Barefoot hikers

[Crews]

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.

 

[Lelder]

Hey Crew, i'm very interested in what your doing and what others have to say. ive been trying to toughen up my feet and ankles but have heard negatives about backcountry hunting/hiking with minimalist shoes when it comes to packing out game or toting a moderate weight pack

 

[Speaks]

I use the trackers for that though they are not trail runner style.

 

[Crews]

I use the trackers for that though they are not trail runner style.

So I looked up the Trackers and the sole isn’t any thicker than the shoes I wear. Am I missing a metric aside from “stack height”?

 

[Speaks]

So I looked up the Trackers and the sole isn’t any thicker than the shoes I wear. Am I missing a metric aside from “stack height”?

Maybe the tracker forest esc, the sole is noticeably thicker with deeper lugs.

 

[Upwolf]

I rock a pair of Lems boots for a lot of things. I will say these boots aren't the most durable if you put them through the wringer. I do need to get a new pair every year or two, but the price isn't bad at all. Looking to get something that is a little more durable and have been looking into vivo tracker too...

 

[dgfavor]

I've been a big fan of the Xero Ridgeways - 12mm stack but still very flexible, good ground feel. I have mainly used mine for training/rucking on established trails - most actually quite rocky. I wore them several times scouting for sheep in about as rocky terrain as it gets and it wasn't the rocks that bothered me it was the lack of grip on loose, sloped, "pebbly" slopes - I eventually opted for my Topo's with better grip for that hunt. If I was going on a backpacking outing on established trails I would for sure wear the Ridgeways. I kind of characterize them as a "tweener" - barefoot with some substance.

 

[Crews]

I rock a pair of Lems boots for a lot of things. I will say these boots aren't the most durable if you put them through the wringer. I do need to get a new pair every year or two, but the price isn't bad at all. Looking to get something that is a little more durable and have been looking into vivo tracker too...

This is what I’m struggling with too. My first two pairs of hikers were Xero, and I think they have had just enough extra padding to get me by. But they fall apart quicker than I think they should. The Vivo stuff does seem to be more durable, but I guess buying a new pair of $120 footwear every two years isn’t the worst thing in the world.

 

[Big_wals]

I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes almost exclusively for nearly ten years, except for snowshoe pacs in the winter amd rubber boots as needed. I’d try a pair of Vivo primus trail FGs if I were you. I love the primus lite, and currently have a pair of the geo racers I believe theyre called? The trail FGs are definitely a thicker, more robust sole. My current pair I have worn daily for work for around ten months. (Construction, on my feet all day)

I’ve tried lems boulder boots and a few different xero shoes, the durability just isn’t there for me. The lems are definitely more comfortable tho. They almost feel like wearing crocs to me, just a thick,squishy foam sole. I still have a pair of lems and also some altras, IDK what model off the top of my head. Just be aware that not all altras are zero-drop. The lems and altras are my go to if I want something that’s a little more comfortable and thicker soled, but still zero drop and not a huge stack height.

 

[blkqi]

This is what I’m struggling with too. My first two pairs of hikers were Xero, and I think they have had just enough extra padding to get me by. But they fall apart quicker than I think they should. The Vivo stuff does seem to be more durable, but I guess buying a new pair of $120 footwear every two years isn’t the worst thing in the world.

The Altra Lone Peaks offer more cushion in an otherwise minimalist shoe with a similar construction to the Primus Lite.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Vivo Tracker ESCs or La Sportiva TX3s with the Vivo soles (not the new TX4s).

 

[Upwolf]

Vivo Tracker ESCs or La Sportiva TX3s with the Vivo soles (not the new TX4s).

I wouldn't consider either of these a barefoot shoe. They purposely have a narrow toe box so that you can climb in them. I have the TX2 and the TX4 and they are great shoes, especially with the Vibram dot.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Check out the merrel 0 drop hiking boots, other than the sole seperating a little from the leather I’ve like them as far as a “barefoot” type boot

 

[Austin Kaufman]

Check out the merrel 0 drop hiking boots, other than the sole seperating a little from the leather I’ve like them as far as a “barefoot” type boot

How do those run for sizing and toe box, compared to a lems, Vivo, or xero if you have experience with those as well. I’ve always looked at them but never ordered to try them on to compare.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I wouldn't consider either of these a barefoot shoe. They purposely have a narrow toe box so that you can climb in them. I have the TX2 and the TX4 and they are great shoes, especially with the Vibram dot.

The 4s are narrower than the 3s on my feet. I hate the 4s and not sure why they changed. I bought 2 extra pairs of the 3s in case they go away permanently sometime soon.

 

[Hnthrdr]

How do those run for sizing and toe box, compared to a lems, Vivo, or xero if you have experience with those as well. I’ve always looked at them but never ordered to try them on to compare.

Never had experience with the above mentioned, but I’m an 11.5 in everything and they run true to size for me, I generally use the euro sizing since I find that more accurate across brands, they have a wide toe box, like an Altra. I loved running around in them last fall makes ya feel like a ninja. My gripe with all boots though rests on durability, salamons merrel, kennetrek, only boots I owned that ever stood up were the Rocky sv2’s I wore in the army…

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

The 4s are narrower than the 3s on my feet. I hate the 4s and not sure why they changed. I bought 2 extra pairs of the 3s in case they go away permanently sometime soon.

And yes they are narrower in the toe area than “barefoot” shoes and the Vivo forest trackers.

 

[Austin Kaufman]

Never had experience with the above mentioned, but I’m an 11.5 in everything and they run true to size for me, I generally use the euro sizing since I find that more accurate across brands, they have a wide toe box, like an Altra. I loved running around in them last fall makes ya feel like a ninja. My gripe with all boots though rests on durability, salamons merrel, kennetrek, only boots I owned that ever stood up were the Rocky sv2’s I wore in the army…

Good to know! I wear altras in 12s. I might have to try a pair. I appreciate the insight! For $130 if they get through a season that’s not a bad price.


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[Hnthrdr]

Good to know! I wear altras in 12s. I might have to try a pair. I appreciate the insight! For $130 if they get through a season that’s not a bad price.


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They will get you through a season of heavy use, I guess I might have expectations that are too high of shoes these days haha