These EXPENSIVE barefoot shoes SAVED me MONEY (Tracker Decon) Part 2
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- čas přidán 2. 11. 2022
- I had big expectations for these VIVOBAREFOOT Tracker Decon Low FG2's, so after some pretty good use here's my part 2 review of these barefoot shoes...
So far I've used them for running, gym workouts, walking, and daily use as a personal trainer.
VIVOBAREFOOT'S description -
Feel free, trail after trail. The Tracker Decon Low FG2 is an extra rugged take on the Tracker’s classic hiking DNA. The breathable, lightweight upper is made from Woolmark® wool and wildhide leather for extra flexibility, and the renewed outsole brings improved grip on variable terrain.
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I own 5 pairs, and the ability the switch them around is really nice, better for your feet too and for the shoes. The newer models will all have the soles knitted to the upped body, which is really great for longevity. A trick is to look at the womens section and grab 1 size up, they have sales all the time, unless the men section.
Definitely nice to be able to swap them around! What's your favourite model? Yeah I've noticed that women's are in the sale often, unfortunately I'm size 10
the addition of stiching to the sole is amazing. My magna esc sole is staying waterproof and not peeling off like every other barefoot shoe before them
Yes! Exactly, a small thing but absolute game changer if you ask me
I bought the boot version of these for winter hiking and I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised. The leather construction combined with the wool sock type ankle is brilliant. I used a waterproofing spray and I've been hiking through ankle to knee deep snow while staying completely dry. The leather is breaking in nicely and the thermal insole really works. 30 F / -1 C in snow is very comfortable with the right socks. I did size up one size to accommodate for thicker socks and because I tend to find vivos narrow for me and while slightly long, I'm happy with the fit.
The tread.. again pleasantly surprised. Definitely not as good as the Michelin escape sole, but not bad either. If the ESC sole is 10/10, I'd give the decon sole 8/10. All firm ground is amazing. Soft ground, mud, snow, etc is still very good if know how to traverse that terrain. I do wish they had the ESC sole because its unmatched in the outdoors, but I am also enjoying the versatility of being able to comfortably wear them walking my dog, to the gym (not working out, just through snowy parking lots), and into stores. It really is a "do everything" boot.
Hey Josh, that's awesome feedback. I really like the look of the boot versions. Which colour did you get? I'm so tempted by them but the low versions work well for me 95% of the time. If I go down the boot route il definitely try those first
@@alexreader I got the black ones. I think they look great. Easily one of the best looking hiking oriented boots
@@joshl.1978 definitely!! Love the look of them
For wet and cold, a pair of 3mm neoprene wet suit socks work great. I’ve used them in all my barefoot shoes where I am essentially strapping a puncture resistant sole onto a waterproof sock. Only thing better are XERO Shoes Alpine rated to -30*F or -35 C.
Great idea, I've actually got a pair of those for sea swimming. Although there's a grippy sole and a couple of big seems but might look at some other options
Great review Alex definitely my next vivobarefoot purchase!
Thanks James really appreciate it! What do you have currently? Definitely my favourite vivobarefoot shoes to date. Feel free to support the channel and get them through the link in the description ha.
Nice detailed discussion. I do have a pair of Vivos. I wanted a barefoot-healthy boot for property/yard chores and hiking where there might be mud or snow. Bought the Forest ESC boots earlier this year (the lower top model was not a thing yet). So far loving them. Better-than-expected ground-shape feel while protecting from sharpness and even not lumpy-feeling on pavement.
Two of my selling points were that they're leather, and the soles are stitched around the top.
Awesome, they look like a solid shoe. I'm tempted to get a pair 🤔 🤣 definitely seem like the best option for snow or muddy conditions. Will be interested to see how the hold up for you
@@alexreader i have a pair and i will say they hold up great while hiking on rocks/mud/snow, but they are very clunky feeling (lack a lot of feeling, and pretty big lugs which separate even more). i would not recommend for the price point, and if you do get them size up slightly because the ankle/heel area will rub a lot if too small. also the leather scratched very easily so I wouldnt recommend the dyed green leather as it looks like poop once it wears out.
