I deliberated long and hard before choosing the Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC, considering both
the Tracker II FG and Tracker Winter SG as alternatives. I can’t say what either of those would have been like, but I am totally in love with my Forest boots! They are so comfortable from the off and fit true to size. I feel in touch with the ground without experiencing every flint or pebble underfoot. I don’t feel weighed down or constrained; just lightly protected and supported, and eager to take them on an adventure…
I have long been a fan of Vivobarefoot shoes – from pumps to Chelsea boots – but had yet to try any of their walking boots. I normally wear Keen’s Targhee boot, which have a good wide toe box (ideal for Correct Toes, as are the Tracker Forest) and feel relatively nimble on the feet. But they have a short life, and having consigned yet another pair to the bin, I decided to try something different.
The Tracker Forest is billed as suitable for ‘off-trail’ walking and expeditions. The ESC stands for
‘escape’, while the initials in the other boots I mentioned stand for ‘firm ground’ and ‘soft ground’ respectively. The boot has a Michelin sole, well-known in the outdoor/running world for superb grip. The sole base is 2.5mm thick, with lugs extending to 7mm compared to just 3mm on the Tracker II FG. All the better to gain purchase on sloppy mud or scree slopes.
The boots lace quite high up the ankle, and I did have concerns that they might rub across the front, but absolutely no chafing or rubbing has occurred. A minor quibble is that it takes a bit of effort to lace them with the right amount of tension. I’m not sure if this is because there are so many eyelets or if it’s the material from which the laces are constructed. It’s not an issue on local walks, but I’d make the effort to lace them properly on more serious hikes and climbs.
The boots are made from wild hide and are not billed as waterproof, only water resistant. So far,
however, I have not had wet feet, despite the ground being very muddy and riddled with puddles. I used Renapur leather protector, which allegedly boosts protection from water ingress, so maybe that has helped.
Wear and Tear:
I’ve had these for four months and there are no signs of wear and tear.
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VERDICT:
At £210, the Tracker Forest ESC is a purchase not to be made lightly. So far, it’s one I’m glad I made. 94/100
Stats:
Weight – 566g – (women’s 41)
Midsole – None. Zero-drop
Outsole – Michelin with up to 7mm lugs
Insole – Standard and removable.
Flexibility – High
Fitting – Wide toebox. Natural foot-shaped last.
The latest VB trail shoe. Following in the footsteps of the Neo Trail, Breatho, Primus, and the Swimrun. The number one criticism of VB trail shoes is upper durability. But this shoe is bullet-proof.
The upper has a polyurethane (with 20% bio corn) cage which reduces wear and tear. My shoes are as good as new 225 miles in.
The Mitchelin sole has lugs up to 7mm deep. This is because the bottom of the outsole is flat, rather than curved, so the outer lugs are deep. While this gives great grip, this signficantly adds to the shoe’s weight. It is noticably heavy when running fast.
Wear and Tear:
I’ve run 225 miles of trail and some tarmac in this shoe and there are no signs of wear-and-tear.
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VERDICT:
Noticably heavy for racing, but durable, quick drying and fun. 90/100
Stats:
Weight – 338g – (UK size 9)
Midsole – None. Zero-drop
Outsole – Michelin with up to 7mm lugs
Insole – Standard and removable.
Flexibility – High
Fitting – Wide toebox. Natural foot-shaped last.
This is the Altra Superior 4.0. We loved the Superior 1.5, but were disappointed with the 3.0. In our opinion, it had too much cushioning, particularly for a trail shoe and this reduced its stability. The upper was comfortable rather than sleek and the weight (for a standard size 8) 279g.
The Superior 4.0 is way better. The weight of each shoe has reduced to 224g – that’s significant. This seems to be due to a slightly thinner midsole (Altra’s Quantic foam) and a sleeker, stretchier (Altra call it knitted) upper. We particularly like the wrap-around (burrito) tongue. The shoe retains its 4 gaiter points. Of no use to us, but they have become part of the shoe’s character.
