3-MONTHS UPDATE:
I am still happy with these shoes for the most part, but discovered a couple of things that warranted a downgrade to 4 stars.
1) When going sockless, the tongue cut both of my feet raw at the bend on the top of each foot after about 5K. The tongue is not padded all the way, the very edge is just thin faux leather. I thought it would be soft enough to flex with the foot, but it rubbed small cuts each time I went sockless.
2) The shoe is not as breathable as my NB 730 and MT110. It is still better than most of the running shoes out there, but definitely not the best in this category. This is especially noticeable if you go sockless the more "plasticy" inner material makes the moisture more noticeable against the skin compared to soft cloth-like liner of 730 and 110.
3) The shoe FEELS heavy and slow. I know it is not, it's lighter than the majority of running shoes out there, but it does not inspire fast running (not sure how else to describe it).
So as I said above I am still pretty happy and use them regularly in my rotation. I consider these to be excellent trainers, especially without the insoles the ground feel is fantastic, but would never use them even in a C-race.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Since shoe preferences are highly subjective let me first outline what I was looking for in order to explain where my 5 stars came from:
1) 4mm or less (preferably 0mm) heel-to-toe drop;
2) < 8 oz. weight
3) very breathable. Some people complain about shoes having so much mesh they get wet in the rain. I want my shoes not to RETAIN water and dry quickly. Any kind of waterproofing also means slower evaporation of your own sweat.
4) no arch support
5) an outsole thread that works on the variety of terrains and surfaces.
There are a few models now that have 1-4, but these in my view nail #5. I usually run 5-10K on asphalt. I also have an option of a hard-packed gravel trail 1 mile away from my house. I also have real woods with roots, scree and lots of switchbacks about 4 miles away. So I wanted a shoe that could take me from my door step through all of those conditions.
I use New Balance M730 for road and NB MT110 for real trails M730's sole is too smooth for anything but pavement, MT110 is too hard and knobby for roads. Plus both of those are 4mm heel-to-toe.
I've tried NB MR00 (super comfortable, but not enough traction), MT00 (too plastic, uncomfortable upper), Brooks PureGrit (hot, MAJOR traction issues), Skechers GoBionic (not very breathable, pick up large rocks and sticks), Merrell Trail Glove 2 (OK, but materials are not as good and comfortable as MR00) and Saucony Hattori LC (poor traction).
EVOs have very comfortable, almost plush upper on par with NB MR00 and the thread of the outsole is absolutely perfect for the mix of conditions described above. I would not run really technical trails in them but they roll very nicely on everything else.
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I was able to buy the Vivobarefoot Ultra Pure a while back for an incredible price, and after several days of use, found that I loved them so much that I decided to search out for a version which is more suited for distance running including trails. I came upon these EVO Lites as the latest iteration of the Vivobarefoot EVO lineup. Seeing as there were very few reviews at the time I had intended to purchase these, I decided to bite based on the reviews I read of previous iterations of the EVO II and EVO III. For reference, I have wide feet and am a minimalist runner who subscribes to the barefoot running style (still learning it, but have several months experience with it) with zero drop shoes.
Prior to trying these out, I used the Altra Men's Provision Running Shoe (zero heel to toe drop) for road and the Inov-8 Trailroc 245 Trail Running Shoe (3mm heel to toe drop) for trails.
The Provision has ample space in the toebox for me and has served me well in 7 of my half marathons this year. I've only had 1 trail half marathon this year with the Trailroc 245s, but those shoes are a little tighter on the toebox than I'd prefer. Basically, I was looking for the combination of the Provision and the Trailrocs that wouldn't dampen out the ground feel too much. Enter the EVO Lite.
I did some test runs around the neighborhood block with these shoes (on road) and they felt excellent. My feet did not feel tight and my toes had plenty of room to splay out. After a few more trials, I went for a 5k and nearly broke a long standing PR. So they performed very well on road, how about trails?
On July 4th, I entered into a 10k running uphill through North Tahoe Regional Park, eventually ending at the beach. This course had steep uphills and downhills as well. This was an exhilarating run and I could comfortably feel the terrain without any sensation of pain. These shoes are excellent for trails!
TL;DR These shoes are perfect for the minimalist runner looking for excellent barefoot feel on both road and trail terrain. Will be looking for more from Vivobarefoot in the future!
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I love the minimalist running shoe and these are a great one. I have purchased several pairs over the years. They usually last ~1 year of reasonably hard running and two for more intermittent jogging.
Honest reviews on Vivobarefoot Men's EVO Lite Running Shoe
I bought these shoes, walked around in them and immediately fell in love with them. I also felt no need to break them in, so I ran Curahee in Georgia. These shoes are great
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Vivobarefoot Men's EVO Lite Running Shoe
normally wear size 11 and that is what I ordered in this shoe
really comfy and very light
decent price
