Comments on: Review – Vivo Barefoot Aqua by Terra Plana

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:48:58 +0000

Hi Again,

Again not something that I have experienced at all. Sounds as though the environment your shoes are in may lend them to have cracks perhaps… Do send photos!

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:44:07 +0000

Hi Martin,

Thanks for writing us! That’s very concerning that the sole has cracked in the way you describe. I’ll send you a personal email and ask you to send me a couple photos, if that’s ok. I would like to see it myself, for interest sake. Then I’ll be happy to send an email with your contact information, and the photos, on to Vivobarefoot for you. Otherwise I suggest that you give them a call. In my experience, with other customer related issues, they have always been extremely fair and reasonable. Where faults in manufacturing were the cause, have always provided a repaired or a replacement product. I can only assume they will treat you with the same high level of customer service whether you go through us, or if you contact them on your own.

Were there any contributing factors to the cracking of the soles? I own a large number of Vivobarefoot products of all ages and styles and have never seen even the smallest crack in the sole. Where they perhaps in extreme cold or heat? Or perhaps subjected to the sun for very extended periods of time? This is a very interesting situation.

Kind Regards,

Al Gauthier

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:24:14 +0000

Also for water proofing, strange as my aquas soak up water through the sole, anyone else experience this?

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:23:05 +0000

Hi All,

I’ve bought a pair in August, and for some reason just couple of days ago. The sole cracked in several places. Is is possible I’ve stepped in something which caused this? I’ve emailed Vivobarefoot regarding warranty, but have not heard anything. Do these shoes come with manufacture warranty? How should I proceed to obtain a second pair from Vivobarefoot?

Cheers,

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:33:41 +0000

Hi Max,

It’s a very exciting thing to try – just make sure you do enough reading so that you understand what you are doing and how to do it safely. Changing to barefoot running or running in minimalist shoes is a big step for the body – so make sure you are very gradual.

Keep us posted on your progress!

By: Max

Max — Thu, 26 May 2011 10:09:57 +0000

Nice review, thanks for the informations
I’m very interested in this whole ‘barefoot-topic’, I guess the next step is to try out a pair, I hope it’s as useful as you read all over the internet

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:46:45 +0000

Excellent. Great to see it’s been resolved!

By: jeff

jeff — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:21:18 +0000

Thank you Al – you’re quick! I just got an email from TP, and they have shipped a replacement this afternoon. I’m a happy camper!

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:11:34 +0000

HI Again Jeff,
Terra Plana replied. They indicated they had already been in contact with you and that they agreed the stitching repair had not been adequately done. As you are no doubt aware they are sending you a replacement pair.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:13:01 +0000

Hi Jeff. Sorry to hear about your bad experience. We have sent your comment to TerraPlana to see if they would like to respond.

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:41:57 +0000

I’m having a bad customer service experience with TP. Bought a pair of Aqua’s that separated at the seam around the top of the heel after 2.5 weeks. They refused to exchange and told me it was “wear and tear” but offered to fix them if I sent them in (shipping at my expense). After 3 weeks, I received the “repaired” shoes, only they hadn’t been repaired. The seams are still falling apart. I’m not happy at having paid $150 for a pair of shoes that falls apart after a couple weeks!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:09:37 +0000

Been wearing barefoot shoes, or something close, past 18 months. Started with Sanuk shoes and Five Fingers. Love Five Fingers, but the Sanuks wear out quite quickly. Bought a pair of Vivo Barefoot Dharmas mainly for work, church, ets. and have been very happy with durability, look, etc. of these shoes. My feet are relatively narrow, so they do fit quite a bit looser than other shoes. I don’t mind that much. I might look into the Sanuk boot I just found for winter wear.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:34:35 +0000

I don’t own a pair yet, but I tried on a pair of Dharmas the other day and I think I agree with Dave. They seem pretty comfortable for a pair of “normal-looking” shoes (as opposed to barefoot or FiveFingers, which I prefer), but I think it would be more comfortable and more natural to have a flat sole rather than having it curve up at the toes. It probably looks more like a shoe to have the sole curved, but our feet don’t curve up at the toes, so why should our shoes?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:29:24 +0000

I ‘ld like to purchase the Aqua but in Holland where i live there’s no shop that sells them.
I want to try them on first because of the problems with sizing i read here, so buying them at Terra Plana.com doesn’t sound too attractive.
Furthermore on their site all the colors i like are ”out of stock” ?

