Vivobarefoot Tracker Leather AT: The only hiking boot you’ll ever need

The last thing I aspire to be as a gear reviewer is sycophantic. Sometimes, trousers are just, well, trousers, and a head torch just works – nothing more nothing less. But allow me, dear reader, to wax lyrical for a few minutes about this particular pair of hiking boots.

Because the Vivobarefoot Tracker Leather AT has defied all odds, exceeded all expectations, and carried me over 150 miles of sheer, unrelenting British terrain without so much as a blister or a grumble. I am in love.

Overview

Underfoot conditions like bog, heather, knee-deep winter slush would usually make you question wearing a pair of shoes whose main selling point is a thinner, more flexible sole.

Surely, at this point, as much protection from that soft, wet, cold ground is imperative? Well, yes, and these three-season hiking boots do offer absolutely brilliant protection – just not quite in the way we’re used to with bigger, chunkier pairs.

Comfort

But first, to comfort. Straight out of the box, the Tracker Leather ATs feel like slippers. No breaking in, no rubbing, just instant comfort.

These flex with your feet, meaning you naturally revert to a gate that is influenced by your natural movement and underfoot terrain, rather than by the midsole of the shoe, of which there is little to speak about here, as with most pairs of barefoot-style shoes.

Even after huge, 20-25km days with thousands of metres of ascent, I’ve never had cause to complain with the comfort level of these boots. They keep my feet toasty too, despite being more flexible and thin-soled than almost every other three season hiking boot on the market.

This is due to both the heat-reflecting insole and soft, sherpa style lining. This lining has stayed soft and cosy, offering a much-needed extra layer of insulation for snowy days, of which I’ve had a fair few this winter.

The thermal insole is fantastic at keeping my toes nice and warm even on frostbitten moors too – I’ve used these shoes down to -6 degrees celsius and have been kept incredibly comfortable throughout.

Luckily, this insole is removable, and can be replaced with one without heat-reflecting properties, turning this boot into a brilliant option for British summer hiking.

Upper, rand, outsole

The premium leather upper is supple enough to support the flex of the sole yet tough enough to deflect jagged rocks, stones or anything else which might impede walking comfort. The improved rubber rand also offers better protection for your toes against scree or roots, while still maintaining a nice lightness, plus I think it looks cool too.

The sole molds to your foot shape immediately, while the wide toe box lets those money-making digits splay, gripping the ground beneath you as nature intended. Most barefoot boots go light on the tread because of this natural toe-spread-ery, but the Tracker AT has seriously chunky lugs too, meaning your grip on slippery terrain is second to none.

Because of this, however, the ground feel isn’t quite as sharp as other barefoot shoes I’ve used, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for three-season toughness and warmth. In comparison to traditional hiking shoes, you still feel much of what’s going on anyway, plus that extra chunkiness does alleviate some of the thermal loss you’d get in other pairs of barefoot boots.

Of course, having a sole this flexible means that the trackers aren’t suitable for full-on winter mountain conditions such as hard-pack neve, as they don’t take a rigid crampon. However, they do respond well to having walking spikes fitted over the top, which are great for slightly icy conditions on less steep slopes.

Waterproofing

Where this boot has truly surprised me, however, is in its waterproofing. It’s top tier, and even after three months of prolonged winter use, I have never ever had wet feet after a hill day.

And this isn’t me being particularly careful: I have waded through bogs and rivers that would swallow lesser boots whole, and my feet have emerged dry every time. The breathability is equally impressive; no clammy feet or swampy insoles either.

Being leather walking boots, they will need more care than a synthetic gore tex upper, but I think that’s part of the charm of these boots. With proper care the longevity aspect of the Trackers should be impressive too – I’m hoping to be able to use these for seasons to come without having wet feet.

Any other business

The only small physical niggle I have with these shoes is that the laces are inexplicably long. Perhaps this is because Vivo uses the same lace length for all sizes, and my particularly minuscule feet aren’t adjusted for the ratios here. I will be replacing the laces with something 10cm or so shorter when I get round to it.

The other thing to note is that these are not exactly on the cheap end of the spectrum. RRPing at £190, and not really available on discount elsewhere, it’s a big upfront investment, especially if you’re new to barefooting.

However, in comparison to other ‘soft’ winter boots like the Salewa Puez Mid PTX which RRP at £220, the Tracker ATs fare ok on the value side of things. If, however, we’re looking at things from a cost-per-wear perspective, the ATs suddenly seem like a remarkably great option, as they’re appropriate for perhaps 8/10 hill days throughout the year and they’re so comfortable you’ll just want to wear them everywhere.

I have worn them pretty much constantly for every outing since receiving them to test in late December. Perhaps the crowning jewel is that I don’t need to take them off to drive home in, seeing as they’re just as comfortable and more flexible than a pair of crocs, birkenstocks or other slipper-like shoes.

The verdict

If you’re looking for an insanely comfortable, waterproof pair of lightweight walking boots for basically all conditions except alpine glacier travel, I cannot recommend these highly enough.

The Vivobarefoot Tracker Leather ATs have taken everything I’ve thrown at them and asked for more, making them well worth the £190 price tag. This is, hands-down, the best pair of hiking boots I’ve ever worn.

About the author

Fliss Freeborn is a writer for LFTO who likes nothing more than a good romp about outside, followed by a night inside a cosy tent. Find out more about the team and our testing process here.