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For over a decade, our team has run and trained in some of the best minimalist and barefoot shoes on the market, with the 9 top models available today included in this review. Our team of experts and athletes have put these shoes through their paces, running miles of pavement and technical trails and training hours in the gym. Unlike conventional footwear, minimalist shoes require a dedication to training to properly develop foot strength. Our field testing requires a similar dedication. Our exhaustive examination of these shoes provides expert advice with an aim to help you free your feet.
Some barefoot shoes are unisex, but most come in both men's and women's models. We conduct in-depth testing by female reviewers in our review of women's barefoot shoes. If you're not quite ready to dive into the world of minimalist footwear, our expert team of runners has put in the miles to test the best footwear on the market across other categories. These include recommendations on the top-ranked running shoes and our favorite trail running shoes for those who like to get off the pavement. We also have extensive hands-on experience with a wide variety of running gear and can give you helpful advice to make the most of your runs.
Editor's Note: Our barefoot shoe review was revised on May 18, 2023, to ensure product availability and edit for clarity.
From roads to trails and into the gym, the Xero HFS is a consistent, versatile barefoot trainer that aims to bring out the best in your feet. The highlight of this minimalist shoe is the ultra-flexible construction that comfortably conforms to the natural movements of your feet and provides an experience that the manufacturer aptly dubs "barefoot plus." The supple, proprietary rubber of these thin, 5.5mm shoes allows your toes to flex and grip naturally, while a spacious mesh forefoot enables them to spread and splay for improved stability. All of this will likely appeal to the diehard barefoot crowd, but for those just dipping their toes into minimalist footwear, the HFS also includes a 3mm high-density EVA insole to provide a bit of cushioning to ease that transition.
Despite hitting all of the marks, this barefoot trainer is surprisingly one of the heavier options in our review, weighing around 15 ounces per pair. While it is heavy compared to the other shoes on our roster, it is still impressively lightweight compared to many other trainers available on the market. These are specifically designed as road-running shoes, which becomes evident after spending a fair amount of time on the trail where rougher terrain quickly beats and wears on the thin outsole. If you are searching for a training shoe to take you down the road and into the gym, the Xero HFS is an outstanding, multi-sport barefoot shoe.
In terms of style and grace, the Merrell Vapor Glove 5 continues to help define the barefoot category. This shoe represents the best value of any pair we tested, offering up superior natural feel without sacrificing any of its integrity in design. In fact, the latest iteration only seeks to improve upon its past success. The outsole has been completely updated in a way that benefits the even profile of this low-rise shoe but still maintains a super-thin, 6.5mm stack height which keeps your soles right against the ground. The redesigned upper features a stretch collar for improved fit, comfort, and agility. Tipping the scales at just under 12 ounces per pair, the Vapor Glove holds true to its name: a nearly-there, sock-like shoe that only seeks to highlight the natural ability of your own two feet.
The new stretch collar might be a little constricting for those with higher arches, but many fans of the line claim that the new style of upper is one of the best yet. We tend to agree with the latter, as the updated construction offers a snug, stable fit without limiting mobility. The upper provides a higher degree of versatility between road running and the gym, but the homogeneous lugs of the redesigned sole equate to less traction for trail runners. The intense ground-feel will most likely only appeal to hardcore, barefoot runners and should not be taken lightly by those lacking experience with this running style. Yet if you want to build a foundation from your feet up, the Vapor Glove 5 continues to set a high bar for barefoot shoes.
The crowd-favorite Merrell Vapor Glove 5 returns to the roots of some of its design points to build upon an already well-regarded reputation as an exceptional barefoot shoe.
Running can take a toll on your shoes, but strength training can be even more demanding on your feet. That's why it is so important to build athleticism from the ground up, starting with your feet. The Inov-8 Bare-XF 210 V3 is a gym-specific trainer with the ability to crossover as a running shoe — once you build up strength in your feet. Unlike other contenders we tested, a supremely padded upper is designed to provide stability and protection to stand up to even the most rigorous training sessions. Though the upper may be padded for extra comfort, the 210 V3 has an unbelievably low stack height of merely 1.5mm with the insole removed. The even platform of the zero-drop outsole, combined with the dual-layer mesh toe box, provides you with a stable, low-profile shoe that aims to help you improve your performance in weight lifting.
