Barefoot hikers

[B_Reynolds_AK]

The Lapponia 3 and Mangart definitely interest me. I looked them up after you mentioned them. Are either one a no drop, or are they just low drop? On a stiffness scale of 1-5, with one being the most flexible, would you say they are a 2?

Low drop, not zero, on both.
Lapponia a 2 and the Mangart a 3. Ish.
Mangart is a better high alpine boot, which the Lapponia is a better boot for moderate terrain.

 

[Lawnboi]

I’m starting my transition into minimalist shoes, with the hope of working into barefoot shoes. That said, I’m starting with some Altra Lone Peak lows. They will be an everyday shoe that I’ll use for work, and I’ll be able to transition slowly to them if I can’t go to them all at once. This will put me in a bit of an awkward spot when my November Montana hunt rolls around. I doubt I’ll be far enough along to wear something like a Tracker ESC as it comes from Vivo, so I’d like a little input. Assuming that I am at the point of wearing something like a Lone Peak on the daily, what should I look at for hunting in? I had thought maybe the Lone Peak mid, but I see you say they don’t have great traction. Could I possibly do a Tracker ESC with a cushioning low or zero drop insole? I also saw the Merrill Wrapt mid that was referred to above, and I’m curious about that one.

Ultimately, I want some Tracker ESC, but might take me a while to get there. I wouldn’t mind a pair of intermediate shoes like the Lone Peak or Merrill Wrapt being toast after only one season, since they would just be part of the transition process. Any thoughts?

The altras are a zero drop shoe with significant cushion. They will help transition to zero drop but won’t prepare your feet for a barefoot shoe.

If you’re new to barefoot shoes I would advise caution in trying to jump in with a weighted pack and trackers this fall after using altras. It’s a recipe for bad time.

You might like Jim green troopers or barefoot rangers with a decently cushy insole put in them.

 

[Schmo]

The altras are a zero drop shoe with significant cushion. They will help transition to zero drop but won’t prepare your feet for a barefoot shoe.

If you’re new to barefoot shoes I would advise caution in trying to jump in with a weighted pack and trackers this fall after using altras. It’s a recipe for bad time.

You might like Jim green troopers or barefoot rangers with a decently cushy insole put in them.

Well, that’s what I was getting at. I don’t see my feet being ready for Vivos this season, so I’m looking for something to use for this season, as a part of the transition. Something like an Altra Lone Peak, assuming they work for me. It was mentioned that the Lone Peaks don’t have great traction, so I’d sorta be looking for something similar. I’m not opposed to spending $170 or so on a shoe that will only last me one to two seasons, since it would be a transitional piece. I’ve heard the Lems Boulder Summit have good traction, and that they have some cushion to them. I’d only expect 1-2 seasons out of them. I don’t get to spend a lot of time in the field since I hunt out of state, so a season of hunting is 10-12 days.

 

[Lawnboi]

Well, that’s what I was getting at. I don’t see my feet being ready for Vivos this season, so I’m looking for something to use for this season, as a part of the transition. Something like an Altra Lone Peak, assuming they work for me. It was mentioned that the Lone Peaks don’t have great traction, so I’d sorta be looking for something similar. I’m not opposed to spending $170 or so on a shoe that will only last me one to two seasons, since it would be a transitional piece. I’ve heard the Lems Boulder Summit have good traction, and that they have some cushion to them. I’d only expect 1-2 seasons out of them. I don’t get to spend a lot of time in the field since I hunt out of state, so a season of hunting is 10-12 days.

The only issue I have had with Altras is that you will likely trash a pair just preparing for the season, they don’t do well off trail. I guess it would depend on the country you’re hunting.

Even the Jim greens may be too little for this fall if you’re not accustomed. But is a boot I would reccomend to train your feet.

Grip on the lone peaks would not be my biggest concern although the trackers do have what I think is one of the grippiest outsoles Iv used.

I’m years into the transition and planning on a semi rough hunt likely in Jim green troopers this fall. Iv been wearing minimal footwear part time for 8 years, and went full barefoot a year and a half ago. I’m still a little worried my feet won’t be up to a nasty pack out.

 

[philcox]

The Forest Tracker ESC’s are as waterproof as most Gore Tex boots when treated properly. They do fantastic here in Alaska. Nothing beats them for traction.

Altra Lone Peak Mid’s are comfortable, but are in no way equal to the performance and durability of the ESC’s in off trail environments. The traction also is far inferior.

View attachment 877473

How did you condition the ESC's to get them as "good as you could"?

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

How did you condition the ESC's to get them as "good as you could"?

I assume you mean condition the leather? I don’t mess around, I go straight to Sno Seal. Heat them up with a heat gun, carefully, then apply.

 

[dgfavor]

Something like an Altra Lone Peak, assuming they work for me. It was mentioned that the Lone Peaks don’t have great traction, so I’d sorta be looking for something similar.

