Vivobarefoot Tracker AT Review

Our thoughts:

Overall, I’m very impressed with the Tracker AT boots. As you’ll see in this review Vivobarefoot have made once again proven their masters of creating incredibly lightweight, zero drop footwear for pretty much any outdoor activity.

The only bug bear I have is pricing; Vivobarefoot are not the cheapest boots you can buy.

Design and features:

The first thing I noticed when pulling on these boots is the incredibly lightweight (459 g) and the high degree of flexibility the design lens itself too. My preference when hiking is to move as fast as possible and the Tracker AT is ideal for this type of scenario.

Outsole:

The Tracker AT outsole has, according to Vevo barefoot, undergone a redesign. According to their documentation, the rubber used in these boots is more durable, puncture resistant and intended to provide more protection and longevity.

Vivabarefoot have kept their traditional hexagonal lug design which I found provides excellent traction on various terrains. Most of my hikes take place in wet and very muddy locations and the deep lugs provide plenty of grip. The only time I’ve noticed any slip edge is when moving uphill through very wet mud, but I have to be fair and say I’ve had this experience with pretty much every boot I’ve worn.

The thin profile of the outsole is one I particularly appreciate. For a number of years I’ve been wearing zero drop running shoes like the Altra Lone Peak 4 and the minimalist outsoles provide excellent feedback when training on trails and cross country. Needless to say, the 2.5 mm outsole provides a similar degree of feedback.

The combination of a thin sole base, new outsole design and like depth of 4 mm give these boots excellent flexibility.

TLDR:

• Material: Made from durable, puncture-resistant rubber for longevity and protection.
• Design:
  • Hexagonal or Lug Pattern: Provides excellent traction on varied terrains (e.g., their Firm Ground or All-Terrain outsoles).
  • 2.5mm sole base is thin and incredily flexible providing a high degree of mobility.
  • Thin Profile: 4mm to maintain ‘ground feel’ while offering just enough protection.
• Flexibility: Highly flexible to allow your foot to move naturally, mimicking barefoot walking.

Insole and Midsole:

Made from a thin layer of foam with minimal cushioning (and I mean absolutely minimal!) the midsole is pretty much non-existent. I’m a great fan of the barefoot experience and this is perfect for me.

If you opt for a pair of leather boots and you’re not a fan of minimal cushioning, boot’s interior is pretty spacious and will accommodate a slightly thicker insole.

Alternatively, if you want to feel even more grounded when hiking you can whip the insoles out but I wouldn’t recommend this in cold weather as their designed to provide an additional layer of thermal insulation.

TLDR:

• Removable Thermal Insole:
  • Same style used in boots like the Tracker FG for cold-weather use.
  • Provides an additional layer insulation and extra comfort, but can be removed to enhance ground feel.
• Purpose: Minimal to nonexistent in most Vivobarefoot designs, preserving the barefoot experience.

Upper:

The premium wildhide leather is incredibly soft but unbelievably tough. This was probably the most obvious difference I noticed compared to my other hiking boots when first pulling on the Tracker AT boots on; the leather upper provides what is for me a perfect combination of flexibility and support.

Out of the box, the boots are water resistant although I would urge you to buy proofing material to further enhance that resistance and protect the leather.

TLDR

• Leather:
  • Premium wildhide leather (soft yet tough) which is, apparently, sourced ethically and sustainably.
  • Coated for water resistance or paired with a waterproof lining similar the FG models

Toebox:

This is one aspect of the barefoot experience I love: the toebox has plenty of room. The wide fit allows my toes to spread naturally thereby improving balance and comfort. My previous favourite boots were a Merrell Moab 2 which were nearly as comfortable as the Tracker AT.

One point of note is is the toebox can feel slightly tight after cleaning and drying the boots as the leather contracts slightly when drying. In these situations I apply a good layer of proofing to soften the material which stretches back to its original shape within a couple of minutes of walking.

At the front of the toebox is a reinforced rubber bumper which provides an additional layer of protection for your toes. The bumper is fairly lightweight and will keep your toes safe against all but the hardest of knocks. The reason for having a lightweight bump prayer is obvious to me; a more heavy duty strip would affect flexibility of the boots.

TLDR

• Wide Fit: Ensures toes can spread naturally, improving balance and comfort.
• Reinforced Bumper: Adds durability and protection to the front of the boot, especially in rugged terrain.

Sidewall protection:

When you look at the Tracker AT, you can see the top bumper extends all the way around the boot. I find this a bit of an unusual look even though I understand it provides further protection from side impact and abrasion in rugged environments.

Unlike some of my other boots where the sidewall protection is glued in place, the Tracker construction used heavy duty stitching which gives me confidence it won’t simply peel away after a few miles of hiking (an issue I found on a pair of my Keen Targhee III boots).

TLDR

• Toe and Heel Bumpers: Protects against impact and abrasion in rugged environments.
• Sidewall Protection: Reinforced stitching or materials along the sides to prevent wear from prolonged use.

Heel counter:

There isn’t one! In keeping with the zero drop style, Vivobarefoot have removed the heel counter. If you’re a heel to ‘toe walker’, you will definitely notice the difference. As mentioned earlier, you could buy a thicker insole, or change your walking style.

Collar and tongue:

The collar padding is… surprise! Minimal, which provides a degree of comfort around the ankle whilst retaining the high mobility. When you look at the tongue, you’ll noticed it’s barely thicker than the upper of the boot with only a strip of additional leather running the length. This style may not be for some people, but I love it.

The gussted tongue (stitched in place) helps to reduce debris such as rocks and twigs from entering the boot. According to the blurb on the Vivobarefoot website the tongue prevents debris from entering, and I’m guessing the boots weren’t tested on gravel trails and wooded terrain.

TLDR

• Padded Collar: Provides comfort around the ankle without compromising mobility.
• Gusseted Tongue: Prevents debris from entering the boot, common in rugged or trail-specific designs.

Lacing:

The lacing system is a combination of hooks and eyelets with six eyelets at the bottom and four hooks at the top. Not only does this provide the adjustability I expect but it also makes for pulling on the boot more easily.

One thing I have noticed is the laces are surprisingly durable. They’ve snagged on branches, grazed against rocks and been tramped on when they’ve come loose and, so far, there’s no noticeable damage or fraying.

TLDR

• Durable Laces: Designed for a snug fit, often with hooks or eyelets for better adjustability.
• Quick-Lace Options: faster lacing for convenience.

Stability:

Given the overall lightweight nature of the tracker AT they remain stable they are regardless of the terrain I travel across. Part of this stability comes from a combination of the zero drop design and the very effective lacing system.

Durability:

After an unfortunate experience with a pair of Keen boots which fell apart after about seven months of not too intensive hiking, I did ask myself how durable the leather AT would be, which is probably a fair question when you consider how minimal they are.

I’ve owned these boots for about three months and they’re worn at least three times a week on all hikes or long walks. I’ve covered rocky ground, gorse covered to rain and raced through branch-strewn woodlands. So far, these boots have resisted scuffing and there is no noticeable damage from the several hard knocks they’ve taken in this time.

These points have flattened my concerns about the overall durability of the boots.

Final thoughts:

The Vivobarefoot Tracker AT boots have surprised me. Whilst they are in the slightly higher price range for minimalist boots they have performed well above my expectations. The combination of zero drop, high durability and excellent feedback when hiking has washed away any doubts I had about minimalist footwear for hikers.

At around £200 ($300) they will make a bit of a dent in your wallet and I highly recommend using a voucher or discount code to buy direct from vivo barefoot (a 25% off voucher like this one for a sizable chunk of the overall price of these boots).