The Magna Forest ESC is a fast, flexible and rugged hiking boot with all-terrain capability and excellent breathability. Built to thrive in the forest biome and beyond, it is the fast-hiking version of the Tracker Forest ESC.
Weight
Approx. 495g (Men's Size EU 42)
Heel-to-Toe Drop
0mm
Stack Height
9.5mm (2.5mm base + 7mm lug depth)
Midsole
No traditional midsole for enhanced flexibility, ground feel and natural movement
Outsole
Outdoor ESC Michelin outsole with aggressive 7mm off-trail lugs, articulated toe lugs and a braking heel lug for traction across challenging terrain
Upper
Durable Wild Hide leather with protective synthetic rubber overlays and a flexible knitted collar made with recycled polyester, elastane and wool
Lining
Combination of 100% recycled polyester and Wild Hide leather
Insole
Removable Ortholite Performance Insole made from 98% recycled polyurethane foam, with an organic cotton base
Closure
Lace-up closure with durable metal hardware and recycled polyester laces featuring reflective flecks
Materials
Wild Hide leather, recycled polyester, wool, synthetic rubber, organic cotton and a Michelin rubber outsole
Water Resistance
Water-resistant leather construction without a waterproof membrane, allowing enhanced breathability and faster drying
Fit
Wide, foot-shaped fit
Best Use
Trekking, fast hiking, fastpacking, forest trails, steep climbs and descents, wet and muddy conditions and off-trail expeditions
WHY VIVOBAREFOOT IS DIFFERENT
Vivobarefoot shoes are designed to let your feet move naturally. With a wide toe box, thin flexible sole, and zero-drop platform, they allow your feet to function the way they were designed to. Traditional shoes often add cushioning and structure that can reduce natural movement and sensory feedback.
Feature
Vivobarefoot
Traditional Shoes
Toe Box
Wide and foot-shaped for natural toe splay
Narrow and tapered
Sole
Thin and flexible for ground feel
Thick and cushioned
Heel Drop
Zero drop for natural posture
Raised heel alters posture
Movement
Encourages natural foot strength and mobility
Supports and restricts natural movement
Purpose
Designed to reconnect you with natural movement
Designed mainly for cushioning and control
OUR TEAM ARE YOUR FOOT EXPERTS
Choosing the right shoe is not just about size. We can help you find the best fit for your foot shape, comfort needs, and where you are on your transition journey into more natural footwear.
Starting out?
If you are new to natural footwear, we can help you choose a style that feels right for your current stage rather than jumping into something too minimal too soon.
Absolutely love them!
Incredibly comfortable, traction is incredible ( I just got back from a 50km treck under heavy rains ( they are not fully waterproof and not meant to be that was my mistake ) and absolutely no issue what so ever!
Better than any other hiking shoes I got.
Next step... the Trackers winter for waterproofing!
Light weight, soft leather, wide enough for feet with bunions, very flexible, plus a good grip on rough surfaces….also very easy to get on and off. Yes, expensive, but worth the money.
These hiking boots were initially not on my radar until my brother bought a pair and I noticed the quality of the shoe. I have found them to be incredible versatile, comfortable, super easy to slip on and off, and pretty waterproof. They also don’t have that bulky look a lot of hiking boots have. Overall I am thrilled with them. And will be recommending them to everyone! I have always worn vivos but this is my first proper hiking boot from them.
I love these shoes! They are so comfortable, need no wearing in and feel like they will cope with the large amount of walking I do for work. These shoes and regular exercises help me manage my plantar.
Fit really well and are comfortable to have on and walk in. I use them for everyday wear even though they are sold as a hiking shoe just because I have gotten so used to wearing work boots/shoes. Definitely recommend.
Wish I’d found these years ago. Comfortable, wide, sturdy, easy to get on and off. Water doesn’t appear to penetrate them. You can still feel the ground under foot. The back doesn’t come up too high so the design doesn’t affect your natural gait. They are literally the best hiking boots I’ve ever worn. Just one word of warning, I’ve been wearing zero drop shoes for about a year now. If you’re new to zero drop shoes it will take you a while to transition to a totally flat shoe. But it is worth it.
I have a number of Vivobare shoes and they are all outstanding.
I'm really starting to love my new Vivobarefoot Magna Forest Escape (ESC) boots. The new Michelin sole is a HUGE improvement on the old Vivobarefoot Firm Ground (FG) sole - much better grip on all sorts of different terrain. I've got both the Vivobarefoot Tracker and Magna in the Forest ESC version.
They've got a nice wide toe box which is great, but they're also quite wide and a bit loose throughout the whole foot which I didn't like at first. I did size up to make sure I have plenty of room for thick socks and for swollen feet after long, multi-day hikes, so that would likely have contributed to them seeming overly wide.
They felt almost sloppy around the foot initially, but I've since found that once you've got a thick sock on and snugged the laces tight-ish and then worn them in a bit over a few long walks, they really mold to your feet. I don't really notice them being too wide now, although if you have very narrow feet they may not be for you. The water "resistant" leather (vs a waterproof boot) is a big positive for me, as most waterproof boots I've ever worn eventually get wet inside in really bad weather and then don't dry out for days. These ESC boots are much more breathable - I can tell by how comfortable and relatively cool my feet stay after long days walking in very hot (30C), humid weather. So I think they'd definitely dry out much faster than a waterproof boot if and (inevitably) when they get wet inside. They’ve got reasonable ground feel for what they are - a more robust boot intended for hiking on gnarly terrain. Clearly they won't be as "barefoot-feeling" as something designed for gentle walks on nice smooth ground, but try taking something like that on a week-long, rough trek and you'll likely be very sorry.
Good job Vivobarefoot!