Unlike other options we reviewed, the 210 V3 does not shy away from adding extra material to the upper to improve comfort and durability, even if it negatively affects its weight and barefoot feel. Distinguishing features, like TPU-reinforced quarter panels and a padded tongue, enhance gym-specific performance and are worth the added weight. Although they excel in the gym, the completely smooth, lugless outsoles decrease versatility as a running shoe — and can even lose traction on a dirty gym floor. But for folks who already have a dedicated running shoe, we couldn't recommend a better barefoot option for indoor strength training.
The ultra-thin, ultra-comfortable inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 is our choice for gym shoe thanks to an unparalleled combination of breathability, padding, and responsiveness.
Based on the innovative FiveFingers platform that helped launch the barefoot-running movement, the V-Trail 2.0 adds to the success of Vibram's minimalist designs by introducing a quality trail runner. Asserting the definitive qualities of an adventure racing shoe, this model is a great choice for trail running. Striking a nice balance between minimalism and brawn, the V-Trail 2.0 is lightweight, durable, and stable when moving through uneven terrain. We had a blast setting out at speed on our favorite alpine trails, knowing that our feet were protected from rocks and roots. The fully-wrapped upper also did an impressive job of keeping our feet dry, even through multiple creek crossings.
The trade-off for comfort and confidence is a less than optimum ground-feel. Although it features a small, 3.7mm stack height, the non-removable insole incorporates 2mm of EVA foam. We mostly found issues regarding barefoot accuracy in the dexterity of the toes. The somewhat thick rubber outsole continues to wrap up the front of each individual toe, restricting flexibility and diminishing proprioception. Shortcomings aside, we thoroughly enjoyed the V-Trail 2.0 during trail runs and would gladly recommend it to the adventurous barefoot runner searching for ultimate trail protection.
We looked for outsoles that would provide protection to our feet without cutting out sensitive feedback from the terrain. The Vibram V-Trail 2.0 has a beefy outsole that trades a bit of ground-feel for comfort and stability.
Credit: Jill Rice
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The Xero HFS is lightweight, super breathable, extra agile, and ready to take on any adventure run.
Credit: Jill Rice
Why You Should Trust Us
We purchase all of the models discussed in this article and put them through a rigorous testing process. Based on the fact that each shoe is designed for specific purposes — road running, trail running, or gym training — each pair is given preference in its respective specialty. But based on the mantra of minimalism to do more with less, we also consider how well these shoes perform when crossing disciplines. We compile research, closely examine each shoe, and take a lot of notes to put together our opinions on which models work best in each particular discipline. Most importantly, we work out in these shoes; each model sees at least 15 miles of pavement, trail, or both, as well as multiple gym sessions.
Our barefoot shoes testing is divided across five different metrics:
Natural Feel (40% of overall score weighting)
Weight (20% weighting)
Traction (15% weighting)
Versatility (15% weighting)
Durability (10% weighting)
Our barefoot and minimalist shoe expert is Aaron Rice. Growing up on the Atlantic coastline, he spent summers comfortably barefoot — only donning sandals to navigate hot pavement. One of his earliest coaches encouraged Aaron and his teammates to go barefoot as much as possible, explaining the important role our feet play in developing strength. Moving westward to Colorado for college, Aaron embraced his natural roots — and maybe a bit of a hippy mindset — often hiking the trails around Boulder barefoot.
Now living full-time in Santa Fe, NM — a city that sits at 7,200 feet above sea level — Aaron maintains a lifelong devotion to mountain fitness to further his ambitions in endurance sports like trail running, alpine climbing, and ski mountaineering. He works as a writer, farmer, ski patroller, and avalanche educator. He spends much of his time outside and draws on past experience as a retail buyer to dissect and discuss the nuances of technical gear. As a fun fact related to barefoot running: Aaron hates wearing socks.
