GOBI WINTER / longterm review of vivobarefoot boots

[@AndrewFolts]

*Best Winter Barefoot Boots* (referral links) all winter boots - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3QUmMc8 vivobarefoot gobi winter - - - bit.ly/46Qzuj0 ahinsa jaya - - - - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3LV5gS8 be lenka winter boot - - - - - - bit.ly/40jsyXU xero denver leather - - - - - - - bit.ly/45zV8q1 injinji wool toe socks - - - - - - bit.ly/3dvdcgk wool felt insoles - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/46EsKEu *Best Barefootwear* (referral links) casual shoes - - - bit.ly/3Smg8gx road shoes - - - - - bit.ly/48XEOBz trail shoes - - - - - bit.ly/4250J7B trek boots - - - - - - bit.ly/3SCgP5V winter boots - - - - bit.ly/3RRbI0X sandals - - - - - - - - bit.ly/4b2tfLu slippers - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3tNYvNz website - - - - - - - - www.barefootwear.org

[@melanieavans6072]

I'm super grateful for your videos, they really help out a lot!

[@AndrewFolts]

Glad to hear it, Melanie. Wishing you a warm Wednesday! (:

[@marklundgreenkiss299]

First time watching your videos i though you would have at least a million sub when i scrolled down Underrated channel!

[@AndrewFolts]

Much appreciated, Mark! We'll get there. If you have questions or topic requests, feel free to drop a comment. I reply to all of them. Cheers!

[@gilldoyle3295]

Thanks its great to see all the differences .. really helpful 🥰

[@AndrewFolts]

Sure thing, Gill! Thanks for stopping by. (:

[@matuskothai]

Hi Andrew! Thanks a lot for the review ! I have one question. Have you tried the Vivo Gobi warmlined on a slippery surface? I'm little unsure if they'll hold ok on a snow? They don't always clean up our pavements well during the winter and also we live in a quite hilly place 😀 Thank you! Barbora

[@AndrewFolts]

They grip as well as any thin-soled barefoot boot. Obviously a thicker tread with deeper lugs will provide more traction, but also less ground feel. Unless I'm hiking on hills my preference is always ground feel/flex over grip, since I can just use a shorter stride and be more mindful around slippery areas. I also like that the thin sole makes my reaction time faster and helps me sense slippery terrain, even if the grip itself isn't as good.

[@isaacchapman393]

I was thinking about getting these thank you so much!

[@AndrewFolts]

You're welcome, Isaac, they're my fav's for winter casual. Enjoy!

[@anniwilson2534]

Some good contenders there. I have the winterised Gobi women’s in green and love them. Also have the Gobi Chelsea in black and bracken. I’m a fan of the Gobi family!

[@AndrewFolts]

"Gobi family" Ha, sounds like the mafia. Those green Gobi's are sleek, tho!

[@opossuminatrashcan]

Thanks for the review! That was really helpful. I have ordered their tracker boots but I don’t think they’ll be warm enough for winter. I am still somewhat indecisive between the gobi hiber and the warmlime. But that was definitely a good starting point :)

[@AndrewFolts]

I have the Tracker FG's, and being waterproof, you can basically make them as warm as you want using a baselayer of Injinji merino toe socks kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZaZc3Zoq8ufatk, a thick Smartwool over top amzn.to/47ZyCZJ, and a wool felt insole. bit.ly/46EsKEu I've been down to 0º F in mine, no problem. Same is true for the Gobi Winter. I've not tried the Hiber yet, but I have some coming in a few days and I'll post a review about it asap.

[@FrankInTheFlesh]

Hey Andrew! I'm about to pull the trigger on these, but am skeptical about the warm lining because I don't feel the need for it. I currently am about to experience my last winter in Connecticut but am going to be moving to San Diego, California and would like to continue wearing these year round over there. I'm debating shaving the inside of these when the tine comes, cause I don't want to be the regular versions since I don't want these in black. What are your thoughts?

