Vivo forest tracker esc durability

[fwafwow]

Mine showed up. These things are awesome. I hope they last, cause I can see owning a few pairs of them.

For some reason my lab is scared absolutely shitless of them.

I like mine so much I find myself wanting another pair that's not as scuffed up so I can wear them in social settings that would normally have me wear "normal" shoes.

 

[Lawnboi]

I like mine so much I find myself wanting another pair that's not as scuffed up so I can wear them in social settings that would normally have me wear "normal" shoes.

They are a sharp looking boot. Wish they didn’t cost so much. I’m going to need a pair for home too.

I’m not sure they would replace my kenetreks for off trail stuff, but for all around I think they will replace the altras Iv been wearing.

 

[BBob]

For some reason my lab is scared absolutely shitless of them.

He/she wants no part in associating with someone that looks like a clown?

 

[Braaap]

They are a sharp looking boot. Wish they didn’t cost so much. I’m going to need a pair for home too.

I’m not sure they would replace my kenetreks for off trail stuff, but for all around I think they will replace the altras Iv been wearing.

I feel like off trail is where they shine. I’m on my second season wearing them for big game and Chukar hunting. Only issue I’ve had is lack of waterproofing if it’s really really wet.

 

[Lawnboi]

I feel like off trail is where they shine. I’m on my second season wearing them for big game and Chukar hunting. Only issue I’ve had is lack of waterproofing if it’s really really wet.

Iv been playing in the barefoot/zero drop area for a while, and I just can’t get away with trail runner style boots or shoes for off trail. I can run miles in next to nothing shoes but off trail with a load I havnt been able to really make it work. Maybe these boots will change that, I don’t know.

I also don’t have issues with bigger boots though. I know a lot of guys can do one or the other

 

[Braaap]

Iv been playing in the barefoot/zero drop area for a while, and I just can’t get away with trail runner style boots or shoes for off trail. I can run miles in next to nothing shoes but off trail with a load I havnt been able to really make it work. Maybe these boots will change that, I don’t know.

I also don’t have issues with bigger boots though. I know a lot of guys can do one or the other

The trackers are the only minimalist boot I’ve tried but my everything else shoe is the Altra lone peak for the last 3+ years and I really don’t like them off trail with even zero weight on my back. I haven’t packed out an animal yet with my trackers yet but I have carried a 45lb pack on and off trail for a short backpack hunt back in October and they were great. But I admit I am a bit nervous about a long pack out with 70lbs but I think it will work.

Let us know how they work for you. I want to buy another pair just in case they get discontinued or changed in a way I don’t like.

 

[HighUintas]

I finally reverted to my leather Gore-Tex scarpas for the last couple weeks of my hunting season in January. I got extremely tired of having sopping wet feet all the time wearing the trackers. Even when the temperature is below freezing, if there was snow on the ground above the stitching, I'd end up with wet feet.

 

[twall13]

Iv been playing in the barefoot/zero drop area for a while, and I just can’t get away with trail runner style boots or shoes for off trail. I can run miles in next to nothing shoes but off trail with a load I havnt been able to really make it work. Maybe these boots will change that, I don’t know.

I also don’t have issues with bigger boots though. I know a lot of guys can do one or the other

I'm curious to see how they work out for you, I hope you keep us posted. I'm very similar to you and own a bunch of different Vivo models for daily use and trail running. They have replaced most of my shoes for pretty much everything I do over the last 4-5 years. I own and love the Forest Escapes but I still use and prefer some stiffer Crispi boots in certain terrain. For me it's mostly steep side hills and downhills. Like most, I wear the Vivos a little loose and, as a result, I get hotspots with a lot of steep downhill or sidehill walking. I'm fine on the uphill and even fine with a weighted pack in all but the steepest conditions for downhill and sidehill. To be clear, I'm talking about 1000' + of elevation gain per mile steep. Anything less than that doesn't seem to be a problem. I can handle steep for short sections here and there but if I'm doing it all day I'll have problems in the Forest Escapes. So, for me, it just depends on the conditions I expect to encounter. I haven't tested them in super wet conditions either, but not being a waterproof boot I just figure I'll wear my crisis Crispi's instead for those conditions too. I should probably do some testing with that though.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[BBob]

From another thread. Might be of interest if you didn't catch this. Jim Green Barefoot African Rangers.

Minimalist shoe/boot - transition process

rokslide.com

African Ranger Barefoot Boot - Houston Brown - Jim Green

For every 10 pairs sold we donate a pair to a Ranger https://www.gameranger.org

jimgreenfootwear.com

African Ranger Barefoot Boot - Fudge - Jim Green

For every 10 pairs sold we donate a pair to a Ranger https://www.gameranger.org

jimgreenfootwear.com

Jim Green African Ranger Barefoot Boots

My pre-order arrived last week. I’ll come back and add to this as I go. Sizing. My foot is low volume. Length and width of largest foot 275mm/10.8” long, 125mm/4.3” wide. In Vivo I’m wearing a 44 across 3 different styles. For sizing the Green’s I took the video (below) advice and used the...

rokslide.com

 

[Dobermann]

I like mine so much I find myself wanting another pair that's not as scuffed up so I can wear them in social settings that would normally have me wear "normal" shoes.

For sure. I'm waiting for a 30% sale/discount so I can pick up a pair in Obsidian to wear at work.