@@taborgreat interesting thanks for commenting, I've only heard great things about them so far!
@@alexreader keep in mind the lack of feeling is comparing them to the primus lite 3’s. Compared to say a redwing boot or something, they are bendy af
@taborgreat yeah puts it into perspective. Depends what you compare to, there's definitely a trade off when it comes to ground feel, grip, durability etc
Hi Alex thanks for the follow up video, I didn't find the channel you spoke off ( Clem over at "Good time hunting" ) regarding this shoes boots version.
No problem, going to be doing another one soon since I've worn them a fair bit now :)
@@alexreader great looking forward.
Love these shoes, and they're my most expensive pair by a good margin, so I hope the tougher build quality ends up saving me money too. I'm planning to reserve these for actual trails and super cold winter weather, so I've only worn them on two ~12mi runs so far, consisting of half pavement and half trail. MUCH better on trails than my thin-soled Xero or Primus Lite III road shoes! I no longer live in fear of stepping on killer acorns or large sharp pieces of gravel, but roots are still a menace. Also, NO HEEL BLISTERS, which I was worried about from other reviews; it's either because I wore the shoes with thicker hiker socks, or because they happen to just fit correctly being SLIGHTLY looser than my PrimusLites of the same size. ... Have yet to test the traction in really wet weather, but I think I'll manage.
Awesome, I think they will last really well! Good to hear them fitting well with no problems I thought it might have just been me ha. Which colour did you get?
I find Vivos wear out pretty quick on road running due to lack of cushioning
@@sman53 I'm sorry, but you have that backwards. Cushioned shoes wear out much faster due to the foam cells breaking down unevenly over time, which is why most have to be replaced after 250 to 500 miles max. Barefoot shoes, in contrast, can last thousands of miles, until either the upper or the sole breaks down. e.g.: My current pair of Vivo Primus Lite3s have lasted for almost 1,200 miles before a hole developed on the outer edge. If I had better running form, they would've lasted much longer. Also: Xero Shoes has a 5,000 mile warranty, which no other cushioned shoe company is able to come close to.
Thanks for a really useful review. How well do you think these would function for playing football on Astro and Grass/ turf? I’ve looked at the Primus Trail SG which would arguably be better, but I think the SG tread is a bit too specialist and I wouldn’t use them for much else other than the odd muddy run. I’ve also looked at the Trail FGs, but these lugs don’t look like they’d have enough grip on a football pitch compared to the Decon lugs. What do you think? How have the Decon lugs faired on wet grass and in mud? Thanks!
I love vivobarefoot Primus trail firm ground 2 knit. I bought them for 119 euros, I got two pairs. The best shoes I ever had. Light, roomy, quality material, just perfect. Highly recommend.
Gotta say they are probably one of the best options all round! Sadly I don't have a pair yet 🤣😩😩
Definitely not light 😅 1 shoe weighs 400g. That‘s actually crazy, even for a high cushioned shoe
Thanks for so detailed and full review !!
Guys, I’m really a little confused now. I’m choosing my first barefoot shoes now, did quite big research about it. Definitely going to order vivobarefood. Thinking about taking this model for sport and going outdoors and geocourt 3 for everyday use.
usually I’m wearing 45 eu size.
But when I’ve measured my feet and it looks like it’s 28,8 cm which is around 11,2 inches. On their website if I follow feet measure guideline it looks like I should be getting 46 (specially considering, that there should around 6mm additional free space. )
I know barefoot shoes will feel different, specially because they are wider. And that’s the moment I’m not sure if I should go for 46 or stay at my usual 45 size.
Any thoughts/suggestions ?
I would really appreciate advice!
Thanks, peace and love to everyone 😀
Thank you for the detailed review. How would these be for summer hiking? How durable are these? I love that they're stitched.
These would be great! Primus trials are a bit lighter and more breathable, so could also be a good option but these are more robust and protective 💪 still wearing mine so durability seems good
Do they feel comfy for every day use? Like, a lot of walking
You definitely don’t need the boot version for longer hikes. Many people doing multi month thru hikes like the CDT or PCT in the Primus Trails.
I got some of these, and I think they are good, but not perfect.