By: conrad

conrad — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:22:04 +0000

i have 3 pairs of Terra Plana, work, play, winter and love the feel, especially when i cannot have my five finger trek on which still is my favorite! but Terra Plana line is great!

By: Leigh

Leigh — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:01:47 +0000

Love the Terra Plana collection. Finally got a chance to check out the New York store and try everything on. Also, check out Urban Sherp today – they are giving away a pair of Terra Plana Doll shoes in a cool quilt fabric.
http://www.urbansherp.com/urban-sherps-giveaway-a-day

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:42:09 +0000

I really love the feel of my Terra Plana Dharma’s. They are super comfortable, but they don’t breathe at ALL so odor became a problem within weeks of wearing them. While I would consider buying another pair of TP shoes in the future, they are currently WAY too expensive. I’d only buy another pair if they reduced the price (a lot). I had to ship my first pair back because they were too small and had to pay the postage. At $140 per pair they could at least offer free shipping, and free return shipping for problems with the fit.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:16:44 +0000

Very much so. More comfortable than most shoes.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:53:55 +0000

Very interesting review and comments. Are these comfortable walking long distances, like 2.5 miles to work?

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:13:33 +0000

I have had vivobarefoot aqua since december and generally like them. They are very comfortable and fun to wear. My main complaint about them is that the sole seems to curve up at the toes. This feels uncomfortable while standing, but I don’t notice it while walking. I’d prefer being able to have toe contact with the ground. Has anyone else had this problem?

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:30:10 +0000

Hi Patirck, If you want my opinion, I would say that if you are trying to decide if the shoes are the right fit, than they are probably not. A good fit shouldn’t be much of a debate. I would always suggest sending them back for the the little money it costs. You’ll thank yourself in the long run!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Thanks Al. Nice to hear from someone else who recgnises that sometimes shoes are just not the right fit, whicever size you try. I’ve often deliberated over whether to go for 8′s or 9′s, but never 9′s or 10′s.

Still not sure about these, and my 28 days for exchange are nearly up. Unfortunately i don’t live anywhere near a store to try the 9′s again, so i’ll have to pay £5 to send them back (and another £5 if i decide 10′s wre right after all!) or keep them and hope for the best.

Many thanks
Patrick

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:39:10 +0000

HI Patrick. Good questions about the Vivos. You’re really asked several questions here.

It all depends on why you have difficulty getting the size 9 shoe on. Vivos, in particular the Aqua, can be very snug when they are being put on. The elastic sock-like liner is part of why this is. Having said that, if they are uncomfortable in any way once they are on, then I would not suggest wearing them in. I believe that shoes either fit or the don’t. If you can’t find a comfortable size then the shoes are not for you. Forcing feet into shoes that are not the right size is part of why people have so many foot problems in the first place.

The size 10 will probably not change the barefoot feel of the shoe, however, one inch of extra space sounds like it may be too much. I would be concerned about tripping. I would guess that the size 9 was the right fit, but that you abandoned them early due to the snug fit while putting them on.

If a store is close enough, I would try the size 9 on again and make sure that they don’t fit. You might be surprised. Otherwise, if the size 10 fits well, and you don’t think you’ll have a problem with tripping on the extra length, than those would be just fine.

