TRACKER vs WINTER / pros and cons of vivobarefoot and be lenka

[@AndrewFolts]

*Winter Hiking Boots* (referral links) all winter hiking boots - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3RRbI0X be lenka winter boot - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/40jsyXU vivobarefoot tracker leather at - - - bit.ly/4eekM9c vivobarefoot tracker textile at - - - bit.ly/4eekM9c vivobarefoot tracker at moc - - - - - bit.ly/48d0kmM vivobarefoot tracker winter sg - - - bit.ly/3tO2N7e injinji wool toe socks - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3dvdcgk wool felt insole - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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

[@kevinwillis2859]

I have 3 pairs of Be Lenka boots! During Chicago they are my favorite cold & snow. Their sole is excellent for traction and my feet are warm! Their sole wide toe box works well for me as I’m in the 4th year of wearing foot-shaped shoes! i have 3 pairs of Lem’s also! They are good for moderate winter when the snow has been cleared. The one pair of Vivo boots I own are not very good in very cold weather, though they are the best-looking “minimal” boots I own! It all situational with me and the outside weather conditions all play a major factor determining which shoes I will wear!🙏🏽

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, Be Lenka is def the warmest barefoot brand. My Winter's are the only boots I can wear down below 0º. Chicago is brutal in the winter, ha. So windy and cold! Glad you're got some warm boots. (:

[@Gman1024]

Love Be Lenka, that sole tread as well as the width through their midfoot has made me a fan and why I'll invest my pennies with them in the future for sure.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, they're one of the only BF brands that are extra-wide all the way thru, not just at the front. A Vivo boot with that tread would be rad too!

[@DavidSinanan]

I got the Vivo Tracker 2 SG, winterzed version towards the end of last winter. So they didn't get a full go. But we've already had a couple stints of -20C in Regina so far. And they're holding up well. I'll swap the Vivo thermal insoles for wool ones eventually, but I've been wearing a thin pair and thick pair of socks. Merino and heavier wool. I'm loving them so far. I've done up to 16km at -20C and my feet felt good. You can't stand around not moving long at those temps, but I think they'll hold up to my use case well. I think I'm going to pair them with some gaiters. Should work nicely to the weather coming my way.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, as long as you're moving the Winter SG can handle some pretty extreme temps. One of my favorite treads too, excellent grip and super flexible. Glad you're putting them to work. Stay warm out there!

[@88sstraight]

Thanks for the comparison. I believe those are not ‘lace locks’ but ‘speed hooks’, and their function is to make putting on and taking off yer boots faster by not having to untie them once you have the right tension. Personally, I hate them and have almost fell off a two story roof when the loop from one boot snagged the hook on the other.

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, yea, I've done that before too. I do like the one's that snap into place, because it makes tall boots a lot easier to lace up, but they def can be a tripping hazard, in some scenarios.

[@DJSixAxiS]

Andrew! Question for everyday use. AT Moc or Gobi warmlined ? Which one is warmer ?

[@AndrewFolts]

The Gobi Warmlined is both warmer and better for casual use. The AT sole is great for trails, but feels too clunky on roads.

[@valdius85]

That last Vivo fits my imaginary needs the most 😂 When I wear winter shoes, it means I go to the Japanese mountain area and snow is everywhere. Right now I wear some cheap winter shoes. They are warm and the sole bites snow great. But they are pointy, so uncomfortable 😢

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, the SG sole is perfect for snow, mud, slush, and slippery hills. I'd love to go barefooting in Japan some day!

