Vivobarefoot RA Review: My first barefoot step Into the Office
The Quest for Office-Ready Barefoot Shoes
Venturing into the barefoot shoe world for the office environment was daunting for me. Shoes were either crazy expensive (Yes Vivobarefoot Gobi Lux…I'm looking at you), or the “wide foot shoe look” was always a turn off for dress or office shoes.
Finding a barefoot office shoe was a big deal for me at the time. My foot pain from regular shoes had been increasing dramatically, I had no idea about barefoot shoe brands (other than Vivobarefoot) but needed something that would be comfortable for wear over long periods of time and looked acceptable for the office.
Enter the Vivobarefoot RA III, my first barefoot office shoe. At 180 USD, I didn't think I had a lot of option so I bit the bullet. These seemed like the best available option given my limited barefoot shoe knowledge.
Vivobarefoot RAs: my feet saviours for the office
Can You Actually Pull Them Off at Work?
Honestly, the first few times I wore them into the office, the lack of heel and wide base made me feel like that awkward kid showing up in Velcro shoes to high school. Practical, absolutely—but not exactly sitting at the cool kids' table. But I stuck with it, after a few days, no one even made a comment. Most importantly... my feet didn’t hurt. Unsurprisingly, this feeling quickly wore off, and they’ve become my go-to office shoe over the last 18 months.
These shoes are not a dress or formal shoe by any means, but they do the job for the office—and definitely for after-work dinner or drinks.
Looking the part…no one has any idea
Fit: A Roomy but Reliable Feel
I wear both size 46 and 47 in Vivobarefoot (based on availability), and my size 47 RAs are definitely slightly do big. Not a big deal since I'm not clocking steps in the office and I do like being able to move my toes around with ease. I don’t feel any squeeze no squeeze on the toes and is very comfortable to wear all day. I also consistently walk 20 minutes to and from work daily and have no issue there. My foot doesn't slide around at all, and my feet are comfy with nothing digging into me.
Lots of room for those toes - more spacious that other barefoot shoes I've tried
Materials & Upper: Soft, Minimal, and Surprisingly Durable
The upper materials are very nice. The leather is light, thin, and soft. The softness definitely makes me careful not to bang and scratch them up too much when I'm out and about, but with that said I also love how I can squeeze them into the shoe cupboard with no worries at all. Vivo's website says they are made from "Wild Hide leather"—whatever that means, it sounds premium and definitely feels nicer than my old non-barefoot office shoes.
Creasing started to show very early, only after a few wears. I was worried this was a sign of worse things to come, but they’ve held together well considering they’re worn at least 3 times a week for 8 hours over the past 18 months. The ease at which this shoe creases though is a let down, especially when you compare it to other shoes the in the category. My pair of Vivobarefoot Gobi Lux doesn’t appear to be have creased nearly as much.
RAs (Left) Gobi Lux(Right), Creasing on the leather is one of the downfalls of the RAs
Sole & Ground Feel: Excellent Grip, Barefoot Feel
The RA has a 4mm Gobi outsole, which gives a great ground feel without feeling super thin. Grip is great—I feel confident in all weather conditions with these shoes.
The cork insole has gotten bad reviews online but hasn’t been an issue for me—unlike some other Vivo’s I’ve had issues with (reviews incoming). Both the insole and outsole have worn down slightly, but definitely not any faster than my old pair of office shoes.
Outsole grip is very good with minor wear around the heel.
Price, Value and Comparisons: Worth it…on Sale
Lets get this straight, 300 AUD / 185 USD is very steep. (RA IVs are now sold this price and yes, I’m sure you’ll find the IIIs cheaper now). However, they aren’t the most expensive office shoes out there (i.e. such as Gobi Lux, Carets...), but when you are looking to switch to barefoot shoes from regular shoes, the price point doesn't exactly make it easy.
More and more barefoot options seem to have come out since I purchased these shoes 18 months ago. There’s plenty of competition: ZAQQs, Groundies, Birchbury to name a few. I’m very keen to try them out.
However, for a barefoot leather office shoe at a lower price point (i.e. approx 100 USD) I feel there is little to no competition andthere is a real gap in the market. Let me know if there are any brands in this price range.
Final Thoughts: A Solid Entry into Barefoot Office Wear
The RA III solved my problem: one of the few barefoot shoes from a well-known barefoot brand that works in a office setting without screaming “barefoot.” They're light, comfortable, easy to wear daily, and they look the part—even if they don’t quite justify the premium price.
Overall, these RA IIIs hit the sweet spot for everyday office wear, if you can grab them on sale or on Revivo’s website site you wont be disappointed. If your looking for a more formal shoe, the creasing early into the shoes life is a worry, and for the money you are spending I’d definitely pass and move onto the next.
Pros
Office-ready style with barefoot function
Super light, flexible, and comfortable; roomy fit
Can handle daily office wear without falling apart
Cons
Easily prone to creasing on the leather
At 185 USD, it is quite expensive
