Opinion on water resistant or non-water resistant barefoot boots for all season hunting?

[Greenstig]

I wasn't wearing the kenetreks daily...just when hiking/hunting. I made the switch to barefoot shoes the day after that post I made and am glad I did. I now wear them all day everyday. I've been doing mtn tough workouts in them daily and my feet, ankles and knees are doing much better and feeling stronger. I have been stretching every day (heel raises, etc) and some short easy trail hiking with my barefoot shoes and am slowly working up to longer distances. I used them for my first off trail hiking experience on Saturday. I was side hilling in some super steep rocks/shale (not on purpose, but I ended up there lol). I was sliding like crazy and it required some flex in my ankles. It felt really odd to be honest.

I may have transitioned faster than I should have, but here we are.

It was a situation that I have rolled my ankles many times in my kenetreks. It was a different feeling with these shoes but I didn't roll an ankle or hurt my foot or knees. I honestly wish I would have switched over sooner but again it was something I never knew existed and I thought stronger boot would save my ankles.

I'm definitely not gonna go full send hunting on the barefoots though yet. I'm gonna take some regular boots too.

You do you. After “The Book” came out back in 2009, a lot of people got injured, myself included, doing exactly what you’re describing.

I was a cocky dumbass and immediately bought and started wearing minimalist shoes with no transition period. It didn’t turn out well. A decade later, I tried barefoot shoes again, but transitioned over about 14 months without issue or injury.

My main thing is I want to have the boots to at least get them broken in and start using them a little bit before I start scouting for archery in June. Mainly so they aren't foreign to me and I know what to expect. I'm definitely not gonna go full send though.

Break-in with any of the options listed in this thread will not be a problem. Most will be perfectly fine out of the box, with JG’s taking a bit longer.

 

[dbarrett4053]

You do you. After “The Book” came out back in 2009, a lot of people got injured, myself included, doing exactly what you’re describing.

I was a cocky dumbass and immediately bought and started wearing minimalist shoes with no transition period. It didn’t turn out well. A decade later, I tried barefoot shoes again, but transitioned over about 14 months without issue or injury.


Break-in with any of the options listed in this thread will not be a problem. Most will be perfectly fine out of the box, with JG’s taking a bit longer.

I didn't even know there was a book until last week. I listened to it this weekend on audible. I wasn't necessarily being a "cocky dumbass" I'm just new and hadn't read about people's injuries. I should have researched more. I'll definitely take it slower though.

I watched some videos on the lems and it seems like they don't have very good traction. I guess I'll have to order a pair and see.

 

[24valve]

For the last 4 years I have been wearing Kenetrek Hardscrabbles as my year 'round boot. They are all leather and I have mainly worn an all leather boot for hiking all my life. Due to some foot and ankle injuries that I have attributed to week feet/ankles from hiking in stiff boots all the time, I have switched over to barefoot shoes as my daily shoes for a month now and have started recovering nicely from my injury that happened while hunting in october. I have noticed way more strength in my feet and ankles just over this short amount of time. I have always had a waterproof/water resistant leather boot and am used to them in both hot/warm and cold weather. I have thought about buying some synthetic material boots/shoes for hiking but am worried about durability and water resistance.

In barefoot shoes there are very few boots that are water resistant and have the grip I want. I'm in Utah so from sept-december (even august sometimes) there is the possibility of snow and that is where I really get concerned not having a waterproof boot.

I'm wondering if people here use a non waterproof synthetic boot/shoe in the spring/summer/fall and then a separate boot in the colder months of october-december? Or if they have a barefoot boot they recommend for year round use? I'm not worried about insulation as I have never worn an insulated boot even when I go ice fishing. I use socks and moisture regulation to handle my foot warmth.

I'm interested in the vivo tracker esc or the magna tracker esc but am also open to other ideas since I am now buying all new footwear.

I used to hike, hunt, and generally do everything in stiff, leather, waterproof hunting boots, and two years ago made the switch to barefoot shoes for everything.

