VIVOBAREFOOT Magna Trail II FG, Mens Vegan Hiking Trainers with Barefoot Sole

Product Information

Before my feet got used to these they applied 10/10 excruciating pain to every pet of my foot, especially the outside ankle bone on my right foot.

The philosophy behind Vivobarefoot is rooted in the belief that modern shoes with cushioning and arch support can weaken the foot muscles and hinder natural foot function.That feeling of walking in nature connects you with your most authentic self, the real you, the one that prefers a long walk to sitting in front of the TV. I’m impressed with the grip, the rubber seems far superior to Vivo’s usual over-hard offering so it’s good on wet stone/pavement/wood, and decent lug depth is great for mud. I wouldn’t at all pick the Magna Trails as the best barefoot trail running shoe – they’re a little clunky and hefty feeling for that.

They’re substantially warmer than most barefoot shoes out there which is either a blessing or a curse. Pared-back for plenty of barefoot feeling, but durable and water-resistant, this versatile hiking trainer is made from animal-free materials. Going outside in the mud, an upper body workout at the park, or nightclub is what these shoes are great for. They use sustainable and eco-friendly materials in their shoe production, such as recycled plastics and natural fibers. For daily use in the fall, winter, and spring I think these shoes are excellent – whether it’s going to the supermarket or up some mountains.They are so lightweight that I barely notice them on my feet and they make me want to trot along and jog occasionally when I wear them. ESC definitely have more grip though I found the FG grip to definitely be enough – even for challenging scrambles (Devils Head, Alberta, for reference). However, I found that the laces on the Magna Trail lineup have frayed and become destroyed rather quickly, and I reckon this will happen to the Magna Forest ESC as they seem identical.