The Trackers are my current everyday wear, but the Tracker ESCs seem to breathe better - and I stand all day at work, and they're noticeably more comfortable for that.

 

[Dobermann]

They are a sharp looking boot. Wish they didn’t cost so much. I’m going to need a pair for home too.

Vivo usually have 30% off sales throughout the year, and if you do online searches, you can sometimes find 30% off coupon codes that work year-round. Just watch the ones that come from dedicated coupon code sites - I've found they put a lot of trackers on my computer.

 

[Dobermann]

I finally reverted to my leather Gore-Tex scarpas for the last couple weeks of my hunting season in January. I got extremely tired of having sopping wet feet all the time wearing the trackers. Even when the temperature is below freezing, if there was snow on the ground above the stitching, I'd end up with wet feet.

I've been wearing mine during 3D competition shoots, where the course goes through multiple creeks and muddy bogs with no problem - trick has been applying Renapur before each shoot, and cleaning them really well afterwards.

I wish I could post a recent photo of them caked in mud ... my phone uses HEIC compression, but my computer is 15+ years old, and I haven't figured how to convert them yet ... but they've been more than impressive.

 

[id_jon]

So far I have pretty much only worn mine in the snow it seems, I need to reapply renapur every 3-4 outings or they start to soak a bit.

 

[BBob]

Vivo usually have 30% off sales throughout the year, and if you do online searches, you can sometimes find 30% off coupon codes that work year-round. Just watch the ones that come from dedicated coupon code sites - I've found they put a lot of trackers on my computer.

There's a 35% sale right now. Got an email this morning but didn't look at which models are included.

Sale

Last chance to buy discounted prices on select men's items. Enjoy running, hiking, walking and training for less.

www.vivobarefoot.com

 

[Dobermann]

There's a 35% sale right now. Got an email this morning but didn't look at which models are included.

Sale

Last chance to buy discounted prices on select men's items. Enjoy running, hiking, walking and training for less.

www.vivobarefoot.com

Forest ESC women's are currently discounted, but not men's.

 

[Lawnboi]

I'm curious to see how they work out for you, I hope you keep us posted. I'm very similar to you and own a bunch of different Vivo models for daily use and trail running. They have replaced most of my shoes for pretty much everything I do over the last 4-5 years. I own and love the Forest Escapes but I still use and prefer some stiffer Crispi boots in certain terrain. For me it's mostly steep side hills and downhills. Like most, I wear the Vivos a little loose and, as a result, I get hotspots with a lot of steep downhill or sidehill walking. I'm fine on the uphill and even fine with a weighted pack in all but the steepest conditions for downhill and sidehill. To be clear, I'm talking about 1000' + of elevation gain per mile steep. Anything less than that doesn't seem to be a problem. I can handle steep for short sections here and there but if I'm doing it all day I'll have problems in the Forest Escapes. So, for me, it just depends on the conditions I expect to encounter. I haven't tested them in super wet conditions either, but not being a waterproof boot I just figure I'll wear my crisis Crispi's instead for those conditions too. I should probably do some testing with that though.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

Iv tried flexible boots/shoes, but just can’t get away with them like you mentioned, particularly side hilling.

With my kenetreks, especially with a load, I like to have the ability to kick in a foot hold, be it snow, grass or earth. Something that’s sometimes beneficial up, down and side hilling. That’s what keeps me from using flexible boots off trail.

We will see, I don’t have the time to really get my feet prepared for a loaded barefoot style trip off trail. I’m sure like everything else if I put the training on my feet they would eventually work, but anymore I don’t get to spend my days off trail as much as I used to.

I was into barefoot when it wasn’t cool and gone through a bunch of early inov8 shoes that hooked me on this, can say these boots are impressive for what they are.

 

[HighUintas]

I've been wearing mine during 3D competition shoots, where the course goes through multiple creeks and muddy bogs with no problem - trick has been applying Renapur before each shoot, and cleaning them really well afterwards.

I wish I could post a recent photo of them caked in mud ... my phone uses HEIC compression, but my computer is 15+ years old, and I haven't figured how to convert them yet ... but they've been more than impressive.

No amount of renapur will prevent water ingress in my pair. It comes in through the stitching and the lack of seal between leather and outsole just above the stitching. It's a poor design for durability and poor QC evidenced by the number of people with issues in the small number of people that have them in this thread. Even worse customer service.

That doesn't provide any confidence in trying anything from them again.

Those Jim Green boots sound like they may be worthwhile. They're short, but could at least be resoled

 

[BBob]

Those Jim Green boots sound like they may be worthwhile. They're short, but could at least be resoled

I started a thread on them. I can see the info getting scattered around so figured it might be better to have it's own thread going.

Jim Green African Ranger Barefoot Boots

My pre-order arrived last week. I’ll come back and add to this as I go. Sizing. My foot is low volume. Length and width of largest foot 275mm/10.8” long, 125mm/4.3” wide. In Vivo I’m wearing a 44 across 3 different styles. For sizing the Green’s I took the video (below) advice and used the...

rokslide.com

 

[dailyherold]

Giving the KG bootguard a go today. First started with sanding leather, then cement glued over the outsole-to-leather boundary. Went down as far as the stitch line hoping it'll act as an adhesive primer for the bootguard liquid. Will post again after first coat of bootguard and then a second.

 

[Dobermann]

Seeing @dailyherold's post reminded me that the Tracker Winter SGs have this built in ... has anyone tried them yet?