How These Weird Barefoot Boots Saved My Feet
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- Опубліковано 29 чер 2024
- I started wearing the Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC over a year ago and they completely changed hiking for me.
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I wore the soles off my Danners in just about a year (back when I used regular boots); how is there any tread left on those?
Disclaimer: Vibram FiverFingers for life, so that's an actual question
only 20% off? Take that 20 and give me another 30 and then maybe illl have enough money to buy these shoes.
Until then its not worth it, these soles look like they will maybe last 3 months with me hiking and that's not a good investment for shoes.
nah
buy from a USA company
like xero out of Colorado
bought some - thx
Last year, at the age of 52, I was still having to wear highly cushioned trainers with orthotics, using a disabled parking pass and suffering with extreme chronic foot pain. Now I am wearing barefoot shoes all the time, even hiking and scrambling, not renewing my disabled pass and a lot of my foot/leg pain has gone. I started gradually with some cheap fabric barefoot shoes, but treated myself to a pair of Vivobarefoot trail shoes recently. They are so smart, I can wear them anywhere. I decided last week that I needed a specific walking boot- style pair, as I am walking more (Geocaching is my new addiction 😀). Been researching and Vivobarefoot are high on my list. This video has persuaded me to order a pair. Thank you
Great to hear barefoot shoes have helped you!
❤🔝👏🦾
Ah, nice update; I quite enjoyed this :~) I shared about my pair of these on your The Truth About... video 10 mos ago. I am still beyond pleased with mine.
I didn't get the little pot of balm, but was always going to use Sno-Seal anyway.
I am one who loves the look of these; 'growly' and purposeful and adventurous.
Pretty sure I've watched Mt. Mike's video about them at some point. So cool to see his 4yr/1000+ km look at his pair here, thank you both!
Same, I got really sick of rolled ankles. I switched to barefoot shoes about 2 years ago and not a single rolled ankle. I love my Trackers. Fab boot.
Oh good! I’m glad you’ve had the same experience, good to know it’s not just me. 🙂
Same here. Years and years of regularly rolled ankles. Switched to various kinds of barefoot shoes and now rolls are a stumble while running on a horse trail in Five-Fingers, not hitting the ground rolling an ankled just walking on the sidewalk. The last year has been 20 km + a day walking dogs at shelters in Ukraine, and I brought four pairs of different Vivo's and two pairs of Five Fingers. Walk on pavement, walks on trails, running with dogs through the forest wild man style. Love it!!!!
I use running shoes and never twisted my ankle.
@@adventureswithfrodo2721 Lucky you. I have rolled my ankles over and over since I was a teenager. Barefoot shoes are what finally built the ankle strength that now I don't. Trail running and hiking increase the likelihood too.
@@adventureswithfrodo2721 Good for you. Not for me. Barefoot shoes and the ability of my foot to adjust to the ground made all the difference.
Excellent job creating and editing this video Mr. Reid! Thank you!
My daughter and I switched to barefoot style shoes for running, hiking, backpacking, and casual wear, in 2012. She was 12 and I was 49. We purchased Vibram FiveFingers, New Balance Minimus 10V1's, and New Balance MT101's. We ran in the FiveFingers on both road and local hard packed, rock strew trails, and as she entered high school XC and track, she trained in the FF, and raced in them until she was just too fast for them (they're not a fast shoe, or a good racing shoe). She raced varsity XC and Track all 4yrs and was the only athlete on the teams to never have an injury. I used to privately coach her injured teammates, and by getting them out of their heavily marked running shoes (of all brands) I could get their injuries healed, fix their running form, and get them racing up near the top. My daughter and I backpacked R2R in the Grand Canyon with fully loaded packs, wearing the FF's, having backpacked there half a dozen times prior, it was amazing to do it in barefoot shoots. Our feet and legs felt so much better, and because of all the improvements to grip and balance, it was a completely different experience. In 2015 we started running R2R together as an XC run (no poles, no walking), in the FF's, and returned 5yrs in a row, on our birthdays, mid-Aug, because it was such a great adventure run. I'm now 60, still running in the FF's, the New Balance Minimus 10V1's, the Minimus MT1010's, and Merrell Trail or Vapor, Gloves. Vivo Barefoot Primus Trail FG are my work shoe, as a mechanic, and I can get a year out of those soles, standing all day on oily, gritty concrete in a shop. I'm currently training for more Grand Canyon runs, and the first one is in late May.
I like to say: Shoes are not a religion, they are a tool. Pick the correct tool for the job, like you would any other tool™
There are rock strewn local trails that I simply won't run on in my FF's (Spyridon or V-Trail 2.0 or Trek Ascent). Sure, I could "trot" along on them for maybe an hour and be fine. But my training is much harder and faster, and I run for several hours. Doing in the FF's is no fun, especially once I've tagged the bottom of my foot somewhere, and then inevitably tagged it umpteen more times in the same place. So in those instances, I wear a barefoot shoe that's better suited: Minimus 10V1, MT1010, or the Trail Glove or Vapor Glove. It all depends what trail I'm running, and how I'm going to run it. When I race a trail half marathon, I don't race in the FF's. I've tried racing trail halfs in them twice, and while it was fun, it quickly became not fun, because they're just too thin when you want to really be putting down the power, or charging the downhills. So when I race, I pick a different tool... typically that's the MT1010's.
For those looking to get into minimalist/barefoot shoes (Vivo BareFoot, Vibram FiveFinger, XeroShoes, Lems) I always recommend a very slow transition. The older the person is, the longer it's going to take to get the soft tissues in the feet, ankles, and lower legs, and especially the arch of the foot, to become strong enough to do what they're designed to do. Wear 'em around the house for a few weeks. Then wear 'em all day on the weekends. Then start wearing them while running errands and grocery shopping, etc (time on feet, spent walking around with a purpose). Then go for short walks in the neighborhood. Then start walking on trails....and finally, starting adding more time and mileage. Kids and young adults (teens) can jump right into this style of shoe, and just take off. But if you're an adult, plan on roughly 6 months to really feel great in them, and after a year, you'll be a completely different level of athleticism, no matter what you're doing. This is also a huge thing for elderly people who have doctors who start putting them into those thick soled shoes. That's the opposite of what should be done.