When it comes to the positives, they are really gorgeous looking, seem quite durable, and are really warm, yet breathable. They keep my feet warm in snow, and the lugs on the sole are quite grippy.
When it comes to the negatives, there are unfortunately a few important ones, however I think it was more an issue in the beginning, before they got properly worn in. I find they are a little longer than expected, about half a size too large, while still not being all that wide. They don't cram my toes, but don't allow them to splay either despite my feet not being very wide, so for anyone with wide feet or wearing toe spacers, these will be a little narrow. They also rub a lot against my heel, and they took more than a month to wear in before I no longer got blisters from them. The sole is a little more rigid than I expected, but they still allow me to feel the ground quite well.
Overall, these are quite good and have become my daily driver winter shoe. I really love wearing them, although I had a few significant gripes initially.
Yeah I found them pretty long also. Returned them for a smaller size but now they're too small.
I've been using these at work on a berry farm here in Australia in summer, unfortunately I can't seem to get the right size. I'm usually a 45 so went with that and found them super long. Returned them and sized down to a 44 and now they are too short but still feeling loose AFTER putting in thicker insoles. I have a pair of Freet Pace barefoot shoes and they are much more comfortable.
Thanks for the update. I'm curious how much walking on concrete you do per day in them, i.e short walks or long walks daily or over the week, so I can put the lack of lug wear into perspective.
It's probably about 30,000 steps worth over the week on that sort of surface. But the rubber gym flooring is pretty abrasive and I'm stood on that about 50 hours a week. Then I've been doing park run (2km) with my daughter every Sunday in them for the last month or so.
@@alexreader Thanks. I like my
Geocourts II but even after sizing down I wore down the tread and put a hole in the front of both. Maybe if I'm in London I'll try another size down on for fit.
@@TadeuszCantwell I've not tried the geo courts, they do look really cool though. I've never been to the London store but I'm visiting London one weekend in December 👀😬🥰
My experience with Vivobarefoot's shoe sizes so far (feel free to skip the first paragraph) :
Vivobarefoot's German online store had a pretty amazing sale in December '22 and early January '23. The store was changing owners or something like that (I guess it was being run by a local company and they then gave it back to Vivo UK) and they were trying to sell all of their old stock, so in the final weeks, we got 40 % off of everything plus an additional 10 % off of that amount.
The only problem was getting the right shoes in the right sizes because they were going fast.
I ended up buying a pair of green Geo Court Knits, black Primus Lite IIIs and the Tracker Decon FG2s that you're reviewing here.
I've been wearing the Geo Court Knits for about 2 weeks now and so far they're absolutely amazing in terms of fit and feel.
The other two pairs just arrived two days ago so I haven't had the chance to wear them all that much. Been walking around at home with them a bit and so far they seem very promising.
Now the interesting part for people who are not sure about which sizes to get:
I'm usually a size 44 or 44.5 (EU). Vivo's shoes seem to be a bit all over the place with their sizing. I do take out all the insoles, so that's a thing that should be considered when I write about how well they fit.
The Geo Court Knits' product description said they do tend to be a bit larger than what their size says, so we should buy one size below our usual one. I chose to ignore that, bought size 44 and they ended up being way too large. Sent them back and got a size 43 - perfect.
The other two pairs I bought when there were barely any perfect fits left on the site. However, their FAQ said that the only difference between the men's and women's models was a small change in overall width of the shoe. Also, their women's sizes max out at 43.
Still wanting to give it a try, I bought the Primus Lite III and the Tracker Decon FG2 women's versions at a size 43. Both of these models were supposed to be true to size, as opposed to the Geo Court Knits. Before purchasing, I actually did measure out my foot and compared it with their official sizing chart according to which I should still have around 1 cm of wiggle room at a size 43.
Very long story short:
The Primus Lite III are a perfect fit. They feel weightless and super thin anyway, so even if they are a bit tighter than the Geo Court Knit, it's barely noticeable.
The Tracker Decon FG2 felt very tight at first but then I realized that the thermal insole was still in the shoe. After taking it out, they were a snuck fit but I could definitely put them on and walk around the house without any problems, and that was with me wearing thick socks.
