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On top of their breathable upper construction, this model is also fairly easy to clean which is awesome because you’re likely going to get these dirty on various trails. The sole and upper are super easy to spot clean and the lacing system helps to prevent dirt build-up in the midfoot. Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG Cons There are two interesting data points of pronation. How far your ankle travels from side to side during a step, and how fast it happens. Shoe The forefoot has plenty of flex, much like many other minimal shoes, but it’s concentrated mainly across the under the arch and the ball of the foot. Many reviewers appreciated the overall style and design of the Primus Trail FG shoes. They also noted that the shoes were lightweight and felt durable enough to last for long hikes and runs. Vivobarefoot also offers the Primus Trail All Weather FG for more versatility and weather conditions if you are looking for more hiking footwear options. Performance Another perk to this shoe is that I think it’s a pretty good intro model for the barefoot enthusiast who is wanting to wear this style of shoe for more hikes and trail runs. If this is you, then you’ll likely want to acclimate to using barefoot shoes for longer stints outdoors, so this model falls perfectly in line with the trails and hikes you’ll likely initially use them on.
The upper material is made from a hybrid mix of materials including recycled materials , reusing post-consumer plastic waste that keeps this material from ending up on landfills. The upper is comfortable and durable. My first initial feeling in these shoes was that although the shoe is wide as predicted and designed, the upper is quite low and the mesh on the toes quite stiff meaning the toes don’t have a lot of wiggle room upwards. After some time in the shoes this feeling of the upper did loosen as the upper material stretched with use. In terms of an issue with the fit of the shoe this is where it started and finished, otherwise the fit of the shoe is comfort personified. The upper material is very durable and after more than 1000km, with a number of runs in very wet and muddy condition the Primus Trail is still very similar to it’s original condition. The first thing to like about the Primus Trail II FG is that it provides adequate foot protection on different types of trails. The “FG” in the name of this model stands for “Firm Ground” which is a means of classifying particular soles used in some Vivobarefoot Shoes. The FG in this model basically adds to this shoe’s protection and gives you a slightly more stiff sole to walk on. Like the other Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG models, these shoes are made with a recycled upper mesh and outsole made with post-consumer plastic waste. The shoes are also free from animal products, so it’s safe to say that they are vegan.I currently own the previously mentioned RAIII and two Addis variants, along with the Primus Trail II FG, and the new Motus. I would replace all them with the same shoe. Great stuff. The Primus Trail II All Weather FG shoes are recycled all-weather mesh textile for their rs and soles. It has no animal products included in the shoes, making it vegan-friendly. I personally think this is a good thing because it adds to this shoe’s ability to protect the feet and not beat them up while also giving you enough to simulate being barefoot. This model has a 2.5mm base sole with 4mm lugs which work really well on light and moderately technical trails. To gather the data, I ran on a relatively flat 0.5-mile trail, running the first half at a 5:15 min/km speed and the second half at 4:10 min/km.