I completely agree with what you say about older people's shoes. I started with VivoBarefoot shoes for walking about 11 years ago at the age of 55. Took some getting used to, but I knew my muscles were learning. When I'd worn those away, I got Merrell barefoot shoes, great for walking in the Cairngorms, but not even water resistant. Recently got the Forest Esc and I love them, they're soooo soft and flexible, and the sole is rugged enough to cope with any terrain while still maintaining proprioception. Also NO BLISTERS!
So now, age 66 and able to spend more time hiking, my feet are in better shape shape than they have been since I was a child.
Regarding Stephen's comments about Revivo, the cost of this service compares favourably to other boots: I've looked at the price of getting my Scarpas resoled and that was £100+ when including postage. I decided to put that cost towards the new Vivos and discard the Scarpas.
@@vivianbailey5214 I'm delighted to hear this! I see all the time here in the US, that "old" people (I'm 60) are being put into stiff, very thick soled shoes, and they are barely able to walk in them. This happened to my former wife's father about 3yrs ago. We are all still very good friends, but I hadn't seen him in a while. He was bobbling around on top of some kind of thick "medical shoe" and I literally said, "What the hell are those and why are you wearing them?" "Oh, a doctor prescribed them so I can walk better. I have a lot of health issues and I can barely get around now."
I showed him my Vivo Barefoot Primus Trail FG, gave he and his wife an online link of where to find them, and then started a discussion about the dozens of inflammation creating foods that they every day, their weight gain, and that fact that he'd become diabetic. I'm happy to report that they purchased the shoes and he immediately loved them, started wearing them everywhere, including with a suit to my daughter's wedding, and it motivated him to start making other changes for his health. They started following the Dr. Gundry "Yes and No" food list, cut items containing sugar, corn, and grain out of their diet, lost a bunch of weight, and eventually, he was no longer diabetic. They are both doing fantastic...literally like they are 2 different people. It's amazing, because 3yrs ago, it was so bad that I was thinking, "Well, they won't be around much longer."
@@austinado16 That's amazing! Well done. I'm amazed at the number of folk I know of my age and younger who are on medication for various ailments that could have been avoided by better self-care, and more informed advice. Keeping active outdoors is an important part of this, and the right footwear is a basic to enable that!
May the road rise with you.
Thank you. Great to hear about people loving barefoot shoes
These are also my go-to hiking boots. I love them.
After three months of walking in barefoot shoes daily, my feet hurt tremendously after 1 hour in regular shoes. So I needed to get barefoot hiking boots, I wanted leather and not a membrane(they break down over time). So I ended up with these.
My first 40 km hike in them was with zero problem except on the angle, as you mentioned, but it quickly went away. (And I was the only one on that hike without blisters)
You need to give leather balm after a hike for them to last. But if you do, they will last for a long time.
Seems nearly everyone got used to them faster than me! 😂
I have been wearing these for a year now in Canada, all year round. I love them for hunting season in November when the temperature gets quite cold. There is plenty of room for a nice thick pair of wool socks. My feet stay warm during the stalk. My toes did get cold when we were sat down and waiting for a lengthy period of time. The only other difference from your experience was the break in. I had no issues what so ever. I love these boots, well worth the spend.
I went barefoot a couple of years ago and never looked back (in fact as you say my old boots now feel way too small). I have these exact boots and agree with all your points, though I didn’t get the heel pain. I started with Freet Mudee which are very minimal but have some ankle support, and took it gently till I was used to them. Walked on gravel roads and relearned how to walk gently. Now I wear the Jim Green Barefoot African Ranger every day and have the Vivos for proper hikes. They honestly do make hiking even more enjoyable, it’s not marketing hype.
Was great meeting you atop the peak Stephen! Now a happy subscriber :)
Kind regards,
Dan & Sofie
Haha! Thanks for commenting. I still haven’t finished my video of the actual hike, that’s still to come 🙂 Great to meet you both! Danish, not Dutch 🙈
Thanks for a very thorough review! Similar sentiments to my own: I switched to barefoot shoes gradually by first wearing inexpensive water shoes I bought on Amazon for a couple of hours a day (hot tip!). After a month or two I took the plunge and bought my first pair of Vivobarefoots. Now I own four pairs of Vivos and they’ve completely replaced all of my other shoes. It’s a lot of fun to feel the ground when out walking, it’s like I get to experience my surroundings in a new way. I never intend to buy or wear “normal” shoes again. Learning to walk on the balls of my feet instead of striking the heels has been the key to enjoy these shoes. My strides are shorter but more comfortable now and I never get heel pain even after walking on tarmac all day. Can’t recommend enough.
Back in the early 80s I was in high school and I ran track and cross-country. We couldn’t afford fancy running shoes but the trainer for our school was a well known legendary Tinker Hatfield, he had a deal with a couple of shoe companies to get highly discounted or even free shoes. I went through probably five or six pairs of shoes that always ended up making my feet hurt and more often than not giving shin splints. One day my feet were hurting so much at a track meet that I took my shoes off. I had to run my last event in my socks. All my problems went away. My coach suggested try running in some cheap Indian moccasins, well the rest is history no more problems with running and I excelled.
Im 3yrs in wearing these for hiking.
The grip is still their and ive just run a 20k ultra in them for the first time.
I was gobsmacked to have not one bit of fatigue or soreness.
I’m still not brave enough to try running long distances in them
@@StephenJReid As much as my feet and muscles are conditioned to them.I was apprehensive about it.I thought they would destroy my quads running down a 750m mountain decent.
I felt so confident in them and never had one slip and it was a mudfest.
Give it a go you may be surprised.
