Vivobarefoot Ultra III aquatic adventure shoes
Amphibious adventure shoes for ocean rowing, bikepacking and wild swimming
Ethics statement: We approached Vivobarefoot shoes and asked for a pair of the Ultra IIIs for our 2017 ocean rowing expedition, to which they kindly gifted us a pair. However, we’re not under any obligation to write anything about these products, nor were we provided with any sort of compensation to do so. Within the article, there are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. To know more about our terms of service, you can visit the link at the bottom of the page. Thank you!
In 2017, we rowed over 3500 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean to set a world record, and these are the shoes we wore for the trip. Now we swear by them for amphibious adventure.
We got on really well with these aquatic shoes (like really well!), so much so that they’re still going strong some 5 years later (they come out on bikepacking trips with us from time to time!). They’re well made, light, durable and comfy. Made from ‘Bloom foam’, Vivobarefoot (a B-Corp certified business) states that it ‘removes harmful algae blooms from waterways to reverse the damage of water pollution.’.
They work well in the sun, when it’s raining, with waterproof socks (as we’re modelling for ocean rowers in the photos) and don’t ever smell (because they’re waterproof obvs!).
They’ve got great grip on the sole for walking on sand, and much lower profile than crocs (and far better looking also).
The elastic lace is great for getting them on and off in a hurry and the open design allows your feet to breathe when you’re in hot places or crossing water obstacles (which is what we mostly use them for these days after rowing the Atlantic). The only downside we’ve noticed is the hexagonal holes mean you can end up with an odd-looking suntan if you wear them for extended periods!
Whilst we think they’re the best adventure shoe for water-based endeavours, they’re not so great for walking long distances with a heavy pack (as you can imagine). They’re best used for packrafting expeditions, or crossing rivers if you’re out on a bikepacking trip.
If you’re rowing across an ocean, read our complete kit list of things you want to take with you (where you’ll find them as the first item). If you’re getting into remote hiking or bikepacking adventures, definitely check them out for keeping your feet in good order to keep you going.