The best "all season" ones for hiking I have used are the vivo forest tracker esc. The leather breathes in the summer, is fairly waterproof when oiled/waxed in the fall/winter, and dries much quicker than a boot with a gore-tex or similar waterproof liner. After using them and other leather boots, I have come to greatly dislike the clamminess of boots with a modern waterproof liner.

There's some good information on vivo forest trackers and other barefoot shoes here if you haven't read it already:

Thread 'Vivo forest tracker esc durability'

Oct 19, 2022

I was about to order a pair of the tracker esc boots since their black color is on sale, but found quite a few reviews on Amazon of people saying the lace eyelet rivet popped out not long after receiving them. This eliminates any water resistance when it's the one on the ankle because a hole opens up. The users said that vivo would not replace them either.

I would not expect that issue to happen with a $280 pair of boots and the lack of CS on a quality issue sucks.


What say you guys that have experience with these boots and other vivo barefoot products?

• HighUintas
• Replies: 1,299
• Forum: Footwear

More info on vivos and waterproof socks:

Thread 'My gear/pack layout from base layers to binos'

Feb 17, 2024

I have gotten 20-30 requests for a full gear post of what I use over the last year or two. I have not done so as certain gear brings out emotions more than which cartridge and bullets threads, and there is an element of personal preference. I also don’t solely or even generally base most of my choices on what I like, but rather from observing and noting what works the best/optimum for as many people as possible for the given conditions.
When it is personal preference that is driving my choices, I will state so. Otherwise, agree or not- there is an element of objectivity about the...

• Formidilosus
• Replies: 879
• Forum: Gear

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[Lawnboi]

Oh okay, that makes sense! Out of curiosity what did you resole your troopers with and how much did that cost? That sucks that that the stock sole isn't sufficient.

I got them resoled with a vibram sierra sole. Cost 120, they continue to be resolable as well.

Alternatively nicks is now making a zero drop stitch down style boot, may try one eventually but these have been working well for me. I also have some Jim green barefoot rangers I use for every day and work. Been happy with them overall. They offer a bit more protection than the vivo and hold up a lot better.

 

[24valve]

I wonder how much of a stack height is too high to make it to where I have the danger of rolling my ankle more? Does anyone know?

I think the Lems Boulders that I looked at were like 17mm or something.

@Small-foot has used a variety of barefoot boots, including boulder boots and forest trackers, and might also be able to speak to at what point stack height is problematic.

 

[Big_wals]

I watched some videos on the lems and it seems like they don't have very good traction. I guess I'll have to order a pair and see.

I’ve gone through probably half a dozen pairs of boulder boots for work, they are very comfortable….. and probably the least durable and the worst traction of any minimalist boot that I’ve had. Lems has come out with a different model, I think the Summit? Looks like a better sole but I haven’t tried them yet. My current work boots are Beleville Mini-Mils, been very happy with them.

 

[Greenstig]

I wasn't necessarily being a "cocky dumbass" I'm just new and hadn't read about people's injuries.

I know. That was a reflection of my attitude back then and not an inference toward you.

I watched some videos on the lems and it seems like they don't have very good traction. I guess I'll have to order a pair and see.

It varies widely based on the model you’re looking at. The newer Summit models with the vibram sole are quite good.

 

[dbarrett4053]

I know. That was a reflection of my attitude back then and not an inference toward you.

It varies widely based on the model you’re looking at. The newer Summit models with the vibram sole are quite good.

Totally understand. I'm just grateful for all the advice and help I have recieved. Maybe you don't know the answer to this or maybe you do, but I ordered a pair of xero ridgeways to try out. Saturday was the first time I wore them and my foot was sliding all the way to the front and was hurting my toes while going down a steep hill. I tried some lacing techniques to try and lock my foot in place but that didn't do much good. I haven't ever had that issue with "regular" boots. Is that a common problem with barefoot boots in general? Or could it have been just those particular boots.

I did end up returning them because the stitching started coming undone the very first day.