Vivobarefoot - Trail Freak Trail-Running Shoe (Fall 2014)

I used to have the same issue, the Vivo Barefoot TrailFreak, was a good option as they are heavily lugged for traction. Seems they still make them. [https://www.trailrunnermag.com/gear/shoes/vivo-barefoot-trail-freak-trail-running-shoe/](https://www.trailrunnermag.com/gear/shoes/vivo-barefoot-trail-freak-trail-running-shoe/) I found them good (back in the day) when running on muddy, rocky, tree rooted trails. I don't do that kind of running anymore though.

Vivobarefoot are pretty wide. If you can get used to the really low stack height and lack of cushioning, it's a great shoe.

I alternate between them and Lonepeaks. Pretty happy with the balance. I avoid wearing them for trails exceeding 10km, or ones I expect to have pointy rocks. I also don't like them on stairs.

5 fingers are good but bear in mind they have no stubtoe protection, so a stray rock in the path can really mess up your day (ask me how I know). I’d favor a shoe with a toe box, like vivos.

I have used them for trail running and backpacking. They held up pretty well but take getting uses to, you'll have to toughen up your soles for impact. It took me few days to adjust to the impact patterns. Feet were sore in the beginning.

I am hypermobile and am also in the process of figuring out if I have EDS and what type. I didn't make the switch, but rather since I began hiking/backpacking/trail running I have worn Vivobarefoot and Altra shoes. My ankles became pretty strong and never roll, even compared to other regular-mobile people. I also have the frontal knee pain, but as you mentioned, it turned out that's about the imbalance of too strong quads-too weak hammies. TLDR: Yes it's possible

I did, but on trails with small pebbles or twigs, I found they'd sometimes get stuck between my toes which wasn't comfortable

I wear barefoot shoes in regular life, and I used to wear Vivos on the trail. I do think I’m able to go farther and without sore feet with some cushion. I personally hike in Altra Timp 4s. I view my wearing minimalist shoes most of the time as strengthening my feet and then the cushion on my hiking shoes allows me to take the most advantage of that built up strength. 

Vivobarefoot and Xero are both about as wide as Altra LPs, but obviously much less cushion between you and the ground. Merrell TrailGloves are also appropriately foot shaped and split the difference between an LP and a true barefoot shoe in stack height (LPs are 25mm, trail gloves are 12mm, Vivo primus trails are 5mm) Astral makes zero drop foot shaped water shoes, but their TR1 is kind of a hybrid, designed for canyoneering and pack rafting and stuff. Can get the job done as a hiker or approach shoe.

I’ve climbed mountains in vivos. Not like actual hardcore high altitude climbing of course, but grassland to snow back to grassland over kilometres of elevation type of climbs, and it’s so much better than thick stiff hiking boots. You have to have the ankles for it, which is why I think so many people avoid barefoot for hard activity, but nothing beats underfoot feedback when it comes to feeling secure on scree and wild rock

I've been liking the new Inov-8 Trailfly Zeros in wide. Vivo shoes fit me decently well and these seem similar fitwise.

I exclusively wear Vivobarefoot, and will never go back to thicker shoes.

I did for a while, I kept stepping on a rock right in the middle of my arch. It was not a pleasant feeling, switched to altras.

I wear minimalist/barefoot/zero drop shoes day to day. I also hiked 1300 miles of PCT including all of JMT (well, the large part that overlaps) wearing a mix of Altras and Topos. I much prefer the Topos as simply much more durable and a bit more supportive, well worth the small weight penalty. Currently rocking the Traverse model. The year after my big hike, I attempted to hike a pretty tough 120-mile section "off the couch" using Vivo barefoot shoes instead of tried-and-true Topos. It was a total disaster. By mile 13, the soles of my feet were two giant blister cushions. I hobbled out the next day nearly crying from pain and hitched home, utterly defeated. Turns out padding and isolation from scorching hot jagged/sloped black basalt surfaces is important. So yeah, as u/_m2thet says, barefoot is good for maintenance of foot strength and gentle tread in normal, less demanding life conditions. Then when you put your feet to a hard test, you still want all the protection you can get.