By StripeFit Editorial TeamFirst published Updated
Current buying answer
Vivobarefoot Stealth II Review: What To Buy Now
Short answer: Stealth II is legacy minimalist footwear. Use the old name to identify the kind of fit and ground feel you are looking for, then compare the current Vivobarefoot Primus Lite path with Xero HFS II and Merrell Vapor Glove 6. The right choice depends on toe-box shape, sole thickness, surface, transition pace, and return terms.
Stealth II is an older model name, and no current manufacturer page for the exact model was verified in this update. Current product pages below provide the evidence for comparison paths; they do not establish Stealth II stock, materials, sizing, or support.
Disclosure: StripeFit may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the links below, at no extra cost to you. Product identity, prices, sizes, colors, sellers, and return terms can change; verify the destination before buying.
How the current choices differ
| If you want… | Start with… | Published product detail | Limit to remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivobarefoot’s thin, wide training format | Primus Lite listing | Vivobarefoot describes Primus Lite III as wide, thin, and flexible, with use across running, training, and day-to-day activity. | Confirm whether the offer is Primus Lite III, 3.5, Knit, or another version. |
| A road-oriented cross-brand minimalist shoe | Xero HFS II listing | Xero describes HFS II as a lightweight road runner and lists a thin, flexible platform with a tire-tread-inspired outsole. | Its foot shape and fit are not established by the Vivobarefoot source. |
| A very low-profile Merrell option | Merrell Vapor Glove 6 listing | Merrell lists a 6 mm stack, Vibram EcoStep outsole, breathable mesh on the standard version, and a minimalist trail and training use. | The linked marketplace offer may be a leather or other variant with different upper details. |
Product options
Vivobarefoot Primus Lite listing
Use this as the same-brand comparison when the decision is a wide, thin, and flexible training platform. The current Primus Lite III page describes the model as wide, thin, and flexible and names running, powerlifting, functional fitness, and daily use as possible contexts.
- Fits: buyers who want to stay with Vivobarefoot and already understand a minimal platform.
- Watch: the existing destination may be a different Primus Lite generation or colorway.
- Verify: model generation, size, width, upper material, seller, price, and return terms.
Xero HFS II listing
Xero describes HFS II as a lightweight road runner and publishes a men’s size-9 reference weight of 8.3 oz, a flexible sole, and a tire-tread-inspired outsole. The product page also gives its own size advice and fit notes, so read the exact offer rather than transferring a Vivobarefoot size assumption.
- Fits: road running, walking, or fitness when a cross-brand minimalist road option is useful.
- Watch: the official page uses the HFS II name for more than one gendered listing and colorway.
- Verify: exact size, width, outsole condition, seller, and return terms.
Merrell Vapor Glove 6 listing
Merrell describes Vapor Glove 6 as a minimalist trail and training shoe with a 6 mm stack and Vibram EcoStep outsole. The standard mesh version and the leather variant have different upper materials, so the marketplace title and photographs matter.
- Fits: buyers who want a very low-profile Merrell comparison for training, walking, or selected trail use.
- Watch: a leather listing is not the same upper as the standard mesh version.
- Verify: version, size, lug and outsole condition, seller, and return terms.
Variables to check before moving into a minimal shoe
- Toe-box shape: compare the brand’s fit guidance with the actual foot shape you need. A wide design label does not remove the need to check length, volume, and heel hold.
- Sole thickness and ground feel: a thin platform changes the amount of surface detail you notice. Decide whether you want that feedback for road, gym, walking, or trail use.
- Surface: the HFS II is described as road-oriented; Vapor Glove 6 is positioned for minimalist trail and training; Primus Lite covers several training contexts. Match the outsole to the surface rather than the product name.
- Transition pace: Vivobarefoot’s support guidance recommends starting with short periods of wear and increasing gradually. If the change feels uncomfortable, reduce the duration and return to a level you can manage.
- Protection and debris: minimalist uppers and soles leave less room for guessing about rocks, wet ground, or loose debris. Check the actual outsole and upper before using a shoe outside its stated context.
- Returns: try a new pair indoors within the seller’s return window. Check the exact size, color, seller, and return conditions before removing tags or wearing the shoe outdoors.
What the old review can and cannot establish
No current manufacturer page for the exact Stealth II model was verified in this update, so current stock, materials, sizing, support, and variant identity remain unestablished. Those details are intentionally not presented as present-day specifications here.
The current comparison uses official product pages for Primus Lite III, HFS II, and Vapor Glove 6, plus Vivobarefoot’s transition guidance. Manufacturer descriptions establish published product details; they do not prove that a particular foot will fit, that a marketplace pair is authentic, or that a buyer will prefer the platform.
Sources and methodology
- Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III – wide, thin, flexible construction and named training contexts.
- Xero HFS II – road-oriented use, reference weight, sole description, and fit guidance.
- Merrell Vapor Glove 6 – 6 mm stack, mesh upper, Vibram EcoStep outsole, and listed minimalist training and trail use.
- Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Leather – variant caveat: the leather upper is a different product version from the standard mesh page.
- Vivobarefoot transition guidance – recommends short periods of wear and gradual increases; this is brand guidance, not individualized medical advice.
Related StripeFit guides
Continue with running shoes for flat feet, neutral versus stability shoes, Bikila Evo alternatives, Merrell Trail Glove alternatives, or the broader current buying guides.
FAQ
Is Vivobarefoot Stealth II still worth buying?
Consider it only when the exact pair, condition, size, and return terms are clear and you already understand a minimal platform. The current Primus Lite, HFS II, and Vapor Glove paths provide easier model-specific evidence to compare.
What replaced Vivobarefoot Stealth II?
Primus Lite is the same-brand comparison. Xero HFS II and Merrell Vapor Glove 6 cover different cross-brand minimalist paths. None is presented as an official one-for-one successor.
How should a new buyer start?
Begin with short periods of wear, follow the fit and transition guidance for the exact model, and increase gradually only when the shoe remains comfortable. A current return window is useful while you decide whether the platform suits your use.
Before you buy: quick price + alternatives check
Use these links to compare current options and avoid overpaying.
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