My family and I are really into soft knit barefoot shoes – you can wear them without socks, they’re breathable, and pull on and off without laces. So I knew I had to try the Vivobarefoot Motus Flex when it came out. They looked like pure freedom of movement, but still functional for working out!
And you can use code ANYA20VB for 20% off
What I Love
When it comes to peformance, the Motus Flex is possibly the lightest most comfortable exercise shoe I’ve tried. The sole is grippy enough for gym floors and sturdy enough for outdoor exercise, while still being agile and soft. And they are very functional for everyday use and walking. I’ve even been hiking in mine quite a bit, which makes them super dirty but my feet are happy!
I also love that I have only had to adjust the elastic laces once – now every time I wear them I can pull the shoes on and off without having to fiddle with anything.
They have a roomy fit so I added an extra insole to mine for a more precise fit (I have very shallow arches). This made them just the right volume for my feet without having to tighten the laces too much and I have thoroughly enjoyed wearing them all day.
They are very similar to the Wildling Nebula, but built more stable during dynamic movement and with a more robust outsole. Side note – I don’t love that the Motus Flex sole appears to be a close copy of the unique and innovative Wildling sole, but I do appreciate having something as comfortable that is more durable.
Sizing & Fit:
- Wider than most Vivo’s! Most likely because the stretchy upper and flexible sole adapts to different foot shapes
- Straight cut but still secure on my narrow heels because of the elastic closure
- Medium volume, but adjustable to most volumes (high volume can remove the factory insole)
Other tidbits: I have gotten mine quite dirty a couple of times so I had the chance to see how well they cleaned up. I soaked them in Oxiclean for several hours and then put them in the wash (in a garment bag, cold water, delicate cycle) and they came out pretty good!
Don’t forget you can use code ANYA20VB for 20% off any Vivobarefoot purchase
For more options you can find my comprehensive guide to barefoot training shoes here, where we compare and contrast the options on the market.
15 thoughts on “Vivobarefoot Motus Flex Review – Performance, But Make it Barefoot”
This is not a beautiful shoe 😂
Yeah, I wouldn’t call it beautiful either 🙃
Would you say they felt wider than wildlings ?
Depends on the Wildling, but in general yes.
I had a different impression of the sole. Wildling didn’t come to mind, Adidas Feet You Wear from the late 90’s did. Adidas marketed FYW like barefoot shoes because they were the closest you could get for the most part. Where the FYW line stood apart from modern barefoot shoes is the sole that wraps around the feet. It helps minimize injury risk to the lower extremities and keeps the foot contained during sharp lateral movements. Very few barefoot shoes have this feature. The Motus appears to prove that you can contain the foot without bulk underneath or compromising flexibility.
The Motus looks like the evolution of Feet You Wear that never happened: minimalist upper construction, lower to the ground, zero drop, wide(ish) toe box. If it were reasonably priced I’d pull the trigger to see if it functions as well as it looks like it should.
How would these handle road running? Mostly pavement with occasional cement? 5-10k? I live in NYC and am in the market for barefoot shoes to run to/through central park. Thanks!
I think they’d be fine for that! They are definitely a very minimal shoe and some people find it difficult to do a lot of road running in something this thin. But if you are in the market for a true barefoot running shoe these can totally handle it.
How did you find the sizing? I got my normal size 12 when a thumb’s width in the front of the shoe but they feel a tad floppy and too big. I tried the 11 and they felt more “normal but tight on the sides and hardly any toe room
Vivo in general runs long intentionally so you have plenty of toe room. The floppiness may be more the material of the shoe and the volume. You could try using a thicker insole or an additional thin insole on top of the ones provided?
Hi Anya, I’ve got more of a plateau ish shaped foot. My last 2 vivo purchases didn’t work because they taper down too fast and bump into my toes 3, 4, and 5. Do you think the motus would work? Thanks!
They are technically still still the same shape as other Vivo’s, but they do feel different and wider because of the way the sole can flatten out more. So it’s possible they’ll work much better for you, but would depend on just how square shaped your feet are.
Are they supposed to be used without socks? I tried them and ended up returning them because I wanted to wear them with socks, and didn’t quite manage to feel comfy with them.
I don’t think there is a way you’re supposed to use them, I just prefer to not use socks in knit shoes.
Did you order your normal size? My normal size is 37 in vivos, tracker 38 with extra sole in it and for winter boots also I order 38 for extra socks room. They advise to order one size small on their websites. So, I am confused a bit 😝
Your feet sound similar to mine! I got my normal Vivo size 37 in them and they fit roomy but not so big that I would want to size down. I like the width. If I wanted a close fit, then I could see a size smaller fitting… I also wear a 38 in the Tracker with a wool insole and 38 in my other winter boots. 🙂