We test every shoe in a variety of disciplines, regardless of their intention. Here, we take the gym-specific inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 out for a spin to test its capability road running.
Side-by-side comparison testing is our "secret-sauce." Here, we closely examine the padding offered by the Xero HFS (left), and the inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 (right.)
With their low-profile, lightweight design which accentuates the natural stability of your own two feet, barefoot shoes (like the Merrell Vapor Glove 5) make for fantastic gym trainers.
Analysis and Test Results
A few things are worth pointing out before we dive into the metrics we used to score each shoe. First and foremost, all of the shoes included in this review comprise some of the best and most popular options for barefoot and minimalist shoes available on the market. Since our side-by-side testing is based on comparisons, a low score does not mean that a particular pair of shoes isn't worthy of consideration. It simply means that they do not perform quite as well relative to the competition — all of these shoes are excellent in at least one aspect, and often low scoring shoes are fantastic options for specialized use.
The other — and perhaps the more important thing to consider — is that your specific needs may differ from the weighting we applied to each metric. We encourage you first to consider your own preferences and your specific athletic habits. Then, with that as a baseline, use our suggestions to help inform your purchase.
We spent many hours, and ran many miles in each of these shoes so that we can best highlight their benefits and disadvantages. While the Merrell Vapor Glove 5 is an outstanding running shoe for well-defined barefoot runners, it offers a bit too much raw feedback for many folks.
Credit: Jill Rice
We rate our selection of barefoot shoes on five scoring metrics: natural feeling, weight, traction, versatility, and durability. Then, we assign scores ranging from 1 to 10 based on how well they perform relative to the competition within each metric. We consider some qualities to be more important than others, so these metrics weigh on our overall performance rating more heavily than the others. Since minimalist footwear is intended to highlight the power of your own two feet — rather than some innovative shoe design — natural feeling takes a majority stake in our scoring, weighted at 40% of the final score.
The Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG, on the other hand, is a true barefoot shoe with slightly less ground-feel, thanks to a stiff rubber outsole purposefully designed for trail running. This shoe is expensive, but it is also versatile.
Credit: Jill Rice
Value
Whether you are a seasoned barefoot enthusiast or looking to purchase your first pair, it can be tricky to figure out which shoe is going to offer the best value. While many assume that the highest-priced product will perform the best, our experience in this category — and with outdoor gear in general — has proven that this is often not the case.
We highlight products as exceptional values only if they perform well across the board, in addition to being reasonably priced. Not only does the Merrell Vapor Glove 5 continue to define the barefoot shoe category, but it is one of the few such shoes available for less than $100. But it is worth noting that the Vapor Glove 5 may not be the right shoe for everyone, particularly those new to minimalist footwear. Without an optional insole, there is very little material between your foot and the ground, and you are guaranteed to feel every bump in the road. An optional 3mm insole is a highlight of the award-winning Xero HFS; though it is a bit more expensive, its capability as a cross-trainer and small amount of added cushion make it a bit more reasonable for those transitioning away from conventional footwear.
For years, Merrell has been a leading voice in the barefoot shoe movement. With the release of the Vapor Glove 5, they continue on that tradition with a shoe that helps your foot move naturally through any terrain.
Credit: Jill Rice
Natural Feel
Freeing your feet is what running in minimalist shoes is all about, and it all comes down to ground-feel and responsiveness — how close can each shoe come to feeling like you are actually running barefoot. The soles of the feet are among the most sensitive parts of our body because the information feed through our feet is directly related to proprioception, or our sense of positioning in movement. With an activity like running, in order to understand our body positioning as we move through space, our feet must flex, move, and feel the ground. The best minimalist shoes limit their interference of our natural "sixth sense."
