P.S. I hope in a new better world without AI depopulation craze all people will have barefoot shoes, they are so amazing and I favour them by far! Reply I took them out as I wanted to experience the difference with barefoot shoes, but they did come with Outlast Insoles. These shoes have held up very well to general fitness abuse! I’ve worked, walked, ridden scooters, ran, and hike in them. After 6 months, they’re not showing any signs of wear that are out of the ordinary. I’m confident that these hiking shoes have a lot of life left in them.

So yes, the idea works but you need to allow time for your feet to toughen up. It also requires quite a big mental shift in the way you think about footwear. You have to place faith in your feet rather than entirely in the shoes. That being said, I’ll still be reaching for my rigid leather boots in some circumstances, such as winter alpine treks. Verdict In terms of performance, I was very impressed. When hiking on wet terrain, I felt safe (with almost no risk of slipping). Everyone else on the hike was constantly working hard to stay on their feet, but I had no issues.The construction of hiking and trail footwear varies significantly, depending on use and terrain. But fundamentally, they all use a similar method: outsole, midsole, insole, and then all the parts that make the upper. Allowing your feet to behave as they naturally would makes these great boots for climbing and perilous, narrow paths. They allow you to read the terrain through your feet so clearly and also give you noticeably better balance. In addition, you feel incredibly agile and a lot more efficient. Hiking and trail footwear brands focus much time and attention to the underside of their footwear. There is a good reason for this. The midsole is for impact absorption, allowing you to walk in greater comfort for longer. But Vivobarefoot has changed the recipe. As mentioned earlier, the primary ingredients of the upper here include the Woolmark wool and the wildhide leather. Together these combine to produce a breathable and lightweight upper with enough flexibility to enable natural movement in your step. However without actually being an employee and overseeing their practices, that’s all I can say! Regardless, they’re far better than 95% of shoe brands out there! Overall

These boots have excellent breathability, and the materials are naturally water resistant too. The simplicity of these boots combined with quality materials aids durability. These feel like footwear that will last a long time, provided they're cared for properly, which is good because they aren’t cheap. Does the theory really work? 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. What are your thoughts on this for more challenging terrain? It seems to me you prefer the Decon Low over the other alternatives. Thanks! Would be super happy to hear your take. Could you help me decide a bit better between the Tempest and the Decon (maybe V-Trek also) for the Alps mainly in Germany or Austria? One great eco factor here is the use of Woolmark merino wool in the upper. In a move away from the use of synthetic fabrics, Woolmark produces natural, renewable and biodegradable wool. In this sense it’s a circular fibre that doesn’t contribute to microplastic pollution in our oceans or on our lands. The Woolmark certification additionally provides ethical sourcing assurance, as well as a top-notch quality guarantee.If you’re looking to really shake up your walking/running experience, the Decon FG2s will do the job. Compared to your average walking shoe, they’re thin enough to help you feel more beneath your feet while still maintaining a level of protection using Vivo’s Firm Ground Sole rubber compound. Insole: The Outlast Thermal Insole offers temperature-regulating technology; absorbing, storing, and releasing heat. This smart thermal layer responds to accommodate the naturally changing temperatures of the feet. You mentioned you think the ESC sole on the tempest would only be marginally better? Then I would prefer the more mountain-built Decon I believe, even over the Vibram V-Trek I guess (some people mention the toe material can be more fragile on them). But if it is a whole lot more grip and confidence boost the ESC tempest or the V-Trek Vibram Megagrip could be nice. Here’s the bottom of the insoles. As you can see, I haven’t gotten the chance to test them in colder climates yet! Vivobarefoot believes that more faith should be put into the evolutionary design of our feet. Our feet are fine-tuned for endurance, says Vivobarefoot, so why mess with it? In line with this train of thought, the brand produces shoes that allow our feet to make the most of their natural attributes: sensation, stability, and strength.

Vivobarefoot also has a cool programme called ReVivo. It reconditions returned Vivo footwear to new and sells them again. It also offers a repair service for your Vivo footwear. How do they perform?