20k isn’t anywhere near an ultra mate
@@paulmerry8929🤭🔝👏
Great review Stephen! Thanks for the analysis. I have recently returned to zero drop trail runners after "losing my way" for a few years with other types of shoes. The open toe box and grounding you get with them allows your feet to exercise with you in a natural way. Your video convinced me to take the jump on these hikers as well. Thanks so much for the introduction.
Great vid. I bought a pair back in January and have done 500+ miles in them. I had no issues with the transition, bought them, put them on and walked, no problems. They're not waterproof, that's for certain but not many boots are in reality, especially living in Wales.
When they need it, they'll be revivoed until they can do no more, then it'll be a new pair. My old boots are gathering dust and will continue to do so.
Great vid dude! Your video quality is way better than a lot of bigger channels. Top notch cinematography and editing. One question: what's the little stove you use around 6:55?
I agree with u mate, love these boots! I get achiles pain from stretching the achiles on long hikes. Hoping it will wear off rather than get worse as I'm on the whw in June. Great review, best ive seen on these boots 👍
I’ve these in black and absolutely love them! Like you I had some Achilles rub with a new pair, so now I buy Good reconditioned ones from Revivo - they’re already broken in, much cheaper and the sole is brand new anyway. Use mine for mountain hikes and daily dog handling in mud, wet grass etc, feet remain bone dry. I clean the wet mud off after every use and polish weekly with Kiwi / renapur. I hope Vivo continue to make these as IMHO there isn’t a better barefoot boot.
Great thorough review. 👍🏻. I have these and the magna forest esc.. And various other pairs.. I agree in general, one caveat I would add is that if you are doing a thru hike or just a long distance multi day over predominately rock or hard surface then make sure either your feet are very very accustomed to it with heavy weight, or look at an alternative..
Before switching I hiked lots around the world with lowa renegades at got I think 2 minor blisters. I did the GR131 in gran Canaria with the dekons tracker low and got the worst pressure blisters. The last 12 miles were agony as I squelched my way to the finish..
I then did the GR131 in Tenerife with a friend.. Luckily he bought my magnas, however my feet were so badly damaged from the original hike I got the same pressure blisters. Maybe it wouldn't have happened if my feet had fully healed. I've just bought some altras for my coast to coast as I'm too worried about using my vivos for these.
I'm always walking around barefoot have had mine about a year and do lots of strength work for my feet.. Also a yoga instructor so it wasn't a case of not being used to them.. Thought its worth mentioning as nearly ruined my trip.
Overall I love them, just for long distance with weight I'm still not so sure..
Changed over to these about 6 months ago and I absolutely love them. I've since bought the winter trackers which are also fantastic. Cannot recommend these enough!
I've been in these for nearly 2 years.
Wear them every day, all day. I'm a gardener. Wear them at work and hiking coastal paths and moorland. So perfect outdoor foot wear.
I don't lace the very bottom eyelets, gives more room for my toes.
Biggest problem I had was bruising the soles of my feet on gravel and Rocky ground.
So I fit flexible steel safety shoe insoles. Problem solved, and still very fkexible.
Best gripping soles of any boot I've ever had.
Most waterproof leather boots I've ever had. But you do need to keep well proofed using Renapur wax.
No blisters.
No roller ankles, or aching knees etc.
Can't recommend them enough.
Great review man !!!!
Really pleased you’re enjoying them, Stephen. I thought you would! They’re a fantastic boot, and there’s lots more where they came from! Once the weather is nice, I’d definitely grab yourself a pair of trail shoes… 😁
Regarding your bit about longer distances, you’ll be surprised how far you can go. I comfortably did the Caledonian Challenge years ago, which was 54 miles in under 24h. Did the Helvellyn ridge a couple of years back with full camping gear, which was around 20 miles. I don’t even consider it anymore, they’re just what I wear whatever I’m doing. Sure you’ll end up the same way!
I have my eye on the new Hydra ESC, although honestly I’m not sure if they are the right kind of shoes for me to do a lot of running in. I have a bit of a nerve injury on the sole of one foot which for running I feel does require a bit of cushioning. But we shall see!
@@StephenJReid I have them, they’re great. I really love the ESC - it’s one of the biggest positives. I do have the Primus Trail shoes, in knit and non-knit and really like them too; though the sole isn’t AS grippy, at least ok damp ground.
@@StephenJReid I have reallllly low volume feet so I habitually add insoles to all my shoes and a hack I’ve found that also works with vivos is cutting up a cheep yoga mat to make custom insoles. They take a few hours wear to compact down but you end up with a very thin layer that adds a bit of cushion as well as more insulation, I bought my forests a little big so I could do this and still fit maximum cushion smartwool socks and it’s cosy as hell in snow. It really does help with cold feet and if you have space you can add more layers over time which is what I used to do with my big boots. I’ve yet to find any on the market that are low enough volume for me!
@@StephenJReid I have the Hydras (as well as the Tracker Forest ESC, the Magna Forest ESC and several other pairs of Vivos), and they're definitely more forgiving over rough ground than the standard FG sole. I struggle a bit with the FG sole over rough ground, but no issue with the Hydras. The Michelan outsole really is great.
Do you use the thermal insole in your trackers? I find it really helps with cold weather use. There's a noticeable difference between my trackers with the thermal insole and my magnas with the standard insole when the ground is frozen.
Love these boots so much I had to fomo-buy a second pair in case they would stop making them. Bought the second pair from revivo in great condition for almost half the price and they looked like they were worn like once or twice. Been using nothing but barefoot shoes for 10 months and I´m surprised how much shoes can hippiedippie change your life for the better. Great video bud 👍🏻
I have been wearing barefoot shoes for about 7 years now and Vivos for 6 of them. I have had quite a few models (3-4 different gobis, magna trail, scott II utilety, 2-3 different primus, addis, tracker forest ESC, ) and my absolute favourite daly is the gobi in leather without any insole or socks, i even hike in summer with them, for wet and cold weather i love the Forest ESC, i the beguinning the Forest ESC put pressure on the inside ankle bone when using the standard lacing method. Good things about vivos is that they are soft and supple and you can change the lacing to pull on one part of the boot and at the same time bee looser on a different part. I use a modified sawtooth pattern from Ian's Shoelace Site and skip the inside roller to relive the pressure on the ankle bone. The sawtooth pattern pulls the inside of the boot up into the arch of the foot making the boot form and making it feel even more like a sock than a boot.
