Vivobarefoot Geo Racer

Detailed Review

Vivobarefoot’s Geo Racer was designed to provide users with flexibility and breathability while moving. This shoe is part of the vegan collection made from materials that are recycled. Although the design is modest, it still offers sufficient protection underfoot with its Pro5 puncture-resistant layer.

Made from Vegan Materials

The first version of the Geo Racer is primarily made from nature-friendly and recycled materials. It has 0% animal material which can be appealing to those who have adapted to the vegan lifestyle as well as conscious consumerism.

The shoe is completely recyclable. Vivobarefoot has a movement called ReVivo. Old, used shoes are revived, reconditioned, and made available for purchase. Refurbishing used shoes prevents them from going straight to the trash pile. Consumers can send their old Geo Racer to Revivo to give it new life.

Design & Usage

The shoe itself is designed to be more foot-shaped than shoe-shaped so users have a more controlled and natural feel of their movement. Vivobarefoot believes that the human foot is already a masterpiece. Their philosophy is to allow the foot to move freely and naturally which is how they designed most of their footwear including the Geo Racer.

Primarily, the shoe was made to be used doing outdoor activities such as running, walking around, hiking on flat trails, or working out. However, because of its simplistic design, it can easily be used casually. The majority of reviews online mentioned that they appreciated the design and the simple colorways because they can pair their Geo Racer trainers with any outfit.

The upper is simple and straightforward with only one color and a hexagonal design on the side. Its main material is mesh engineered from recycled PET plastic, making it breathable and appropriate for summer and spring.

Fit

This barefoot minimalist shoe has enough room in the toe box to allow the toes to splay. Unfortunately, the fit still depends on the shape of the users’ foot with reviews online, the majority of them written by female users, mentioning that the fit was a bit narrow. Male users, on the other hand, observed that the trainers fit just right.

In addition, those who may be first-time users of barefoot or minimalist shoes may find the fit to be clunky. It is recommended to go a half size or a full size down based on some reviews.

Grip & Protection

The bottom of the Geo Racer may look thin but it has a puncture-proof layer called Pro5. It is a patented technology by Vivobarefoot which has five times the puncture resistance compared to other shoe brands. This technology specifically protects the user from getting injured while still providing that sensory feedback that Vivobarefoot shoes are known for.

Inside is a removable performance insole called Bloom. It was made with a combination of EVA foam and BLOOM algae. It improves the shoe’s breathability from within, allowing the air to circulate to keep the foot cool.

Looking at the outsole of the Geo Racer, it’s made with hexagonal patterns which make it flexible. According to most users, the outsole exhibited good grip on common surfaces but it may not be ideal for very technical terrain when hiking.