I really like/liked my Topo Athletic TrailVentures and Terraventures. Very similar to Altra Lone Peaks but I think they are more robust - my biggest complaint about Altras is their tendency to self destruct at low mileage. I got 3 years out of my non-waterproof Terraventure mids deer, elk, sheep, and tons of chukar hunting. What finally gave out on them was actually the foam on the tread cracked out - the incredibly thin and breatheable uppers stayed fully intact, undaunted. I found the traction outstanding and even though they have pretty decent stack height they really seemed to mold and grab onto the terrain. Now I am using the Terraventure waterproof lows - they are a little stiffer than the mids for some reason and I don't like them as well. Anyway, worth a look.
Topos on sheep duty:



Oh, also, I'll plug the Xero Ridgeways as well. I have had a pair over a year now and they have been my go-to rucking footwear. They are more of a true barefoot than the Altras or Topos but still plenty robust IMO. The only reason I don't wear them hunting is I found the traction on "pebbly" off-camber stuff to be lacking - I don't think they have enough of an edge to bite and feels like the shoe just sort of rides on top of the pebbles and rolls with them.

 

[Schmo]

I really like/liked my Topo Athletic TrailVentures and Terraventures. Very similar to Altra Lone Peaks but I think they are more robust - my biggest complaint about Altras is their tendency to self destruct at low mileage. I got 3 years out of my non-waterproof Terraventure mids deer, elk, sheep, and tons of chukar hunting. What finally gave out on them was actually the foam on the tread cracked out - the incredibly thin and breatheable uppers stayed fully intact, undaunted. I found the traction outstanding and even though they have pretty decent stack height they really seemed to mold and grab onto the terrain. Now I am using the Terraventure waterproof lows - they are a little stiffer than the mids for some reason and I don't like them as well. Anyway, worth a look.
Topos on sheep duty:
View attachment 879595


Oh, also, I'll plug the Xero Ridgeways as well. I have had a pair over a year now and they have been my go-to rucking footwear. They are more of a true barefoot than the Altras or Topos but still plenty robust IMO. The only reason I don't wear them hunting is I found the traction on "pebbly" off-camber stuff to be lacking - I don't think they have enough of an edge to bite and feels like the shoe just sort of rides on top of the pebbles and rolls with them.
View attachment 879594

Thanks for the input. I’ll check out those models from Topo. I assumed they were high cushion, but I guess not?

 

[dgfavor]

Thanks for the input. I’ll check out those models from Topo. I assumed they were high cushion, but I guess not?

Personally I would call them cushioned - they would be probably mid range stack height in Topo/Altra line up. With the non-waterproof mids, the sole while cushioned, still offered great ground feel and the grip was awesome (that may be why the foam on the bottom was what eventually wore out...??) My new low waterproof ones feels like maybe a different compound - more robust but less ground feel.
For comparison and an idea on stack heights I snapped a shot of barefoot (L) to less barefoot (R) of my personal lineup.
L-R: Soms (my work shoes), Xero Ridgeway lows (also work shoes), Xero Ridgeway mids (ruckers), Altra Escalante (runners), Topo Terraventures mids, Topo Terraventure WP lows, and Vasque Torres (they are the most traditional boot in my line up for when the snow hits)


Also I use Run 619 zero drop inserts in pretty much everything:

 

[PSDBowhunter]

I'll second the Topo Terraventures. I got a pair last year and took them out to Colorado along with my Schnee Timberlines. Pretty much only used the Topo's after day 2. They definitely have some cushion as well as a small drop (5mm I believe).

I've been wearing Altras and Lems exclusively for years for work and everyday use. My feet are very used to the wide toe box and zero drop. I think that's why the Terraventures felt so much better to me than the Timberlines.

I recently picked up some Vivobarefoot Magna ESC shoes. I would have got the Tracker ESC, but they were out in my size. So far I really like them, but that's just wearing them around the house and outside.

Most everyone's feet are jacked up to one degree or another from years of poor fitting/shapes shoes. Just remember the transition process may take years to undo that.

 

[silasbowhunter]

I’ve been wearing some Freet Mudee L as my dailys for about a month. Needed a similar style to my forest trackers while I work at the fertilizer plant. These are super waterproof and pretty dang nice. Only thing is they are warmer than my Forest Trackers. I’ve been eyeing their Ibex and Impalas as well. If they’re like these Mudee L, the quality is fantastic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lathrop and Sons Boots]

I have been wearing barefoot shoes exclusively for several years now. I just completed a 3-day 30-mile backpacking trip. I wore my Vivo Primus Lite shoes during this trip. There was a ton of walking over smallish sharp rocks, and I’m bummed to say I just didn’t have enough shoe for this type of terrain. I love the minimalist design, but I managed to injure something in my foot and all the sharp edges and small stones were really starting to hurt.

I’ve concluded 2.5mm stack height just wasn’t enough cushion for rocky terrain. I’d be curious to hear what others have used for this. A lightweight barefoot style trail runner that has a tiny bit of sole cushioning but not so tall I give up my balance and agility.

What happened to the foot? Has the pain gone away?

 

[Crews]

So it was just really acute pain on the soles of my feet, specific to walking across about 25 miles of rock fields with sharp edges. I have been barefoot for many years so feet are pretty strong. My feet were sore for a few days, but back to normal within a week.