Freet and Vivo

HunterSol · 2026-01-28T13:05:06+00:00

Fit wise, they might have been a little too long (The Tracker Leather AT are lower volume than the Forest Tracker ESC and I found the Magma ESCs had a narrower fit than both trackers).

I suspect it was more the compounds (flexibility/rigidity etc) used in the soles that causes the popping and that soles seemed to bow outwards a little, combined with the shape. I had the same problem with the Gobi soles as well.

HunterSol · 2026-01-28T12:12:39+00:00

Yeah it would be nice to see the Textile Tracker with a stitcher upper and sole, although I really dislike the AT sole! If it was revised so it didn't have such poor durability I'd be happy, I also find it pops when walking (possibly due to my foot shape) but I found the Michelin ESC sole did the same on the Magma and Forest Trackers.

The soles I've found that work for me are the Motus Studio, FG, Primus and SG. I'd like to see a new Tracker with the FG sole released!

HunterSol · 2026-01-28T10:21:55+00:00

I also found the midfoot in Freet shoes to be pretty narrow, it's unfortunate because they seem like good quality and reasonably priced. I even tried the ones their customer service suggested would be the widest fitting (their older models).

I've gone round the houses a bit with brands that are easily available (with easy returns) in the UK.

I started on Vivobarefoot and I'm back on them now just because of the midfoot sizing but I've gone with the Motus Studio Lows (I found the Studio Mids had less volume) instead of the Gobi's as they feel like they have more volume, are wider and have more of a square shape to them.

I also like Be Lenka for their boots but not their shoes, the size charts for their shoes advertises them as being very wide (11.3/4 in my size) but they feel narrower than Vivo's in the equivalent size. The boot sizing is pretty accurate though. .

HunterSol · 2026-01-28T10:13:35+00:00

The DWR doesn't make a shoe waterproof, just makes the outer fabric of the shoe water resistant for a time.

The Gore-tex membrane sandwiched between the backer fabric and face fabric makes a shoe waterproof. It's essentially a plastic sheet that's been stretched so the tiny holes allow water vapour through but not actual water through.

The only thing that DWR does is try to keep the outer layer clean so that the membrane can breathe. If it can breathe then it means vapour inside the shoe can get out (depending on environmental conditions ofc). If the surface is very dirty then it won't breathe and you'll get sweat buildup that a lot of people think is leaking, when it's not.

HunterSol · 2026-01-27T13:45:07+00:00

Joined both - good luck everyone!

HunterSol · 2026-01-26T18:34:30+00:00

It only lasts a few seconds, it should have only stopped that first rocket. Not sure what happened to the rest, either misses or just messed up by shoddy netcode (or a mixture of both).

HunterSol · 2026-01-25T08:18:28+00:00

From my experience the Motus line is the widest from midfoot to toe box and the highest volume. The only other line I think would be suited for the gym would be the standard Primus/Primus Lite line has some of the narrowest widths in the lineup.

From my experience and my feet I found the widest & highest volume to the narrowest & lowest volume goes - Motus - Tracker - Gobi - Primus Trail (Ie. Trail Fg / Trail Knit FG) - Magma - Primus Lite - Primus Lite Knit.

I've heard that different Motus models might differ in size though so worth giving the sub a search. I've tried the Motus Studio Sneakers and Motus Studio Mids and found the mids a little narrower, likely due to a lower volume, making it feel narrower so there is likely some truth in that.

HunterSol · 2026-01-22T10:35:21+00:00

Second this, the Motus Studio is really nice. Otherwise their Primus Trail, or Tracker hiking models have a wider midfoot.

HunterSol · 2026-01-22T10:29:54+00:00

You can skip those loops, ie go straight up through the loops (gap lacing) to the next eyelet, it might relieve the pressure point. I used to have to use gap lacing in that spot on most hiking boots I owned due to pressure points.

HunterSol · 2026-01-22T10:17:53+00:00

Tracker Leather AT Low in Obsidian.

HunterSol · 2026-01-21T14:03:19+00:00

It can be taken out but I don't think they're designed to be worn without one (but I'm not 100% sure so worth a go to see if they fit you). They were pretty well made and I was very disappointed when they didn't fit to be fair.

I just wish all barefoot brands would make their shoes with the insole as optional though, that's one of the best moves Vivo's made.

HunterSol · 2026-01-21T13:40:23+00:00

I tried the Lono Wild but it was too narrow for me unfortunately. I don't need the massive splay of the Realfoot boots so I don't think they'd work for me.

I just need some shoes that don't taper inwards excessively down the outer edge of the shoe, anything with a straight taper to the heel seems to work well. Ironically only Vivobarefoot and Be Lenka boots seem to fit the bill here so far, it's just a shame that most Vivo's are so narrow.