Most designs allow for increased proprioception through a precise combination of design features like a thin outsole, zero-drop, a wide toe box, a lot of flexibility, and, of course, a lack of conventional support that would otherwise inhibit the foot's ability to feel the ground. True barefoot designs — like the award-winning Xero HFS — incorporate all of these design attributes and will provide the highest level of natural, or barefoot, feeling. Minimalist shoes are more of a comfortable crossover from conventional trainers.
Xero is another standout company, and with the HFS it builds on its reputation for making some of the highest-performing, most comfortable (comfortable, that is, like being barefoot) natural running shoes on the market.
Credit: Jill Rice
We examine the structure of each shoe, indicating design-specifics that likely influence the natural feeling, or lack thereof. First and foremost, we look at flexibility, both in the upper and outsole. A highly flexible shoe — like the Merrell Vapor Glove 5 — will allow for unimpeded, and thus more natural movement. Other key barefoot attributes include: zero-drop; low weight; minimal outsole thickness and an overall low stack height; a wide tox box to allow for toe splay (a critical factor for balance and stability); lack of conventional support (like a midsole, arch support, toe lift, or stability control devices); minimal ground protection (like a rock plate); and a breathable upper. In its conceptually ideal form, a barefoot shoe would feel as if you weren't wearing a shoe at all.
Notice a similarity between the outsole design of the inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 and the structure of the human foot? All of these shoes put minimal material between your feet and the ground, but this shoe in particular takes that to the extreme.
Credit: Jill Rice
Certainly, flexible shoes like the Xero HFS and Merrell Vapor Glove 5 offer tremendous freedom of movement and an overall accurate ground-feel. But it is difficult for any shoe to quite touch the real-feel and barefoot accuracy of the Vibram FiveFingers KSO EVO. This is an updated model of the original FiveFingers shoe and is, without a doubt, the closest thing to actually running barefoot. While this is the shoe for barefoot diehards — for those times when they still need to actually wear shoes — the natural feel may be a bit too intense for many who are not used to this style of footwear.
The ultra-sensitive Vibram FiveFingers KSO EVO allows you to tap into your natural athleticism, and is the perfect companion for those who often train with body-weight workouts.
Credit: Jill Rice
A barefoot shoes represent an ideal, but not everyone interested in the benefits of minimalist footwear wants to take it to the extreme of wearing a shoe with a 1.5mm outsole, like the Inov-8 Bare-XF 210 V3. That is why minimalist shoes exist — to bridge the gap between conventional footwear and barefoot shoes. Based on our scheme of evaluating natural feel, these shoes will always score lower in this metric than the barefoot options. With this in mind, we make sure to do our best to judge them equitably. If a minimalist shoe includes a midsole and has a thicker stack height — like the Arc'teryx Norvan SL 2 — but despite a more conventional design, still checks all of the boxes for flexibility, a breathable upper, and weight, then we adjust the score appropriately.
Not all of these shoes have extremely thin soles... trail-specific shoes, like the Arc'teryx Norvan SL 2, provide the conventional cushioning of a midsole with the benefit of a superlight, breathable upper and overall flexible design.
Credit: Jill Rice
It is also important to consider each of these shoes through the lens of their intended discipline. If it is a trail runner, like the Vibram V-Trail 2.0, how well does it handle uneven terrain, mud, rocks, and water crossings? If it is a road shoe, how well does it handle the abrasion of concrete and rough gravel in road shoulders? If it is a gym-specific trainer, how well does it allow you to engage the natural support structure of your feet without slipping or feeling off-balance? Other versatile trainers — like the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG — may be designed for a particular use but perform well in many disciplines.
The protection offered by the Vibram V-Trail 2.0 was a nice change of pace, giving us some freedom to spend time looking at the flowers, instead of each step ahead.
Credit: Jill Rice
Training Tip
If you do not have experience running in barefoot shoes, we cannot stress enough how important it is to take the minimalist nature of these shoes seriously. Trying to run your normal distance or at a normal pace right off the bat may result in nagging injuries, even if you feel OK during your run. We suggest cutting back significantly on your usual mileage until your feet have time to adjust to this particular type of shoe.
