Welcome to this article where we will review the Saguaro Smart 1 Barefoot Shoes in Gray. This honest review follows 3 months of consistent use. This is now my sixth pair of minimal shoes, and there will be some comparisons to my other purchases in my hunt for the best barefoot shoe. However, these are the first pair of Saguaro's!
You can catch up on some previous reviews with my Merrell Vapor Glove 6s. I have had a pair of Xero barefoot shoes in between; however, following an Achilles rupture, my Xeros haven't been used much for their intended purpose of trail running.
Type in barefoot or minimal running shoes into Google, and you can bet the Vivobarefoot brand will be close to the top of the page, if not the very first link, shortly followed by Merrell, Xero, and Inov-8. So, Saguaro's were a little bit of a risk, being a lesser-known brand in the UK and initially coming across as some generic shoe you can find on Amazon but with a different brand name depending on the listing. I'm glad I went for them, though there are some grudges to overcome.
Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
+ Style | - Delivery time (in the UK) |
+Cost | - Sizing disparities |
+ Lock laces included | - Stocking issues |
+ Low Profile | - International returns |
Saguaro Smart 1 Barefoot Shoe Review
Where to buy barefoot shoes
So far as I've seen, the only places to grab a pair of Saguaro's are directly from them or via Amazon. This makes them a risk if you're someone who's looking to try before you buy. Combine that with international returns, and you have to be sure you want a pair. The returns policy is fair, and they offer exchanges; of course, this is aimed at the USA customer base. That being said, a gym member of mine ordered a pair that didn't fit, and they sent out a replacement at no additional charge while she could keep the original pair. That's a really good sign Saguaro are proud of their products, though I wouldn't count on it happening on each occasion.
There are a lot of designs and models to choose from, which is great. Most other barefoot shoe brands besides Vivobarefoot and Xero offer minimal variety, and what is offered is bland. It's more my personal preference, but it's nice to see Saguaro shoes with variety. I also like that they have a selection of casual and hiking shoes as well. If I can find a size that fits, I may well expand my collection. I'll get into the fit later in this review.
For all the choices of options, Saguaro doesn't really differentiate a lot between models within use categories. For example, the Smart 1 model I went for is in both the training and running categories for men and women. Now, the benefit of barefoot shoes is in how your body adapts to the needs of your training. That being said, it led me to try and search for any specialised features for the category they were in, and I was left wanting. Add on that, apart from visual features, there's little differentiation between models.
Above, we have the Smart 1 shoe on the left, whereas on the right is the Smart 2 shoe. There are some aesthetic differences, but otherwise, the sole appears to be the same, the laces the same, and even the price matches. Saguaro doesn't make the difference between models obvious. In fact, the only difference I could find was that the Smart 1 shoes have a breathable leather lining, and the Smart 2 has a knit lining instead. Adding in the other models like the Vitality, Fast, and Vigor, which all look similar and fulfill the same purpose, selecting a model of shoes seems either a lucky dip or purely based on which one you like the look of. Models like the Vigor 2 have a different lacing system, and the Vigor 5 has higher ankles but again span multiple categories. Saguaro, if you read this, I would like your options to be more streamlined or at least highlight the differences.
Alas, I've only discussed the brand, not the actual shoe in the spotlight. I'm not sponsored, and there are no affiliate links; this is my honest review of a shoe purchased from my own pocket. Before I move on to the shoes themselves, my parting comment on the purchase is that the stock levels must be really low at Saguaro. I finally bought the Smart 1 in Gray, as it was one of the few shoes they had in stock in my size. There were many other options I liked, but they just weren't available in my size.
Design and build
I have to admit, when I opened the packet, these shoes seemed to be of cheap quality. I regret that I didn't grab any unboxing images to start with due to still having a dodgy achilles tendon. I didn't know if I would be wearing them much at the time. I can tell you now, I have worn them nearly every working day since!
There is very little to the Saguaro Smart 1 shoe, and it's very flexible, as is to be expected of a barefoot shoe. There were a couple of loose threads poking out here and there, and the reinforcement vinyl around the lacing holes didn't give me the impression they would add much robustness. However, unlike my considerably more expensive Vivobarefoots and my relatively expensive Merrell shoes, there have been no issues.
3 months of wear in the gym for Personal Training, my own training, and some martial arts drills involving a great amount of pivoting, and they are fine. The lacing vinyl is being stretched but has not yet broken. The lace holes on the inner row on both shoes have the vinyl lifting a little at the edges. The body of the shoes and the soles are holding up nicely with no signs of wear, aging, or damage beyond a little discoloration to the sole where I've been on grass.
The body of the shoes breathes nicely, albeit too nicely in cold weather, and the sole grips well for a relatively deep tread. The Smart 1s are surprisingly flexible with the deeper tread. My Xeros and Vivobarefoots had only marginally deeper lugs yet were/are significantly stiffer. For light trail/off-road work, I would say the Saguaros will grip nicely without compromise on feeling. However, for rougher terrain, I would go with my stiffer Xeros for better puncture protection and comfort.
