VIVOBAREFOOT Magna FG, Womens Leather and Wool Hiking Trainers with Barefoot Sole

Product Information

I really love the materials. They are functional, designed to take a beating and still look good. The shoe is made from naturally scarred leather from free-roaming cattle sourced from small-scale farmers (so not vegan friendly) with a water-resistant treatment so you can use them cross country without getting your feet wet.

The toe box is vast, providing a ton of room to let your toes splay out. This helps you use your feet in a more natural way and also contributes to your balance. Plus, there is a rubber toe protector on the outside of the shoes — a nice addition to make your feet feel a little more protected in the minimalist shoes. Laces Features of the Vivobarefoot Magna Trail Upper The minimal design of the upper fabric is constructed of nylon that is made of recycled PET. It is also highly water resistant (pretty close to fully waterproof), and is highly durable. I found the fit to be about a half size too big. I usually wear a UK 4.5-5. These are a UK size 4 and they still feel very spacious inside. I initially felt like my feet moved around lots inside the boots, and my feet had to work extra hard to grip. But this has gotten better the more I’ve worn them, and I guess, the stronger my feet have become. As mentioned, there’s also a ton of room in the toe box for your toes to splay and help grip. One thing to note is that if you like to really cinch up your laces, you won’t like this shoe. If you tighten the shoe too much, it will begin cramping your foot. OverallThe laces are slightly crimped/curly. This helps them stay well done up and makes them easy to adjust. The lacing system also features metal eyelets at the ankle and tough plastic eyelets further down. Ankle First up, let’s talk about support. If you’re used to regular hiking boots with high ankles, stiff soles and arch support then your feet and ankles will feet totally naked to start with in the Magna Trails. They provide very little support at all. But that’s kind of their point! They’re designed to make your feet and ankles do the work they’re supposed to do, and I kinda like that. Goods being returned in a condition other than Pristine and Brand New as sold may be subject to a diminished value fee if they are diminished as a result of your handling and use while in possession of goods. Up on the grassy moorland this is no problem at all. My feet feel wonderfully connected with the ground, making the most of the natural cushioning provided by the soft terrain. Waterproofness As for ankle stability… I found this really interesting. Because the sole is so thin, your heel and ankle are as close to the ground as they could possibly be, short of wearing no shoes at all. This means that if you do ‘go over’ on your ankle, you’ve really got nowhere to fall to — you’re already at ground-zero! Yes, your ankles work harder than normal because of this, but they soon get used to it.

Minimalist shoe company Vivobarefoot believe that shoes should be “foot shaped (not shoe shaped), to let your feet do their natural thing.” In design terms, this means that their footwear is made to complement biomechanics – how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement – and posture associated with walking or running barefoot. The result of this design paradigm is series of lightweight shoes that are wide, extremely flexible, and thin-soled. The Magna FG range is the latest release from Vivobarefoot with the FG standing for Firm Ground, these shoes are available in both Mens and Womens Obsidian and Sedona Sage in sizes 3-14, the Magna has been designed with a more casual look than a sports shoe. Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company.

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Leading up to my first wear of these I’d been running in zero-drop trail runners (totally flat across the whole sole). This means that my calves were slightly conditioned to the effects of the flat-soled Magna Trails. However, my calves still felt ‘worked’ after the first outing. The more I’ve worn them, the better this has become. The support is as good as it can be with such a minimal set up. The shoe features a rubber cup in the heel and two wings on either side that pull your foot into the shoe bed and hold it in place. Aside from that, you are depending on the lacing system to keep your foot stable. I really love how nimble I feel wearing the Magna Trails. 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.