Vivo forest tracker esc durability

[Austin Kaufman]

I have the magnas and the deacons, forest in the past but returned. They seem the same. I am barefoot at my desk and in the house and haven't done anything non-leisurely.

Sounds good! I was thinking I’d go same size but wasn’t sure. I appreciate the response!


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[Dobermann]

This stuff feels a bit different than the normal cowhide.

That's because it's .... camel.

No, really:

 

[sndmn11]

That's because it's .... camel.

No, really:

View attachment 910293

I've never felt a camel!

 

[Dobermann]

I've never felt a camel!

But have you ever felt a camel ... wait, no, nevermind ...

 

[ElPollo]

These showed up. Showing where the gusset of the tongue ends and how the interior is lined. The leather insole is wood stiff
View attachment 909986View attachment 909987

I’d appreciate feedback on how much stiffer these are than the standard Forest ESCs. From what I see, I’m probably not going to order these because they look stiffer and taller than I prefer. These really look like a “boot” to me, whereas the Forest ESC is like a rubber soled version of a Kaibab-style moccasin.

Here are a few of my thoughts on these from the pictures I’ve seen.

1) I like the idea of the leather lining because mine really start to stink after a while. But this makes this boot look much stiffer in the ankle and heel cup than the Forest ESC. I like the fact that the latter is not stiff in this area. If they could do a glove leather lining without adding stiffness, I’d be all over that.

2) I don’t like the extra height. I like to wear hiking boot height socks most of the time. The Forest ESC is as tall a boot as I personally want.

3) I wear my Forest ESCs in the desert all the time and have found the sole to be durable enough to keep almost all spines out. You’d really have to come down perpendicularly on a mesquite spine and hit one of the spaces between the lugs to puncture the sole. That’s a possibility, but I don’t think the boot needs the extra layer to add stiffness.

4) The places that I have had spines go through are in the leather, right above the sole. I think a short rubber rand that extends just up over the top of the toes and around the sides to the heel counter would be a better idea than the double layers of camel leather. I also don’t think it needs to go all the way over the front of the boot to the tongue like the camel leather.

I’d be grateful for feedback on these boots. If I’m wrong and they aren’t hugely more “boot-like” than the Forest ESCs, I might order a pair despite the extra height.

Thanks…

 

[sndmn11]

I’d appreciate feedback on how much stiffer these are than the standard Forest ESCs. From what I see, I’m probably not going to order these because they look stiffer and taller than I prefer. These really look like a “boot” to me, whereas the Forest ESC is like a rubber soled version of a Kaibab-style moccasin.

I had tracker ESCs a few years ago when they came out and used them for most of an archery elk season. I sent them back because of the lace hook on the ankle bone. I have two pairs of the magna ESC that I think are amazing. From memory, this leather is stiffer out of the box.

1) I like the idea of the leather lining because mine really start to stink after a while. But this makes this boot look much stiffer in the ankle and heel cup than the Forest ESC. I like the fact that the latter is not stiff in this area. If they could do a glove leather lining without adding stiffness, I’d be all over that.

The leather lining feels nice. I think there are three different types inside: the ankle portion and tongue top is the cushiest and pretty smooth, the heel cup is a rough out, and the mid to forefoot seems to just be the underside of the main leather. There is synthetic mesh on the tongue, and the gussets are a spandexy synthetic.

3) I wear my Forest ESCs in the desert all the time and have found the sole to be durable enough to keep almost all spines out. You’d really have to come down perpendicularly on a mesquite spine and hit one of the spaces between the lugs to puncture the sole. That’s a possibility, but I don’t think the boot needs the extra layer to add stiffness.

I don't think there is additional leather in the sole, other than the actual insole being leather. What is underneath the insole when I take it out feels just like the other ESC soles I have.

4) The places that I have had spines go through are in the leather, right above the sole. I think a short rubber rand that extends just up over the top of the toes and around the sides to the heel counter would be a better idea than the double layers of camel leather. I also don’t think it needs to go all the way over the front of the boot to the tongue like the camel leather.