I'm currently wearing them with thin socks and they fit like any other shoe. Sure, not quite as roomy as the Geo Court Knit, but considering they only cost me € 102.60 ($ 111,25 / £ 90,96) and are still way more comfortable than any non-barefoot shoe, I am 100 % keeping these.
Thanks for your review, it did push me in the right direction!
Thanks for this! Would you mind saying how long your feet are? I have feet that are 27.8cm but super narrow and low volume, so right on the edge of fitting a women's 43 length-wise, but the men's vivos are like boats on me...
@@rachelstanley4909 Oh yeah, I could have included that right at the beginning. I just measured them again and they're about 26.6 cm.
@@chris_1988 Hey. Did you measure your feet while it was placed on the ground?
@@MartMadison Yeah, stood on a piece of paper and traced the outline.
Do you have a narrow foot or wide foot?
My go to shoes are the Primus Trail FG (All weather) , have you ever tried them? how would you compare them to the Decon?
I had the primus trail fgs normal version for a while, got a lot of use out of them! Absolutely loved them. Slightly more flexible and more ground feel than the decons. But can't compare the waterproofing
Alex I just pull the trigger on the boots, and used your code, thanks once again.
Awesome, I will be interested to know what you think of them!
@@alexreader will let you know
Nice take on these!
Ah thanks mate! Loved your video on them too. Are you going to do a review on the boot version? Remember you saying you had those two but the fit wasn't great on the ankle
@@alexreader I has a pair and was going to but the sizing came up much smaller than the low top (to the extent that I couldn't wear them long enough to provide a fair test), so I gave them to a mate of mine - lucky for him!
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject that makes sense, yeah lucky man 🤙👟
To get a size reference I’m a true to size 8 in Jordan 1’s.
8.5 in most running,basketball and narrow fitting shoes.
what size do you recommend for me In these?
Have you has any vivos before? I'd probably say to for an 8.
How do these compare to the Primus Trail II All Weather? Looking for something for winter trail running. Thanks!
Good question, I've had both the primus trail fgs and primus lite all weather's but haven't tried the primus trail all weather's before. But I see these being a more robust version. So probably more durable and warmer but slightly less ground feel.
I have the same pair. You can actually take off the shoelaces, same feeling :)
Hi Alex, thanks for the review! I have a question, would they be too warm for summer hiking here in Spain? With merino wool I'm worried that my feet will get too sweaty.
Hey Sergi, no worries. That's a good question, what sort of temperature? They are definitely warmer than some of there other models but my feet haven't been sweaty in them yet. But I haven't warm them during the summer yet
@@alexreader Well, here in summer we reach 30 degrees Celsius on the hotter months. I am hesitating between this model and the Primus Trail 2 to use them as my 3 season hiking shoes. Which one would you choose? I like the robustness of the decon, but I'm afraid of getting hot feet…
@Sergi Viles that's a tough call!! If its primarily for summer hiking I'd go with the primus trail fg. I had a pair of those for a long time and absolutely loved them. I'd say if you were going to be hiking all year round then the decons
Would these be summer hiking shoes? They seem to be geared for winter. I wish the primus trails had a stitched on sole.
Yeah more geared towards winter but still great for summer. Don't think il find my feet overheating in them much
Do you recommend them to be worn at the gym and urban paved environments? My logic being they're more rugged soles and would ease me into switching over barefoot shoes.
Yeah thats exactly where I wear the most! However, if it's your first barefoot shoe you will probably have to gradually ease into them, slowly building foot strength 💪
Don't get thicker sole model for town. Get pimus lite or some other model with flat sole and what you monitor dosage of is the time you spend in them when you transition. Only wear while it's fun and comfortable. If you feel strain, back in the old shoes. Thicker soles and on city pavements don't give proper feedback they're simply for rougher terrain. As a result, in the city they detract from barefoot experience.. and also tend to wear faster on hard surfaces.
How would you compare the sizing when compared with primus lite 3 all weathers? Because the toebox on the tracker decons seems narrower than the primus lites, making me wonder if I should size up when getting decons.
Personally I found them to work at the same size as my primus lite 3. No issues with the toebox.
@@alexreader Thanks for thanking the time to reply!
