Vivo forest tracker esc durability

[Braaap]

I just wore mine for an 8 day elk hunt. This is my third season with this pair of boots and when they were new they did a lot better at staying dry for longer. I even did the Aqua Seal around the leather/sole interface, the stitching, and gave them a bit of a rand. I brought a few pairs of socks and a pair of Sealskinz waterproof socks. The waterproof socks worked great when we had a good storm that dumped a few inches of snow. I wore the Injinji liners under the Sealskinz and after a couple days the boots dried out and I went back to regular socks over the liners. These are by far my favorite boots I’ve ever had. The lack of waterproofing kinda sucks at times but the advantage they have when it’s not wet is huge, which for where I hunt is the majority of the time. These boots breathe so much better and I’m never itching to take them off at the end of the day. I was skeptical of packing heavy loads with them at first but they’re totally fine if you’re feet are adapted to them.

 

[fwafwow]

I ordered some seal skins to use with my vivos if I need them this fall.

I’m going to give them a go. Got some Jim greens too but I don’t see the sole being aggressive enough some of the time atleast.

Which Sealskinz did you get, and how are they?

 

[Lawnboi]

Which Sealskinz did you get, and how are they?

Adult Sealskinz Inc Raynham Waterproof All Weather Crew Hunting Socks

SCHEELS.com

www.scheels.com

I got these. They seem nice but honestly I havnt used them enough to say if they are good or not.

 

[Braaap]

I used these ones last week.

 

[HighUintas]

I forgot to mention, I used mine on my elk hunt a couple weeks ago. It was dry dry dry so I didn't get to test out the water resistance with my aqua seal rand, but the rand has held up really well so far. This is 2.5 seasons of use (probably a few hundred miles) and 1 season with the rand.

I shot a small spike ...crazy small... Smallest I've seen, and packed out about 100lbs each of 2 trips, 9.5 miles one way. That got my arches somewhat tired, maybe a little sore, but not bad at all. They just felt "worked" after finishing. They're incredibly comfortable and hopefully they'll improve their durability of stitching and adhesives.

 

[HighUintas]

Oh yes... I forgot to mention that the Granger's waterproofing wax works the best on these of those I've tried. I've used obenaufs, nikwax, and renapur also. Nikwax is shit. Renapur and obenaufs are ok but don't last as long as grangers WP wax

 

[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 snow 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.

 

[Dobermann]

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

Someone make a good goretex version already!

I use them once a month or so for a 3D course that usually involves a short creek crossing, a moderate amount of mud, and hiking through a moist temperate forest for the rest of the day.

I personally apply the Renapur each time before I head out (I wear them in between this course) and afterwards (once removing mud and letting them dry).

Possibly more regular maintenance than is needed, but they haven't wet out on me so far. Having said that, I'm not doing extended hikes through water or snow as others have posted above. But it's one more data point.

 

[twall13]

Oh yes... I forgot to mention that the Granger's waterproofing wax works the best on these of those I've tried. I've used obenaufs, nikwax, and renapur also. Nikwax is shit. Renapur and obenaufs are ok but don't last as long as grangers WP wax

Good to know, mine are do for a treatment and I have some Grangers on hand. I'll have to give it a try.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[dtrkyman]

I thought about trying the sno seal wax/paste.


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[Undrgrndprdcts]

Is what comes on them when they are new from Revivo good enough for a weeks worth of hunting? It feels pretty oily/waxy. I wore them a few times to break them in some but the coating seems to be about the same as it was new other than some dust. All I have on hand is obenaufs, but I'd like to try something better like the Grangers. I'm leaving tomorrow for a week of hunting and there is going to be snow.

 

[Braaap]

Is what comes on them when they are new from Revivo good enough for a weeks worth of hunting? It feels pretty oily/waxy. I wore them a few times to break them in some but the coating seems to be about the same as it was new other than some dust. All I have on hand is obenaufs, but I'd like to try something better like the Grangers. I'm leaving tomorrow for a week of hunting and there is going to be snow.

I would get some waterproof socks! I was really shocked how well they work, and they’re not too pricey. My trackers were nearly waterproof though for the first season so you might be ok.

 

[ArmyAg97]

Anyone running the "thermal" insole that's in FG version of the Trackers/Magna?

Planning to go out with a thermal in one shoe and a normal green in the other here soon to see if there is any noticeable difference. Just curious if anyone else has experience with the thermal in the ESC version of the boots.

 

[pattimusprime22]

Anyone running the "thermal" insole that's in FG version of the Trackers/Magna?

Planning to go out with a thermal in one shoe and a normal green in the other here soon to see if there is any noticeable difference. Just curious if anyone else has experience with the thermal in the ESC version of the boots.

I haven't, but I'm interested to hear what you find.

 

[nephewjephew]

@ArmyAg97 The thermal works beater than the green for me. With the green I could feel the cold through the bottom of the boot on cold ground, rocks etc. The red/thermal made a noticeable difference in keeping my feet warmer and not leaking heat out the bottom.
Also every boot I have gotten from them since i got the tracker esc has the red insole.

 

[Braaap]

Anyone running the "thermal" insole that's in FG version of the Trackers/Magna?

Planning to go out with a thermal in one shoe and a normal green in the other here soon to see if there is any noticeable difference. Just curious if anyone else has experience with the thermal in the ESC version of the boots.

My wife has a different pair of vivo’s with the thermal insole and it works. It’s too hot in warmer temps.

 

[yfarm]

Yeah, I figured. Used to live in AZ and still work there occasionally. For most of what I do, it’s about what you step on. With jumping cholla, you’re not safe from any direction. I’ve actually gotten cholla joints stuck in my armpit. Not sure what you can do about that. The one thing I’ll say about the Vivos is that the are very similar functionally to Apache and Navajo hard sole mocassins, which was their solution to how to handle cactus and mesquite.

I have a pair of turtleskin insoles I bought from Russell for puncture protection in cactus environments, have worked well. New owners of Russell no longer offer snake boots or these insoles. The insoles was simply a piece of turtleskin glued to a thin eva insole, their glue failed and I reglued the turtleskin to an old pr of running shoe insoles which kept my foot planted in the boot.