Hello, my name’s Andrew and these are the Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot, a lightweight barefoot boot with a leather upper and minimal sole for all season casual.
Features
Last year I reviewed the Vivobarefoot Gobi Winterized, which are my favorite casual boots of all time for cold weather, because of the highly flexible upper, wide toebox, and excellent ground feel.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Winterized Cover](/static/4c45d6e615764fcb827462135e1b497d/vivobarefoot-gobi-winterized-cover.jpg)
However, my only beef with them is now that we’re moving into spring there are a lot of days where the insulation is too warm, so I asked Vivobarefoot for a pair of their regular Gobi Boots to test, and, yea…
They’ve got all the things I love about the Winterized, but with more versatility for zero-drop adventures in all four seasons.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Features Showcase Desk](/static/01300a3ea5ac353c4c63fc419f6f4d77/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-features-showcase-desk.gif)
Upper/Lining
Because the Gobi Boot has a wide toebox with a water-resistant chrome-free leather upper that’s reinforced all around for extra protection, as well as minimalist flat laces and top hooks for quick on/off.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Toebox Desk](/static/8ba1dff0ad3474e7aad35906ce9bf7e8/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-toebox-desk.jpg)
Inside there’s a soft leather lining and thin tongue for breathability and improved range of motion, plus a removable recycled insole for padding.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Lining Desk](/static/e76312a380f9a3bbad91666bab3ec6d4/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-lining-desk.jpg)
Sole/Tread
Underneath you’ve got a thin 3.7mm zero-drop sole that’s extremely flexible in all directions, along with a minimal tread for roads and 360º stitching for durability.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Tread Desk](/static/655545de76080299915dbedc47736d09/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-tread-desk.jpg)
Testing
While the Vivobarefoot Gobi Winterized was already one of the widest Vivo’s I’ve tried the lack of padding in the regular Gobi Boot added even more space.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Tread Front Road](/static/37b45c3580bb1c31aebd14eff66f52c0/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-tread-front-road.jpg)
Walking
So heading out for a walk on roads the thin sole felt just as smooth and natural, but I could feel my toes splaying out further as I landed.
Which made the Gobi’s one of those barefoot boots that looks substantial but still makes you feel like taking off running (even if that’s not what they’re made for).
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Run Wide Road](/static/68da4c1508087882ad387067f7174c72/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-run-wide-road.jpg)
Hiking
Branching off onto trails the leather upper and multiple layers of reinforcement were great for keeping out mud and the sole was tough enough to handle some light gravel.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Walk Away Trail Fence](/static/29b926d61348e53fe05180095f3d612f/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-walk-away-trail-fence.jpg)
Although, obviously, the Gobi Boot doesn’t have enough tread to handle serious hiking on sharp rocks or muddy hills.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Water Hiking](/static/fb8ed50676d3a7396073584644361751/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-water-hiking.jpg)
Casual
Also, while their sweet spot was around forty to seventy degrees, the thin leather upper worked better for hotter days than thicker zero-drop boots, like my Vivobarefoot Tracker FG’s…
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Pov Thin Upper](/static/089b68485958174e3892e5cdb7837b8a/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-pov-thin-upper.jpg)
…and with a couple layers of Injinji merino wool toe socks and thicker Smartwool’s, as well as a wool felt insole, I was able to stay warm down below freezing.
![Softstar Switchback Injinji Smartwool Desk](/static/c1b732d2e898cb4d4d33a813e086451c/softstar-switchback-injinji-smartwool-desk.jpg)
Running errands the black Gobi’s felt like they’d be great for delivery drivers or even formalwear, while the brown’s would style well for casual…
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Car Driving Pov](/static/bf59536ab13760cbfd19014e09e27cfd/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-car-driving-pov.jpg)
…and in general they were flexible enough that you could comfortably wear them inside on cold winter days if you didn’t have a pair of slippers handy.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Style Stool Side](/static/bb575b1921a14d003f8343d0aea5ad2c/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-style-stool-side.jpg)
Conclusion
Overall the Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot is an excellent option for anyone who wants an all-season boot for casual that combines a high range of motion with some extra protection for mixed conditions.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Review By Andrew Folts](/static/21c857666cf21e08c44a5b25441d3c80/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-review-by-andrew-folts.jpg)
Pros/Cons
Because the toebox is wide and comfy, the leather upper is water-resistant yet thin enough to breathe in warmer weather, and the 3.7mm tread feels amazing walking on roads, or even some light trails.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Feet On Desk](/static/72b6d43bddfe017e828daf8567a6229a/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-feet-on-desk.jpg)
However, the Gobi Boot may not be roomy enough for extra-wide feet, the leather can soak through if it stays wet long enough, and the higher cut does reduce airflow for hotter days above seventy degrees.
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Front Road](/static/203e8ec409390bf2f7761ae5558ef596/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-front-road.jpg)
Alternatives
In terms of similar barefoot casual boots…
![Vivobarefoot Gobi Boot Side Style Indoors](/static/5baaa6a06ddab59d620d20e9eba7a756/vivobarefoot-gobi-boot-side-style-indoors.jpg)
Resources
If you’d like to support the channel, you can shop with the referral links above/below, browse and filter more products at my website barefootwear.org, or watch my zero-drop transition video to learn more about barefooting.
Finally, if you have a question about the Vivoobarefoot Gobi Boot, or about barefoot shoes in general, let me know in the comments.
Thanks for watching, catch ya next time. Peace!
![](/static/andrew-folts-avatar-088bd5c1b9ae37bf089dc88e13165cc8.jpg)
Andrew Folts
Andrew is a writer/filmmaker who creates video guides and reviews for a community of 25K+ creative rebels on YouTube.