If the look of barefoot shoes has turned you off from trying these shoes, you don’t necessarily have to wear a pair of Vibram FiveFingers. Vivobarefoot’s Gobi II barefoot shoes look like your everyday pair of boots but still provide that groundfeel that barefoot shoes are so beloved for.
Today, I want to review these shoes in detail so you may decide to give them a try!
First Impression and Looks
As I mentioned, one of the frustrating things in the beginning of my barefoot shoe days in 2009 was the lack of fashionable-looking barefoot minimalist shoes. Nowadays, brands like Vivobarefoot, Zaqq, and Mukishoes have filled that void especially well.
When Vivobarefoot offered me the chance to experience and review one of their shoes, I picked the Gobi II. I had just gotten rid of one of my favorite barefoot Chelsea boots and was looking for a replacement. I wanted a good-looking robust pair of barefoot shoes for everyday use. I was hoping the Gobi II shoes would deliver.
The Gobi II is a desert boot. Some call it a Chukka, but desert boots are often lighter in weight.
A Good-Looking and Versatile Barefoot Shoe
It is not often that you get a shoe that looks as good in real life as it does in the advertisements.
The pictures I added of the Gobi II do not use filters. What you see is pretty much what you get.
This shoe is suitable for multiple activities, including walking and even getting a workout in. You can wear the Gobi II barefoot shoes if you want to dress casually or a little more formally.
What appeals to me about the Gobi II is the robust look of these shoes. The matte dark brown leather gives the shoe character. This type of leather will probably only look better the longer you wear it. That is if you don’t do crazy things with them.
The shoe sole extends to the side of the shoe. This helps the thin sole that surrounds your foot act as a bowl to keep water from entering.
Often with a barefoot shoe, one of the disadvantages of a thin sole is that it is vulnerable to moisture in the area where it flows into the top of the shoe. Vivobarefoot has solved this problem with this type of sole.
I’ll talk more about the durability of the sole later in this review, so keep reading.
Materials
The upper of the Vivobarefoot Gobi II is made of wild Ethiopian cattle leather.
The shoe comes with an optional cork insole that’s around 2 millimeters thick. This cork has amazing qualities (check out our post on the benefits of cork here).
You can wear these barefoot shoes without the insoles if you choose, and they still feel very pleasant. Going sole-less enhances the barefoot experience even more, so it’s worth trying at least once
Is a cork insole better than a regular insole? I’d say so. Cork has natural antibacterial properties. Yet I encourage you to come to your own conclusions.
Although they look like a regular casual shoe, The GobI ll has all the barefoot shoe qualities like no arch support, a wide toebox, a lightweight quality, and thin soles.
Sizing
I find that the Vivobarefoot Gobi II shoes run a bit large. If you are an in-betweener size-wise, you can go half a size smaller or just enjoy the extra toe space. If you do go bigger, make sure you don’t slip in these shoes. You need to be able to walk without needing to make adjustments because your shoes are too large.
Is the Vivobarefoot Gobi II a Good Shoe for a Barefoot Shoe Beginner?
Yes!
Despite being a barefoot shoe and having all the qualities and properties of a barefoot shoe, the Gobi II is an ideal shoe for a beginner. Why? Well, the quality of the materials and the shoe design are so good that novice barefoot shoe wearers notice little except maybe for the weight of the shoe.
The Gobi II shoes might seem as if they are a bit big for novice barefoot shoe wearers switching to a barefoot shoe.ig. That’s only because beginners are not yet used to the wide toe box and the space and freedom it offers your toes. With enough time, you’ll adjust, so be patient!
Although the shoe is on the pricy side at $170, my opinion is that I would recommend the Vivobarefoot Gobi II for beginners for the following reasons:
- The look and feel of the shoe is close to a regular shoe. This compares to the more sock-shoe type of barefoot shoes.
- Besides being used for sports and working out, you could wear these shoes for many other activities.
Is the Vivobarefoot Gobi II Good as a Winter Barefoot Shoe?
For milder winters, you can wear these shoes with no problem. The Gobi II has a cork insole that gives the shoes extra warmth, and with a pair of winter socks, you will be fine. I wore these barefoot shoes this winter when it was freezing and I did not even need to wear winter socks with them. Then again, my feet are not very sensitive to cold.
Is the Vivobarefoot Gobi II Water-Resistant?
Barefoot sneakers, in particular, are often less water-resistant than your everyday shoe. I have had no problems with the Gobi II though. I have worn them several times in the rain, and they still look great.
It is, of course, wise to spray them with a product like this one.
The sole of the Gobi II is very thin, but because it continues on the side, it keeps moisture out incredibly well. Since the leather is also water-resistant, you are protected against a little rain.
I battle-tested them and went for my daily dog walk through the park in the winter when it was raining. I got them muddy and wet ( see picture ). My feet stayed dry. So for short walks in a little rain, they will be fine. If the weather gets any wetter, I would choose another more waterproof shoe or boot.
How Long Do the Vivobarefoot Gobi II Shoes Last?
I contacted Vivobarefoot and asked them what I can expect of the sole. They replied that generally speaking, they find that customers who wear the shoes for general everyday use (for a few hours) each day have them last for a few years at least. Vivobarefoot offers a 6-Month Sustainable Guarantee in case of any faults, however.
Cleaning the Vivobarefoot Gobi II
As you can see in the pictures I added, I really put these barefoot shoes through a lot.
I used waterproof spray to make the shoes more water-resistant. The waterproof spray helps and my feet stay dry and warm!
Once I got back home, I did not clean the shoes directly and left them in a dry spot in the hallway for a day. A day later, I cleaned up my Gobi II shoes. I used a wet cloth for this and cleaned everything off with it, then dabbed dry with a dry cloth.
My shoemaker advised me to let the shoe dry for 24 hours and then treat it with wax cream. For this model, you need a matte transparent cream wax to maintain the original look of the beautiful leather.
Of course, I don’t recommend walking through mud or water daily or even doing it several times in a row. Your barefoot shoes–Gobi II or otherwise– will therefore wear out much faster and unnecessarily.
Is There a Vegan Vivobarefoot Gobi II?
Check it out here.
Conclusion
I highly recommend the Vivobarefoot Gobi II shoe as an ideal addition to your barefoot shoe wardrobe. These are one of my favorite casual shoes that I have owned and they’re a smart shoe for everyday use. Although they’re not cheap, the Gobi II shoes should last a long time, which makes them worth the money.