Vivo forest tracker esc durability

[Dobermann]

Another view of the Moc from Vivo's email today:

 

[Formidilosus]

Pretty sure @Formidilosus will have some thoughts on this construction ... but also have a sneaking suspicion that his closet-love for old-school Luddite tech and fuddy aesthetics might win out over his practical assessment ...

You don’t know me…..








That sole needs to be black.

 

[Dobermann]

You don’t know me…..








That sole needs to be black.

I agree. On both counts.

But I'm not here to discuss aesthetics - - someone asked about the pros and cons of the construction of this design ... and I tagged you in as I was guessing you would have some thoughts about that.

My personal guess is that the exposed stitching *might* be a site for increased water ingress - but I'd personally be up for risk managing that for the benefit of not having the glued-on plastic of the Tracker ESCs. Even to the point where I might be able to ignore the silly white soles ... maybe.

 

[Formidilosus]

I agree. On both counts.

But I'm not here to discuss aesthetics - - someone asked about the pros and cons of the construction of this design ... and I tagged you in as I was guessing you would have some thoughts about that.

My personal guess is that the exposed stitching *might* be a site for increased water ingress - but I'd personally be up for risk managing that for the benefit of not having the glued-on plastic of the Tracker ESCs. Even to the point where I might be able to ignore the silly white soles ... maybe.

The Tracker AT Moc’s are not meant to be water proof/resistant.

 

[nephewjephew]

I've been wearing the Mocs just about everyday for a couple weeks now, I am a fan.
Nitpicks-
I don't care for the wool lining on the inside. I'm sure they'll be great as temps go down, but wish they where just leather lined for better breathability. The "side" stitching is unnecessary but hasn't been a problem yet. I do have the sole coming off the boot above the sole stitching by the toe and on the heavy creased areas (toe flex spots). The boot does get clammy with my feet in them, I've used the thermal insert, north star memory foam, 6 mm wool felt, with and without a liner sock. None of it really seem to make that much of a difference. Always seem to feel clammy at times, bottom of my sock is damp and the acctual sole of the inside of the boot has mouisture on it. Hasn't produced cold feet, yet.

I do like them alot, and for a barefoot/minamalist wook boot they are great.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

So far so good. Tested them here in the desert this week, will test more over the weekend scouting.

Likely taking these on my AZ elk hunt next weekend and then Idaho elk hunt to follow. Are ya'll going up in sock thickness for colder hunts, or swapping to a lightly insulated boot? Where I'm hunting will likely be down in the 10's and teens in Idaho if current weather trends hold for another couple weeks. AZ is lows in the high 20's. Spot and stalk hunts for both, with lengthy stops to glass.

I had some concerns in the very rough canyon rocks and plants that grow here that are notorious for destroying lighter constructed shoes.

.Wet/Sharp limestone- No issues so far.
.Steep, sand coated rock faces- Plenty of traction and support.
.Porous lava rock (very hard on leather)- No issues so far.
.Cats claw brush- No issues so far.
.Cholla cactus- Doesn't penetrate but will stick to leather and laces. Bring your fine tooth comb!
.Ocotillo cactus- No issues. Doesn't poke through sole when stepped on both brown/dead and green/healthy.
.Dead Barrel cactus- No issues. Doesn't poke through sole.
.Dead Sagauro cactus- Thicker spines will poke through leather, won't poke through sole.
.Mesquite Thorns- Thick enough thorns WILL poke through the sole. Thinner thorns will poke through the leather. To compare, Crispi Nevada soles will not poke through (as an example).

Overall very impressive, no hesitation using these in this arid and rugged terrain year round.

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

So far so good. Tested them here in the desert this week, will test more over the weekend scouting.

Likely taking these on my AZ elk hunt next weekend and then Idaho elk hunt to follow. Are ya'll going up in sock thickness for colder hunts, or swapping to a lightly insulated boot? Where I'm hunting will likely be down in the 10's and teens in Idaho if current weather trends hold for another couple weeks. AZ is lows in the high 20's. Spot and stalk hunts for both, with lengthy stops to glass.

