Vivobarefoot Gobi II Men’s Classic Desert Boot – Product characteristics
- Made in USA or Imported
- Rubber sole
- The original minimalist desert boot, designed to let you explore barefoot every day
- Non-Marking TPU Outsole – our thinnest and most durable barefoot sole
- Men’s Everyday Shoes
- The original minimalist desert boot, designed to let you explore barefoot every day
- Non-Marking TPU Outsole - our thinnest and most durable barefoot sole
- Men's Everyday Shoes
Vivobarefoot Gobi II Men’s Classic Desert Boot – Reviews
Ideal Barefoot Boot
Love these shoes! While on the hunt for a pair of barefoot style, zero drop, zero balance shoes for work during wet/cold weather I came across these. I looked over the reviews and disregarded most as a lot comes down to personal preference. I have been a patron of the natural style/ways in foot ware for over close to 20 years now. Essentially prior to its mainstream arrival. 5 finger toes were all one could find initially with other brands supporting in their lines. After years of trial and error with various types I landed on Merrells. Been a solid advocate and wearer in the Merrell barefoot line since their arrival to the market mid 2000s. If its been on the market and not an unreasonable price point ive tried it. With that gave these guys a go. I was super impressed from the moment I took them out of the box. Solid leather construction. Clean stitching. Details tied together. Overall very well made. I picked up my pair for under 150$ as the price does fluctuate on Amazon. Prior to wear I throughly doused in “camp dry” type product as they are not finished leather. I then wore for a few days to see how they felt. I was amazed. My feet could not have been more pleased and they worked well with my work uniform. Prior to first wet day I throughly mink oiled them. I use mink oil for all leather type products. Let that soak in for a day and then wore them in a very wet muddy atmosphere. Mink oil worked as expected and everything beaded off. I repeat the mink oil process once or twice a month depending. Especially early on to build a base. I walk 6-10miles a day on office floors and concrete + terrain. Have worn them for 2+ months now. The shoes have held up exceptionally well. I am ecstatic with the find and purchase. I intend to wear them during the wet/winter month and then transition back to the Merrell Trail Gloves I wear all the rest of the time. If you are a fan of not wearing foot wear but accept in gentile society you must then you will be pleased with a pair of these bad boys on your tootsies.
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2020
Great quality of materials.. But product is inconsistent.
**updated to 4 stars… GREAT DURABILITY!Okay… So the shoe design is amazing!!… build quality is solid with only 1 hindrance. I bought these for work business casual attire. However… 1 shoe is darker than the other with a different finish(matte/gloss).This wouldnt be so much of an issue if I werent posted at the front drive of a 1000+ room property.Definitely makes me think twice about recommending due to inconsistent product appearance in same set of shoes.Light weight, very comfortable cork insole and stylish.
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2020
Gotta get used to ’em but they are as expected
First time buying shoes like this but I really love the wide toe box and the nerve tingling has gone away in my foot after wearing these pretty exclusively as a dress shoe. They do make a flapping sound when walking more so than any other shoe I’ve owned but I can live with it…hard to be stealthy though, they can hear ya comin! Seem spendy for what they are but I paid it anyway and I am glad I did (I think).
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2019
Have Some Respect For Your Feet.
Being new to minimalist shoes, I wasn’t sure what to expect with these.I own Merrill barefoot, Xero and now theseVivobarefoots.Of the 3, these are my favorite. Much like the Xero Pacifica, these shoe let your feet spread out. Unlike the Pacifica, these are more fashionable. I do enjoy the Pacificas, but they look like something Grandma knit, these are more refined.My reason I’ve tried minimalist shoes is to strengthen my feet. Still my feet get tired walking for hours in these shoes, but I can also feel them get stronger.If you’re want shoes that allow you walk naturally (like in bare feet), try these or the Xeros. If you want to look more refined, buy these.