The outsole has not changed, it works. It’s smooth on tarmac and the 4mm lugs provide reasonable grip for light trail. The protrusion at the rear of the heel is retained. It’s meant to act as a rudder to aid control on steep descents, but, as previously, we can’t say we’re aware of its assistance. There’s also a removable rock plate under the sockliner (which you only really need for sharp rocky terrain and otherwise simply adds weight).
Wear and Tear:
I’ve run 100+ miles
of trail and tarmac in this shoe and there are no signs of wear-and-tear.
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VERDICT:
A return to form, this is the legitimate offspring of the first Superior. It’s light, comfortable, natural-foot friendly and suitable for non-technical trails and road running too. 88/100
Stats:
Weight – 224g – (UK size 8)
Midsole – Depth 21mm. Zero-drop
Outsole – Rows of rectangular 4mm lugs across foot
Insole – Standard and removable. Removable rock plate
Flexibility – High
Fitting – Wide toebox. Natural foot-shaped last. Comes up small – order half to one size up (standard Altra sizes)
The Altra Solstice is the best minimal road shoe available at the moment. It weighs only 196g, yet has enough structure to hold the foot in place well. It’s also very resilient – I’ve trained for and completed two marathons in one pair and only the outsole is worn – great value.
The upper is pretty traditional, but knitted and breathable at the front. The midsole isn’t thin for a minimal shoe but as well as being flat, flexes in the right place.
There is very little outsole but the grip is great (no problem in the rain).
Wear and Tear:
I’ve run 250+ miles of tarmac in this shoe and while the bottom is worn, the upper is in great shape.
VERDICT:
The best minimal road shoe out there. It’s flat, flexible and responsive as well as being natural-foot friendly. It’s also relatively cheap. 93/100
Stats:
Weight – 196g – (UK size 8)
Midsole –
Depth 23mm. Zero-drop
Outsole –
No outsole except
Insole –
Standard and removable.
Flexibility
– High
Fitting –
Wide toebox. Natural foot-shaped last. Comes up small – order half to one size
up (standard Altra sizes)
The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite is too good-looking! Its pure white looks are amazing, tempting you to save it for Sunday best. But, it is great to run in too. The road sibling of the trail shoe brothers (SG, FG and Swimrun), the Primus Lite is a great addition, but maybe just for the summer!
The upper holds the foot well, is minimal and breathable, with the added bonus of recycled PET mesh. There’s no midsole of course, just a puncture resistant sole. I’ve found this works great on the track and on grass. I’ve tended to keep this shoe for speedwork, rather than on the road (mainly to keep it clean). It’s a shame it’s not lighter – if you’re going this minimal under the foot, I’d like a shoe weighing 100g, not over 200g.
Wear and Tear:
I’ve run 80+ miles of track and grass in this shoe, not enough to cause any damage.
VERDICT:
A great super-minimalist shoe for summer running. It’s foot-shaped, flexible and a thing of beauty. 78/100
Stats:
Weight – 221g – (UK size 8)
Midsole – Zero. Zero-drop
Outsole – Rubber
Insole – Standard and removable.
Flexibility – Super High
Fitting – Wide toebox. Natural foot-shaped last.
The Primus Swimrun is the perfect marriage of the Primus Trail FG (firm ground) and SG (soft ground). I liked both of these shoes, but my concerns with each are answered in this beautiful combination. Read on!
Upper:
The same as the Primus SG (soft ground), with the exception that plastic rather than ecorubber covers the arch and instep. Plastic is also used to strengthen the mesh around the toes and midfoot with, a stretchy neoprene ankle collar, integrated tongue and toggle lacing. The mesh is made from up to 17 recycled plastic bottles.
As with the SG, the use of plastic to strengthen the mesh around the toebox works well and is durable. They are also comfortable enough to wear without socks. The rubber around the midfoot creates a secure fit and my foot does not slip around even when wet and across slopes. The stretchy sock-like ankle collar is comfortable and secure and holds the shoe on. The stretchy upper works better for me with the lighter FG (firm ground) sole. I think the heavier SG sole stretched the upper too much across the top of my foot which forced me to remove the thin, integrated laces, whereas this swimrun combination feels just right. I haven’t swam in these, but I have run in them wet and they work well and dry quickly.
