Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG: One Barefoot Hiking Boot to Rule Them All?

Could this barefoot hiking boot replace all the other shoes in your closet? Or is it all hype?

At Terradrift, we prioritize reducing overconsumption and buying versatile products to lessen the massive amount of waste created by the outdoor and apparel industries. It’s far more sustainable to own one item that can do five things well than five items that each do one thing well (also, it makes more room in our closet to store luggage…). So when we learned about the Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG, a minimalist barefoot hiking boot billed as sustainable, lightweight, water-resistant, ultra-flexible, and hyper-versatile, we were intrigued. So we tested them out to see if they lived up to the hype.

Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG: The Deets

First of all, if the name of this barefoot hiking boot seems like it has as many letters after its name as your sports therapist, let us assure you that all four of them have their place. WR stands for water-resistant and SG for soft ground, which in Vivo-speak means they have deep lugs for excellent grip and traction on various surfaces.

And if this boot looks familiar, it should. It’s essentially the same design as the VivoBarefoot Magna Lite SG we tested last year and is similar to our all-time fave do-it-all boot, the Magna Trail FG. This new version maintains the lightweight, breathable, flexible, and stylish features of its predecessor while offering better protection against dirt, sand, and debris with a sock-like high-rise ankle plus water resistance.

To reiterate, they’re water resistant, not waterproof. Meaning hydrophobic fabric can handle creek crossings and some rain, but don’t expect them to perform like other fully waterproof barefoot hiking boots. The boots aren’t insulated, so they’re not designed for winter (check out these barefoot winter hiking boots if that’s what you’re looking for) but perfect for three-season use. They’re great for mild to warm weather with some rain, spring snow, or shallow stream crossings.

They’re lightweight, flexible, and minimalist, which promotes healthy foot function, flexibility, and balance. They’re zero drop hiking boots, have no arch support, and a wide toe box that offers an experience as close to walking barefoot as you can get without the discomfort of stepping on every pebble.

Sustainability is a priority with Vivobarefoot, and these boots are made from plenty of (but not 100%) recycled materials and are vegan to boot. The uppers are made of a water-resistant ripstop material, TPU overlays, and a stretchy sock-like tongue and ankle that’s comfortable and flexible. But what does all these mean in practice? We took them out on the dusty trails of Utah to find out.

Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG: The Review

First of all, let me say that when we took these out, they required absolutely no break-in period. In fact, I hiked 10 miles on a 90-degree day without even wearing them around the house first and my feet didn’t feel a single hot spot or discomfort all dang day. Maybe more importantly (at least for me, an individual who usually opts to hike in sandals because I HATE when my feet are hot), my feel felt neither hot nor clammy nor uncomfortable. Color me impressed, because I honestly didn’t have a single moment where I thought, “ugh, this is miserable” and threaten to chuck my boots off a cliff and complete the hike barefoot. My feet truly did not feel hot and disgusting.

As for waterproofing, again, since these are water resistant, not waterproof, when water came up to the knit portion of the shoe, some did seep in. Slowly, but by the end of a hike with a couple of creek crossings our socks were a little damp. Nothing to complain much about, and you can certainly waterproof your boots on your own with Nikwax if you want, but just something to keep in mind.

The deep tread on the soles offers excellent traction on soft soil, mud, scree, even rock. Honestly, I never felt like I was going to lose my footing in these.

Bonus: they’re pretty dang stylish–at least in our opinion–and available in very appealing and trie-and-true colors like all black, cream with just a touch of turquoise and orange, and grey. Honestly, I think they’re sleek enough for both hiking and wandering around town. I will absolutely be taking these on all manner of adventures, including as one of maybe two shoes when I travel. After all, when they look this good and are this functional, they’re simultaneously a trail runner, barefoot hiking boot, comfy travel shoe, and daily footwear. Win.

Now, like I said, they’re more of a three-season boot because they’re not insulated. They do come with a super thin removable thermal insole, though. Not thermal as in winter, but I will say that I recently went on an ice walk on a glacier in Canada with a pair of Vivobarefoot shoes with these insoles, and it took about two hours for my feet to start feeling the cold, even though the rest of me was pretty layered and bundled and we were standing around as often as we were actively hiking. So the insoles are thin, but actually pretty effective. You can also remove them in warmer weather or if you want even more groundfeel and flexibility.

As for fit and sizing, I will say they seem to run a tad small. I wear a European size 37 in these, which is about a U.S. 6, which is smaller than my usual size 7. And Josh typically wears half sizes, but Vivo doesn’t offer them, so he sized down and they fit perfectly. So I guess what I’m saying is: consult the size chart before ordering.

Now, as you can see, they are quite low volume in the toe region and the outside edge slopes off rather quickly, so if your toes are especially wide set or tall or you have a much longer than average second toe, you may want to size up or consider other barefoot hiking shoes. But neither Josh nor I experienced issues, so this is all conjecture.

Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG: Pros and Cons

Need a quick breakdown of the pros and cons? Take a look!

Pros

• Lightweight and Flexible: They feel like wearing nothing (but with more protection) plus the design promotes natural foot movement and function.
• Water-Resistant: They’ll keep your feet dry in moderately wet conditions.
• Stylish and Versatile: Can be worn on the trail and around town as a stylist street shoe.
• Sustainable: Made from partially recycled materials and vegan.
• No Break-In Time: Comfortable from the very first wear.
• Packable: Guaranteed top take up minimal room in your bag when traveling.
• Removable thermal insoles: Keep your feet warmer in cooler weather or remove when it’s hot or you crave more groundfeel.

Cons

• Not Waterproof: Water can seep in during prolonged exposure.
• Cream color gets dirty: Not surprisingly, if you opt for the cream color, it will look dirty fast. But that’s all part of the fun, isn’t it?
• Price: At around $260, they are not the cheapest option, but the brand does have a ReVivo section of the site that offers refurbished shoes at a discount.

Magna Lite Barefoot Hiking Boot: Bottom Line

Basically, I dig these Vivobarefoot hiking boots and I expect them to become not only my new go-to hiking shoes for any hikes where I expect there to be shallow creek crossings, plus my travel shoes, trail runners, you name it.

Honestly, calling them the one minimalist boot to rule them all does NOT feel like an overstatement. 

These are easily some of my favorite hiking shoes that I expect to reach for over and over again, more than any other pair I own. And based on the performance and durability of other Vivobarefoot boots I’ve tested, they should last for a good long while.

So get yourself one pair of shoes that can do it all and wander on.