What caught my atention the most was the triple thick toe and double thick midfoot stuff. I think they are designed and constructed very well.

I’d be grateful for feedback on these boots. If I’m wrong and they aren’t hugely more “boot-like” than the Forest ESCs, I might order a pair despite the extra height.

Thanks…

These are going back, and I am sad sad about it. I did 45 minutes on the stairs today, mild lifting, then 45 minutes on the incline treadmill. The ankle ball rub is present like the Trackers I had before, I do think there is more volume in the shoe due to no lining, and I ended up with one heel hot spot and one big toe hot spot. I have read on reddit already where at least one person exchanged their men's Desert for a women's desert due to the volume change. I don't think that would solve my ankle ball problem though.

Additionally, I am learning that high top boots aren't my jam. I would LOVELOVELOVE this same reinforced leather lined approach to the Magnas, but for now, I will continue on with the two pairs of Magnas I have and some Inov8s for my "boots".

 

[ElPollo]

I had tracker ESCs a few years ago when they came out and used them for most of an archery elk season. I sent them back because of the lace hook on the ankle bone. I have two pairs of the magna ESC that I think are amazing. From memory, this leather is stiffer out of the box.


The leather lining feels nice. I think there are three different types inside: the ankle portion and tongue top is the cushiest and pretty smooth, the heel cup is a rough out, and the mid to forefoot seems to just be the underside of the main leather. There is synthetic mesh on the tongue, and the gussets are a spandexy synthetic.


I don't think there is additional leather in the sole, other than the actual insole being leather. What is underneath the insole when I take it out feels just like the other ESC soles I have.


What caught my atention the most was the triple thick toe and double thick midfoot stuff. I think they are designed and constructed very well.



These are going back, and I am sad sad about it. I did 45 minutes on the stairs today, mild lifting, then 45 minutes on the incline treadmill. The ankle ball rub is present like the Trackers I had before, I do think there is more volume in the shoe due to no lining, and I ended up with one heel hot spot and one big toe hot spot. I have read on reddit already where at least one person exchanged their men's Desert for a women's desert due to the volume change. I don't think that would solve my ankle ball problem though.

Additionally, I am learning that high top boots aren't my jam. I would LOVELOVELOVE this same reinforced leather lined approach to the Magnas, but for now, I will continue on with the two pairs of Magnas I have and some Inov8s for my "boots".View attachment 910896View attachment 910897View attachment 910898View attachment 910899View attachment 910900View attachment 910901View attachment 910902View attachment 910903

Thanks for all that info. Everyone’s feet are different and I’m sorry that these didn’t work out for you. I don’t really have the issue of lacing not lining up with my feet like that, but I have a nerve injury in my ankle that keeps me from being able to lace up any boot tightly. Stiff boots with high tops or anything laced tightly fires it up badly. The Forest ESCs are about the only hiking boots I’ve found that work for me. The Magnas with their elastic tops fire up that nerve injury after a couple days of wear. Wore stiff mountain boots and wildland fire boots for 30+ years. But it’s amazing what you can do in a flimsy rubber-soled moccasin when you have to.

 

[sndmn11]

The Magnas with their elastic tops fire up that nerve injury after a couple days of wear.

That's interesting! I would have never guessed that, they are cozy and joyous for me.

For those wondering, the Vivo return process has changed from my last experience and is very easy. No packaging or boxing anything up, just take the original box to the UPS store, or other places in the email, and they take care of the rest. By the time I walked out I had an email from Vivo saying the refund had been issued.

 

[ElPollo]

That's interesting! I would have never guessed that, they are cozy and joyous for me.

For those wondering, the Vivo return process has changed from my last experience and is very easy. No packaing or boxing anythign up, just take the original bow to the UPS store, or other places in the email, and they take care of the rest. By the time I walked out I had an email from Vivo saying the refund had been issued.

It’s not the shoes that cause the discomfort. Nerve injuries suck.