Another minimalist trainer, the New Balance Minimus TR offers a midsole for increased cushion, but sticks to the zero-drop design to provide an even platform that's perfect for weight lifting.
Credit: Jill Rice
Weight
A shoe's weight can greatly influence the overall experience, particularly if it is specifically designed as a running shoe. But even in the gym, a lightweight, highly breathable trainer will allow you to push the limits of your workout without feeling like a pair of cement shoes are weighing you down. For both minimalist and barefoot options, we want our feet to feel as free and unencumbered as they are in their natural, barefoot state. The top performers are not only objectively lightweight but provide the airy experience of going barefoot.
We start by weighing each shoe on a digital scale and comparing those numbers against the manufacturer's stated weight. We award points based on a sliding scale, with the lowest weight earning the highest marks, then decreasing in value with each additional ounce. At merely 4.6 ounces per shoe, the Vibram FiveFingers KSO EVO is objectively the lightest shoe in this review — indeed, it amounts to little more than a protective sock. But almost more amazing is the fact that the Arc'teryx Norvan SL 2, as a full-fledged trail runner, tips the scales at only one ounce more per shoe.
The Arc'teryx Norvan SL 2 is nearly as lightweight as a true racing flat, helping greatly improve running economy on more demanding terrain.
Credit: Jill Rice
We take each of these shoes out on many, many runs and make subjective comparisons about how light they feel when running. Swing weight, of course, relates to scale weight, but these two alone do not form a full picture of a shoe's relative weight. The material design of the upper plays a major role in breathability and thermoregulation, two important factors if you plan on running in the heat of the day or at the height of your heart rate. Not only do hot, sweaty feet make you feel sluggish, but a more breathable shoe can actually dump water weight through progressive evaporation.
Though not the lightest shoe in this review on the scale, the breathability of the upper and naturally spacious fit of the Xero HFS enhances how it feels on your feet when running.
Credit: Jill Rice
A standout in terms of breathability is the Xero HFS, which includes a thin liner to effectively wick moisture away from your foot and through the full-mesh upper. The Inov-8 Bare-XF 210 V3 works along similar design lines but with a much more substantial double-mesh construction that also sandwiches a bit of padding for increased comfort in the gym setting. The glove-like fit of the Merrell Vapor Glove 5 balances both aspects well — the simple, majority mesh design is one of the lightest in this review, and the stretch collar wraps the shoe comfortably around your foot for improved agility.
A few shoes, including the inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3, have removeable insoles if you're concerned about shaving a few ounces. But in our experience, these insoles negligibly affect both swing weight and ground-feel, and are best left in.
Credit: Jill Rice
It is also important to know how these shoes will perform when wet, as trail runners are likely to encounter stream crossings, and road runners often face puddles. We subject each shoe to the hose before taking off on a short loop, testing each pair sequentially on the same day to directly compare their performance. The Vibram V-Trail 2.0 is specially designed with a water-resistant upper, giving it superior water resistance but diminished breathability.
The Vibram FiveFingers KSO EVO is more like a protective sock, effectively shedding water when wet, efficiently breathing when hot, and providing the feeling of being essentially barefoot.
Credit: Jill Rice
Traction
For barefoot runners, grip with our toes is an essential input that feeds into our greater sensory perception of movement. The best minimalist shoes are designed with outsoles that support this natural function without diminishing ground-feel. Maximum points are awarded to shoes with thin, flexible outsoles made of sticky-rubber compounds that utilize lugs to assist — not outperform — the natural grip of our feet.
To assess the grip of an outsole, we test shoes side-by-side, scrambling up and down the same rock face — much like how we would test the stickiness of a climbing or approach shoe. We also seek out particularly steep and loose trails and note how well the shoes brake when running downhills. We make specific notes on the design of the lug patterns, and how well they perform in dry, wet, loose, and rocky trail conditions, as well as how effectively they propel you over concrete.
