REASONS TO BUY
Vegan
Stylish
Decent traction for around town
Minimal 3mm sole
REASONS TO AVOID
Uncomfortable hinge point at toes
More expensive
Stiff overall feel
Vivobarefoot discontinued the Stealth III.
Vivobarefoot Stealth III - Women's Review
This is a fun and stylish shoe but a bit stiff for athletic activities
Credit: Vivobarefoot
Our Verdict
The Vivobarefoot Stealth III is a stylish, minimalist shoe for casual use. The wide toe box and thin 3mm sole allow the feet to flex and bend even on smoother terrain, such as around town. The sole provides good traction for casual use but is not optimized for anything off-trail. As for more rigorous activities, we found an uncomfortable hinge point when flexing the toes, which made running uncomfortable. Additionally, the materials are stiffer than many of the uppers on other minimalist shoes, which detracts from the fun of wearing shoes that are designed to feel like they're not there.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Stealth III, like the previous model, has a few hiccups in the fit, but they're different this time. Overall, the it is a decent casual minimalist shoe for most active users.
Performance Comparison
Fun on our feet in the Vivobarefoot Stealth III.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Performance
The Stealth III is a cool looking shoe, designed for everyday wear but also for road running. It is lightweight and breathable, and performs adequately across a range of activities, but it does not excel as an athletic shoe.
The fit is roomy in the toe box and secure at the heel. However, the shoe feels rigid, stiff, and imprecise compared to many of the shoes in this review. After spending a lot of time purely barefoot and then testing a bunch of minimalist and barefoot style shoes, we came to appreciate a very soft and supple shoe. While the sole of the Stealth is thin and relatively supple underfoot, we found there to be too much resistance when we wanted to raise our toes. Other shoes made this much more manageable with softer materials or a scored forefoot sole. When running in these shoes, there was a distinct hinge at the metatarsals (the knuckles of your feet, where they bend most), and this pinched our toes. Unpleasant.
This photos shows the problematic pinch point at the toes of the Stealth III.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Barefoot Accuracy
The Stealth III is a lightweight, zero-drop minimalist shoe that can be used for many activities but is not optimized for running or intense activity. It has a wide toe box and is very breathable, so we like it a lot for commuting and all-day wear around town. These shoes allow for excellent freedom of toe splay, but more limited ability to lift your toes. The thin 3mm sole ensures you feel some stimulation from the ground even in a smoother urban setting.
Weight
These shoes are the heaviest in our review.; they weigh 16.5 ounces for a size 41 EU. For such a minimalist shoe, with only 3mm of sole underfoot, we were surprised at this weight compared to other minimal shoes.
Versatility
The Stealth III shoes are highly breathable with a mesh upper. This makes them a great option for summer bike commutes and times when it's warm, but you still have to wear shoes. They are much less suited for cooler temperatures as they get quite drafty, and won't keep your feet dry in wet climates.
The fit and feel of these shoes make them less optimal for athletic activities like running or court sports, mainly due to the articulation of the toe box pressuring the toes when bent. This is a cool looking shoe for around town use, however, so if it suits your style needs and you want something minimal to strengthen your feet, this might fit the bill!
The Stealth III is a fun pair of active casual shoes, but not ideal for focused athletic activities.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Traction
The honeycomb-like pattern on the sole ensures good traction on smooth surfaces. These are designed for urban use and best for daily casual wear. They are not ideal for off-road use, but the sole will allow your feet to grip the ground underfoot for added security, so hiking on moderate trails is not out of the question. The sole bends unevenly at the toes creating a hinge point, which pinches down on the top of the toes. We didn't like this, so we don't recommend these shoes for long walks or athletic activities.
The honeycomb pattern provided good traction for casual use and smooth, slippery surfaces we encountered around town. These shoes are less ideal for trails.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Durability
These shoes have an excellent toe rand that helps improve durability. They are made of lightweight and highly breathable V-Web Hex mesh uppers, which proved to be abrasion-resistant and durable.
Value
These shoes are on the pricier end of this review. The materials are vegan, so if that's important to you, these are likely worth the cost. They also proved to be durable, a plus for anyone looking to reduce their environmental impact with the footwear they buy.
The Stealth III shoes are fun and stylish, but perhaps a bit pricey for the limited use.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Conclusion
The Vivobarefoot Stealth III will keep your feet happy and cool on a warm day around town. The wide toe box allows the toes to splay, but the upward movement is restricted by stiff materials. If you are seeking a pair of shoes for more athletic use like running or hiking, look elsewhere, as there are better models for these uses at lower prices. Vivobarefoot notes on the website that there is a manufacturing error impacting the way the upper materials are bonded together, so once the manufacturing process is improved, these shoes might be more competitive. For now, the Stealth III is a durable pair of shoes that is pleasing to wear and to look at, but not our favorite for anything overly athletic.
Fun, vegan footwear from Vivobarefoot!
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
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Lyra Pierotti
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