I have been using the Magna Lite SG and Mens Hydra ESC Love them both for the trail and mountain hikes. Thank you for your code I just ordered Tracker Forest ESC and hoping they are everything I expect.
Got a pair of these boots a couple of years ago. Even after my puppy chewed a hole in the toe of them a year ago, I took them to hike up a couple of mountains on a cross-country road trip last year. With the hole in the toe, I still had no issue with wet feet during a few stream crossings and rainy days. Even with little preparation and training, I was able to get through the trip without tons of blisters and too sore feet. They've also held together way better than the Bearfoot Bruins I bought last year, that has the sole peeling off at the toe.
Been wearing these since last autumn - I'm a big vivobarefoot fan and have had their shoes/boots for 10 years at least - these forest ESC are my favorite by far. So comfortable they are unreal. My only gripe is getting hold of vivo thermal insoles these days is a pain and winters here in Norway are cold, so I wish they came with 2 sets on insoles, one of which would be thermal (it's not as if they are cheap after all).
A good honest review. They do look good.
I've been wearing these for 2 years, a lot of pavement too. They are holding up very well.
To help with barefoot transition, i wore other shoes half the time. And off road is more forgiving on the feet than pavement.
I wear mukluks all winter in Canada and they feel like walking with warm bare feet in the snow. They are the Tundra model from Manitobah Mukluks.
I have the same. Worn them almost daily for last yr. Love them! 67 yr old.
Thank you for making a review after one year. Long term reviews are very valuable.
Next step - 5 finger socks. 5 toes socks work as well :)
Takes some getting used to but I only wear these right now.
I started with altra and tracker barefoot.i use both for different types of hike.really enjoying the boots.love the way my feet seem to shape to the rock.sports pursuit sometimes have them at almost half price.i,m 67 and basically grew up in plimsoles so the transition for me was pretty quick.
I’ve a pair of Altra Olympus on the way to try for running. I have a nerve injury on the sole of my foot so for higher impact activities I feel I want a bit of cushioning. I’m maybe just paranoid from when I hurt my foot running in vibram five fingers
This is a brilliant video you've made.
The Tracker Forest ESC's are definitely my favourite hiking boots, if you ever get some sun in Ireland, give the Primus Trail FG's a go for some fast and light summiting 👣
Definitely going to be looking for a summer option. Glad you enjoyed the video. Was a lot more work than I thought it would be 😂
@@StephenJReid they often work out that way 😂
i have these! they're great. i also recommend the magna forest esc for similar terrain but less boggy. (i think a lot of vivo shoes are form-over-function, but a handful are really excellent)
I’ve wondered about those or the Hydra ESC for warm weather
Wow, tnx for sharing, I'm considering to buy them myself now. :)
Had mine a couple of years and love them. Hiking and rucking with no problems. I wear barefoot shoes all the time as normal footwear is too tight now.Toe socks help too.
Having 2 flat feet and a bunion on each foot, its always been difficult finding comfortable footwear since a child. I switched to barefoot style boots and shoes about 6 years ago and im NEVER going back. I like vivobarefoot and vibram fivefingers. Also, its VERY important if you go this route, to buy toe socks aswell. Otherwise youll still get foot pain due to sock constrictions.
I went for the magna forest esc rather than the tracker, they’ve been excellent and very comfortable after breaking in - the thick leather strap that holds the top eyelet rubbed on my ankle bones to begin with. Still a bit warm for summer, and obviously more susceptible to water getting in through the wool section at the top. Still going strong after 18 months’ use.
I have worn barefoot shoes for everyday life for over 10 years so pretty well adapted - but I only run short distances in Vivos and prefer more cushion for decent runs
the cold is most likely because of the thin sole, I have worn the magna forest esc for over 3 years hiking and I have their thermal insoles and I haven't had problems with cold, everybody feels cold differently though so it could be that, I have worn them in -5c for hours though
Looking forward to the carrantouhill video. Haven't heard of anyone else doing the O'Shea's gully descent. Interested to see how you found it 😂
Love mine, changed my walking life and extended it having developed severe Bunyans on both big toes. THEY DO TAKE TIME TO physically GET USED TOO, if you’ve never walked barefoot before, as you are retraining your feet and legs to walk as you’re intended too, allow for that , your calves will thank you in the long term!
You also change how you walk I find: you become more aware of the ground beneath your feet, in feel, grip and terrain, but that’s a good thing.
Take your time and enjoy reinvigorating your hiking!
Just bought them recently. Put them on and they were so comfortable. I intended to transition slowly but took them out on a longer walk than I had meant to and found no problems. I did take a spare pair of boots just in case. Having done 10 years of karate, I think is why I found them so easy to wear. Anyway, I will still be cautious for a few more weeks, but they are now my favourite boots
I have a pair of these - well, ones just like them. Ugly, well, unusual, they might be, but they're also the most comfortable boots I've ever worn. My dog and I go on walks almost every day - about 1300 km per year. After 2 years of daily use on gravel covered roads, I'm seeing quite a bit of wear on the soles, but that's to be expected.. I intend to buy another pair the second these are unusable. They've been fantastic for the kind of walking I do. Thanks for the video
I have these boots and so many similar experiences! (I call them my kicking slippers)
Like you I started off with fivefingers but after breaking my toe and when it healed it apparently pointed in a squiffy direction I haven’t been able to wear them.
I also roll my ankles, before vivos multiple times a day so my status quo was bruised ankles, I rarely roll them now. I’ve also had some pain in my arch that is 80% better but starts again if I wear normal shoes.
Also had the pain at the back of my heel that took a little while to break them in but is fine now. Only times I ever wear other shoes is if I need crampons. Have also noticed most of my old shoes are feeling pretty small and not just around the toe box so may have to replace my 4 season boots at some point.
