Vivobarefoot Men's Primus Lite III

$160.00

A tried and true favorite. The Primus Lite III combines gym functionality with casual wear. This shoe works great for lifting, daily wear, and athletic-style training. 

COLOR • Navy
Heel to Toe Drop 0.0mm

Primus Outsole: Minimalist sole gives you close to the ground feeling for both training and walking.

Wide Toe Box: Allows for ample toe splay, enhancing stability during lifts.

Hybrid Design: Walks a good line of being great for training, daily wear, and short runs.

Lightweight Construction: Breathable mesh and synthetic upper keeps your feet cool while promoting security.

Good Entry Model: If you're new to barefoot shoes and premium models, this can be a great first option.

Read: My Review

These Size Similar To

The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III run a little long and size similar to barefoot shoes from Be Lenka and TYR. You'll want to make sure you read That Fit Friend reviews and other review comments about sizing these correctly.

How I Suggest Sizing These

These have a wider forefoot and a low-profile upper construction. They should work for a wide range of foot anatomies, but again, they do run long for most. They don't come in half-sizes sans the 12.5...lucky 12.5ers.

If you have narrow and medium-width feet, size these true to size. If you're in-between sizes, go down.

If you have EE+ width feet, size these true to size. If you're in-between sizes and typically close to the end of your toe box, then go up. If not, and you like a snugger-fitting shoe, then go down.

If you traditionally don't have much room at the end of your toe box and you in-between sizes, then you'll want to automatically go up a half size, too.

Check Out: Vivobarefoot's Sizing Chart

I always recommend spot-cleaning barefoot shoes and using a three-pronged approach to do it thoroughly.

I would suggest NOT putting your barefoot shoes in your washing and drying machines. Instead, follow the four steps below for properly cleaning cross-training shoes.

  • Step 1: Grab your barefoot shoes, a clean washcloth, a soft soap void of harsh dyes and fragrances, and lukewarm water.
  • Step 2: Get your washcloth wet with lukewarm water and dab less than a dime-sized amount of soap on the damp washcloth.
  • Step 3: Remove your barefoot shoe’s insoles and spot clean areas on the shoesthat need a little attention. Do not soak your shoes. Repeat this process of dampening your washcloth and rubbing trouble areas until your shoes look noticeably cleaner. If you have bright colorways, rub softly
    to avoid ruining your shoe’s colorway.
  • Step 4:Once you’re satisfied with the appearance of your shoes, place them by a vent or dry area in your house and remove their insoles until thorougly dry.

All returns and exchanges are accepted for unworn, like-new shoes within 30-days. I cover your return costs!

Read more here.

Features worth knowing

The core construction details that I think are worth knowing before you buy!

1. WIDE SPACIOUS TOE BOX

Want room to splay your toes? The wide and spacious toe box of this model is great for a wide range of foot widths and promoting better balance through toe splay.

2. PRIMUS OUTSOLE

Low-to-the-ground Primus outsole promotes proper ground feedback and feel. This shoe has a minimal stack height of ~5.5mm and the outsole grips well on different surfaces.

3. LIGHTWEIGHT BOOT

The lightweight boot construction of this model is great for promoting more freedom. If you want every part of your shoe to feel light, you'll enjoy this boot.

4. BREATHABLE MESH

The Primus Lite III is best for warmer climates due to its breathable mesh upper. In hot gyms and weather, this shoe breathes well, keeping stink relatively down.

Lifting Thresholds and My Assessment

This shoe works great for strength workouts of all types. I've pushed them hard to assess where their stability and grip starts to fall short.

Below are a few of the core and top lifting tests I've done in them.

  • 525 lb deadlifts. Good grip for conventional deadlifts. Sumo pullers may want to find something with a more aggressive outsole tread.
  • 355 lb squats. Ample room to splay the toes and the upper security should be enough for most squat styles.
  • 225 lb reverse lunge. Great flexibility and ground feel. This shoe moves well with the aggressive forefoot flexion needed for single-leg exercises.
Cross Training Assessment

These work best for cross-training contexts where you're doing a lot of athletic-style movements. For example, if you blend power-focused lifts like power cleans or explosive trap bar deadlifts with box jumps, you'll like this shoe.

For cross-training, the articulation and Primus outsole are the winning components for this shoe. The breathability is also a nice perk for anyone who trains in hotter gyms. I rarely have breathability issues with this shoe when going hard.

Running, Walking and Comfort

For running, my favorite distances to run in these are from 400-meters to 1/2 miles. At this mileage, this shoe does an overall good job. That's why I like this shoe for the training generalist.

For walking and daily wear, I've really liked these. They have a nice casual appearance while maintaining a sport vibe. These shoes are a good option for running errands or working in a casual setting, then going straight to the gym to train.

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