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, that could work. It'd be like shearing a sheep, ha! They can be opened up pretty wide, which would give you a good amount of space to work. That said, even without insulation, most high cuts boots are going to start getting hot above 70º. Maybe consider the Gobi Sneaker too, if you think it'll be warm most of the time where you are. bit.ly/4erilPN

[@Residew]

Rose Anvil and Jim Green made a zero drop African Trooper boot. Very high quality. Might be worth a look!

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, I've been wanting to review them for ages, but can't seem to get a reply from Jim Green vis email. I deleted all my social this year, but If you're on FB, you could shoot them a message. There's a contact form on my website they could use if they were interested in sending a pair for review. andrewfolts.com

[@keepingitreal3584]

Love your videos bro! Looking forward to the next one 😊

[@AndrewFolts]

Many thanks! I'll keep cranking them out. If you ever have a topic request, just lmk. (:

[@keepingitreal3584]

@@AndrewFolts Thank you, Andrew! I’ll definitely do that! 😊

[@Smattyy]

Thanks andrew. I was going to order these but hesitated a little. It seems awesome but I really want a black pair of boots...gobi hiber is sold out already and not even sure if I want a synthetic boot. Haha life is full of tough choices. As a perfectionist I also struggle to find what I want😅

[@AndrewFolts]

Check out the Gobi Boot (non insulated). Might be on revivo.com. Or the Magna FG Leather, which comes in black. bit.ly/4aBJyOU

[@serhiipylypenko664]

I have this pair and really loving it. Also the stock of this boots are gonna be low soon so don’t hesitate buying it if you like design. They are so comfortable to wear. And you won’t regret it.

[@Smattyy]

@@serhiipylypenko664 Ok nice! Yes I'm gonna order them now. They look very comfortable and seems like they can handle wet weather very well even without treatment? Some say that they are very wide. How is the sizing in your opinion and does the insulation affect choice of size?

[@serhiipylypenko664]

@@Smattyy I usually wear 43 and 43 fits fine

[@serhiipylypenko664]

@@Smattyy I have also Scott 4 and gobi feels a bit wider but it’s even better for the cold weather you have small extra space for winter socks. To compare with I also have xero kelso and it feels pretty same but a bit more space for a big toe.

[@lindsayturtle]

I just received my first pair yesterday but when I tried them on there seemed to be a lot of space/give/flexibility around the ankle. The pair you're holding up is obviously brand new but I'm curious how your pair held up over the year - I'm concerned about the leather sagging and them looking like a slouchy pair of socks in the near future. I would have liked to have seen your year-old pair.

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Lindsay, the pair shown in this video is not brand new, it's a year old and saw daily use (3-6 miles) during the late fall, winter, and early spring this year and last. The leather held up very well and didn't collapse at all. They're suppose to be very flexible in the anke vs traditional stiff boots, but if yours are too loose, maybe they're just a size long? I usually prefer a half to full thumbnail's length at the end. You can press down with your thumb and raise your big toe to check. Thicker socks can help take up some ankle room and make them snugger too.

[@lindsayturtle]

@@AndrewFolts Well I, sir, am very impressed with how clean you keep your shoes! My feet are on the smaller end of the size range for the size I chose and I definitely have more than a thumbnail of space.Maybe I am not cinching the laces around the ankles enough, too. Anyway, thank you for responding this was really helpful!!!

[@ferryvantichelen6521]

I'm thinking about the new boots from Jim Green

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, they look cool! I've tried to contact them for a pair to test, but they don't respond to emails. If you're ever on Facebook, feel free to shoot them a message about my channel. I'd be happy to review them.

[@HokanaMatata]

Hi. I know that you haven’t reviewed the Gobi Hiber yet but do you think that you would prefer this leather version or the synthetic? They look the same otherwise. Are there any pros over leather with synthetic materials?

