Vivobarefoot Motus Strength II Review | Great for CrossFit and Athletes?

The barefoot training category has grown a lot over the last few years — but very few models are built specifically to hold up for heavy lifting, high-intensity gym work, and CrossFit. That’s where the Vivobarefoot Motus Strength shoe line has carved its niche.

This isn’t a casual barefoot sneaker. It’s not trying to be a hybrid lifestyle shoe. The Motus Strength 2 is designed with one purpose in mind: delivering a wide toe box, low-to-the-ground feel, and enough structure to handle serious strength and functional fitness training.

For this review, I put the Motus Strength 2 through a wide range of workouts to test their capabilities and comfort. Some of the testing included heavy deadlifts, dynamic kettlebell flows, split squats, rope climbs, and deep flexion work to test its grip, stability, upper durability, and forefoot comfort.

I also compared it directly to the original Motus Strength to see whether the updates meaningfully improve performance — or just tweak aesthetics. Did Vivobarefoot fix the limitations of the first version while keeping what made it strong for lifting?

Who Should Buy the Motus Strength 2

• You lift heavy and want a stable barefoot platform. If your training revolves around deadlifts, squats, and strength-focused sessions, the aggressive outsole and structured upper give you a very planted, grounded feel under load.
• You do CrossFit or functional fitness regularly. The combination of grip, lateral structure, and upper durability makes this one of the more capable barefoot options for mixed-modal training, and more specifically CrossFit.
• You liked the original Motus Strength but wanted better forefoot comfort. The updated upper provides slightly more volume and improved ventilation in the forefoot, which helps reduce the creasing and pressure some experienced in deep flexion when lunging.
• You prefer a barefoot shoe with a bit more structure. This isn’t a soft, slipper-like minimalist model. It has intentional reinforcement through the heel and midfoot, which can feel more secure during lateral or explosive movements.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Motus Strength 2

• You want a hybrid lifestyle and gym barefoot shoe. This model leans heavily toward performance and structure, so if you’re looking for something that transitions seamlessly from gym to casual daily wear, this probably isn’t your best option.
• You disliked the TPU heel wrap in the original Motus Strength. The heel and midfoot reinforcement remain the same, so if that structure created pressure or discomfort for you before, this version likely won’t change your experience.
• You prefer ultra-soft, ultra-minimal uppers. While the upper has improved, it still has the bulkier reinforcement and structure. If you want something that feels extremely flexible and barely there, this may feel too built, look into something like the Inov8 Bare XF or Xero Shoes Nexus Knit.
• You primarily run long distances. While you can run in them, this shoe is more biased for lifting and functional fitness. If your main focus is mileage, there are better barefoot options designed specifically for running.

Sizing and Fit Thoughts

About My Feet: I have a normal arch/instep and my feet come in at an E/EE width. The length of my left and right foot are consistent with one another, and I size as a true US 10 for most companies’ sizing charts. 

Fit Breakdown:

• Narrow (<D) feet: Potentially size down.
• Medium (D) width: True to size
• E and EE: True to size.
• 3E+: True to size.

Like most Vivobarefoot models, the Motus Strength 2 runs long.

I have over a thumb’s width of space at the end of the toe box. That said, every time I try a 9 in Vivo, it feels too short, so if you’re in a similar boat with typically running true in full sizes, then I’d keep this in mind.

My advice for most, stick true to size. I’d expect them to feel slightly long and keep them in good condition and try them on INSIDE in the event you need to return or exchange.

If you wore the original Motus Strength, go with the same size here. The removable insole is still included if you want a slightly more grounded feel.

Performance Breakdown

Lifting: 9/10

For lifting, the Motus Strength 2 feels exactly how it should, especially for the price point. The aggressive lug pattern and sticky rubber compound provide excellent traction on rubber gym floors, turf, and wooden platforms. During heavy deadlifts, I had no slipping or subtle shifting through the midfoot. The outsole has just enough structure to prevent that “overly soft” barefoot sensation that can sometimes feel unstable under maximal loads.

Where I noticed the biggest improvement over the first version was during deep flexion movements like split squats and lunges. The original Motus Strength could feel slightly restrictive across the top of the forefoot and in the forefoot, especially for lifters with a higher instep or thicker feet. The updated upper on the Motus Strength 2 feels slightly higher volume and less compressive in deep flexion.

