I was not mentally or physically prepared for my first experience in the world of barefoot shoes. Going on my first run in Vivobarefoot’s Primus Flow running shoes changed my entire mindset on running.
Moments like these are rare. Something that hasn’t happened since running my first marathon.
Simply put. The Primus Flows are a roller coaster of a ride.
My First Run
Every time I get a new pair of running shoes, they immediately get put to the test with an eight mile run. But these were the first shoes that made me contemplate that practice. As I put them on for the run, I had a flash back to the first time running barefoot running on a turf field.
That barefoot run wasn’t a bad memory; in fact, it was actually surprisingly refreshing. But it didn’t take long until my feet and calves were solid and tired.
Because of this, I wasn’t sure if it would be a dumb idea to run eight miles in the Primus Flows for my initial experience.
Foolishly optimistic, I decided to do it.
With how little material they’re made of, it’s no surprise just how light they are. But it’s shocking how every step feels in them. Partly because you can feel every little dimple and indent on the ground. Mostly because they quickly fade into the background the longer, you’re in them.
Until you step on rock! Then your feet instantly scream for relief.
For example, there was a half mile patch towards the start of the run where it was straight gravel. It eventually hurt so much I had to bite my tongue. By the time I got through the gravel road the pavement felt like a warm, nurturing hug.
That was at least until my calves started to tighten, then tighten some more, and eventually tighten beyond belief. It felt like they were about to burst.
Between the foot torture, rock-solid calves, and ridiculous distance I decided to run, these shoes seriously made me rethink my form. And run slower. (A lot slower!)
I’ve never had a pair of shoes noticeably change my average mile time. But in the Primus Flows it went from 7 minutes and 40 seconds to 8 minutes and 38 seconds. A whole minute slower?!
And for some reason, the experience didn’t finish after I ended the run. For the next couple hours my feet felt strangely amazing! They were tingling and moving blood like never before. It was like that feeling after a painful massage.
Complete utter bliss!
The Shoes Themselves
If there’s anything more gratifying than finishing your first run in the Vivobarefoot Primus Flows, it’s seeing family and friends react to them. I had a couple people respond with an immediate “Nope!”, while others sounded scared as they asked, “You’re supposed to run in those?”
If we go from top to bottom, Vivobarefoot has done something no other shoes (that I’ve tried) have done. The uber soft collar around your ankle actually works. Aka, it doesn’t rub your skin raw around your achilles. It’s fantastically plush and smooth!
Similarly, the tongue is ultra-thin and light. And the whole insides of the shoes have a sticky material that I’ve never experienced before. It genuinely helps the shoes stay in place during short and long runs.
Moving to the laces, they’re also designed in a way that I haven’t seen before. There are these small bumps on the edges of the laces, so the shoes stay tight and secure the entire time. If anything, these bumps are too good at their job because sometimes it’s unnecessarily hard to loosen them.
The upper material is the first part of the shoe that I’m familiar with. It’s this thin plastic threading that forms a strong yet flexible fit. No matter what I’ve ran on or through, these things are exceptionally tough and durable.
I typically describe the mid sole and out sole separately, but these are again an exception. The mid sole and out sole are the same thing. A straight piece of rubber with some basic patterns on the bottom for traction.
And there’s not much more to say about them because there’s not much there. They’re like the flip flops that my Polynesian friends wear to do everything in; shop, farm, train, hunt, run, work, etc.
Long Term Use
What I mean by long term use is over 50 total miles of running in the Primus Flows on a mix of different surfaces. As well as lifting in them and wearing them throughout the day.
The biggest thing I can say about these shoes is that they’re made for running on the road and nothing else. Technically you can run in these on trails and gravel roads. But that’s like saying it’s technically possible to climb Mt Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Can you? Yeah, kind of. Should you? Probably not.
I don’t say this just based on my first run with a half mile chunk of gravel. I seriously tried so many different types of gravel roads hoping to find one that I could routinely run on without jabbing my feet with rocks 24/7. And I couldn’t.
There may be moments on trails where the rocks are nicely compacted and there isn’t any pain involved. But these moments only lasted for a few strides though, not miles. (It really makes me curious what Vivobarefoot’s trail shoes are like.)
Outside of running though, these are also my favorite shoes to do everything else in. I have a better walking form and standing posture in them. And my knees, hips, and back are a testament to this.
I’ve never felt this good before. I feel restored, strong, and more capable than I have for a long time.
The Recap
After running 50 miles in the Vivobarefoot Primus Flows, I finally got back to a comparable pace; about 7 minutes and 50 seconds per mile. Whether I’m running on the road or a ditch bank in these, it’s a wild ride.
Everything you do in barefoot shoes for the first time, feels like a whole new experience. Running on hills and speed training hits you differently. Arguably better.
As I consistently get more miles under my feet in these, the more my mind and body relearn and exponentially grow. I never thought a pair of running shoes could expand my mind and body so much.
I highly recommend you give a pair of these a try. They’re extremely special.