The deep lugs and stiff outsole of the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG allows it to perform particularly well as a trail runner, and offers some of the best braking ability of any shoe in this review.
Credit: Jill Rice
Shoes designed specifically as trail runners tend to perform best in this metric since they are the shoes that most often encounter varied surface conditions. The tacky FiveFingers design of the V-Trail 2.0 certainly allows your toes to grip the ground with accuracy but is a bit inconsistent in terms of overall traction, scrambling particularly well over rocky terrain but occasionally slipping through loose trail conditions.
Even though the slim lug pattern on the Xero HFS might indicate a lack of traction, the flexibility of the outsole allows for your toes to naturally grip.
Credit: Jill Rice
Merrell has nailed the outsole construction of the newly redesigned Trail Glove 6 Eco, incorporating tacky lugs into a low-profile trail runner that finally belongs in the beloved "glove" series. As another shoe with a similarly low-profile design, Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG offers a deeply lugged outsole with a textured arch for improved off-camber traction. Despite its trail-specific design, this shoe also performs exceptionally well as a road-runner. The Xero HFS — with an ultra-thin outsole design inspired by tire treads — provides the best traction over pavement and still performs admirably on trails.
Although it is similar to the Vapor Glove in terms of its namesake fit, the Trail Glove 6 offers a much more substantial tread designed specifically for tackling trails. But the midsole (including a rock plate) significantly decrease the natural feel of this shoe: an additional benefit to some, and a trade-off for others.
Credit: Jill Rice
But no other trail shoe provides as much traction as the Norvan SL 2. Like all Arc'teryx products, this shoe is designed to push the limits of technical gear in technical terrain. The deep lugs are set into a tacky rubber outsole, which, despite its thickness, allows you to apply even pressure across its surface for supreme grip. This superlight shoe works effortlessly through rocky alpine trails as easily as it glides over pavement.
The tacky compound of the Vibram Megagrip compound combined with the deep, widely spaced lugs on the outsole of the Arc'teryx Norvan SL 2 offers the most effective traction of any shoe in this review, gripping as well as they shed water.
Credit: Jill Rice
Another essential function of a lugged sole is to shed loose dirt and water. As a lab experiment, we pour water over the outsole to examine how quickly it passes through the lugs and grooves. We do our best to seek out puddles, mud pits, and sandy spots while out on runs to test this capability and adjust points for traction based on our findings. Vibram bases, no matter the lug pattern, seem to do the best in this regard — shoes that use these outsoles are the Vapor Glove 5, the Trail Glove 6 Eco, the Norvan SL 2, and of course, the Vibram-owned V-Trail 2.0 and FiveFingers KSO EVO.
The homogenous lug pattern of the Merrell Vapor Glove 5 doesn't work as well on trails as other patterns have in the past, but a thin, supple outsole still allows your feet to naturally grip.
Credit: Jill Rice
Versatility
To stay in line with the basic principle of minimalism, it is important that a single shoe works well for more than just one purpose. We award points to shoes that perform well in multiple disciplines — for instance, trail runners that are also comfortable running on pavement, or road trainers that work equally well in the gym. Not necessarily the best in any one of these realms but a consistent performer across all disciplines, the versatility of the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG helps make up for its expensive price tag.
For running shoes, it is important that they perform consistently in many types of weather — we want to be able to get out for a run every day, and not just on those "perfect" weather days. The main considerations here are water resistance on rainy days, appropriate insulation for cold-weather runs, and breathability for mid-summer hot laps. It is also nice not to have to stick to just roads or just trails, but to have some ability to flow freely between the two. The Xero HFS is just this type of barefoot runner. It is a shoe designed for the roads, but thanks to its flexible outsole, it can manage running on technical trails — as long as your feet are up to it!
The fit and feel of the Xero HFS surprised us with its all-day comfort; we even wore this shoe on a few day hikes.