Hope that helps. Al

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:18:46 +0000

I normally take size 8 or 9, depending on make of shoe (i guess i’m 8 1/2 but don’t see many shoes being produced in half sizes these days). I bought these in size 10 as i had trouble getting the 9′s on. There are several mentions here and elsewhere that 1 size up is needed. Trying them on again at home, I now notice that there is a lot of space in front of the toe, about 1 inch, which bothers me as the pics they show have the toes almost touch the front of the shoe and wonder if this will affect the comfort and “barefoot” experience. Any thoughts? Should take them back and exchange for a 9 and hope they wear in?

By: Barefoot Running: Not just for bums and hippies. | running quest

Barefoot Running: Not just for bums and hippies. | running quest — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:29:39 +0000

[...] comes in white and green. An added bonus is that the shoes are made of much recycled material. > Living Barefoot took the Acqua’s for a spin and wrote up a [...]

By: dave

dave — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:08:02 +0000

bleh, appears LIVINGBAREFOOT code no longer works. shoes are just a bit too pricey for me atm. the shoes cost enough, you’d think they could offer free shipping

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:52:27 +0000

Hi Again Phil, I received a response from Vivo Barefoot. Here is what they had to say: “Thank you for passing this along. I have checked all emails and no one has received an email from Phil. I would love to help this customer and feel quite bad that he has not had much success. This is definitely not the standard of Terra Plana. If you could be so kind to pass along my information or have him call me at the office I would love the opportunity to restore his faith in Terra Plana.”

I will email you the contact information Phil. Please update us to let us know how this was resolved for you!

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:51:49 +0000

Hi Phil,
That doesn’t sound like the Terra Plana / Vivo Barefoot that we have come to know. The shoes also seem very well made. I have forwarded your comment to our contact and hopefully we can help resolve the issue for you!

By: Phil Howard

Phil Howard — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:36:54 +0000

I have the Dharma and agree that it is a very comfortable shoe. Unfortunately after a few weeks the soles began to detach from the leather uppers. I wrote the company asking if they could rectify the situation and received absolutely no response. I’m not very impressed with the quality, and even less impressed with their customer service.

Phil

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:26:37 +0000

Hi Unci,

I contacted Vivo Barefoot on your behalf, and this is the response I received

“Terra Plana makes all VivoBarefoot styles in size 47. Not sure when this gentleman visited the Vienna store or what styles and sizes the Vienna store chooses to order, but for Terra Plana for N & S America all styles are ordered from 41-47. We have plenty of styles for this customer to choose from and would be happy to assist him in getting a pair.”

By: unci

unci — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:36:32 +0000

I once travelled to the Terraplana shop in Vienna and asked if they had anything in my size (47) but it looks like Vivo barefoot only go up to size 46, definitely too small. So unless they add larger sizes, it’ll be barefoot without the Vivo. (Though there are opportunities when wearing elegant black shoes with a barefoot feeling would be really great …)

By: | Living Barefoot

| Living Barefoot — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:01:33 +0000

[...] Vivo Barefoot – Aqua Review – Read It Here – Vibram FiveFingers: Review of the Sprint, KSO, and Classic Styles – Read It Here – Feelmax Shoes [...]

By: Grok

Grok — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:59:59 +0000

Thanks for the great review. This is helping to seal-the-deal on a vivo purchase.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:25 +0000

Hi Karl,
That was also my first impression. In order to answer your question I checked with Terra Plana for an answer. The Aqua Beige is listed on their website, and it will be a current color until the fall of 2009, however the color of the image is off. I’ve confirmed that the Aqua Beige is in fact the same color as in the reviewed shoes. The photographs taken by us are true to color. They are working on correcting the images to appear more accurate. Should you wish to order, Terra Plana has been kind enough to pass on a discount, so be sure to order using the discount code: LIVINGBAREFOOT for 15% off the price.

By: Karl Fast

Karl Fast — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:26:20 +0000

The Terra Plana site doesn’t have the Aqua in the colors from your article. Did you review an older model or is this an upcoming color scheme? The latter, I hope, as I prefer this lighter brown color to those on the Terra Plana site.