Vivobarefoot's Sensus Shoes Are Like Gloves for Your Feet

Love them or hate them, barefoot shoes are polarizing. But they are becoming big business, both for fashion (a subject in which I am, admittedly, not an expert) and for health and wellness. This is a relatively recent development. Before 2019, I did what most of us do and wore highly padded shoes because that’s what modern shoe companies sold us. But I did have a long history of going barefoot, from growing up at the beach.

Like most people who start looking into barefoot shoes, I started having foot pain. My heels began to hurt when I walked. Plantar fasciitis was the problem, and the conventional wisdom is to get shoes with even more padding. But I started reading about people who cured their various foot issues by going barefoot, or at least turning to “zero drop” shoes, where the bed of the shoe is flat from toe to heel. My wife also transitioned to barefoot shoes after foot surgery failed to fix her foot issues and she's never had a problem since.

It seems a lot of people are catching on to barefoot shoes—the sandals, at least. Some fashion brands, like Miu Miu, have recently released expensive versions of the Xero Genesis paracord sandals.

The idea behind barefoot shoes is to eliminate arch support, widen the front of the shoe so your toes can splay out, and let your foot move the way it evolved to move. In 2020, I wrote about my experience with Xero’s Z-Trails, and moved quickly on to the even more minimalist Z-Treks. I still wear the Z-Treks today.

Barefoot shoes—not sandals—are harder to find. The Vibram FiveFingers are the iconic barefoot shoe, but those look a little goofy. For a long time, my solution has been to spend as much time as I could in climates where the Z-Treks were suitable. Living in an RV allowed me to go where the weather suited my clothes, so I did. Eventually though, the weather catches up to you. Also, it's just nice to have at least one pair of shoes you love.

Late last year, Vivobarefoot released the Sensus shoe. Vivobarefoot was founded in 2010 by Galahad and Asher Clark (yes, those Clarks), and it specializes in super-thin shoes that let you feel the ground. What immediately jumped out at me about the Sensus was the low, 3-mm sole. Vivobarefoot sent me a pair to test, and they quickly became my favorite shoes (the downside being the interesting, uh, style, which my daughter describes at “elfin”).

Luckily for me, I don't care what they look like as much as I care what they feel like, and the Sensus fit my feet like a pair of gloves. There's no insole, so there's almost no cushioning, just enough outsole to save you from sharp objects on the ground.

These are very well-made, durable shoes. The construction is excellent, and the stitching on the bottom—something that worried me when I first saw it—has held up well for almost a year with no signs of wear (the soles are also replaceable).

This is where the curious look comes in. The side stitching that attaches the upper to the outsole isn't just for that sweet elfin styling, it's also to increase the range of motion your foot has when walking.

More than anything else, this is the genius of the Sensus. The flexibility of the shoe increases the range of motion your foot has when walking. The double-stitched wild hide upper is actually three pieces brought together around the laces, which also helps increase the possible range of motion. Your foot can easily roll as you walk on the ground. I do occasionally hit a piece of gravel that I can feel (not in a good way), but otherwise there's enough padding that you don't have to think about where you step, but plenty of barefoot feel to make them an enjoyable shoe to walk and run in.

There are small cuts in the leather upper, which makes it nicely breathable. It's not nearly as breathable as a mesh upper. (If that's what you're after, check out the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite 3.5, which have a similar minimalist 4-mm outsole, though the fit is very different.) I probably wouldn't choose these for a desert hike in August, but I find them perfectly comfortable for barefoot running well into the upper 80s.

The insides of the leather are also incredibly soft. This is the only shoe, barefoot or otherwise, that I've ever worn without socks and enjoyed the experience. The other really nice detail on the Sensus is the extra padding just below the ankle, which helps keep your heel locked in place and is a big part of what makes these feel like a glove for your foot.

The tread pattern on the rubber sole, which Vivobarefoot says was inspired by the early human footprints found in Laetoli, Tanzania, provides a nice grip with almost no slippage.

Another part of the Sensus’ appeal is the versatility—it's an all-around excellent shoe. They're nice as casual everyday-wear shoes, but they're also good for working out (I find the soles provide just the right amount of traction for lunges), running, and walks around town. I've even done some hikes in them, though scrambling over wet rocks along a river did make me wish for more traction.

The uppers have proved nicely waterproof thus far. They will wet out some if you wade a stream or walk for hours in the rain, but you can always seal them. Vivobarefoot recommends Renapur Leather Balsam; I've used it on several Vivobarefoot shoes with good results, though I haven't put it on my Sensus yet.

I will say that they don't have the super-wide toe box found in some Vivobarefoot models (the Addis for example), but despite years of barefoot shoes, my feet are still on the narrow side, so this doesn't bother me, especially given how well these allow your foot to move.

The Sensus has proved everything I wanted in a barefoot shoe. The ultra-thin 3-mm sole offers enough protection while still maintaining excellent sensitivity to the ground; the leather is flexible and comfortable, and it's a great shoe for everything from walks in the woods to morning workouts. They’re not a good choice if you're brand-new to barefoot shoes, but for everyone else, try the Sensus.