Credit: Jill Rice
We also consider a pair's potential in helping someone transition from conventional running shoes to minimalist, and eventually barefoot, designs. This potential reveals itself when examining a shoe's overall structure — minimalist shoes with slightly increased cushioning or stack height will help moderate the intense ground-feel that are part and parcel with more barefoot designs. A prime example of a "crossover shoe" is the Altra Lone Peak 7, which we tested in our trail running shoes review. A flexible, zero-drop shoe with an extra wide toe box, the Lone Peak checks many of the barefoot boxes, but offers an overstuffed 25mm stack height that will appeal to the modern road crowd and minimalist ultra-runners alike.
For those who want a lightweight, flexible shoe that still maintains a midsole with a touch of drop, then try the Norvan SL 2. The Primus Trail II FG is a shoe with a true barefoot design but with a less sensitive outsole than direct competitors. While the Xero HFS epitomizes a barefoot shoe, it still includes an optional 3mm, high-density EVA insole to provide just a touch of cushioning for those who may be looking for a barefoot shoe for both hiking and running.
Even though it was specifically designed as a trail runner, the Arc'teryx Norvan SL 2 is just as agile over pavement.
Credit: Jill Rice
Durability
We put these shoes through their paces, literally, through miles of running on a variety of terrain and through hours in the gym. While we are limited by our testing period, certain design features and early signs of material failure — plus our years of experience with product testing — give us a good idea of how well these shoes might hold up after a couple hundred miles.
To support any conclusions we reached on durability through our training period, the shoes were closely examined for any manufacturing flaws or shortcuts. Researching material specifications also gave us a good idea of how long a shoe might hold up to regular running regimens. We also consider the warranty programs offered by manufacturers, giving some preference to those who might offer to replace a barefoot shoe that is inherently less durable than thicker-soled, conventionally-designed running shoes.
The Vibram V-Trail 2.0 holds true to the original FiveFingers design, but is beefed-up to suit the rigors of trail running.
Credit: Jill Rice
Thankfully, none of our shoes fell apart during the testing period. However, some details caught our eye on particular models — elements that made us question how well they might hold up throughout a couple of running seasons. The thin quality of the outsole of the Xero HFS, coupled with reviews made online by others, gives us pause when considering an otherwise top-notch barefoot shoe. Although the Inov-8 Bare-XF 210 V3 has the thinnest outsole of any shoe in this review — an astounding 1.5mm thick — the rest of the shoe is specifically designed for the rigors of Crossfit-style training.
The inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 is designed with durability in-mind, with support of TPU in a full-rand wrapping the toe box, over the quarter panels, and across heel strap.
Credit: Jill Rice
Unsurprisingly, trail runners like the V-Trail 2.0 and Norvan SL 2 rank the highest for durability. Particularly, the Norvan SL 2 employs an ultra-durable TPU-mesh for an upper — an innovative design unlike any we've seen before. Similarly, the Primus Trail II FG uses a substantial amount of TPU-like rubber to add extra reinforcement to its trail-specific offering.
Thinner and more breathable than many, yet more durable than most, the TPU-mesh of the Arc'teryx Norvan SL 2 is an innovative design likely to change the world of minimalist footwear.
Credit: Jill Rice
Vibram has a reputation for outsole design and keeping shoes alive season after season with their superbly durable rubber. Combine that fact with a tough mesh-upper, and the V-Trail 2.0 is a tank of a minimalist shoe. Although the design of the KSO EVO looks like a lighter weight option of a similar shoe, it is important to note that the upper is significantly less durable than the V-Trail 2.0.
Enough talking about shoes, time to get out for a run! Grab a pair of barefoot shoes, like the award-winning Xero HFS, and start unlocking the power of your own two feet.
Credit: Jill Rice
Conclusion
We put each pair of these shoes through more than just their metaphorical paces. Even in a niche market like minimalist shoes, dozens of models are available each season, so narrowing down your options can be a real challenge. We hope that our extensive, side-by-side testing highlights key differences to make your selection process a little bit easier. We also encourage you to research the field of barefoot running to decide if it is the right style for you and your feet.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
