Vivobarefoot Gobi Dune Sneaker JJF

Despite their reputation for all-terrain running shoes, Vivobarefoot don’t just do shoes for running everywhere. This offering is of a far more relaxed and stylish nature and something you’d be quite happy wearing for a trip to the shops or a stroll about town without feeling like you have to be off running to justify wearing them!

Made from a more traditional, lightweight canvas, these sneakers, while looking good are packed with the usual kind of tech you would expect from any Vivobarefoot product. The sole base is a mere 4mm thick and the shoes are ultra-flexible, allowing your feet to do what they’re naturally designed for. The tread has been designed to allow for maximum feel of contact to the ground so that you can react to what you’re walking on and luxuriate in that barefoot feel. It’s not massively chunky (pretty much 0 tread depth) and I wouldn’t recommend wearing these out on an icy surface or for when you’re likely to be clambering up a slope but then that’s not what they’re designed for!

Both the canvas and the cotton are 100% organic and the outsole is made with a combination of synthetic and natural rubber. Unfortunately for those vegans out there, there is bovine leather involved so these ones are going to be on your avoid list, a shame really as they really do look quite good. The other thing worth mentioning is the JJF part of the name. These have been designed in partnership with John John Florence, 3 times surfing World Champion and part of their design is quite unique in that the insole is a Bloom® Foam JJF Insole made from algae biomass, giving an eco-friendly alternative to the usual foams used in insoles. This helps the quick-drying technology that helps to keep your feet nice and dry while out and about. RRP £160

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