I actually have warmer feet in snowy conditions wearing these, think it’s cos my foot’s more active.
Genuinely won’t wear anything else if I can avoid it, am slowly selling of 3/4 of my shoes 😅
Be warned though they will wear down very quickly on tarmac, my days shoes (tracker II) have barely any tread left and are leaky and pretty scruffy but still have plenty of life.
So far the forests have been waterproof but sometime need a really good dry out, I have them in black as not really a fan of light soles, always feel it should be the other way round 😁
I think they have lowered my centre of gravity in addition to making my feet and legs stronger so skipping around on boulders and scree is a lot more fun 😎
Haven’t used them on tarmac much myself but that makes sense. I go through a pair of £100 road running shoes in 6months running on tarmac 🙈
Very true about the centre of gravity. I felt a lot more confident on scree in these than my old boots
They seem an interesting concept. What will you do when it comes to winter?
Those boots look nice with the Michelin outsole. Expensive. I picked up a pair of Gobi 2's from their Revivo store. They're comfortable but it's a lot to spend for how fast they break down. I transitioned to barefoot style shoes over 2 years ago. It took a good 4-6 months for my muscles, ligaments, and bones to get used to it. I have too many pair now. Even at pair for weddings 😂 My everyday shoes are inexpensive wide Whitins from Amazon.
I have Xero Mesa Trail shoes for day hikes or backpacking trips with a lighter load, but trails with small rocks and roots take a toll. I wear Topo Athletic Runventure 4 with 20mm stack height for backpacking these days. I like the Vibram outsoles but they aren't as flexible as Altra's MaxTracs. For colder temps, I have a pair of Xero Alpine boots.
I buyed this boots in the color obsidian at easter sale. I had a really bad experience with them. After 4 hours of wearing them the glue which is connecting the leather to the sole started falling apart on both boots.
Then I put them on next morning and while lacing up one of the lacing hooks popped of.
I contacted support and will recive my new pair soon. I hope they are better quality.
I will update you if I used them for some time.
Oh yikes, definitely sounds like a bad batch for that to happen immediately. Hopefully they sort that out for you.
Yeah I hope so, because they were super comfortable and I really liked them.
Interesting boots. I walk a lot here in the Philippines and have often worn very thin soled "water" shoes and I would feel every stone so this might be a good alternative to the heavier boot that I have used on occasion and do not prefer. Watching from the Philippines.
I use them everyday as working boots. I work outside with horses, on the gargen so, very muddy and wet environment and i can say absolutely brilliant. I have other ones (magna and primus) which i use for hiking and into the city. Only thing but it is related to my job that i have to condition them every week to keep their water-resistantance.
I bought some vibram 5 toes for canoeing,. But found I could just wear them all day with no arch pain at all. Any shoe I wear with a heal but no stiff shank causes me pain in an hour at the most. So I believe you about these boots.
My brother has been wearing barefoot shoes for about 10 years and swears by them. I did order some but used their online measuring tool (basically taking a picture of your foot) and ended up ordering a smaller size than I usually get. Tried to convince myself for a couple of weeks that i hadn't got the wrong size but finally had to admit to myself that i had and havent got round to changing them. I have got some TOPO Athletic though which I love, although not minimalist shoes, they only have a 5mm drop so might be a good option for people looking to transition.
I have worn Crocs at home for many years and suffer wearing regular shoes and boots while away from home. I am retired and have no padding left on the soles of my feet so the cushioned Crocs are heaven when kicking out of regular shoes and boots. I ordered a pair of barefoot sneaks to try out because i have wide feet from the croc wearing and wide enough shoes are really hard to find. I like the look of the Trackers and your review has convinced me to order a pair for this fall/winter. I live in the Rockies in snow country so there will be sheepskin inserts and heavy socks. Hopefully that will add enough padding so that I wont be feeling so much pain from walking.
also using these on hiking for few years now, my legs are not getting as tired and beaten up like in the past with harder boots. Also the wider shoe helps with my rheumatoid arthritis as some joints are pretty swolöen from time to time. Still looking for some good day to day similar shoes.
I typically don’t wear shoes at and around my home. I work in my garden, land scape and some other tasks without shoes. I think I can transition to these uneventfully! Looking forward to it!
I do expect to break them in though.
I wore Lem's boulder boot (zero drop) to transition to barefoot boots. Currently rocking Jim Green Barefoot African Rangers. Note: They did take about 6 weeks to really break in & mould to my feet.
I have two pairs of Tracker Forest ESC and one pair of Jungle ESC. Love them. Changed my relation to my feet and my way of walking :-) 63 years old and will NEVER wear anything else for the rest of my life. I´ve tried a lot of different boots through these 63 years. Should have started earlier - never too late.
Wear them every day full time at work - and have done that since September 2023 - 8 month. A knee problem disappeared completely. I carry a large video camera and tripod for work. 20 kg total and no problem. Often several kilometers a day. My boots are tested seriously.
If you trek in a rocky environment people always say that you need more support in the boots. I disagree. I´ve been hunting in Sweden for years in a rocky environment. I used neopren kayak boots to be noiseless. No problems at all. You just change the way you walk. Being more aware of where you place your feet. These boots would have been perfect for that if I had them.
If I ever go to Himalya again I will wear Vivobarefoot Forest Trackers ESC.
Afters years with a left knee problem I think I know what the problem was with my former hiking boots. They lock my feet because of their support. That locking went into my knee. In my Forest Trackers my feet and my knee works independently thereby not forcing my knee into unnatural angles.
And then I love that you show the boots in water ! I use Lundhags Leather Grease very often. If you stay in water it will get in after some time. But it takes a long time if you treat them carefully. We just had a tough winter with lots of snow and water. Used them every day. No problem.
Could go on. I’m not sponsored by Vivobarefoot. Just the best boots I have ever had.
The tent setup edit made me chuckle ⛺️
Nice video. Not my kind of boots, I actually walk in pretty heavy and high boots, leather and goretex to keep my feet dry and warm, whether it's raining or soggy bog hikes.
