Finding out about VIVOBAREFOOT has been such a relief. My whole physiology is different, my feet feel free and so does my whole body when I wear them. I know struggle with shoe shopping very much as nothing else gives you that freedom. One of the main advantages for me is they’re so light.

I specialise in a sport called ‘Street Workout’ and compete in national and international competitions. Due to the nature of the sport relying heavily on feeling as light as possible and regulations saying you must wear footwear, Vivo’s have proved highly effective. Read more…

We’re happy to announce we’re continuing our support of the incredible charity that is Social Purpose and Time (SPAT). James Gilley, founder of the non-profit organisation, is leading this positive movement that uses the power and beauty of running, fitness and nutrition as the motivation behind life changing charity work.

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“Proper Proprioception for your Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance”

It’s a sense of pleasure and pain, such an overwhelming amount of joy combined with a surge of fatigue. It’s awesome. Crossing the line and completing a marathon, without injury and with a smile on your face, should not be undervalued. It’s even better experienced than described!

Born to run

The good news is, it’s doable, nearly anyone can achieve it, and that’s because humans were born to run; we evolved that way. To do it without injury and to really enjoy it should be the ultimate goal.

The price for inadequate preparation should not be underestimated. It is the part of the marathon that is probably the most important. Being adequately prepared on the day will not only make it enjoyable it will also make it repeatable.

But what does proper preparation look like? And how is it achieved? Read more…

Starting at over 10,000ft in the Cloud Forest, in the Peruvian Andes, the Jungle Ultra marathon commences in just over a week. The 230km, 6 day, 5-stage race winds through the dense tropical forests on the Amazon, where the competitors will experience up to 35˚C heat and 100% humidity in the diverse environment. The entrants have to be self-sufficient over the course of the distance and carry all their gear; hammock, sleeping bag, food and supplies for the entire race.

Here at VIVOBAREFOOT we like a challenge so we decided to partner with Beyond the Ultimate, the race organisers, and take on this extreme ultra marathon. The winner of the race will receive shoes for a year and we’re also supplying the race officials and staff with our barefoot trail shoes – as well as many of the competitors. Read more…

The first thing to notice is the thin sole. Immediately, you feel close to the ground. The barefoot feeling can never be fully replicated in a shoe but if you need protection from the weather or the terrain, this is the alternative. The removable insole also allows you to choose just how barefoot you want it to feel.

The 4mm sole achieves a nice balance of allowing you to feel the ground whilst at the same time protecting you from stones and thorns with its puncture resistant sole. The lack of heel to toe height difference will take some getting used to for those unaccustomed to it and some runners may feel like they are slapping the ground as they run. However, with a sensible ‘breaking in’ [learn more about transitiong properly to barefoot] period the muscles of the feet and lower leg will relax and adapt to the new sensations allowing the foot to land in a more relaxed fashion. This is when you can begin to enjoy the feeling of running closer to how nature intended and start to use your VIVOBAREFOOT shoes as a training shoe.

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Swap your trains for trainers this Friday (26 April) for the first global Run To Work Day. If you’re running to work in VIVOBAREFOOT shoes make sure you share you stories, photos and videos with us by posting on our Facebook Wall or tweeting us. You can run all or part of their daily commute, donating the money you would otherwise spend on travel and/or parking.

“Run To Work Day is not just an opportunity for runners around the world to ‘run for good’ it is also a chance for employers to encourage colleagues to create a healthy and active workplace. Further, we anticipate that many firms will agree to match-fund their employees’ charitable donations.” – Run to Work Day Organisers.

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“I guess you don’t really need your golf shoe to roll up into a ball, but the fact that it can just shows how well it lets your foot flex and move as it wants to. The Hybrids are definitely the thinnest most flexible golf shoes I’ve worn.” – Birthday Shoes

Our friends at Birthdayshoes.com took a pair of the Hybrid Golf Shoes from VIVOBAREFOOT and gave them a thorough test drive. If you’re considering purchasing barefoot shoes that will improve your golf game, we would recommend you read the review first.
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