@@bluejay4069 no worries 😁😁
I recieve them yesterday, returned because they very slippery on wet ground, its a big nono for Europe tracking
Ah thats a shame, maybe the ones with the michellin sole might be better. What type of ground?
@@alexreader wet rocks, grass…
@@beviraway8616 ah sorry to hear that, grass has been fine for me but haven't really been across any wet rocks. Useful to know, cheers
@@alexreader you can just spill some water on your floor at home, and try
These are my daily shoes at the moment. Love them.
I have a pair of primus lite knit and love them, did you go with the same size for the tracker decons? I ask this because I've heard the primus knit runs a little long and wasn't sure if I should size up for the trackers. Thanks!
Awesome! I went for the same size and happy I did 😀
Thanks!@@alexreader
Hello, I actually just ordered the trail 2... And you sold me on these actually.
Can you comment on the sizing compared the trail 2? And any other things you'd noticed?
I'm buying it for martial arts (I train in outdoor park where there's mix of grass, dirt, tree roots etc, so my feiyue shoes wear down pretty quick and they're actually getting more uncomfortable due to small size of the toe box.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how the Decon 2 vs trail 2. Cheers
The primus trails are great! I just see these as a step up in terms of grip, durability, warm/weathering. I also found the lockdown to be better and overall more stable combined with the grip. Maybe slightly less ground feel, breathability and lightness compared to the trails though.
In terms of sizing I was the exact same. The upper on the decons felt much stiffer to start off with so they didn't fit as comfortably but they have soften up now. Probably because of the hide leather used.
Whats the temperature like where you are?
@@alexreader ah I would love to have increase stability and durability actually.
I live in Houston tx, so maybe this is a no-go for me as it is like summer much of the year XD.
Thank you for the quick reply 🙏🙏
@@KingoftheJiangl yeah it's really great. 🤣 maybe a bit toasty for you then. They are breathable though just not as much as the primus trails
When you walk in barefoot shoes are you heel striking o pushing off with your toes?
When I'm walking in them it's usually heel/mid foot strike personally. When I run in them it's more midfoot to forefoot
What’s the difference between the Decon and the trail Primus all weather 3 ?
Its definitely a tough call between those. The tread is slightly different, I'd say slightly less ground feel in the decons but maybe more hard wearing. I don't think there's much difference in waterproofing, but the decons might be a little warmer with the wide hide leather. Primus trails potentially being slightly more breathable and flexible.
Are they waterproof
I bought the boot version and returned them. I’m sure they’d break in a bit, but I think the boot version of the tracker decons are just too much for me and I prefer something more minimal without the ankle support. One problem I have is the lace portion between the eyelets and the upper part. Theres a portion that just cuts into my ankle in a really uncomfy way. I’ve been wearing the same pair of primus asanas for years as my daily shoe so I’m used to something much more flexible and, to be fair, VERY broken in. I’m thinking that I’ll get the primus trails as a replacement for the tracker decon. Does anyone have input on the difference between the primus trail vs primus trail knit? It seems like I’d like the knit better, like they’d be closer to the softer asana but with some lugs but its a 60$ price difference right now with the sale on the regular primus trails. The low tracker decon is also on sale right now in one color. I’m sooo wishing these were common enough to be able to try on in a store!
Update: I returned the boot version and ordered the lows like in this video. Love them! Definitely more flexible than the boot already and I'm looking forward to breaking them in more. I do think that the boot runs smaller than the lows.
How are those shoes treating you 6 months later? Sitll like them?
@@PietyFailed I don't think they're getting as broken in as I would like but I may be avoiding wearing them as much because of the slight added stiffness to what I'm used to so that's at least a little user error. I think something more minimal is more ideal for me personally but they're good quality and I don't regret getting them.
Hey I was curious about how you said these were water resistant, only thing I can find on the website is the boot version is water resistant but not the lows. In your testing, have they been pretty good around puddles or mud?
Water resistance - I’d say more than a normal shoe but that’s about it ha. Heavy rain or in puddles and you’ll get wet. But lighter showers and through wet grass they seem pretty good
@@alexreader nice it's mostly the wet grass and occasional mud slipping over the top that I'm worried about while playing disc golf 😎
What’s the vivos for jogging on concrete when it’s sunny or wet weather on concrete? I’m not a trail jogger.