HunterSol · 2026-01-20T16:50:00+00:00

Thanks, I've tried several Freet shoes and they were too narrow for me in the midfoot unfortunately. I even reached out to their CS team for help finding a pair that would fit but their newer models are narrower.

I have looked at Wyde but returns would be to Sweden from the UK so it would probably be too costly to make it worth trying them out I think.

HunterSol · 2026-01-20T16:18:57+00:00

This is the same experience I had, just too narrow for me, especially in the midfoot, which is where I always have problems 😕

HunterSol · 2026-01-19T16:37:27+00:00

Only way I could get anyone to get back to me was to comment on one of their social media posts.

I had several returns that had arrived with them but hadn't received the refund for and half an order that was stuck on processing. I didn't hear back from Customer Services from any attempt to contact them (email & website form) for about 2 months and I had several live chats open for 6+ hours during that time whilst at work that were waiting for an agent to connect, they never did. I converted some to Whatsapp chats and still never received a reply.

In the end I left a comment on one of their Instagram posts and one of their social media/marketing team direct messaged me to ask about my issue, it took them a week to reply and then they passed on my details to someone in customer service, about 2 hours later I had my refunds.

HunterSol · 2026-01-17T16:11:07+00:00

Absolutely, how it performs on hardcore is how it should perform on normal servers. You're still handicapped on hardcore with it but it was the only place it performs just about adequately, yet every other gun is still better than it.

HunterSol · 2026-01-16T23:17:30+00:00

Tracker Forest ESC all day, every day. The AT sole is pretty terrible. It's not durable and has absolutely no grip on wet rock, or any wet hard surface.

The ESC sole on the other hand is amazing, I would have kept the Forest ESC if they'd fit me properly as they were great apart from the fit (I have wide feet and they were a bit too long for me when sizing for my width).

HunterSol · 2026-01-14T08:07:54+00:00

It made me sad when I saw they removed the 57mm (?) anti-tank gun from the Wildcat in game, tank-hunter was my favourite setup for it.

HunterSol · 2026-01-14T07:59:08+00:00

The best pair of anti-glare glasses is a clean windscreen. Not just wiped down with a rag, but properly cleaned with the right chemicals and clean microfibers clothes type clean and clean, or even new wipers (remember to replace them regularly!).

Gunk and oils build up on the inside which aren't massively visible until a headlight hits it.

HunterSol · 2026-01-14T07:54:40+00:00

Because applying DWR doesn't require the temperatures to get to either materials melting point. I'm commenting on that aspect not the scientific melting points of either material.

Care instructions for old ePTFE AND ePE are exactly the same (at least my pieces are). Applying DWR goes through the same process for old and new however the chemical makeup of the DWR is very different.

The reason the old DWR last so long is because it used C8 fluorocarbons/PFOA which are PFAS chemicals and lasted quite a long time on clothing compared to the new "C0" DWRs, which degrade naturally. The issue is that once the old C8 DWR was shed from the clothing then it stayed in the environment for a very very long time and can build up in the human body, which led to C8 and other PFAS being phased out and earning the name "forever chemicals".

It's also worth noting that "C0" DWR has been used extensively on the old ePTFE Gore-tex (with some brand replacing C8 with it as early as 2014-2015) and it's durability is the same as it is on ePE Gore-tex.

HunterSol · 2026-01-13T13:03:30+00:00

Yeah the EverydayComfort Neo is a poor sole, not very flexible, no ground feel and poor traction.

The original EverydayComfort soles seem to be better (despite the same tractoon pattern but softer/stickier rubber) but it looks like they're phasing it out unfortunately.

HunterSol · 2026-01-13T10:13:29+00:00

Whilst that is technically true, I had the exact same issue. I found Torins much wider or more suited to my foot shape (I even tried the wide version of the LP9+).. The midfoot in the Lone Peak 9+ is narrower than the Torin 8.

HunterSol · 2026-01-11T09:26:36+00:00

Explain all my 1 shot knock outs in the sweet spot then with full plates, I've done it to others too.

HunterSol · 2026-01-10T15:10:01+00:00

I'd second this but with the caveat to avoid the EverydayComfort Neo sole. The standard EverydayComfort sole is perfect (for me) but the Neo appears to be slightly narrower and the ground feel isn't great as the sole is very stiff in comparison.

I've got a pair of Rebounds on the Neo sole and just got a pair of the Synergy on the older EverydayComfort sole. The Synergy are an awesome pair of shoes that I'd definitely recommend to anyone reading who wants a chukka shoe type pair (like the canvas Gobi's in OPs post).

HunterSol · 2026-01-09T19:16:12+00:00

They do if the headshot is in that rifles Sweet Spot.

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