I can understand though why folks enjoy barefoot.
As kids, me and my brother would walk for hours on gravel/rocky paths barefoot every summer holiday.
The first days it would hurt as you were used to 'stamp around' on trainers, the last week we'd be running over those paths.
About getting wet feet when walking through grass, once I read an article that especially in morning dew circumstances, grasses give off a bit sugar, which lowers the surface tension, therefore making it easier for the 'sugary water' to penetrate through a membrane/leather. Was an old newspaper article so no link available.
If I am being honest, I am not into the holistic, for lack of a better term, aspect of barefoot but my feet feel better in flats. My lateral arch started killing me out of nowhere and I bought some barefoot sandals, and that pain wasn't there. But I have been having a hard time finding a boot I like. I have Xero, Lems and Jim Green. The Xeros as closer to what I want but not quite there. The Lems are padded with some negative drop in the heel and contouring in the medial arch. The Jim Greens are flat, but the stack height is up there, the midsole molds to your foot and the sole is squishy (and they have awful traction on tile/commercial flooring).
Anyway, the Vivos are on my radar for sure. I am in and out of nature on the daily. Maybe in the shop, out in the forest, on a trail, fishing, hiking, back to the shop etc. How well do you think these would do on wet tile floors? I've busted my rear in other boots a few times, lol.
Thank you for the video on these, both of them.
Hmmm can’t say I’ve specifically walked on wet tile floors in these
Years ago I went searching for comfortable dress shoes for wearing to a convention and discovered the benefits of going barefoot as well as wearing barefoot style shoes. Because barefoot style shoes were so expensive, and because I was not yet sure this was going to work for me, I primarily went barefooted or wore homemade barefoot style shoes. I was shocked at how my feet and ankles gained so much strength. It also greatly improved my circulation such that I now find most closed-toe shoes unbearably hot except in cold wintry weather. I never plan to go back to regular footwear.
So in late 2022 I was planning a winter hike and wanted something a little more weatherproof than tabi socks with thin sandals or homemade moccasins. I decided to purchase a pair of Vivobarefoot boots. I had never spent that much money on shoes. But I wanted something that would keep me warm in cold, wet weather AND give me good grip on slippery mountain trails. I am so glad I chose this brand! They performed beautifully on the hike and have held up wonderfully for all my other cold-weather hikes. I highly recommend them to all my friends.
Thanks Stephen... interesting 🤔
I've never been one for boots, and now that I'm old my feet have spread out like paddle boards...so just maybe, boots that don't behave like boots, and uppers that are quite forgiving, might be something I should try .
Great review whatever I do 👌👍
I’m curious, what have you been mostly wearing?
@@StephenJReid Ha... I'm a lightweight...armchair hiker mostly 😁
Local spots for me, and Sketchers for comfort.If it rains, my feet get wet. If it's icy, I don't tend to go walking.
What annoys me is I'll find a really great, all-round shoe...then they change the design, and the magic's gone 😣
I went "barefoot" about 20 years ago and I genuinely feel I got tons of benefits from it. But my toes have spread out so much I can hardly find any off the shelf shoes or boots to fit. Even so called wide fit trainers from Altus and Meindl are too narrow. A few Merrel and Keen shoes are wide enough for me, and I'm wearing Altberg boots with a H width, but frankly it's become a bit of a problem.
I’ve been wearing the Primus Trail FG for a year and find them soooo comfortable. On the odd occasion when I need to wear my. “normall” shoes they feel so constrictive. Horrible feeling. I’ll be using your discount code to purchase a pair of trail boots 😊
Sounds like something really interesting, might try those, they look like a good alternative for "softer" terrain.
I've tried my five fingers on an alpine descent once and nearly broke one toe, as you can break those individually in those. ;-)
I bought them to pair with Darn Tough socks as winter boots. They're awesome for hiking and hunting. I can't wear anything that's not zero drop anymore. I prefer the comfort and stability of flat minimalist footwear and normally no more than a few millimeter sole but the additional tread insulates my feet when the ground is cold, so it's the perfect compromise imo.
Are they good for hunting as you can step more softly in them? I’ll have to investigate Darn Tough socks
@@StephenJReid personally I just feel more sure footed. Darn Tough are just lifetime guaranteed Merino wool socks that are made in the USA, which is where I'm from. So far I haven't had to have any replaced, so maybe it wouldn't matter where they're manufactured.
@@Engrave.Danger love me a good pair of Merino socks, I’ll have to have a look. I spotted them at the National Outdoors Expo this year but didn’t take a closer look.
@@StephenJReid Darn tough socks are just the absolute boll0x, top quality and no questions guarantee too. They are incredibly hard wearing and comfy and great at wicking away moisture. Like the Vivo's they are not cheap but they are the Top Gun of toe coverings!
Great review. I have been teetering on the edge of buying these for a while and you may have persuaded me. I would be interested to know if you where barefoot shoes all the time in your day to day activities or just when you go hiking?
I have a mix of shoes, although I try and use ones with a wider toe box when possible. In the summer I live in a pair of Xero shoes barefoot sandals which are about as minimal as you can get.
Also have a pair of Altras and Topo barefoot style running shoes.
Just bought a pair, thanks for discount. Hope you’re right I’ve worn Salomon for decades.
Enjoy! 🙂 Just take your time getting used to them. Bought my sister a pair last week and she loves them.
sounds great I have large feet 14s and hate boots, i love inov8's with zero drop - a lb on the foot is 5 on the back
I bought my husband the Hykes Trailblazer barefoot boots and he loves them
got a pair cuppla yrs ago before this style came out - great lightweight waterproof and makes hiking on rough rocky ground easy compared to when i backpacked in vibram fivefinger shoes
first got into barefoot shoes when those five fingers first came out. I asked my well-informed physical therapist about what's the big deal about ankle support, and she told me that if your foot is allowed to be flexible then you don't need all of that ankle stuff
Ive used barefoot shoes since 'born to run' came out. Ive got great splay in my toes. I even include toe separaters in my shoes. Ive hiked the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa and the Pacific crest Trail mexico to canada. With the added weight and months of long miles I found i need some cushion so i wear runners with zero drop, wide splay no arch but with a stack height of cushion. Otherwise i wear flat bendy inexpensive canvas shoes from Splay. They are cute have a few styles and colrs and i get compliments all the time. Recently I have some far less expensive waterproof barefoot boots with low stack height for day hikes from Saguaro as i just spent the winter near the rainforest in Washington State. Also i dont wear leather. I do have a pair of walking shoes from vivo, tho.
