Vivo forest tracker esc durability

[IrkedCitizen]

size 22

Close enough.

 

[twall13]

If I was a size 49 like you there's a few different shoes from Vivo I'd pick up on Sierra right now. That seems to be the only size they have consistently in stock and they are at a great discount.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[ElPollo]

My Forest ESCs have become my daily footwear and I am hiking about 4 miles a day, 3-4 days a week now. They are not something I would recommend to everyone. But as a person who has thought for 30 years that I really needed stiff boots to protect my feet and high arch insoles for support, it’s been a real eye-opener for me. Honestly, I think those opinions about stiff boots and the need for support created more problems for me than they solved.

 

[alpine_troop]

My Forest ESCs have become my daily footwear and I am hiking about 4 miles a day, 3-4 days a week now. They are not something I would recommend to everyone. But as a person who has thought for 30 years that I really needed stiff boots to protect my feet and high arch insoles for support, it’s been a real eye-opener for me. Honestly, I think those opinions about stiff boots and the need for support created more problems for me than they solved.

This has been my realization as well. The whole premise of my historic footwear choices has been fundamentally flawed, and my feet show the results (which are not positive).

These boots as a daily wear are my goal in the next few years.

 

[ElPollo]

This has been my realization as well. The whole premise of my historic footwear choices has been fundamentally flawed, and my feet show the results (which are not positive).

These boots as a daily wear are my goal in the next few years.

I don’t think it works that way for everyone. I wore stiff-ass mountain boots daily for over 20 years because of my job and because I liked them. That’s just a bad idea for anyone’s feet. I started having lots of big toe issues and associated pain, but a nerve and Achilles tendon injury were the things that ultimately got me started with these barefoot boots. I don’t buy 100% of the barefoot boot snake oil, but they are currently working for me. I will recommend them to people who have similar issues, but not everyone. If people ask about them, my answer is that something similar worked pretty well for the Apache and Navajo for about 500 years.

 

[fwafwow]

If I was a size 49 like you there's a few different shoes from Vivo I'd pick up on Sierra right now. That seems to be the only size they have consistently in stock and they are at a great discount.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the tip to check Sierra. I’m size 44 but got a good deal on a pair

 

[mtnbound]

I have about 70 miles on my current pair of ESC’s and they are holding up incredibly well.

 

[Dobermann]

Just back from a family holiday. My days of mountain hiking are likely behind me, but myself and my partner wore our Vivos in a full day in the snow - I had Tracker ESCs, and she had Trackers. Both treated beforehand with Vivo's Renapure and no wetting through or leaking.

Tread on both handled traction on relatively slippery ice well. Granted, we weren't doing technical stuff - just goofing around with kids - but they worked just fine.

I'd say if anyone has any doubts about Trackers (especially ESCs) for the snow, give them a go.

 

[HighUintas]

My fix with aquasel SR is holding up well. Some areas have started peeling up but are areas where it would be hard to get good prep for optimal adhesion, such as the lower edge below the stitching around the lugs. There's no evidence of delam with the leather. This is probably 100+ hard miles on them post fix. Water ingress issue seems to be fixed.

 

[bhylton]

My Trackers are headed back for a refund. Got about 1 month of very moderate use out of them. I’m still not able to do arduous stuff in barefoot shoes, so nothing crazy. Now, these were rebuilt shoots from Revivo, so not sure if the experience would be the same with a brand new pair?
No hate from me here.. I really liked them and will likely try another pair and do the aqua seal trick.

 

[ElPollo]

My Trackers are headed back for a refund. Got about 1 month of very moderate use out of them. I’m still not able to do arduous stuff in barefoot shoes, so nothing crazy. Now, these were rebuilt shoots from Revivo, so not sure if the experience would be the same with a brand new pair?
No hate from me here.. I really liked them and will likely try another pair and do the aqua seal trick.

That’s a bummer.

 

[Shraggs]

Tundra Boot appears to be live. I want to try them, but might wait for others to first. Really want to see how they compare to Mukluks (minus the obvious sole/tread difference).

@Formidilosus have you compared theses to your stiegers?

 

[Formidilosus]

@Formidilosus have you compared theses to your stiegers?

Should have enough use this year to compare. But, the Vivo’s are a different animal. My prediction is that they will prove to be the best true cold weather all terrain/use boot.

 

[Shraggs]

Should have enough use this year to compare. But, the Vivo’s are a different animal. My prediction is that they will prove to be the best true cold weather all terrain/use boot.

I figured the traction would be a huge advantage, but the insulation appears less, ie thinner 9 mm vs 7mm and not as warm?

 

[Hydr]

Forest Tracker AT got their first spin this last week.

4 days hunting ruffed grouse with about 25 miles put on them.

I found them to be very comfortable throughout the hunts. I wore KUIU Scree short gaiters with them 95% of the time.

Going through, up, and over cedar swamps, logged aspen cuts, and deadfall really does a number to the front portion of any leather boot. That being said, they retained their water resistance in that area for the most part.

I wore them with the Buffalo Wool Company socks that I have largely switched over to and did not notice any kind of discomfort or excessive wetness. No blisters or anything else of that nature to report. I do wear them pretty loose as well.

I applied some Renapur to them when they got to my door. It didn’t seem to add a whole lot.

They have been quick cleaned and had renapur reapplied and are drying with my leather gloves now.

Time will tell with more wear but the initial test went well.

 

[ledflight]

How often are we applying the renapur?

 

[ElPollo]

How often are we applying the renapur?

Probably varies with the type of use. I’m in the desert and have used it one in about 4 months. If you’re in wetter country, you’ll want to use it more often to keep the leather from cracking. The Renapur stuff is just a standard beeswax-based boot dressing. Anything like it should work.

 

[dtrkyman]

How "Waterproof" are they with renapur or other treatments?

Someone make a good goretex version already!

 

[ElPollo]

They are a leather boot without any type of waterproof liner. Your feet will get wet. But you can buy waterproof socks or just pack extra wool socks.

 

[HighUintas]

How "Waterproof" are they with renapur or other treatments?

Someone make a good goretex version already!

They are water resistant. 90 minutes of walking through wet grass/brush will have the leather wetted out. But they dry pretty quickly in dry conditions and breathe better than goretex.