Vivobarefoot Hydra ESC trail running shoe | Tested and reviewed

Here’s something quite niche, an amphibious trail running shoe from Vivobarefoot designed for swimrun events.

In fairness, Vivobarefoot producing a swimrun shoe makes quite a lot of sense because both brand and sport like to boast about being minimalist. Vivobarefoot produces barefoot shoes that are all about promoting foot health. Swimrun events, meanwhile, are pretty uncomplicated: you have your wetsuit and shoes, and hit the multi-stage course.

We’ve tested many minimalist trail running shoes, including a number of Vivobarefoot models. But amphibious trail running shoes aren’t something we’ve typically given attention to, largely due to them being quite specialist.

Perhaps, however, the Vivobarefoot Hydra ESC is more versatile than it initially appears. Maybe it offers a very viable alternative to all the waterproof trail running shoes so determined to keep the moisture out. Maybe on the wet, slippery trails that cross streams or rivers, a quick-draining, fast-drying shoe is better…

Design and features

Being both a minimalist and amphibious running shoe, the Hydra ESC is pretty unique. Vivobarefoot’s approach to footwear is all about supporting feet to work naturally rather than wrapping them in cushioning.

This means that all its footwear models are wide, thin, and flexy, and the Hydra ESC is no exception. Yet, at 350g, this isn’t an especially lightweight running shoe. That’s largely due to the sole. It’s a chunky Michelin unit with large 4mm lugs and extends up at the toe to create a significant bumper.

There isn’t a midsole to speak of – you get a 0.8mm layer to protect the foot against sharp stones for example. And the upper is made from a very breathable and fast-drying mesh with textured TPU around the sides both as a styling and durability boost.

Somewhat paradoxically, the Hydra ESC simultaneously feels airy and flexy, yet hard-wearing and durable.

Performance and comfort

We’ve tested several Vivobarefoot shoes before and the fit is always fantastic. Just like Keen footwear, they’re wide at the front and cup securely at the heel. Sizing is quite generous though, so you may want to go down a size (and Vivobarefoot doesn’t do half sizes).

The barefoot approach to footwear does take some getting used to, largely in terms of allowing time for the foot to toughen up. But off-road running and hiking, where the terrain is far more forgiving than pavements, make the transition surprisingly easy.

So, how does this particular barefoot running shoe perform? In a word: brilliantly. Our suspicion that the Hydra ESC is actually quite versatile was confirmed. We tested the Hyrda ESC primarily along water routes and soft, muddy terrain, and that’s certainly where it excels.

Firstly, the combination of barefoot shape and that tractor-tyre Michelin sole means that the traction is superb. It’s one of the most grippy off-road running shoes we’ve tested, especially on wet surfaces, be it rock or dirt. We also felt noticeably more stable and balanced compared to shoes with a big stack height as well.

The other important aspect may be more divisive. The Hydra ESC’s ability to drain fast and dry quickly makes the Hydra ESC easier to care for and clean than waterproof trail running shoes. But it also means that water gets in as easily as it gets out. We’d argue this easy drain-quick dry approach is the way to go, so long as you’re happy to get properly wet and muddy on a trail. Yes, that is generally a large part of the appeal of trail running, but it's not everyone's bag.

Something else we noticed is that the materials the Hydra ESC is made from don’t get heavy when wet. And the easy-adjust toggle lacing is effective, although we did wonder about their longevity. They felt a bit brittle.

Sustainability

It’s worth commending Vivobarefoot for being forthcoming about its current and future sustainability efforts. It says it wants to become a business with a circular model, where everything is sustainably sourced, and all its products are reused, composted, or recycled.

But Vivobarefoot also admits it’s not there yet. Currently, for example, it still uses more virgin plastic than recycled. There are plenty of examples where Vivobarefoot is doing well in one space but less so in others. But it is being transparent and proactive, which is incredibly important – reinforced by its B Corp certification.

Price and competition

There are quite a few shoes that are barefoot-style or amphibious but not many that are both. There are a number of fell running-type shoes that offer similar aggressive traction and efficient drainage, but are more of a conventional shoe.

Perhaps the rival most similar to the Hydra ESC would be the Vibram FiveFingers V-Aqua, which is another, possibly even more radical take on the barefoot running shoe.

The Vivobarefoot Hydra ESC RRPs at £165 at the time of writing. With its lack of close competition, the Hydra ESC sort of sits in its own class. But in terms of trail running shoes generally, you can certainly find better value elsewhere.

But, and this is rare for modern trail running shoes, the Hydra ESC is genuinely tough and hard wearing. So long as you clean them properly after runs, you can expect them to last a long time. So, there is some value gained there.

Verdict

Although appearing rather niche, we found that in fact the Vivobarefoot Hydra ESC is in fact a brilliant trail running shoe that shines on wet, soft, and slippery terrain. Plus of course, you can swim in them.

The fast-drying design only adds to their appeal; they’re tough; the fit is incredibly comfortable; and while the barefoot approach does take some getting used to, it’s not as challenging as you may think when running on soft ground.

How we tested

Our tester of the Vivobarefoot Hydra ESC shoe was Chris Williams, one of our experienced gear testers who covers trail running and hiking.

Chris used the Vivobarefoot Hydra ESC shoes for several weeks on a range of soft, wet, and muddy trail running routes in the Yorkshire Dales.

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