Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool Review

The Primus Knit Wool from Vivobarefoot is a high performance shoe designed for “wild feet”.

Product website: www.vivobarefoot.com

Vivobarefoot are one of the biggest names out there when it comes to minimalist and barefoot shoes.

We were keen to try out the Primus Knit Wool shoe as a casual everyday option.

In this review, we’re going to bring you all of the key things you need to know about this shoe.

We’re going to be paying particularly close attention to details such as the look and style, fit and feel, and overall verdict of this cool-looking shoe.

So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s begin taking a closer look at the Primus Knit Wool from all angles.

Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool – The Basics

Vivobarefoot have been around since 2012 and they have quickly established themselves as one of the top minimalist and barefoot shoe brands on the planet.

The company was founded on the principle that the health of people is intimately connected to the health of the planet and the closer people are connected to nature, the more they will do in their everyday lives to protect it.

Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool (Photo: The Sport Review)

We’ve already reviewed a few of their other shoes on the site before, including the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite II Recycled.

The shoe is designed to be an every option for an active person and the official website claims that it has been specifically adapted for “urban movement and style”.

As is the case with most of the shoes in the Vivobarefoot range, the Primus Knit Wool carries a somewhat premium price tag of £135.

The product description goes on to say that this shoe will give your feet “freedom to breathe and thrive in any urban environment”.

It features leather panelling, no-sew detailing, and a woollen ankle sock developed in collaboration with The Woolmark Company.

The shoe comes with a bio-based Bloom EVA insole, which “provides year-round comfort with total barefoot movement and sensory feedback”.

At the time of writing, this shoe is only available in a Graphite colour, with a faded orange sole.

Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool (Photo: The Sport Review)

The product description on the Vivobarefoot site wraps up by describing it as “the ideal shoe for wild feet that want to look refined for the city, and tread lightly on the planet”.

So, now that we’ve covered some of the basic things to bear in mind about the Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool, it’s time to focus on the fit, feel and style.

The Fit, Feel and Style

When you pick up these shoes for the first time, you’ll immediately notice the quality of the way they are designed and put together.

If you’ve already tried barefoot shoes before, then you’ll know what to expect in terms of the feel on the ground.

Essentially, barefoot shoes feature a wider design to ensure that your toes are not scrunched up together, and they usually don’t feature a raised heel.

Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool (Photo: The Sport Review)

All in all, barefoot shoes are designed to mimic what it would feel like to walk barefoot, and they aim to address the potential issues that wearing regular shoes can cause.

If you’ve never tried barefoot shoes before, it may be a good idea to pop into a shop and give them a go before making a purchase, as some people may feel that they are not best for them.

The woollen parts on the top of shoe have a nice feel to them, but they are not waterproof, so these are not shoes to be worn in wet weather.

The leather upper is made from natural cow leather, while the foam is made using algae biomass, described as the first sustainable alternative to the synthetic and petrochemical EVA foam.

We’re not sure if Vivobarefoot plan to bring out any additional colours of this shoe alongside the Graphite one we tried, but style-wise we were happy with the look as a casual everyday shoe.

Weight

This shoe is a fairly light option, although not as light as the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite II Recycled we recently tried.

Of course, the weight of the shoe will depend on what size you go for.

The ones we tried were size 11.5 UK and each shoe weighed 322 grams.

Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool (Photo: The Sport Review)

Durability

After having used these shoes for a few weeks, they seem as though they will last pretty well.

The other Vivobarefoot shoes we have owned have tended to have great durability, so we’re pretty confident that these will be a good investment for the long term.

One thing to note is that because it is a lighter colour, the sole will start to show dirt and marks a bit more quickly than if it were darker.

Vivobarefoot offer a new service called “Revivo”, which is designed to keep their shoes away from landfill. They fix and repair old used pairs of Vivos and then sell them on at a discounted price.

This means that when you’ve finished with your shoes, you can send them back by registering them here, and you’ll either get 20% off a new pair or you can make a donation to the Live Barefoot Foundation.

Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool (Photo: The Sport Review)

Price And Where To Buy

Vivobarefoot’s shoes are generally regarded as a bit of a premium-priced product, so they may not fit into everyone’s budget.

At the time of writing, the Primus Knit Wools cost £135, which certainly makes these one of the more expensive options out there.

The best place to buy Vivobarefoot’s shoes is from the official website.

If you’re based in London, they also have a shop on Neal Street in Covent Garden, where you can try on a few pairs for yourself.

Pros and Cons

Let’s now weigh up some of the pros and cons of the Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool.

Pros:
• Stylish design
• Very comfortable
• Great everyday shoe for a city
• Good barefoot accuracy

Cons:
• Premium price tag
• Barefoot feel may not be suitable for everyone

Anything Else To Consider?

As we mentioned above, barefoot shoes are not for everyone, so you’ll want to check that you’ll be comfortable with this type of footwear before making a purchase.

If you’re not sure about taking the plunge with barefoot shoes, they offer a 100-day trial with every order placed from their official website.

If you change your mind within the 100-day trial period, you can return your shoes for a full refund. Check the official Vivobarefoot website for the terms and conditions.

Vivobarefoot Primus Knit Wool (Photo: The Sport Review)

Wrapping Things Up – Our Verdict

So, that brings us to the end of our review of the Vivobarefoot Primus Knit.

Overall, we’re big fans of this comfortable and stylish everyday shoe that’s perfect for a city environment.

If you’re looking for a comfortable and lightweight barefoot shoe, then this is a great option.