Hello, my name’s Andrew, and these are the Tracker Forest ESC, the best Vivobarefoot hiking boots for hardcore trekking.

Features

For the past year I’ve been getting comments about Vivobarefoot’s new ESC series with some people saying it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever worn and other people saying it’s not for them.

So I asked Vivobarefoot for a pair of Tracker Forest ESC’s to test, and they look like something you’d wear on a terraforming mission in deep space, but how does that translate here on Planet Earth? Let’s find out.

Upper/Inner

For starters the Tracker Forest has a wide foot-shaped toebox that’s made even more roomy by the stretchy wild hide leather and metal eyelets, which allow you to customize the lacing tension at multiple points.

Above that there’s a fourth eyelet with heavy duty reinforcement to prevent tear-outs, two lace hooks for quick release, a slanted ankle cuff for mobility, a large pull tab, and some sleek topographic map designs.

Inside the Forest ESC has a padded leather lining that’s soft and flexible for long hikes, along with mesh panels for breathability and a removable insole for a bit of extra padding.

Sole/Tread

Underneath you’ve got a beefy 9.5mm Michelin sole that’s surprisingly flexible in all directions, plus an aggressive tread that’s grippy enough for muddy hills, but still flat enough to handle rocky terrain.

Finally, the sole is treated with a puncture-resistant finish and the sole is stitched to the upper all the way around for extra durability.

Testing

While I was living in New Jersey I went on a backpacking trip along this hardcore trail called the Devil’s Path, and my Merrell pack boots held up, but they were so stiff and clunky that by the end my knees were freakin’ KILLING me.

So at 581 grams and 30% lighter I thought the Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC’s might be like the perfect balance of rugged protection and barefoot agility.

Hiking

Going out for a hike I was pretty shocked by how flexible the Forest ESC was for such a thick boot and the padded ankle cuff felt like so comfortable that it was like curling up on an old leather couch.

That said, the deeper lugs definitely didn’t give as much ground feel as a thinner shoe like the Vivobarefoot Primus FG.

Trekking

Obviously, where the Tracker Forest excelled was going down steep hills where the aggressive lugs could bite into slippery mud, and up rocky inclines where the beefy sole kept my feet from getting sliced by sharp edges or pinched between shifting boulders.

In terms of waterproofing I wouldn’t recommend wading through a stream, but the leather upper did solid job of repelling puddles and wet grass, and without heavy insulation, it was easier to layer my Injinji merino wool toe socks and swap insoles to make the boot more versatile for both warm and cold weather.

Finally, for longer treks, it worked really well to pair the Forest ESC with some lightweight trail shoes, so I could switch them out when I got to a stretch of more gentle terrain that didn’t require as much protection.

Conclusion

Overall the Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC is a great hardcore trekking boot and whether or not it’s the right pick for you just depends on how much protection you need.

Pros/Cons

Because the toebox is wide and stretchy, the leather upper is comfy and breathable for long hikes, and the Michelin tread is extremely tough, while still allowing for natural movement.

However, the modern design may not appeal to classic sensibilities, the protective features can be overkill for casual walks, and the deep lugs don’t provide as much ground feel as a thinner tread.

Alternatives

In terms of similar barefoot hiking boots…

Resources

If you’d like to support the channel, you can shop with the referral links above/below, browse more reviews on barefootwear.org, or watch my Zero-Drop Transition video to learn more about barefooting.

Finally, if you have a question about the Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC, or about barefoot boots in general, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading, catch ya next time. Peace!