When driving the knee forward or descending into deeper ranges, I didn’t experience the same top-of-foot pressure or sharp creasing that some users noted in the previous model. That subtle change broadens the usability of this shoe. It still feels structured and reinforced, but it no longer feels like it’s fighting your foot when you load into deeper positions. For strength-focused training, that’s a meaningful upgrade.

Overall, for pure lifting performance, this shoe does exactly what it’s designed to do — and it does it well.

CrossFit & Dynamic Work: 8.6/10

The one area outside of lifting where I think the Motus Strength’s price is justified is for CrossFit and more dynamic sessions. During kettlebell shuffle flows, lateral transitions, and more athletic movements, the outsole’s structure provides just enough rigidity to keep you feeling stable without sacrificing too much flexibility.

While not everyone loves the heel construction, I find that the TPU heel and midfoot wrap add a nice reinforcement in higher-stress areas. This gives them a more secure feel during shuffles, pivots, and forward propulsion. That said, this same structure may still feel intrusive to lifters who prefer extremely stripped-down barefoot models, or who have thicker ankles.

In CrossFit WODs, rope climbs can be a quick way to vet a shoe’s versatility, especially in barefoot shoes that often rely on lighter, more flexible materials. After multiple WODs with climbs, the Motus Strength 2 continues to stand out as one of the more durable barefoot training shoes for CrossFit. The TPU overlays and reinforced midfoot structure help protect the shoe from abrasion without feeling excessively rigid against the foot.

Compared to softer barefoot trainers, this model feels more resilient in abrasive environments, which is similar to the OG Motus Strength. That doesn’t make it indestructible — no shoe truly is — but it does do a better job overall for protecting your investment.

The updated ventilation in the forefoot also seems to reduce heat buildup compared to the original Motus Strength, which could run exceptionally warm. That slight improvement to airflow helps with comfort during longer sessions or higher-volume workouts.

Running Performance: 6.5/10

You can run in the Motus Strength 2, but I’d keep it short — think 800 meters or less. The shoe’s heavier construction and reinforced upper make it feel more like a gym tool than a true running model. For short sprints, warm-up intervals, or conditioning pieces mixed into strength sessions, it performs fine. The grip is strong, the platform is stable, and the zero-drop design keeps you close to the ground.

Where it starts to fall off is in longer efforts. The upper doesn’t breathe as well as lighter barefoot running models, and the added structure makes it feel less fluid through repetitive strides. It’s not uncomfortable, per se, but it doesn’t have that smooth, barely-there ride you want for higher mileage.

Daily Wear: 6/10

One of the strengths of the Motus Strength line has always been its balance between minimalism and structure. The Motus Strength 2 maintains that identity.

You still get a true barefoot platform: wide toe box, zero drop, flexible forefoot. But the outsole thickness and reinforcement provide more stability than extremely thin barefoot models. That additional structure can be an advantage when lifting heavy or performing explosive movements.

This shoe does not feel like a casual barefoot sneaker. It feels like a training tool. The design choices — from the outsole pattern to the TPU heel wrap — are clearly geared toward gym durability and performance rather than lifestyle comfort.

The takeaway here is that the Motus Strength 2 isn’t trying to be everything. It’s trying to be a strong barefoot lifting and functional fitness shoe — and in that lane, it performs well

Motus Strength 2 vs OG Motus Strength

If you liked the Motus Strength, then I’m pretty confident you’ll enjoy the Motus Strength II when the time comes for something new. The brunt of worked well has stayed the same and the main updates are what I call “quality-of-life” upper updates.

What’s Better:

• More breathable forefoot
• Less restrictive upper
• Reduced top-of-foot pressure
• Slightly more accommodating fit

What Stayed the Same:

• Outsole grip and lug design
• Overall structure
• TPU heel wrap
• Gym-first identity

Overall, the updates make it a better version of the same shoe — it’s not a total redesign.

Final Thoughts: Would I Get Again?

The Motus Strength 2 is a thoughtful upgrade.

Vivobarefoot improved the upper where it needed improvement and left the outsole alone — which was the right move. It’s still expensive, though, and if you can find a discount, that’s ideal.

But if you’re serious about lifting and CrossFit-style training and want something with more structure, this remains one of the more durable, structured options in the category.

Not perfect. But better.

If you have additional questions about the Motus Strength II, drop a comment below!