I had some concerns in the very rough canyon rocks and plants that grow here that are notorious for destroying lighter constructed shoes.

.Wet/Sharp limestone- No issues so far.
.Steep, sand coated rock faces- Plenty of traction and support.
.Porous lava rock (very hard on leather)- No issues so far.
.Cats claw brush- No issues so far.
.Cholla cactus- Doesn't penetrate but will stick to leather and laces. Bring your fine tooth comb!
.Ocotillo cactus- No issues. Doesn't poke through sole when stepped on both brown/dead and green/healthy.
.Dead Barrel cactus- No issues. Doesn't poke through sole.
.Dead Sagauro cactus- Thicker spines will poke through leather, won't poke through sole.
.Mesquite Thorns- Thick enough thorns WILL poke through the sole. Thinner thorns will poke through the leather. To compare, Crispi Nevada soles will not poke through (as an example).

Overall very impressive, no hesitation using these in this arid and rugged terrain year round.

When I wore mine in Colorado it was 18 degrees most mornings and into some evenings, with snow. I wore one of the heavier darn tough hiking sock varieties and Injinji synthetic toe sock liners and my feet were great. They were actually wet too at times from the snow, and still ok. That was before I did a nice rand with AS, and an Obenaufs bath. I haven't tested them yet but I suspect they will be good. The only place my feet got wet before was where I found a separation spot from the sole.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

When I wore mine in Colorado it was 18 degrees most mornings and into some evenings, with snow. I wore one of the heavier darn tough hiking sock varieties and Injinji synthetic toe sock liners and my feet were great. They were actually wet too at times from the snow, and still ok. That was before I did a nice rand with AS, and an Obenaufs bath. I haven't tested them yet but I suspect they will be good. The only place my feet got wet before was where I found a separation spot from the sole.

Thanks for the info. I almost never wear insulated boots other than really cold Minnesota hunts some years. I usually just go up in sock thickness, so I'll plan on that and see how they do. I can always make a fire if my toes are gonna fall off.

 

[SouthPaw]

Likely taking these on my AZ elk hunt next weekend and then Idaho elk hunt to follow. Are ya'll going up in sock thickness for colder hunts, or swapping to a lightly insulated boot?

Last few weeks I was hunting in 12-30 degrees with the Tracker ESCs. Going with thicker wool socks helps (I also use the injinji toe sock liners). The Camel wool are definitely the bomb for warmth and breathability. The other trick I found helpful for hunting in cold was swap to Vivo's thermal insole to help insulate the bottom of your feet which is where I had issues last year using the ESCs in really cold conditions.

 

[Formidilosus]

So far so good. Tested them here in the desert this week, will test more over the weekend scouting.

Likely taking these on my AZ elk hunt next weekend and then Idaho elk hunt to follow. Are ya'll going up in sock thickness for colder hunts, or swapping to a lightly insulated boot? Where I'm hunting will likely be down in the 10's and teens in Idaho if current weather trends hold for another couple weeks. AZ is lows in the high 20's. Spot and stalk hunts for both, with lengthy stops to glass.

Thin liner, light to medium weight camel or yak wool socks, and a shange of socks to swap when glassing for long periods. If really cold (sub 20° for hours of motionless sitting), then they come off and foot puffies go on while stationary.

I had some concerns in the very rough canyon rocks and plants that grow here that are notorious for destroying lighter constructed shoes.

.Wet/Sharp limestone- No issues so far.
.Steep, sand coated rock faces- Plenty of traction and support.
.Porous lava rock (very hard on leather)- No issues so far.
.Cats claw brush- No issues so far.
.Cholla cactus- Doesn't penetrate but will stick to leather and laces. Bring your fine tooth comb!
.Ocotillo cactus- No issues. Doesn't poke through sole when stepped on both brown/dead and green/healthy.
.Dead Barrel cactus- No issues. Doesn't poke through sole.
.Dead Sagauro cactus- Thicker spines will poke through leather, won't poke through sole.
.Mesquite Thorns- Thick enough thorns WILL poke through the sole. Thinner thorns will poke through the leather. To compare, Crispi Nevada soles will not poke through (as an example).

