Has anyone hiked in Vivobarefoot Ultra Pures?

Why didn't he remove the offending insoles when they started pinching?

–B.G.–

IMO, unless you have really, really tough feet, I can't see hiking in Ultra Pures. I have a pair that I love, and carry, for camp/water shoes. I've done some very light 'hiking' after setting up camp to scramble to the top of hill or around a small lake and such in them, but I wouldn't consider them for any real distance. I'd think your feet would be sore after 2 miles, less on rocky terrain.

By the time he gave up on the boots, his toe was pretty darn sore. Just removing the insoles didn't work–he tried. It's now turning pretty colors, and we're taking bets on whether or not he keeps the nail. He's griped about how a hiking injury should be bigger, more dramatic–not just your little pinky toe!

There was a story a while back in National Geographic, where it was mentioned that redheads actually have more sensitivity to pain. He's a redhead. He's also stubborn–he kept hiking past the time he should have found a solution.

His camp shoes are Inov-8 190's, which are no longer made. They have good soles, more heavy duty than the Vivo Barefoots (Barefeet?) for sure. That's one reason I'm not sure it would be worth it, the Ultra Pure are really soft. I've heard of hiking in Crocs, but they are more bulky than I want to put up with.

I use them as camp shoes sometimes, and river crossing shoes other times. They're great for those purposes, but I'd be wary about hiking in them with anything close to a heavy pack. Sharp rocks are not kind to the rubber. That being said, I had a hiking buddy get major blisters in her boots on the 2nd day of a three-day trip in north Alabama last year, and she hiked for the rest of the hike in my Vivos with no problems.

No experience with the ultra pures, but I've hiked in a few vivobarefoot shoes. They are fine in you already do the whole minimalist shoes thing but if not you will be uncomfortable. If you decide to go with minimalist shoes as a main hiking shoe you should get something with better traction on dirt.

I own a pair and wore them around camp on a recent 12 day trip to the Rockies with my family. I loved having them with me, but got a pretty painful bruise/puncture from a sharp rock that cut through the shoe while hurrying to untangle my girlfriend's fly line from the bushes behind her.

Moral of the story: Watch your step.

That being said I think as backup hiking shoes they would be significantly better than just socks.

My search for the ultimate camp shoe balances light weight and lack of bulk against durability and stability for the ability to be used as emergency hiking shoes. I've tried Innov-8 190's, Sockwa, ZEM Gear, Vivo Barefeet Ultra Pure, and Luna Sandals. The sandals have the best sole for the lightest weight and bulk, but I don't know how folks who hike in sandals avoid having little rocks under their arch every 3 steps. I find hiking in sandals annoying. The iterations of MYOG blue foam flip-flops never made sense to me–camping in established campsites, they *always* put the pit toilets in the highest, rockiest, most inconvenient spot they can find, and I didn't like stumbling around and bashing my feet.

Finally, I convinced myself that with comfortable, lightweight hikers, I don't need a second pair of shoes on backpacking trips. The new insoles was a total rookie move, and now my boyfriend remembers why, in hindsight. But it's my nature to risk assess, plan for contingencies, etc.

Our pack weights never get over 30 pounds total with food and water, so it's not like I would need heavy duty boots. But, rocks are hard, and I'm trying to get away from staring at the trail 3 ft in front of me. Soft shoes means that you have to watch your footing, and place your feet accordingly.

I used to think that my reason for carrying camp shoes was so that I had something dry to wear in camp, with the assumption that I had to wade some streams wearing my trail hikers. Then I did a trip with a different tactic used. There was only one shin-deep stream crossing. So, I wore only heavy socks through the water, keeping my trail hikers dry. On the other side, I tried to wring out the wet socks and then stored them in the rear mesh pocket of my pack for later drying. I donned fresh socks with the dry trail hikers, and that made my feet sing. So, I still don't carry any camp shoes, and I detest flip-flops.

–B.G.–

I sometimes carry camp shoes when doing creek walking canyon trips. Having wet shoes at the end of every day gets old fast. You can do the bread bag over dry socks thing, but camp shoes are more comfortable. And you don't want to wear bread bags in hot weather. If it's rainy weather then I rely on the bread bag technique because my camp shoes would get wet anyways.
Also, for some of the trips i've done it would be nice to have both water walking shoes with sticky rubber and hiking shoes with lugs.

But since I already wear light minimalist shoes, my camp shoes and hiking shoes are interchangeable.

I wear my ultra pures almost every day during warm weather (wife calls them my clown shoes). I tried hiking with them on rough terrain and did't like it. It is almost like going barefoot…the bottom can be pierced by sharp objects. I prefer hiking in my Saucony Peregrins.

I hiked a few 5-7 mile hikes in vivobarefoot shoes after getting used to barefoot shoes on the sidewalk first. It wasn't really ideal. I found I had to constantly watch where I put my feet ALL DAY. It made me dizzy, caused my speed to drop significantly, and I always ended the day with sore feet all over. Maybe after a year of hiking like this I'd get used to it, but I don't have the patience for it. Simple zero drop running shoes or lightweight boots will have to do for me.

Adam, I think that is something that comes instinctively after using minimalist shoes for years. I am constantly subconsciously paying attention to every step, but don't notice myself doing it… if that makes any sense.