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I can already see the comments here – “Sock Doc is wearing hiking boots.” “Sock Doc is no longer barefoot in the wilderness.” Yeah, yeah. No, I’m not suddenly wearing hiking boots, but I do finally own a pair of hiking boots, thanks to Vivobarefoot. The Vivobarefoot Tracker is definitely an awesome hiking boot, which could function as a work boot as many of you have been looking for. I’m always getting comments and questions from Sock Doc readers inquiring about something more substantial to protect their feet while they’re either on some rough terrain, or they need to protect their feet at work (such as at a construction site, for example). So finally, yeah finally, there is a shoe out there and one that will not screw up your foot function or gait. 
The Vivobarefoot Tracker is made from high quality leather and it’s designed for “wild and rough terrains.” With the waterproof lining and thermal protection your feet will remain warm and dry. Actually – correction – your feet might be too warm. After a good one hour hike in a local creek bed, my feet, fully submerged, stayed completely dry. In the 70 degree warm autumn day here in North Carolina they were definitely very warm, even with the thermal 3.5mm insole removed. So I’m really looking forward to wearing these in the snow and cold temps this year! I was really impressed that no water leaked through, and you can see in the photo, my foot was deep in the water. From Vivo’s website: “Heat sealed seams and / or hydrophobic inner bootie construction with non-absorbent materials, to keep the water out what ever the weather.”
Warm and dry even fully submerged.
The outsole of the Vivobarefoot Tracker is their PRO5 patented, ultra-thin, puncture resistant layer. This has five times more puncture resistance than a standard sole of the same thickness. I’m barefoot most of the time and I appreciated that I could still feel the earth beneath my feet while wearing the Vivobarefoot Tracker, yet I felt very protected from sharp rocks. It’s nice to be able to move quick over terrain, that when barefoot, you might have to be a bit more careful with so you don’t tear into your skin. Those of you who are barefoot often know that there’s always that one rock or stick pointing straight up from the ground waiting to poke into that tender area of your foot!
If you’re looking for a hiking boot for some rough terrain, especially one where it’s wet and cold, look no further than the Vivobarefoot Tracker. Like all Vivobarefoot shoes – it’s flexible, firm, zero-drop, and let’s your foot move naturally – even in this boot!
I don’t get paid any money from Vivobarefoot for my shoe reviews, nor am I an affiliate. I just think they’ve got great shoes. (I did, however, receive the Tracker shoes for free.) If you’re interested in injury prevention and optimum health and fitness as I am, then Vivobarefoot will fit your lifestyle. Less shoe is always more! Other Vivobarefoot shoe reviews here!
Thermal insoles and an extra pair of (red) laces.
Dr. Stephen Gangemi "Sock Doc"
I'm a board-certified chiropractic physician and clinical nutritionist with a passion for true natural health care. I implement dietary & nutritional therapies, exercise & movement practices, and lifestyle changes along with manual therapy techniques to help the body heal and prevent illness and injuries.
Blobby says
I received these shoes a few days ago (bought during Black Frday sales on internet (no shop selling Vivobarefoot in my area)).
I begin with an important remark: due to the padding at heel and around ankle, these shoes are smaller than Gobis 2 or Drake (even if Drake do have padding too). With thermal insole, I cannot use winter socks at all and feel them a little restrictive, but usable, even with medium thicness socks. Without insole, things are quite different, but that limit winter se of these shoes, unless you take a size up.
These shoes are good looking and can easily used as city shoes (at least in color black), with your pants hiding the high colar, which may be the only proof that they are not dedicated to this use. New firm ground trail sole add no visual thickness; all parts, even metal ones, are black.
So I am keeping these shoes: I intend to use them for my bike commutes during spring or autumn wet days, when temperatures are not too high or too low. High colar is very supple: there is no trouble pedalling with these shoes.
I really like tis model, so I think that I will buy another pair(also in black), a size up, as soon as sales will begin…
Blobby says
Error in my previous comment: I mentionned Drake model, but I was thinking of winterproof Drake model…
Blobby says
I am reading my own comments and realizeing my error in my error correction… I meant “Scott”…
Appart that, I still like very both my pairs of Tracker (I have done what I wrote and bought a second pair, in black again but a size up, during winter sales. I am using the smaller ones with inner wintter sole replaced by thinner ones from brand Noene (maybe not distributed in America). Thickness of used socks decides which pair of Tracker I will put on (when I am not using other Vivos, like Gobis): confort is always top notch.
But (yes, ther is a “but”), these shoes are not waterproof: they offer decent water protection, but cannot pretend to waterproofness. Yesterday, during bike commuting under continuous rain (not heavy rain but quite dense one) without using overshoes (but I was wearing watrproof overtrousers covering top of shoes), my right foot became wet after half an hour and my left foot was becoming wet when I arrived home, after a hour ride through the city. Top of shoes, tongues and heels remain dry; toes and midfoot parts were wet.
My shoes are quite new (less than 50 km of walk), and I didn’t use any waterproofing products or polish (that will surely be efficient).