[@AndrewFolts]

I just got it in the mail yesterday. Will take it out for a walk and review it tomorrow, probably. Both feel similar, very flexible, yet warm. I just need to test the Hiber's water resistance. I expect that the leather one's will be a slightly more breathable. The Hiber's can be slipped into, tho, which is very convinient.

[@HokanaMatata]

@@AndrewFoltsI just got the gobi warmlined and they look super premium. High quality and soft. Such a fantastic boot. With wool insulation they would have the perfect boot. But damn these are narrow compared to the regular unlined gobi boot😮 Luckily I have narrow feet but I don’t understand how you call them the widest you have tried from Vivo haha. Did I get a faulty pair or something… The tracker forest esc is huge compared to these.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@HokanaMatata Yea, I'd say the ESC's are the widest and the Gobi's the second widest, although maybe they made the new Warmlined's more narrow than the Winterized versions I have from last year. When I loosen up the laces on mine, there's a ton of room for thick socks, although I do have medium width feet.

[@majamidzor3801]

How does Gobi winter boots compare to Magna lite in terms of sole shape, especially the width? Thanks🙋‍♀️

[@AndrewFolts]

Pretty similar, they're both solidly wide, although the Gobi Winter has more stretch in the toebox and greater ability to open up the laces.

[@RagnarHoff]

Should i order the same size as my usual Vivo's or does the inner wool make it a tighter fit?

[@AndrewFolts]

Same size, there's plenty of room in there.

[@Residew]

Have you owned these for a year or worn them for a year?

[@AndrewFolts]

Yep, I used them daily last winter, as well as this spring, and now fall. One of my most used barefoot boots, for sure.

[@Smattyy]

​@@AndrewFoltsJust a nerd question:). Why do you prefer these over the black standard gobi boots in the spring and fall? Any particular reason?

[@AndrewFolts]

@@Smattyy I find I mostly wear tall boots in cold weather, so having insulation built in is more convenient. That said, you can always layer up the Gobi's with socks/insole to make them warm in winter, if you also wear high cut boots in the warmer months.

[@DJSixAxiS]

44 or 45? Recommendations on size? (I’m a vivo 44 in their primus etc)

[@DJSixAxiS]

Oooo and gobi winterized or the belenka? For day to day use not crazy cold temps either (GA “winter” lol)

[@AndrewFolts]

I'd go for the same size. I wear 44's in pretty much all Vivo's.

[@AndrewFolts]

For day to day, I'd go Gobi Winter. The Be Lenka Winter's super warm and better for muddy trails.

[@DJSixAxiS]

Thank you Andrew! I was worried about needing to size up with the extra padding for the gobi

[@AndrewFolts]

@@DJSixAxiS Vivo is easy to exchange, if so.

[@peregrinodisastrado]

How grippy is on ice?

[@AndrewFolts]

Nothing grips on ice, except literal spikes and that special Ice+ tread that Vibram makes, which is fine grained, like sandpaper, but no barefoot shoes have it, as far as a I know.

[@peregrinodisastrado]

@@AndrewFolts thx for the answer. The Gobi Winter looks awesome, I wish they a non faux-fur lined version of the light tan leather, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I think I'll try out the Xero Denver. Wouldn't even know it existed without your reviews. Hi from Denmark mate 😁

[@valdius85]

Silicone toes spreaders 😂

[@AndrewFolts]

Haven't tried them, but they could probably fit it in there, as long as you didn't have extra-wide feet.

[@valdius85]

@@AndrewFolts You’ve mentioned having issues. You could sleep in them. Good job with the video :)

[@TryingYourLvck]

wish they made the same style and look for everyday use not just winter. they kook sick and the top part distracts the eyes from it looking like clown shoes unlike the scotts.. which just look like a bulb

[@AndrewFolts]

They do, the Gobi Boot. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jojScpZ7jNOfgc0

[@TryingYourLvck]

@AndrewFolts wowwwww.... i swear ive been swiping up and down looking at all of Vivos boot selections. thanks!