By Kelsey Dzintars Explorebigsky.com Staff Writer
VivoBarefoot is built on the idea that 70 percent of your brain’s information for movement comes from the nerves on the soles of your feet.
“The more you can feel the ground, the greater your body’s understanding of its surroundings and natural movement,” the company’s website explains.
As I embarked on a 13-mile hike in the Absarokas this summer, I was a little nervous how my feet would feel without the usual cushion and stability traditional hiking boots provide. I found I loved the lightweight boot with a sole that allowed me to really feel the nuances of the trail. The toe box allowed my foot to flex naturally, so when we finally arrived at our site, my feet were happy campers.
After this first excursion I was more confident a few weeks later on a backpacking trip to Mystic Lake. Again the Vivobarefoot Off Roaders stood up to the test. I scrambled up a talus slope, feeling every boulder but no pain.
With the waterproof boots, I also had no fear wading across the small creeks and on the banks of the lake. My feet did get a little hot with my wool socks in the height of summer, but only when the sun was beating down. I’m looking forward to hiking in these well into the winter months.