[@j4jools292]

Love your vids. They are my go to for detailed, unbiased reviews. I'm interested in the Be Lenka boots. I have typical 'duck' feet and I'm struggling to find a boot with a wide enough toe box, with good volume, but with a slimmer heel. I've tried the Vivo Scott boots, but for me, they just aren't wide enough, are very low volume, and I find the heels too wide. So, while they are overly 'snug' in the forefoot, they slop in the heel. Adding more socks doesn't help as it just makes things tighter in the toe box area. I just want a pair of boots for every day wear. I do a lot of urban walking, so I need boots with a decent sole that won't wear down too fast. How are the Be Lenkas for sizing? I have some Vivo Primus Lites in a UK10, EU44 and while they are slightly narrow in the toe box, length wise they are perfect. I'm terrible at measuring my feet and when you are buying blind, getting the right size can be tricky. And then there's the cost of shipping etc. if you need to return footwear that you've bought internationally. So, I'd appreciate your thoughts on how the Be Lenkas are with regard to their sizing and how they fit in the heel :)

[@AndrewFolts]

The Be Lenka Winter's could def work for that, since the insulation is quite thick and holds your heel well (my heels are skinny too). Another great option for you might be the Realfoot Trekker High. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKKlnKCLrK5pftk It's extra-wide up front, slim in the heel, and highly water-resistant, while being lightweight and really comfortable for city use. The sole is thin but decently tough. The Trekker's do run slightly size small, IMO, but my normal size worked well enough. The Be Lenka Winter run s a full size short. Overall I would say the Trekker's will fit you best and feel more natural walking, while the Be Lenka's are warmer and thicker for more durability, but not quite as smooth/natural feeling. Putting 1-2 thin wool insoles in my Trekker's does warm them up a lot (plus Injinji's and Smartwool's over top for super cold days).

[@detmerhubbeling3955]

Hi, do you have an advice on shoes that are not this big (high) but have some winter-protection? I have Raynaud-syndrome, and therefore have very cold feet in barefootshoes, alas....

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, the Aylla Tikisi is super warm with a thick fur insulation and water resistant leather upper. Sole is medium thick for a bit of separation from cold ground without feeling too stiff. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmKwmmqYm7qgpNE You can also use the shoe finder on my website to filter by height, climate, etc. bit.ly/49bkMUc

[@RagnarHoff]

Did you ever try one of Belenka's sneaker shoes? I see the flexibility on this boot, but that is not what i got in 2 types of sneakers with different type of soles. They were rock stiff so i never gave the brand a second chance. I love the width of them which suits me, but the sole is no-go when im used to flexible soles.

[@AndrewFolts]

I bet you tried their sub-brand Barebarics. So did I and they were indeed super stiff. Did not care for them at all. Be Lenka's regular styles are way more flexible. The Dash kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWa8f39nnqdoo80 I tried was probably the most flexible barefoot shoe I've ever tested.

[@RagnarHoff]

@@AndrewFolts Yeah, but also Stride which isn't barebarics. Guess there is something different with the winter boots.

[@illphil6174]

Do you put the wool insole on top of the red insole or you remove the insole that come with the vivos?

[@AndrewFolts]

No, I remove the red insole, as it's a bit stiff and takes up too much room. If I'm going thru super wet terrain I might use the red, since it's more water resistant.

[@lstenstrom2]

Tracker Winter II SG, Tracker AT Moc or Gobi Boot Warmlined for primarily forest walks, some hiking and a little bit of city walking in temperature as low as -20 C?

[@AndrewFolts]

If it's only flat forest walks and no steep hills, I'd go with the Warmlined, because it feels the most comfortable. I wouldn't recommend the AT at all for city use-it's great for trails, but feels too hard/thick on roads. The Winter SG is excellent for trails and snow and actually feels ok on pavement, but will wear down faster on roads due to less surface area on the lugs. You might want to get the Warmlined for city and either AT or SG for trails. They'll last a lot longer and feel much better being used for separate activities vs trying to make one boot do everything. Plus it's the last day for 25% off Vivo with FOLTSY25, which probably won't happen again for another year.

[@lstenstrom2]

I ain’t got money for two pairs of shoes. And I have to walk on pavement to get to school. And on the longer breaks I go for a walk in the forest next to the school. And also lots of forest walks at home. Not a lot walking on steep surfaces tho.

