Birchbury vs Vivobarefoot
If you’ve ever tried barefoot shoes, you’ve probably come across Vivobarefoot. They’ve been the giant in the space for years. We at Birchbury have a ton of respect for what they’ve done — but we also think there’s room for something better.
Obviously, I’m biased — I run Birchbury — but that also means I spend a lot of time thinking about what makes a great barefoot shoe.
Vivobarefoot shoes were my first barefoot shoes.
I still remember the first time I slipped on a pair of Vivobarefoots. It felt like my feet finally woke up after years of being trapped in narrow, heavy shoes.
Vivobarefoot shoes were great for the gym, but I wanted barefoot shoes I could wear in a professional setting.
Vivobarefoot shoes have unnecessarily large branding, making them stand out in professional settings.
That's when I saw an opportunity to make something new. Make comfortable barefoot shoes that blend seamlessly in a professional setting.
I set out to make barefoot shoes that could be worn to the office or on dates.
Birchbury vs. Vivobarefoot: A Quick Comparison
Birchbury
Vivobarefoot
Style
Office, Dates
Gym, Outdoors
Insoles
Soft and cushioned for more ground protection
Thin cork, very minimal protection
Materials
Full-Grain Leather
Plastic
Sustainability
Long-lasting materials reduce waste. Leather is biodegradable.
Best-selling shoes are made
with virgin plastic.
Durability / Aging
Full-grain leather ages beautifully
Thin synthetics prone to wear faster
Laces
No-tie elastic laces
Traditional laces
Birchbury
Vivobarefoot
Style
Office, Dates
Gym, Outdoors
Insoles
Soft and cushioned for more ground protection
Thin cork,
very minimal
protection
Materials
Full-Grain Leather
Plastic
Sustainability
Long-lasting materials reduce waste. Leather is biodegradable.
Best-selling
shoes are made
with
virgin plastic.
Durability / Aging
Full-grain leather ages beautifully
Thin synthetics prone to wear faster
Laces
No-tie elastic laces
Traditional laces
Insole
I loved the wide toe box of the Vivobarefoot shoes, but after walking for an hour in them, I would feel strain on my knees and hips. I liked the thin sole, but I didn’t need to feel every pebble I stepped on.
For Birchbury’s insole, I added just enough softness so your feet don’t feel like they’ve gone twelve rounds with the sidewalk.
Material
One thing I’ve never understood is why so many barefoot shoe brands rely on plastic for their uppers. I get the appeal from a manufacturing standpoint — it’s cheaper, lighter, and easy to mass-produce. But for something that’s supposed to connect you to the ground, plastic feels... unnatural. It doesn’t breathe, it doesn’t age well, and it ends up in a landfill when it breaks down — which doesn’t take long.
We line every pair of Birchburys with soft, breathable pigskin leather — because nothing synthetic can match the comfort of real leather against your skin.
Real materials like leather move with you, shape to your feet, and actually improve with time. A lot of barefoot shoes tout sustainability, but it’s hard to call something sustainable when it’s made mostly from virgin plastic that’ll outlast the shoes themselves.
I wanted to take a different approach — one that values longevity, comfort, and craftsmanship over cheap convenience.
Laces
At Birchbury, I have one design philosophy:
“Make barefoot shoes that look like regular shoes.”
Clean, Classic, Simplistic.
Article by
Matthew Tran
Matthew Tran is the founder of Birchbury, a footwear brand redefining wide toe-box, zero-drop shoes by designing shoes that prioritize foot health without sacrificing classic style. From 2012 - 2018, he grew a YouTube channel to 300,000+ subscribers then retired to launch Birchbury in 2019, which has since served over 85,000 customers worldwide. He also volunteers as the webmaster for FightDogMeat.com, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehoming injured stray dogs.
Article by
Matthew Tran
Matthew Tran is the founder of Birchbury, a footwear brand redefining wide toe-box, zero-drop shoes by designing shoes that prioritize foot health without sacrificing classic style. From 2012 - 2018, he grew a YouTube channel to 300,000+ subscribers then retired to launch Birchbury in 2019, which has since served over 85,000 customers worldwide. He also volunteers as the webmaster for FightDogMeat.com, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehoming injured stray dogs.
Article by
Matthew Tran
Matthew Tran is the founder of Birchbury, a footwear brand redefining wide toe-box, zero-drop shoes by designing shoes that prioritize foot health without sacrificing classic style. From 2012 - 2018, he grew a YouTube channel to 300,000+ subscribers then retired to launch Birchbury in 2019, which has since served over 85,000 customers worldwide. He also volunteers as the webmaster for FightDogMeat.com, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehoming injured stray dogs.