- Weight: 336g (Men's size 9)
- Stack height: 2.5mm
- Heel-toe drop: 0mm
- Type: Trail
In a world of carbon plates, towering stack heights and maximal cushioning, Vivobarefoot stands apart. From the start, its shoes have been built on a few unchanging principles: they are all zero drop, flexible, minimally cushioned and foot-shaped rather than shoe-shaped. While such minimalism makes the shoes, to my mind, unsuited to big miles on the road, it’s a different story on the trail. And that’s where the Primus Trail III comes in.
Marketed as a trail shoe for ‘cooler, wetter, muddier conditions’, it boasts 5mm lugs and a rugged upper. It also has some decent environmental creds, being made from recycled synthetic materials. I took the shoe out for a spin and here are my first impressions…
Back-to-basics appeal
There’s something appealingly uncomplicated about running in the Primus Trail III. With a stack height of 2.5mm, you’re about as close to barefoot as you can get while wearing shoes. As such, there’s none of the plush cushioning you get from a Hoka, nor the propulsion provided by a carbon-plated super shoe. Instead, the emphasis is all on you – a radically old-fashioned concept! The plus sides of such minimalism is that you concentrate a little more on how you’re running. And I’d argue that’s no bad thing.
What everyone's reading
Good grip on non-technical trails
Boasting 5mm lugs, the Primus Trail III held up well on muddy paths, sandy sections and grass. RW is yet to test it on something more technical, such as steep hills or rock. However, regardless of grip, these are not a shoe you’d reach for in a rocky race as the underfoot protection is too minimal. By contrast, on soft ground the shoes felt comfortable and secure. And if you’re adapted to minimalist/barefoot running, there’s no reason you couldn’t run long off-road miles in the Primus Trail III.
Quick-lace system: Pros and cons
Similar to Salomon, Vivobarefoot favours a quick-lace system for most of its running shoes. Unlike Salomon, it doesn’t provide a snug little pocket in the tongue in which to house the excess laces. So, unless you have a seriously wide foot, you have to tuck the excess under a few of the laces – an inelegant solution that could be easily remedied by a slightly more considered design. Having said all that, once in place, the lacing system feels snug and secure, keeping your foot locked in place.
How does the Primus Trail III fit?
The shoe fits true to size. I’m a 9 in most shoes and I’m a 9 in the Primus Trail III. There is a roominess to the forefoot, though, so you may feel like the shoe runs slightly big – but I’d say that’s part of the appeal of running in a minimalist shoe.
RW verdict
Whether you’re new to minimalist running, or an established barefooter in the market for a sympathetic shoe, I’d argue the Primus Trail III is a sensible choice. It’s designed specifically for the trail – the terrain on which minimalist running makes the most sense – and does the simple things well.
It’s comfortable, feels durable (though more miles are needed to confirm this) and offers a barefoot experience free of the worry of stepping on something sharp or unseemly. Like many other Vivobarefoot shoes, it could also work equally well for hiking.
But it’s certainly not a shoe for everyone. You need to be adapted to barefoot running to thrive in these. Or, if you are new to the sans shoes scene, patient enough to wear these sparingly to start. Sound like you? Then perhaps it’s time to make the Primus Trail III one of your bare necessities.