[@lstenstrom2]

And how water resistant is the gobi warmlined?

[@AndrewFolts]

@@lstenstrom2 It's highly water-resistant, especially if you maintain the leather with balsam (beeswax/lanolin). If you're out in slush for an hour, it'll eventually start getting damp, but overall it can cope with most anything,

[@richardmullen00]

Had some of the Vivo Moc toe arrive last week. Took them out the box I started to undo the laces and lace hook fell off. A £240 boot and they failed before trying them on. Sent them back for a refund. Huge failure Vivo and not the first time

[@AndrewFolts]

It's never happened for me in seven years, but my dad had it happen on a pair I bought for him. Idk whether it's a faulty design or just a manufacturing defect, but either way, that sucks, and I'm glad you were able to get a refund!

[@richardmullen00]

I’ve had several pairs of FG Trackers they all failed within a couple of days all in the same place where the leather creases where your toes bend. The third pair I just kept because I liked them and put up with the gap between leather and sole. I liked the way the leather Patinaed it was a cool boot although the grip was extremely slippery. I’m not keen on the new look with the rubber strapping.

[@paulmiller6336]

I love your channel Andrew and think you do great reviews…but I’ve noticed when you talk about vivobarefoot shoes experiencing sole separation it feels a bit like you’re sharing it with an air of acceptability…I’ve just bought vivobarefoot leather tracker lows and as far as I’m aware they’re not stitched but if they do separate I will be calling vivobarefoot out as I think it’s totally unacceptable that a shoe which costs £180 can have any degree of potential separation…I’ve said it before and reiterate again you’d never get that with meindl footwear so why should we talk about sole separation as if it’s something we might encounter…At these prices that problem should be well and truly sorted in my opinion. Perhaps if you have good relations with vivo you could point out that this is not something we should be needing to worry about when parting with our hard earned cash…maybe you’ve already shared this with them but if not I certainly will if I experience such issues. Best. Paul

[@AndrewFolts]

I've told Vivo about this, as well as other issues, like their toebox being too narrow on some models, etc, but they don't listen to me, ha. I'm just one KZbinr. That said, it's impossible to 100% prevent sole separation when gluing firm rubber to soft/flexible leather-especially with barefoot shoes/boots, which are way more flexible than regular footwear. Inevitably, the force and constant twisting will wrench the two apart, so it's best just to keep an eye on it and fix any issues with shoe glue before they become larger.

[@paulmiller6336]

@@AndrewFolts thanks for your reply Andrew. Good to know you’ve told them about this problem. In my opinion the fact they use a method of shoe construction that is not 100% reliable is appalling when charging such high prices…in my whole life buying shoes of all makes, models and prices I’ve NEVER had ANY shoes sole separate so it really underscores how inadequate their Research and design process is…I’ve loved everything about vivo up until hearing about such a problem and as consumers, if it’s a common issue, I think the sense of dissatisfaction needs to be expressed…otherwise nothing is likely to change. I don’t have a KZbin barefoot channel but if I did I would be stating it’s just not fair or acceptable and calling for them to develop reliable show making techniques. Best. Paul

[@getuptogetdown918]

Every pair I have had has either fallen apart or feels horrible on my feet. Nope, never again. As for the sole separation, not acceptable at these prices. This junk brand isn’t worth the money.

[@AndrewFolts]

Wait, which brand? Which model?

[@Stoic_Rational_Buddhist]

I ordered the Be Lenka and returned it straight away. It is so ugly. It looks like a clown boot. Crazy toe box. So I don’t want to look like a clown and I wear barefoot shoes all the time. Beware their pictures do not show how clownish the Winter Boots look.

[@AndrewFolts]

It's all in the eye of the beholder. Realfoot is even wider, and I used to think they looked weird, but now I see narrow pointy shoes everywhere and think "they" look ugly, ha.