These have actually been the best model I've had for that. Better in sunny conditions but also pretty good in the wet. Have you ran in barefoot shoes before?
@@alexreader No I haven’t yet. I’m going too buy a pair of walking shoes first before I buy the jogging ones so I can gradually build up foot 🦶🏼 strength. I’ve watched your videos and many other vivo barefoot 🦶🏼 videos and they all say walk first before you run 🏃♀️. Take it slow also while walking in the vivo shoes cause my feet 👣 need to adapt to them.
@@alexreader No I haven’t yet. I’m going too buy a pair of walking shoes first before I buy the jogging ones so I can gradually build up foot 🦶🏼 strength. I’ve watched your videos and many other vivo barefoot 🦶🏼 videos and they all say walk first before you run 🏃♀️. Take it slow also while walking in the vivo shoes cause my feet 👣 need to adapt to them.
@David Calci yeah thats exactly right, sounds like a good plan. Which ones are you thinking of going for first?
How would these do for in door basketball?
I'd definitely say good on the grip and lock down. But not the most breathable option. Have your tried the primus trial fgs?
I'd be also interested in that, I play ball in barefoots and primus on firm ground sole have been the best so far. I think these would be great too since I do need that bit of a structure of the upper.
When does the human foot crunch up like that ? Shoes are to support and protect the foot ,but we need a design that allows the foot to be in it's natural state while adding support and protection
I’m surprised they didn’t go for more aggressive lugs considering it’s a hiking shoe
Yea a few people have mentioned that, I find the lugs on these work pretty well but it depends what conditions you're using them in.
They do already have the Magna Forest, with the knit cuff, that has the ESC sole.
Have you tried Feiyue shoes?
No, I thought about it a while back. They do look pretty awesome, have you?
@@alexreader hey there I actually practice martial arts with them for around 20 years. Recently I've felt the big toe getting squeezed pretty hard and getting blisters and that's why I'm looking at this vivo brand.
If you're interested in trying it, make sure you get the one with green triangle on the bottom. Those are designed for martial arts, the other ones aren't.
@@KingoftheJiangl that's good to know, they do look a little narrower than vivos
@@alexreader They generally are, so might not be suitable for all foots. Needs around a day to sink in.
Quick notes: super rubbery flexible soles means you get great grip but low durability. Runs a tad narrow compared* to vivo but about same width as general sport shoes. Fit is ok (7 / 10), weakest is around ankle / heel, there aren't enough holes to do a heel lock lace but after around a day or two walking around you don't notice the heel coming loose. The selling point is grip, 0 drop, and cheap price of the shoe.
There are actually three Feiyue manufacturers for this shoe, 1.) Da Fu, the original designer / factory (red circle logo at the bottom) from China, 2.) Top Ones, the contractor factory? (green triangle logo at the bottom, and "Top Ones" logo at the tongue of the shoe), 3.) French Feiyue, that holds the trademark + international selling rights to Feiyue (also has red circle at bottom) but costs 2x compared to 1.) and 2.). Most Parkour and Martial Artists use 1.) and 2.), these are available in Martial Art stores like Yellow Mountain for around ~15GBP (www.yellowmountain.co.uk/products/feiyue-kung-fu-shoes), the French Version is here: uk.feiyue-shoes.com/collections/low-top/products/fe-lo-1920-white and costs around ~30GBP
History / Confusion of this shoe is breifly explained here: czcams.com/video/EslrDVTja48/video.html
Thanks @@chutsu_io thays super helpful ha!! Great into
*Get yours here!! :D* - tidd.ly/3ye22Ud
👟 Use code: ALEXFIT10
Those shoes are a peace of shit. They are good for nothing. They are not for winter, not waterproof. Not for summer, too hot. The sole is too thick, you don't feel the ground. And they are expencive. I returned them, the best decision I made.
I see your point, Jack of all trades, master of none. I really like mine still, using them for gym based work and in 5-12 degrees they are nicer compared to some of my other vivos. What did you opt for instead?