Vivobarefoot Women's Primus Trail Knit FG

$175.00

The Primus Trail Knit FG is a great do-it-all barefoot shoe that performs well outdoors on hikes, in the gym, and for casual use. They tend to work well in most seasons and have ample grip with their lugs.

COLOR • Clay
Heel to Toe Drop 0.0mm

Premium Knit Upper: Knit upper is made with recycled materials and additional overlays for protection.

Wide Toe Box: Allows for ample toe splay and maximal foot movement when training and hiking.

Firm Ground Outsole: FG outsole is built with a sticky rubber material to maximize traction.

Aggressive and Grippy Lugs: 3mm thick base with 2.5mm lugs provide good bite on most surfaces.

Quick Lacing System: Quick lacing system is great for promoting ease of use when slipping these on and securing them when hiking and training.

Read: My Review

These Size Similar To

These will feel similar to the TYR barefoot shoes some of the budget options like AIRHAS. The sizing can be interesting in these. I suggest reading the next section to ensure you size 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 thoroughly 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. FG OUTSOLE WITH GRIPPY LUGS

Despite having a relatively thin sole, the FG outsole does a good job of protecting the feet while not taking away from ground feel. The 2.5mm lugs are also a nice touch for protection and grip.

2. KNIT BOOTIE-STYLE CONSTRUCTION

The lightweight knit bootie provides excellent lockdown without feeling cumbersome. If you like barefoot shoes that have a sock-like fit, you'll appreciate this shoe's boot.

3. WIDE ANATOMICAL TOE BOX

This model has a nice spacious toe box that can handle foot width up to 3E. It also has additional overlays covering the toe box for protection from abrasion and objects you'll run into on hikes.

4. SPEEDY LACING SYSTEM

When hiking in inclement weather and rough terrain, laces can take a beating. The quick lacing system on these makes it easy to find security without having to fuss with laces getting dirty and wet.

Lifting Thresholds and My Assessment

This shoe works surprisingly great for the job. If you're only wanting to buy one shoe that can also work for outdoor stuff, this is your GOAT option.

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

  • 475 lb deadlifts. Great grip and the lugs don't feel offputting when working at this weight.
  • 335 lb squats. These work great for squats and the wider construction and
    grippy outsole are perks for bilateral squat variations.
  • 215 lb reverse lunge. Overall good. These are flexible and stay secure when hitting single-leg workouts. One thing to note is that the overlays can sometimes take a minute to break-in at the toe box. Thicker feet be warned.
Cross Training Assessment

If you're wanting a shoe for CrossFit from Vivobarefoot, I'd suggest going with the Motus Strength, but if you
also want outdoor functionality — the Primus Trial Knit is low-key not bad! They're my runner-up suggestion for when anyone asks for a CrossFit-dialed shoe from Vivobarefoot.

For cross-training, these work great and that's due to their lugs. If you routinely train on turf or want a shoe with a lot of bite for plyos and multi-directional movement, you'll like the Trail Knit FG's performance.

Running, Walking and Comfort

For running, my favorite distances to run in these are from 1-3 miles. At this mileage, they feel pretty comfortable. For super rocky hikes, they do a decent job if you're careful with your footing. My fave terrains to run in these is dirty, mulch, and light gravel. That's where the lugs excel the most.

For walking and daily wear, I've really liked these. They're a good do-it-all shoe and have made them my training shoes for travel fairly often. Additionally, I think they can also be a fairly good all-season shoe. They're a good option for someone who wants a single shoe for hiking and training while traveling.

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