Vivo Gobi Suede
Color: Light Brown
Size Reviewed: 10.5 US / 44 EU
Weight per Shoe:
• 271 grams each with insoles
• 248 grams without insoles
MSRP: $160 USD (currently on sale for $80 USD)
Reviewer’s Feet:
• Left foot: 270mm long; Right foot: 275mm long.
• C-width, narrow heel. High arch, high instep.
The Vivo Gobi Suede is one of the most interesting shoes we’ve seen, because it’s more than just some casual shoe. It’s a valuable training tool.
For those who have been playing around with the notion of minimalist running—or moving away from heavily cushioned, high-drop shoes that some people find to cause pain rather than alleviate it—you ought to know about the Gobi.
This is a great-looking, lightweight, super flexible, very lightly-cushioned shoe with virtually no built-in arch support—the sort of shoe that will strengthen the tendons and musculature of your feet, as if you were barefoot, with the added protection of a puncture-resistant, 3mm-thick sole.
It’s a great aid for those interested in transitioning to more minimalist footwear without yet subjecting your feet to the additional forces of running.
If you’re on your feet all day at work and are new to minimalist shoes, you can probably expect your feet to fatigue. So be smart. Don’t wear these all day right away, build up the amount of time you spend walking around in the Gobi.
Fit / Sizing
The Gobi has an incredibly comfortable, ‘barely-there’ upper that lets your entire foot move freely. Like all Vivo shoes, these run wide. They’re supposed to.
I typically wear a size 10.5 US / 44 EU, and the 10.5 / 44 Gobi fits beautifully. I would suggest sticking with your typical size.
But if you’re really on the fence about sizing, I will add that I personally would drop down 1/2 a size before I moved up 1/2 a size.
Bottom Line
I love the look and the fit of the Vivo Gobi, and find them to be far more comfortable, ironically, than many highly-cushioned, higher-drop shoes with a bunch of built-in support.
For those who prefer a minimalist, zero-drop shoe, or for those who would like to check out the potential benefits of moving away from heavily-cushioned, overbuilt shoes with a ton of built-in arch support, I highly recommend the Vivo Gobi Suede.
Next: Ahnu Harris
The Gobi’s look like a modern take on what we used to call “fruit boots”, which used to cost maybe $20.