The Velcro tab on the lock laces is a nice feature to neatly hold the loose end of your lace. On the flip side, the elastic lace is really long. By the time the shoe is pulled tight, there is a lot of excess elastic, which, when the tab is secured, leaves a large loop. This can easily be solved by wrapping the excess around the fastener. Likewise, the fastener isn't great; the laces do lose tension over time but will hold for a day or two, so it isn't a huge problem.
As barefoot shoes tend to appeal to those who like to be more natural and in touch with the environment, Saguaro has advertised their pursuit of eco-friendly materials. How recyclable the shoes are, I cannot say. The shoes do come in a "woven bag," which Saguaro claims reduces waste instead of using boxes. However, I didn't use the bag, which ended up in landfill as I couldn't put the bag into recycling like I would have done with a cardboard box. The bag may have been compostable, but for someone who doesn't have a compost heap or know anyone close by who does, it defeats the purpose of reducing waste.
Comfort and Performance
I ordered an EU 44, which is about a UK 9.5, depending on which conversion chart you look at. I've found that for most barefoot shoes, I need to order a little smaller, so a UK 9.5 should be just right. The Saguaro Smart 1's do run a little on the big side. They fit, just about. They are plenty wide enough, give the toe box lots of room, and of course, have zero drop. But, with some deviation allowed between brands, the Saguaro's don't seem to have sizing mastered yet.
Sizing seems model-specific, as I know three other people with Saguaro's. All ordered their normal shoe size: one received shoes too big to wear that needed a refund, one person's fit just right, and another fit a touch too small, though still wearable. Combined with my own experience, one in four received a size that fit as expected. It's difficult to say if that's due to variation in each individual's standard sizing, manufacturing differences, or size differences in models of barefoot shoes. Either way, a 25% success rate is a problem.
Besides being a bit big, the Smart 1's are comfortable. There's no chafing or pinching anywhere, and my foot has the freedom to move. I've not experienced any penetrating stabs or pains in the base of my foot, as sometimes can happen with barefoot shoes when stepping on rocks and pebbles. To counter my penetration positive, I've not worn them extensively outside or on rough terrain. I can say the insoles move around a bit when doing a lot of lateral work. It's a quick fix and doesn't occur often, but it would be nice to have the insoles more secure with a grippier base or perhaps light glue.
If you have come across my Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG review, you'll have seen that my toe shape was the main hindrance. As I have more of a Greek toe shape, the length of the toe box is important. The Saguaro's don't hinder me in any way. You could argue that's just because they are too big, but I ordered a larger size in the Vivo's and still felt pressure on my toes that the Saguaro's fortunately do not.
Aftercare
Unlike Vivobarefoot, there doesn't appear to be any repair or recycle service. Though considering most other brands also miss this feature, it's not something to alienate Saguaro for. I'm quite surprised the color has held out too. Considering I got a light grey color, I would expect to see stains by now. As mentioned above, the soles have gone a shade of green from being on grass, yet the body remains untarnished. Cleaning is easy; being mainly mesh, they dry quickly after a scrub. The Saguaros are also so light I wouldn't be concerned about putting them in the washing machine if they got really filthy. Compare that to my Merrell Vapor Glove 3's at nearly 3 times the cost; they were stained very quickly and lost the vibrancy that I personally like in my shoes.
Verdict
So far, you would think from the review that for the positives, it is generally negative. There is one overriding factor, though: the price! At 3x less on average than my Merrells, half the cost of most Inov-8s, and a whopping 4x less than my Vivos and Xeros, I can't complain much. Agreed, there could be some quality improvements and purchase improvements.
But
Saguaro undersell and overdeliver! They have lasted me a little over 3 months of constant use with nearly no defects. Compared to other, more expensive brands which after only 3 months already showed more signs of wear, I'm happy. Even if the Saguaros last me only a year, they are at a price point that I'm happy to buy another pair and still have spare versus a pair of Vivos. At the price point, I can buy multiple pairs for separate occasions, reducing the mileage on each individual pair, extending their in-use life. None of the 4 other people I know with a pair have expressed any durability concerns, and one person has bought some of the casual variety Saguaros and loves them. Just a shame the style she has doesn't come in my size; otherwise, I'd have ordered a pair too.
The Sagauro's have all the main features that matter in a shoe I'm looking for such as;
Design options
Environmental touch
Heel loop
Lacing system
If you can look past the;
Delivery time
Low stock
Minor quality issues
The Saguaros are an affordable and effective choice for barefoot shoes in the UK. When my Merrell Vapor Glove 6s finally give up (the soles are getting very thin), I will likely replace them with a set of Saguaros. Likewise, when it's time to purchase some casual shoes, I will look to Saguaro, and when I decide to go down the barefoot hiking path, I will again first try out Saguaro. Albeit a different size!
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