A big thanks to my brother, Alex @alexbridgeforth, for letting me do a shoe review for his blog. Check out his blog at http://runningaddiction.tumblr.com/
VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail [Shoe Review]
By @JABridgeforth,I have used about 8 pairs of shoes, two of those shoes being trail shoes. I would say these are my best all-around trail shoes. They have a great sole that makes running on rocks or hard surfaces much easier. Just like my other Vivobarefoot shoes, they have a Zero Drop from heel to toe. These are probably my second or third favorite shoe that I have.
I run in these shoes only on trails, because these shoes, I think, would wear out too fast on the road. If I know that the trail is going to be a hard rocky trail I will run in these over my New Balance MT10. My Neo Trail is definitely my go to trail shoe.
Comment: Have you tried a zero drop shoe?
I would give this a 9 out of 10 for a trail shoe because there is a few things they could do to make it better, but it definitely is one of the best trail shoes out there, I believe. It’s not really a specialized trail shoe, designed for a specific type of trail, which is something I like because then I can wear it just about on any trail and my feet will not get torn up. I just would not recommend this shoe for the road at all, unless it’s a short amount of distance (.25-.5 miles).I have a put about 57 miles on these shoes. I generally will run with this shoe anytime I run on a trail. I have put a majority of those miles while running at Mission Trails, San Diego.
I have liked this shoe since the day I got it. I remember going for a run around a lake and just loved it. I did notice the zero drop, which I loved. I actually ran my first trail race in these. By the way, I got 4th place in that race. I haven’t ran in these shoes that recently, but that’s because I normally just run around my neighborhood, which means a lot of road running. The only thing I’ve noticed is that the toe box is a little skinny but that’s probably because it’s a trail shoe. This is favorite shoe of mine. It has a zero drop from heel to toe.
I would compare this shoe, well, to my only other trail shoe the New Balance MT10. I love my MT10’s as well. They are both good for trails. The MT10 feels lighter on the foot and with less protection than the Neo Trail, which makes for a great shoe to run on softer trails. Whereas, the Neo Trail is better for hard rocky trails. Both are great shoes.
The look is very neutral. The colors of the shoe definitely go together. I’m not a fan of big bright colored shoes; however I do like them, so this is why I like the colors of the shoe. The way the shoe is designed in the upper makes for a perfect fit.
I would compare the looks of this shoe to my other Vivobarefoot shoes. My Vivobarefoot Neo are a black and white shoe. It’s a very simple design with very simple colors. Both the Neo Trail and Neo have a very simple color and look to them, which is one reason I like them both.
They are super comfortable. There is not cushion in weird places. These shoes are something that I could wear for hours.
I have never got any blisters or had any other major issues with these shoes. They seem to fit pretty well. Sometimes my big toe gets a little bit sore but I think that might be because I just have a huge big toe.
A lot of other reviewers seem to really this shoe. They love the fact that it was specifically designed for trails.
The outsole is quite interesting. I had never seen anything like it before I got this shoe. It’s got 4.5mm lugs/spikes all around on the bottom of the shoe. This design really does help on the trail.
This outsole was designed specifically to run on the trail. It is a great design. This design is something that I have not seen on other trail shoes. The outsole makes running on small rocks much easier.
Specs
- Heel-toe drop – 0mm (Zero Drop)
- Weight – 9.2oz
- Stack height – 7mm
This is my overall favorite trail. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great minimal/barefoot trail shoe. It is a very protective shoe but still provides that barefoot feel. I would say it is one of the best trail shoes out there on the market.
Comment: Have you tried a zero drop shoe?
You can find Joseph Bridgeforth on his Daily Mile, Twitter, and Blog.
Daily Mile: dailymile.com/people/JABridgeforth
Twitter: twitter.com/JABridgeforth
Blog: ittakessomeone.blogspot.com
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A big thanks to my brother, Alex @alexbridgeforth, for letting me do a shoe review for his blog. Check out his blog at http://runningaddiction.tumblr.com/
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