter and more flexible at 284 grams vs 392 grams for the Magna.

Walking

So heading out for a walk on roads it was a bit closer to the minimal feel of a pure road shoe like the Primus Lite and pretty comfortable for doing longer miles on pavement, especially with a bit of snow cover.

Hiking

Switching over to trails the semi-aggressive tread was great for tromping along on ice and packed snow, although the lower cut made it less practical for deeper drifts and got chilly up top when I was just standing around.

For super cold days a couple layers of Injinji merino wool toe socks and a thin wool felt insole made the Primus All Weather’s a lot warmer, although it did make the shoes a little tighter, since they’re not as roomy as the Magna FG’s.

Trail Running

Speeding up for a trail run the Primus FG’s tread provided tons of protection against rocks and roots, along with solid grip on flat surfaces, like boardwalks, and the rip-stop inlays were excellent for preventing tears from sharp sticks and thorns, while the drawstring made it easy to whip the shoes on and off for shaking out stones.

Also, the All Weather upper did a good job of shedding slush, and despite not being completely waterproof, the thin material dried quickly and created some nice airflow, which makes it a lot more versatile for summer than thicker, more insulated barefoot trail shoes.

Conclusion

Overall the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail All Weather FG is a great option for anyone who wants the agility of a lightweight barefoot shoe with the water-resistance and protection of a tougher hiking boot.

Pros/Cons

Because the upper is breathable and weathertight for all-season adventures, the minimal padding provides a excellent lockdown without feeling heavy, and the 5.5mm tread is highly versatile for both dry and wet conditions.

However, the medium toebox may not be roomy enough for wider feet, the extra reinforcement makes the shoe somewhat less flexible, and the Firm Ground lugs aren’t as grippy as Vivobarefoot’s Soft Ground lugs on steep slippery hills.

Alternatives

In terms of similar barefoot shoes for hiking and trail running…

Resources

If you’d like to support the channel, you can shop with the referral links below, compare products at barefootwear.org, or watch my Zero-Drop transition video to learn more about barefooting.

Finally, if you have a question about the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail All Weather Fg, or about barefoot shoes in general, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for watching, catch ya next time. Peace!