Review of the VivoBarefoot Achilles

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Dan Fairbanks | 2 Comments

This is more of a first impressions than it is a full review. I had a chance to try the Achilles on and run around the block a few times. So what what were my first impressions?

They are a great entry level running sandal.

I have personally been running in Luna Sandals for much of the last year (I am the CEO of Luna Sandals), among other minimalist shoes, so I feel like I have a good base line to compare the Achilles with. The Achilles are light and initial comfortable when first trying them on. After running in them for a few minutes I felt a little irritation between my big toe and the adjacent toe, which which would likely go away in time if I kept running them. I did not have the same problem on my right foot. The back heel strap is comfortable on both feet. They had very nice ground feel, giving it a good minimalist shoe like feel, which is very close to barefoot running. The toes are allowed to splay naturally, which is a nice feature as well and especially important for good barefoot like running form.

So why do I say they are a good entry level running sandal, instead of just a good overall running sandal?

There is no denying that I am predisposed to be biased toward Luna Sandals. But the truth is that I want the running sandal market to expand and I want to see quality products on the market that encourage people to try it in whatever form works best for them. Luna Sandals are still going to be the way to go for me. Nothing fits and works better on my feet than a custom made pair of sandals that molds to my feet. But I do have to say that VivoBarefoot has made a quality product that approaches the running sandal idea from a completely different way that many people are really going to love. If I didn't have the little toe irritation I probably would have said that they were a great overall running sandal. Undoubtedly a lot of people are really going to love these sandals and they will quickly become their running footwear of choice. I can already see people winning races in them.

Dan Fairbanks

CEO and Co-Founder

Born to Run

Posted in Shoe Reviews, VIVOBAREFOOT

2 Responses

Leon W.

October 18, 2011

Tried these twice so far. Here the weather is turning cold, so probably won’t be able to use them much longer, but very impressed and will probably try these in a longer event at some time. I am 66 and have been running for 44 years. My initial impression is that these, or at least this style of shoe, decreases the chance of injuries, especially osteoarthritis of the knees and back. A huge benefit. But please lose the green color. Black.

Josh

June 01, 2011

This review kind of reminds me of the time that Steve Bulmer saw the iPhone and said it had ‘no chance’ and he’d rather keep his greater market share.

Ok, Dan didn’t say exactly that and does support any running sandal makers coming onto the market so that’s unfair; but to say these Achillies are just ‘entry level’ smacks of putting them down just a tad too much for my liking.

The Luna’s are great – I even had the pleasure of trying a new model sported by Barefoot Ted’s on at a recent Masterclass in the UK and I know they have some exciting things coming up. But, the Achilles steps it up a notch in terms of technology, ease of use and style. Technically traditional huaraches (and I have some on order from Invisible Shoe) can be custom made and custom laced so I can get them exactly how I want them. But it takes time, effort and investment to do that – just look at how reluctant people are to unlace theirs in the dozens of YouTube lacing videos!

It’s also said to take time to get the things moulded and functioning properly – i.e getting the sole to rise under your toe when you flex them upwards, something that took a fair bit of time/use to achieve.

…Remind you of anything? Windows phones promised unlimited customisation etc, but it was technology, style and ease of use that sent the iPhone surging ahead.

Personally, even after just a few days use I find my Achilles pretty much surgically attached to my foot whenever some form of protection is called for, or it’s inappropriate to go barefoot. Why? They just WORK.

IMHO Tera Plana have scored a slam dunk with the concept and design that appeals to ordinary (read – not totally hard core) barefooters who don’t want to look like an extra in Gladiator and who don’t want to spend the time customising everything. In short, those who just want it to work.

There will always be a place for the Luna’s and similar traditional style huaraches, and it is commendable that Dan does so graciously support the rise of competitors but I just hope that the Luna guys respond in kind – maybe by bringing out a more ‘popularist’ or mass appeal product, or at least being aware of the powerful appeal of products like the Achilles.

I don’t wish to be unfair or presumptuous, and I know there are plans in the works at Luna Sandals to sort out the ‘knot’ problem so that will be a big step, but with such heavyweight competition starting to wake up to the minimalist movement I’d hate to see them underestimate products like these.