To add, up until wearing barefoot shoes I had a lifelong meniscus knee problem from a childhood skiing accident. After a few weeks of wearing barefoot shoes that issue went away. Ive never looked back.
Dude, all the literature tells you not to do stuff like that when transitioning. I went "barefoot" in 2010 (I was 47) and haven't looked back since. I did the Tough Mudder in Vibrams and they were brilliant. Ran up the "Everest" no issues. No slipping in the mud.
But now that Vivo and Vibram are insanely expensive I don't buy them anymore.
For me, I don't wear socks with them so when you get wet it doesn't bother you. (at least I have no problem with wet bare feet)
Really interested in these having partially switched to barefoot this year and currently wearing near zero boots already. I found this a very comprehensive and clear review 👍 What are they like with gaiters? Walking on Donegal hills without gaiters is not a fun day out!
With gaiters the issue is that there isn’t a heel gap for the underneath strap. So you can attach them but on hard ground, you’ll feel the strap. I don’t do a lot of hiking in really boggy conditions so I tent to wear hiking trousers with built in gaiters that hook onto the laces. Not quite as good but they do work. There might be some zero drop gaiters out there but I haven’t looked into it
@@StephenJReid ah good point 👍
Only wear them on offroad .... ua-cam.com/video/0DD6BlBk3T0/v-deo.html
I love mine. I’ve had a few different pairs.
I just wish they had more stores so you could try them on. I think people need to see them in hand before they give them a try.
Agree 100%, not being able to try them on was a big reason I waited so long to try them.
Yeah one of my local shops has approached them about being a stockist but they seem really set on their online business model 😐
Last Xmas I got a lone from a family member and order 5 pairs to try on and sent 4 back since they don’t charge. Still annoying though!
Got my trackers 2 years ago and waxed them from the start, especially the stitch lines, and have never leaked. The ankle stability is unreal.
What wax did you use?
@alberte6109 any wax will do, I wax the whole boot, paying special attention to the stitch lines. Make sure the boots are clean before waxing and remove the laces so you can get to all the stiching. The main areas are the stitch line between the sole and the boot and the vent holes on the heal. Repeat every 2 months
I use these boots too, mate. Great boot. Light, fantastic tread. Incredible grip on wet granite and just a fantastic boot. Not the best on tarmac, though, lol. Still prefer the altra runners on the tarmac
what's the trousers, they look mighty comfy
If I was doing a lot of miles on tarmac I’d use something more cushioned as well, especially if I was running. I like a bit of cushiony bounce when I run. I’ve got some Altra Olympus on the way to try.
The trousers are Revolution race outdoor jeans, had them a few years. Comfy but can be a bit warm.
I need those boots and the hip leg helper exoskeleton as well. At 66 all my tendons and muscles are getting too tight for long hikes. If I do not do multi mile hikes the tendons get tighter. Loose loose situation with age. The products might be a win-win!
I have used the revivo service I would caution people to say it took 2 months and the new soles have already started to separate
Great review Stephen. I was thinking about doing the same thing after my initial review in 2021 but I am not sure I can say any more than you have already done. The only concern I have is the cold for the same reasons you gave and in terms of moisture I just use a pair of Sealskinz socks if there is a risk of wet feet. I am not sure how Mike has managed four years in his boots, was he involved in the pre release testing as they weren't on sale to the public until May 2021. I got a heads up on their pending release from someone who was involved in their development and got them just in time for a big trip that year.
Mike must do a lot of his hiking on grass or softer forest ground maybe as his soles looked like new. My Magna forest ESC are around 12 months old and i've worn them through! I live up near the Lakes in England and walk a lot on rock/gravel/fire road which i'm sure has expedited the wear by a few factors! Am going to try the Revivo site as they are by far the most comfortable footwear I have ever owned and if I can get them refurbed for 80 quid then happy days!!
“Marmite Boot”! LOL! Love the humor. Subscribed. Thank you for this wonderful review. I am transitioning to barefoot gear after wearing arch supports for over 30 years. I am currently using Altra Lone Peak’s on the trail, and Whitin’s around town. Yes, my feet ache, but that just tells me they are complaining about doing the work they were intended to do. I would like to get to the point where I am confident that I can do a long trail with 15Kg in something like this boot, or another Vivobarefoot product. How many months, or years, did it take you to carry the 10Kg for 10 hours? Many thanks.
I’d say it took me about 6months to a year to be able to go all day in them with a heavy pack. But that’s maybe only hiking once every two weeks. Everyone is different.
Don’t spread them on toast though! 🤪
@@StephenJReid 🤣
Without a doubt, my favourite walking boots. 25+ years teaching Outdoor Ed. 10+ years in minimalist footwear.
I run in Vibram minimalist shoes yet still hike in heavy boots. I'm constantly losing toenails on long hikes. I'm going to have to try these.
