The Story:
Yes, I do understand the pair I own now is currently a women's pair. I'm extremely fond of the Vivobarefoot brand and use it as my main comparison to all of my new shoes.
I owned a pair of Evo I's, mens, in yellow and grey. I have since donated them after over 200 miles or so, particularly since I had multiple rips in the nylon upper, on both shoes. I used Shoe Goo to seal the rips, but eventually I gave the shoes away because of more and more rips that became a nuisance.
But positively, they were my first pair of minimalist shoes. Prior to them, I had been wearing all sorts of shoes from Adidas Micro-bounce's, Nike Airmax 360's, and Nike Lunar series shoes. I couldn't quite find a shoe that:
1. Lasted long enough
2. Had enough grip for sprinting work outs
3. Flexible enough for sprinting on toes
4. Didn't feel clunky on my feet
I remember clearly stumbling across the Evo I's in a Eastbay magazine, marveling at the colors and hexagonal designs, only to cringe at the price of $140 and up. A few months and coupon code later, I picked up my first pair of minimalist shoes in the summer of 2011.
The Evo I's:
Again, I have since donated them, but use them for a standard comparison. They ended up costing me about $80. The shoes were phenomenal, of course, but a hard transition as you can imagine, going from 8mm+ stack heights to a zero drop, 3mm outsole minimalist shoe. I threw 200+ miles on it through freshman year, winning indoor season races, suffering through PE, and summer track. They were my day-to-day shoes, (albeit clashing with every single outfit I wore) and I loved them, grew attached, and spread positive information of minimalist footwear. Alas, they ripped up and I bid them farewell in the summer of 2012, as incoming was my pair of Inov-8 Bare-X 200's and Newton Distancia's.
The Evo II's:
I'm sure most of you have skipped some or all of the information above, because you're here for the review! I stumbled through TJ Maxx one day with my siblings, and as my sister perused the women's shoe aisle, I followed along. Eventually, my eyes floated to a familiar hexagonal design, neutral colors, and a delightful, bittersweet cringe. No women around staring at me? Check. I went for the price tag to find $25.00. TWENTY-FIVE dollars??? For essentially what is the same as my Evo I's (that I paid $80 for!?). Thank goodness for unisex sizing, because I dashed out of the aisle after one quick try on, to avoid any customers who would've found it strange for a teenage boy to be so giddily trying on pair of shoes in the women's shoe aisle. I regret not buying a pair of Neo's (in black/yellow) and another pair of Evo's, both priced also at $25 each.
They come in at 7.2 oz per shoe, in an EU 42 L.
The Shoes:
The important part: the soles.
The soles are perfect. A great median of grip,flexibility, lightness, and durability. Its 3mm, puncture-proof sole provides texture throughout the sole and grip.
It should be noted that I also use this as a day-to-day shoe, and it is an excellent walking shoe. Because of that, the heels have been worn down to the "whites" of the sole.
But yet, the forefoot remains rather untouched by the "whites" save for one hexagon near the V. This is obviously because of the lightness of forefoot running, which leads to much less abrasion.
Originally, each green/red hexagon had a prominent nub on it. Shown above was the only nub that still clearly existed, simply because of its location. The forefoot has worn down those nubs, as have the heels.
Overall, the sole is extremely flexible and can be rolled up!
The Uppers:
The upper is great! It has a mesh with nylon overlay, and a spandex-like layer on the inside. It breathes well, is flexible, and is lightweight! Particularly from a person with sweaty feet, I can say that these shoe's do fine. Not as superb as the Bare-X 200's, but reasonable enough to prevent a stink like from my VFF's.
Of course, my greatest fear was the upper ripping. I am extremely ecstatic to say that the Evo II's have improved over the Evo I's: I have not suffered a rip in the shoes, even though these shoes have accumulated more miles than the Evo I's!! Very, very satisfied to hear that Vivobarefoot listens to their customers and fixes problems. Above you will also see that I have one frayed shoe lace tip, which is by no means an issue. You will also see that the nylon overlay of this left shoe has torn off, namely the lime "V". I have noticed the other shoe to do the same. However, in the Evo I's, the entire mesh did in fact rupture, forming a direct hole in the shoe. Well, multiple, multiple rips and holes.
The mesh is still intact.
The right shoe's lime hexagons are beginning to peel off as well. Only aesthetic!
The inside of the shoe with removed insoles looks like so. The stitching has NOT been an issue at all. It also does not seem to retain much stink, although I do sun-zap my shoes once in a while!
Performance:
I mentioned before the large transition from traditional heel-stacked shoes to Vivobarefoot shoes. This transition was not all that bad because of my experiences running in track spikes, with very minimal support (Nike Victories, Asics Japan Thunder).
I ran with this shoe on roads, grass, trails, gravel, etc. Additionally, I ran through all types of weather including rain, ice, and snow. I ran with and without socks. With and without insoles. I feel that this shoe has the perfect amount of ground feel, particularly when I ran on the trails. I had a sense of the terrain but also had the confidence through puncture proof soles (for those nasty, nasty rocks and tree roots).
I even raced in them. For the entire cross country season, I trained and raced in these shoes, putting my Bare-X 200's and Newton Distancia's to shame. I chose none other than my $25 Evo II's, and yet I was able to PR every single race. While that obviously can't all be attributed to a pair of shoes, I can say that I never once had any complaints for grip, weight, or comfort. The shoes were great on grass, the track, trails, and roads; they have shaped my legs to the way they are now, and I love that.
The wide toe box is perfect for my toe splay, and the shoe is overall, simply functional.
Conclusion:
I've grown attached to Vivobarefoot shoes. Because they were my first minimalist shoes, I've a sort of sentimental love for the brand and their ability to improve each model. The Evo I's were great to run in, they made freshman year track so enjoyable! Evo II's, however, totally blew my expectations away. And at $25, I have no right to complain. For the many people who can't find insane deals on these shoes, they can get very pricey quickly. Vivobarefoot is a premium barefoot running brand; expect premium prices, but also expect premium build quality and performance. The shoes are durable, functional, and even breathable. The sole is intrinsically durable and works well on roads, grass, the track, trails, and pavement. They also function well with casual wear, and walking. To me, this is my go-to all-around shoe that will always be there when I need it, even after 260 miles, and still going strong. I may have to go perusing around in women's shoe aisles again just to find another pair to enjoy!
Pros:
-Durable upper and sole
-Flexible
-Stylish, intricate design
-Breathable
-Lightweight
-Great ground feel
-Great colorways (particularly their 2013 models!)
-Wide toe box
-Great build quality
Cons:
-Price point ($100+)
-Nylon overlay peeling away
-Cold to wear in winter
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