Another option is the Primus Trail Knit FG , which has seamless construction and a knitted upper that promotes flexibility. Fit and Sizing Harder surfaces such as pavements and city streets are not uncomfortable, there’s enough protection to walk unimpeded, although heel-strikes can become slightly jarring at speed. As with a barefoot running shoe, modifying your stride is important in some situations, but not at normal walking pace. Now that’s strange because typically, shoes with less cushion usually cause a higher impact. Look at the Mesa Trail, for example. Vivo appear to be making a real effort to go beyond greenwashing, and also source their labor ethically. These efforts undoubtedly push the price up a little, but compared to some other running shoes, the price tag on the Primus Trail is not extreme. Over the course of my testing, I tried to use the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG on a variety of trails and hikes to help contextualize where they perform the best and where they fall short.Vivo’s claims that the Primus Trail II FGs can perform on all kinds of conditions and terrain really stood up on test. The grip was brilliant and the shoes inspired confidence on even the most slippery of surfaces. Also, considering the amount of traction they give, you still feel the ground rather than the treads. They certainly feel better on trail rather than road, but this tactile trail feel points to them being well designed for their intended purpose. I used the Primus Trail during and in my training for The Guzzler 50km and many of my long runs since. During this time I’ve found the Primus Trail comfortable and suitable for my runs of all distances. The Primus Trail is minimal, meaning for long runs the runner needs to be adept in wearing minimal footwear. The Primus Trail is a good option, it allows the foot to move naturally, while giving protection underfoot. Once the shoe is worn in the foot has ample room to splay and move without the shoe inhibiting this. This is the goal of a minimal shoe, allowing the foot to move naturally and aide performance. Long distance runs in the Primus Trail mean the shoe doesn’t inhibit performance, but the protection and small amount of cushion do aide foot fatigue to some degree. It is certainly suitable for a seasoned minimal footwear runner to wear over long distances. During a challenging 50km trail run like The Guzzler I felt the Primus Trail gave me ample support and allowed me to run over five hours feeling supported and performing well. But if you’re a narrow/low-volume footed runner, and you’re forever sliding around in oversized barefoot shoes, please try some Vivos now! I know those people exist out there and deserve barefoot shoes too! To perform the analysis, I use University grade measurement pods to estimate ground reaction force, peak impact force, pronation angle/speed, and much more. Otherwise, the tongue is a thin, flat design that sits perfectly over the bridge of the foot and doesn’t seem to dig in anywhere nor move around.
Again because of this tougher plastic upper, there is reduced breathability. And with these shoes being designed in England, it’s not such an issue there, but if you’re in the heat of Texas, take that in to count. If the material is an issue for you, there is a knit option that you may want to try instead, which will be more forgiving and possibly reduce any sore spots. Users of the Primus Trail II All Weather FG shoes have mentioned that the Primus Trail II All Weather FG shoes have good responsiveness, thanks to their flexibility and lightweight features. People who have used the footwear said that since the shoes react well to their feet, feeling more of the ground connection. I talked about lacing these shoes in the Fit section. And now, here is why you don’t want to crank these bad boys. Vivobarefoot has a distinctive fit that differs from many other minimal shoes on the market, which I believe comes from their European heritage.More specifically, I think this barefoot shoe performs best on light to moderately technical trails. It’s not going to be your best for technical trails that have a lot of loose terrains. The lugs in this model have a depth of 4mm which run fairly on the lower end for traction promoting lugs. The Vivobarefoot results in the least amount of pronation out of the test shoes, again likely due to the true barefoot feel. Something about the shoe forces me to “feather” the ground and land softly. And that lines up well with the feeling of a truly minimal feel. Starting from the heel, they hug the ankle and remain snug “fitted” up to the foot’s arch, where they spread to let those toes and forefoot wiggle. The environmental credentials on offer here are impressive, and the ‘bloom’ insole material is surprisingly compelling in itself, all of which we welcome. The level of comfort on offer – especially considering the low-profile nature of the design – is also impressive, and makes the shoe comfortable enough for long days. Indeed, it’s very easy to forget you’re wearing them at all, so flexible and slipper-like are they.
A question that I’ve received a few times on my YouTube channel is in regard to how the Primus Lite III compared to the Primus Trail II FG. These questions are mostly asked by folks who want a shoe for outdoor activities, but also a model that they can train in. For the Vivobarefoot Primus Trails I’ve given them much more time. I’ve completed more than 1000km in these shoes including many long training miles and multiple races. Including a 50km trail ultra, held over dry trail conditions, also two sub ultra trail races both held in wet and at times super muddy conditions. All in all the Primus Trail’s are still going strong and have further running left in them at this point. So if you’re pushing out the side of the shoe from the start, it’s unlikely that you’ll wear them in over time, or if you do, it will take hundreds of miles to soften.
There are not many significant updates when comparing the Primus Trail II All Weather with the Primus Trail II FG . Most reviewers of the Primus Trail II All Weather FG say that the shoes offer great durability and comfort during the colder weather, though, along with improved foot protection. This is compared to the Primus Trail II FG, which is more suitable for less intense weather. That said, the Firm Ground outsole might feel a bit too stiff to promote ground feel for veteran barefoot runners. Even then, users praise it for being a good trail-specific shoe for wide feet, which they can use on most technical terrains and even for cross-training in the gym.
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