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2019
ok wow
have to admit i did not like the price and still don’t , especially for how simple the shoe is . i don’t really care about all the marketing story’s about all the various troubles they go through to source materials .outside of the price , i have to say , the most comfortable shoe i own and I’m totally in love with them . i purchased these the same time i bought some groundies boots , both are incredibly comfortable . both are warm and actually leather , amazing they smell like leather , and experience i haven’t had in quite some time despite assorted things claiming to be leather . they feel quite protective of the foot are fairly warm , very comfortable to walk or stand .i like the look of them too on the foot , nice chukka legenth or slightly less , goes with anything , very simple and simplicity is elegance < though im not sure any one would apply that term to them , they meet the definition . just what you need no more no less >the soles are quite good , good grip , good protection , just the right flexibility for great balance . they almost feel like a roomy boxing shoe or something . no squeek , and did great on wet , snow and ice . with some wool socks they stayed perfectly comfortable in the cold .on the barefoot side of things , a few years back i decided to try barefoot shoes at the championing of them by my friend whos a runner . absolutely love all the ones i have tried , and now they are my favorite type of shoe , and the gobi are for my feet , perfect for all activity’s , walking running around some hiking and a little climbing, have been fine in the cold and spring weather .i will update my review on the longevity of the shoes .buy them and try them out , you will probably keep them and make them your favorite .now cons , minor complaints/suggestion : the laces come undone accidently all the time < a thick waxed round lace > though I’m not currently too put off by the price enough to not buy them i think its a shame , that many wont experience what great shoes they are because of the price and its relationship with the very simple design . these are very simple basic shoes in design and in construction and materials , and the price does not reflect that .the price being based on marketing story’s annoys me , go to their site and u will see story’s about how they only use leather gathered from naturally dead cows by indigenous tribes of some place . i don’t know if any of that is true , or may be that’s what company’s have to do to just make well made real leather shoes now a days, with out feeling bad about it ? , it makes me wonder where all the leather that fast food chains must produce as a byproduct of their business , where does all that go? if they used that and brought this great shoe to the masses at a 100 bucks less ,wouldn’t that be ok ? and better then shoes made of plastic ? i guess some one smarter then me will have to answer that .update : shoes are going strong and are my favorite shoes ever . 4/26/22
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2022
- The original minimalist desert boot, designed to let you explore barefoot every day
- Non-Marking TPU Outsole - our thinnest and most durable barefoot sole
- Men's Everyday Shoes
Vivobarefoot Gobi II Men’s Classic Desert Boot – FAQ
Looking to replace my work shoes with these. How well do they do for 10-12 hour work continously on your feet?
Depends on your feet. Zero support in these. If you can do 10-12 hour bare foot, these will work. You would not want to jump right in. Build up over time and should be ok. Worked for me.
how warm are they in cold weather?
They are not warm in cold weather. Thin sole, single thickness of leather around the foot. On the other hand, they are extremely comfortable except in winter. I have them in both brown and black. They are also amazingly durable so far.
I wear a narrow shoe, about a “B” width. Do these run even a bit narrow? I can get into the New Balance minimus.
These definitely run wide. They have a wide toe box. They are wider than the New Balance. As you wear barefoot shoes, then your feed widen some.
I’m confused because I’m usually about a size 9.5 but, according to the centimeters (25cm) I would wear not even the smallest size?
If you are measuring your foot and it’s 25 cm, then No. However, if you are a Men’s size 9.5 US typically then order the 9-9.5 US size. I wear size 9 and they fit well with room a bit larger with comfort.
Does the suede get discolored easily (in rain or otherwise)?
I always spray my suede with a waterproof.
why did the price change
Hi Karina,Thank you for your inquiry. We greatly apologize for the inconvenience or confusion this may have caused. The prices on our website fluctuate often depending on the specifications put forth by our vendors. We encourage you to check back periodically, as it is possible the price may drop back down again in the future. If you have any further questions or concerns, please let us know. KelleyLeftLane Sports
Care and maintenance? Any suggestions?
Mine are suede. Other than replacing the soles (which fell apart after only a few times wearing them) the only care I’ve given them is wiping them down with a damp cloth once a year or so.
where are they manufactured?
My oxblood and tan ones both say “China”. Cannot locate my black ones right now. (messy house)
- The original minimalist desert boot, designed to let you explore barefoot every day
- Non-Marking TPU Outsole - our thinnest and most durable barefoot sole
- Men's Everyday Shoes
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