Brilliant review. My feet are getting worse and worse and now limping. When I was a kid (10 and under) my mum couldn't get me to wear shoes. I find them so uncomfortable and can never understand why they go into a point haha, where is the logic??? Im now finding my very expensive hiking boots very restrictive in movement and causing more issues. Thank you for this video, I shall give them a go, even a daily casual pair to try
After several months of gradually wearing barefoot shoes, I literally cannot put my expensive walking boots on now. Causes immediate pain - and so heavy 😳
4:41 It happens to me most of the time...this boot looks good..i like it, Sir
Painful 😬
@@StephenJReid ya it is sir 🥴
As a kid and teenager, I use to walk everywhere outside in the Australian bush with bare feet, I ended up with very tough soles. Then when I was 21 I broke my left femur (due to a car hitting me at 40kph) and ended up with my left leg 20 to 25mm shorter, making bare foot walking very odd (try walking with one shoe on). I had to use orthotics to lift my left leg. I still did a lot of bush walking, but I need a boot with a high back or hand made leather boots with the left heal built up. I wonder if they would work with a full length orthotic?
My favorite boots are a set of Thursday Captain boots, with the left heal built up. They are glove leather lined and have the Dainite rubber sole, reasonably flexible, and the upper is very strong.
How are they for normal everyday walking? Do you strictly only use them for hiking?
Great video, thanks. I bought some trackers a while back- planter put pay to them - and I sold them. But , I am contemplating more as I am better. My question is - how are they on hard track- tarmac- roads etc. I do lots on and off road and am aware of granite paths on Dartmoor for miles ….. do they/ your feet manage this ok?
It’s mostly hard packed, rocky trails where I’ve used them and once you get used to them they are fine. At the start you can get sore feet until you’ve properly transitioned. You’ll find you end up walking slightly differently
Ok…. Cool, I’ve just returned from the Camino … using very cushioned boots- that did great, but feel I want to feel more! Many thanks agsin 😊
Quick question on sizing….how does it compare with other boots when choosing sizes? Normally I’m a size 9 and I would go up a full size to 10 to accommodate good hiking socks (my current boots are actually a size and a half). The online sizing suggests 9 (or 8 for a snug fit which is surprising)
How do you find the transfer from these when hiking to the likes of Mudclaws? Do you find normal trail/fell running shoes uncomfortable from using barefooted boots? What do you use to retreat?
I am out looking for just that model. Did you get the same size you normally wear in regular shoes?
I have walked a couple of long distance hikes in these including Cape wrath trail. Numerous day hikes and other walks. The limit that I found was using them in -22C, then again any non insulated shoe is too cold at those temps. The durability surprised me. My particular pair stings my ankle bone on left foot where one of the hooks is, wearing thicker socks and not tightening them as much removes that.
-22C?!!! I get cold in them at around 4C. But then I have terrible circulation in my feet. Any issues over multi-day?
@@StephenJReid Well on the Cape wrath I found them to be a bit too warm at times funnily enough. Also when they got wet for a long time the black dye stained my feet black for a few days lol.
I will now mostly use these for colder weather (not -22 haha) and will try to find trail runners for the long distance stuff. Got the Hydra ESC but just don't really get on with the tongueless design.
@@easternmenace I was eyeing up the Hydra ESC, what don’t you like about the design?
@@StephenJReid Well it's tongueless so the top of it is like a sock. The problem I found was that it's just not stretchy enough so putting the shoe on with socks is really hard, the heel of my socks end up being pushed up and sits above the shoe. Tried wearing without socks but just shredded my feet lol so don't do that. Might improve with time I dunno.
Also I got the red ones and they are fk ugly. As my luck would have it Vivo released a really nice colour recently.
I got black feet from mine as well when I first got them
Is the sizing true to size as I hear you’re supposed to have a thumb width of space between your toes and the end of the boot? Ie they’re supposed to feel big at first? Many thanks 🙏🏻
Tried these but just couldn't get used to them so binned. However wearing them did teach me about space for toes in boots so I now have wide toe box boots from Hanwag Tetra II Wide GTX . They are amazing.
You binned them?! 😱😱 But fair enough, I did say that I don’t think they will suit everyone. I wear a mix of shoes but like you look for wider toe box now.
@@StephenJReid Binned = took them to my local charity shop!
Oh phew 😂 Was about to go poking about in your bins
Got intrigued by watching long distance hikers (1000-4500+ km) wearing them. Switched a year and a half ago to barefoot shoes myself. Can only confirm, if you have bad ankles (I rolled ankles constantly, broke right ankle 3 times, left ankle once) these shoes may be the answer. They were for me. However, I don’t have that much money, so, I bought Chinese made barefoot (actually)water shoes. They did it for me although I’m dreaming of affording myself a pair of nice ones too one day.
I did the same thing. Bought cheap barefoot water shoes. They are still my favorite, but since I live in the Mountains, I bought 2 pair of sturdier ones. One for summer (thin socks) & one pair for winter (thick socks). I wish I could afford a pair of boots for the more rocky trails. I can’t wear my old hiking boots anymore.
I started to use more and more thin military boots and was happy to feel the ground and discover complete new muscles in the feet.
I did then a mistake during one trail I used very thin barefoot shoes on a sharp graveled trail and got very bumped heels with blue spots.
I always have a 20 to 40 kg Ruck on my back and I'm very concerned, that these sharp edges of gravel trails will give me again blue heels.
To invest some 250 Euros or more to find out, that these boots have too thin soles to absorb the sharpnes of these rough trails, I'm afraid of.
Any Experiences out from large users, who are using heavy loaded military rucks on rough stone trails?
I have recently recieved the Magna Forest Esc, they feel quite tight on the top of my foot and I find that one can't really wear tick socks, is this typical?
I wear mine all the time 👍🏻 The ‘Feel Ground’ is great. Many very long walks in the mountains of home, Eryri and Scotland. After a clean and wax they look brand new 😎. Can you say something about the fit for you? If your heel is at the back of the boot, how much space do you have in front of your toes?
I have maybe 10mm space in front of my toes. I think I may have gone a half size down in these for some reason.
Thanks 👍🏻
Same here, tempted to try a size down. Shame they don’t yet do ½ sizes. The gap is really fine though. Especially descending, toes creep towards the front then.
Would love to try but can’t do that price. Are there any similar cheaper alternatives?
i like mine, except for cycling. i like to be barefoot at home, years past i have proper bare foot run, along beach, back on the cycle/walking path.... its just getting used to it, and changing ones foot fall.