Sole:
The rubber sole (the same firm ground sole reviewed previously) is more of a cradle than a platform because it extends around the sides of the foot on all sides. I’ve been wearing these on the concrete hard, cracked and wrinkled fields and downs of SE England this summer and I think the level of protection against undulations in the hard ground due to the wrapped nature of the sole, together with the tri-directional lugs and additional cylindrical studs under the heel, is excellent. Now tested through a wet winter and dry summer, this sole is a worthy and durable evolution of VB’s trail outsole.
The shoe provides good traction but also a high level of proprioception (the sole is thin enough to provide good feedback). The shallow, tightly spaced studs work well on road and other hard surfaces as well as softer ground (but not deep mud). I’ve raced in these in the South Downs Relay and North Downs Run as well as in the Brecon Beacons all of which required them to perform on tarmac, fields and gravel and I can’t fault them.
Wear and Tear:
After six months and 150+ miles on road, grass and hard and soft trail through spring and summer, there is very little sign of wear.
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VERDICT:
The best VB trail shoe yet. The perfect combination of protective multi-terrain outsole and close-fitting easy-on upper. 95/100.
Stats:
Weight – 260g
Midsole – None, so zero drop and no toe spring.
Outsole – Tough rubber with multi-directional lugs. Sole wraps round to form side bumper.
Insole – Standard and removable.
Fitting – Foot shaped with wide toebox. Runs true to size. Works with Correct Toes.
Source:
Vivobarefoot provided these shoes.
Runrepeat:
For other expert reviews on this and other shoes see runrepeat.com
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This is most recent incarnation of the Superior. In our review of the Superior 1.5, Sam argued that the 3.0 was no match for the earlier model. Is the 3.5 any better?
In short, while it is foot-shaped, flexible and lighter than the 1.5, in our opinion, there is too much cushioning underfoot, particularly for a trail shoe and this reduces its stability. On the other hand, it is comfortable and some will appreciate the 21mm of soft midsole, particularly on harder, smoother trails.
This is the Altra shoe I’d been waiting for. Zero-drop, foot-shaped but also thin-soled (14mm) and with an incredibly minimal upper. There was a real buzz on the web about this shoe for these reasons, but there were many out-of-the-box disappointed posts and reviews (not foot-shaped enough, cheap materials, too small). I’ve now put 90 miles on them including a 20-mile long run, two 10-mile marathon pace efforts and plenty of easy running and I’m smitten. Here’s why:
The Trailtalon 235 is Inov8’s current most minimal shoe, with a 4mm drop, similar to the much-loved – but no longer available – Trailroc 236 and 245. Happily, it’s a worthy replacement, comparable in fit and feel, and with a sole that’s as surefooted on trails as its predecessor but fine for stretches of road too (as I discovered when I got horribly lost in my first outing in these).
Upper:
The upper combines a breathable mesh-like material with welded plastic around the front and midfoot, which adds structure (and protection around the toes) without heaviness. The heel cup is firm, thanks to an external heel cage – a feature I really like in a minimal shoe, which can otherwise feel flabby – while the ankle collar is lightly padded and the tongue gusseted to help keep out debris.
The most recent incarnation of the Superior – the 3 – is a very different beast from this one, the 1.5, and in my mind, no match. What’s so good about this earlier model? I explain below..
When Altra first launched their Superior trail shoe, nearly all their shoe models boasted a wide toebox, a zero-drop sole and were both lightly cushioned and flexible. Since then, their range has moved towards bulkier, stiffer midsoles, which in my opinion is a shame (though it’s great to see they’ve maintained a 100% zero-drop stable and kept the roomy toebox).
With more than 60 years’ running experience between us, we have strong opinions when it comes to running shoes. We believe the best shoes disappear when you put them on, working in harmony with the foot.
Here you will find our personal shoe reviews written in plain English from our wear-testing experience, not marketing gobbledygook. We flag up which shoes meet our Natural Foot Health Manifesto and which ones are compatible with Correct Toes.