That’s good info. I haven’t had any issues with normal cactus getting through, nor limited mesquite thorns- but when I’m that nonsense I generally wear Courtney Selous’s with tire tread.

 

[fwafwow]

Last few weeks I was hunting in 12-30 degrees with the Tracker ESCs. Going with thicker wool socks helps (I also use the injinji toe sock liners). The Camel wool are definitely the bomb for warmth and breathability. The other trick I found helpful for hunting in cold was swap to Vivo's thermal insole to help insulate the bottom of your feet which is where I had issues last year using the ESCs in really cold conditions.

Thanks for the reminder - I'm ordering some thermal insoles now. I am a bit of a baby with cold. This morning it was 38 degrees and I was in a box blind (!), and had on my Lenz heated socks and still was a bit chilly. I"m going to put on the injinji socks and some yak wool socks over them for this afternoon/evening and compare the results - although it will be warmer. I may do the same tomorrow morning and see how they feel.

 

[Dobermann]

Thanks for the reminder - I'm ordering some thermal insoles now. I am a bit of a baby with cold. This morning it was 38 degrees and I was in a box blind (!), and had on my Lenz heated socks and still was a bit chilly. I"m going to put on the injinji socks and some yak wool socks over them for this afternoon/evening and compare the results - although it will be warmer. I may do the same tomorrow morning and see how they feel.

It's your lucky day...

 

[fwafwow]

It's your lucky day...

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I’m seeing these on my feet at some point

 

[Dobermann]

I’m seeing these on my feet at some point

Good to know I induced a hallucination.

All I'm seeing is a rand - just look at that rand! - and a black sole for @Formidilosus ...

 

[twall13]

I own an older version of the winter Trackers and while I like them, the sole is different and I prefer the Forest Esc for most conditions. I'm personally happy to own both, but for those looking at these, just know the feel is a bit different compared to the Forest Esc., at least that's my experience with the previous generation.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Deli]

Thin liner, light to medium weight camel or yak wool socks, and a shange of socks to swap when glassing for long periods. If really cold (sub 20° for hours of motionless sitting), then they come off and foot puffies go on while stationary

What puffy boots if you don't mind me asking?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[fwafwow]

Thanks for the reminder - I'm ordering some thermal insoles now. I am a bit of a baby with cold. This morning it was 38 degrees and I was in a box blind (!), and had on my Lenz heated socks and still was a bit chilly. I"m going to put on the injinji socks and some yak wool socks over them for this afternoon/evening and compare the results - although it will be warmer. I may do the same tomorrow morning and see how they feel.

This morning I went with just the injinji and yak wool socks. I really believe my feet were warmer than with the Lenz heated socks. But it could be user error.

Now if Lenz would make those socks out of yak wool -

 

[Formidilosus]

What puffy boots if you don't mind me asking?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

I’ve used several. None have made me totally satisfied. But any of the warmer ones have been about the same.

 

[ElPollo]

I own an older version of the winter Trackers and while I like them, the sole is different and I prefer the Forest Esc for most conditions. I'm personally happy to own both, but for those looking at these, just know the feel is a bit different compared to the Forest Esc., at least that's my experience with the previous generation.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

Agree with this. The ESC soles are thicker, more durable, and more puncture resistant than the tracker soles.

 

[Marty]

Hey Roksliders,

Got a relatively new pair of Magna Forest ESCs with slight sole separation near the flex point of your foot and big toe. The stitching is still present and functional. Boots have about 15 miles or so.

Do I just use as is? Apply AquaSeal? If I got the AquaSeal route, any specific recommendations on how to best apply for longevity of the boot?

Thanks in advance for sharing your advice and experience!