Customer Reviews Vivobarefoot Mata

Vivobarefoot is a wildly frustrating company. As a customer since the very beginning, I love (some of) the shoes, and find the inconsistent sizing and quality to be extremely frustrating -- especially for a shoe company that charges exorbitant prices. The reason I keep coming back is 1. the sole (which truly is minimal and very well designed) and 2. style (these are the only "barefoot" shoes that I know of that are actually stylish). That said, you never know what you will get from this brand; it seems as though they don't test their designs in the real world before manufacturing them, because sometimes every thing about them is wrong. And sometimes the opposite. Plus, the sizing is ridiculously inconsistent. But I digress. The canvas Mata is a good shoe. Out of the box, the canvas is stiffer than you think it will be, but over time it will loosen (I only buy nonleather versions of their shoes, so I have a decent amount of experience with their canvas and how it ages; in fact, their canvas tends to be very thick and surprisingly durable!). The Mata is also secured well by the elastic on the sides -- making this slip-on shoe feel very secure but not at all tight. They also happen to be quite stylish -- which is why I was drawn to them. They are obviously designed to be casual, but they are versatile in that they look nice with shorts, jeans and dress pants on the more casual side. The sizing on Zappos is different from Vivo's own website, and Zappos' sizing is wrong in this case. I wear a size 11 or 11.5, and the 44 fit me perfectly (which Zappos claims is 10.5 but it is not). Overall, I'd recommend this shoe to minimal shoe lovers looking for something well-designed and versatile.

I owned and loved a previous pair of this type of shoe, but the sole finally - and understandably - gave out after so much usage. So I immediately went to purchase the Mata style as a close replacement. Sadly, after two weeks of wear, the edge of the shoe started peeling away from the main part of the shoe. I called Zappos, and in two days had my replacement pair (same kind, same size) because I thought the first pair must have been a fluke. Sadly, the same exact thing happened to my second pair. While I will be sending this pair back - and not trying a "third time's a charm" on them, I did call the manufacturer just to tell them how much I enjoyed their shoes, but that something seems to be going wrong with manufacturing process. The person who answered the phone said no customer support people were currently available but would call me ASAP. It has been four days, and still no call. Too bad. Poor product quality and poor customer support have made me start looking for a similar shoe. I just hope I can find one!

It's real shame about this company. It's a great concept but they are clueless. Vivo Barefoot also has the worst customer service. They started out good then have been going downhill ever since. I've bought 6 pairs of their shoes and will never purchase another pair. It's a shame since the styles that fit have been discontinued. I have to ask, do they even try wearing their shoes before selling them. I have met several other past customers that have also given up on them. It's too bad.

These are slightly slimmer and very slightly smaller toebox than previous "slipper" versions of Vivobarefoot shoes, but with the same Vivo feel and comfort. They have a more stylish look without the bigger toebox, but you may need to go up a half size (I didn't, but notice a little less toe wiggle room).

These are great. I've been looking for a pair of ultra minimal shoes that could be worn in my office. Vibram's were great, but they look terrible. These, however, are perfect. Bit on the pricey side for what they are, but they should last for quite awhile given that I'm only wearing them inside.

I loved these shoes - but I wore a hole through the bottom after just a few months of daily wear. I sure wish that they were more durable, but I am still ordering another pair.

I wore Vivobarefoot's Dharma for pretty much the entire time it was in production. Now that no one even seems to have backs stock of the Dharma, I bit the bullet and decided to give the Mata a shot. Vivobarefoot's shoes have always felt large, with broad toe-boxes and plenty of space, but they've usually been comfortably close at the heel. I originally got the Mata in size 13 (my usual size), but they were too long, loose enough that they were uncomfortable. The size 12s, however, fit quite well. Not as snugly as the Dharmas, but comfortably enough. The construction of the shoe is noticeably simpler than the Dharma. The insole materials are simpler and a little rougher, and the stitching is simplified. This was almost certainly done as a cost-saving measure, but it hasn't affected how comfortable they are to wear. The materials and stitching, while changed, still seem reasonably durable, so I have no reason to expect that these will wear out any faster than my Dharmas did. Overall, the Mata is a fine replacement for the Dharma. Comfortable and familiar to anyone who was fond of the old line.

I love Vivobarefoot shoes, and I really like this style. I'm usually a 43 with the brand, but unfortunately it felt a little small in this style, and then the 44 was too large. Bummer of me; maybe it'll be right on for you!

I absolutely love the previous version of this shoe that is no longer made :'( This version is good, but does not fit me quite as well. One size would leave my heel popping out, while the other is constraining on my toe area (this is the one I stuck with.) I am normally a size 11 and I am probably in the worst position here because they only offer UK sizes, which do not have a size 11 equivalent. Aside from the fit, I love these shoes for the natural feel on the soles. Plus, I am a tall guy and do not require shoes that have an inch-high heel; these shoes' soles are as flat as they come.

I'm a big fan of Vivobarefoot shoes. I own a couple pair of the lace-ups and they have greatly reduced joint pain in my knees and hips. These Mata slipons fit a little tighter. The red elastic isn't as classy as the lace-ups but acceptable I thought. What isn't so evident in the photographs is the red stitching around the sole. This makes them a bit more euro and less classy still. They seem to run a little tighter too. I'll probably keep them for casual wear.