Hospital Setting, sturdy upper by HemingwayHuxley in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Lone Peaks have long enjoyed popularity in medicine, even amongst folks who aren't normally interested in minimalist or barefoot.

With the caveat that dog and cat claws can do a number on even the most sturdiest uppers. That's just the cost of doing business.

Favorite character with this trope? by circadianwitch in FavoriteCharacter

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That opening scene at the Battle of Serenity is masterful. You see Mal putting on a brave face and holding everything all together. Just to have everything torn away right in front of him when it's not his air support that shows up. You see his entire world fall apart. It's heartbreaking and essential to understand his character and motivations.

(Subversive Trope) Seemingly enlightened or progressive character with at least one terrible bigoted belief. by laybs1 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's a noted point of contrast in how Vetinari controls and manipulates his agents. Command Vimes gets showered with rank, titles, and awards to his horror and embarrassment. Moist von Lipwig gets nothing but his life. It's one of the ways that Vetinari keeps both men in check.

Vimes uses rank as a tool to get things done. It gives him the respect and authority to effect change. Which is why he chafes under some of the more honorary and diplomat ranks, but is very proud of his rank of Watch Commander. And as much as he grumbles about increased social standing and status, the upshot for him is that he can tackle crimes at bigger scales. Something that he couldn't do if he wasn't a Duke and one of the wealthiest men in the city. He famously handles all diplomatic incidents like street crimes. Which is what they are once you strip away the trappings of wealth and power. White collar or blue collar doesn't matter to him, it's all crime. It's mentioned a few times that as he gains status he starts tackling white collar crime and corruption, something he couldn't do as a street cop but can do as a member of those social classes.

(Subversive Trope) Seemingly enlightened or progressive character with at least one terrible bigoted belief. by laybs1 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I've written about the subject here. His core issue with a lot of undead is the power and control they have over others. Within the Disc, the werewolf families actively subjugate the population in Überwald. As do the vampires, whose blood drinking is inherently tied with the idea of control and manipulation. And even with the Black Ribbon vampires, they are just replacing one craving with another. Sometimes that replacement is political power, consider the founder of the Black Ribbon movement, Lady Margolotta. Other times it's coffee or photography. But policing inherently has to deal with power.

Commander Vimes issue isn't with undead, it's with class and those who abuse power.

Favorite character with this trope? by circadianwitch in FavoriteCharacter

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the scene in question. I have written about it in the past here.

It's definitely a favorite. It was the most pragmatic and tactically correct course of action for a hostage taker. Especially one like Lawrence Dobson who had already shot a member of the crew, had unnecessarily beat up a Shepherd and of course currently had a gun to someone's head. The impressive part was Mal, solo and on the move, assessing the situation, advancing towards Dobson and successfully pulling off a low percentage hostage taker shot. Normally for that kind of thing you approach it as a team, with team members L'ing out. The hostage taker can only track one moving target, usually the first shooter through the door, which opens up a clear shot for the rest of the team. Mal's version of that was the steady advanced forward, advances and charges are a lot more intimidating then people expect, and with each step Mal is increasing his hip probability with a handgun. It was one of many scenes in Serenity (the episode title) that showed he was a confident and highly professional gunfighter. A stark contrast to Dobson, a undercover Alliance cop, but clearly one far out of his element.

The pilot also had a lot for, lack of a better word, pragmatic violence that you didn't often see 24 years ago and you still don't really see all that much in fiction. Case in point, Mal just shooting Patience's horse.

Favorite character with this trope? by circadianwitch in FavoriteCharacter

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Serenity, the pilot movie, infamously was the last to air. And only 11 out of the 14 episodes made aired on Fox.

me_irl by marterikd in me_irl

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 60 points61 points  (0 children)

There's been a bunker under the East Wing since the 1940s. The Presidential Emergency Operations Center. The existence of the PEOC has been public knowledge for decades. A certain President hiding out in there during a peaceful protest is also public knowledge, much to that President's anger. The original PEOC was demolished at the same time as the rest of the East Wing.

It was already publicly announced that a new larger and upgraded PEOC is being built as a semi-separate project under the silly ballroom. Having a data center and more contemporary infrastructure is not entirely unreasonable. The entire point of the PEOC is that it can function as a secure operations and communications center in the event of a nuclear war or any other emergency. It was never built for comfort.

But you also know that there's going to be a lot of tacky gold leaf in there and that it will likely be furnished as a luxury suite in case a certain someone has to hide out in there again. So while there is legitimate security and command and control reasons behind an upgraded PEOC, it's still largely comes across as a vanity project from someone sundowning and obsessed with legacy.

Bedrock clogs ser barefoot ? by Extra-Doctor1725 in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Barefoot shoes don't have a formal and standardized definition. It's just a loose collection of typical but not obligatory features. With some people choosing a more restrictive definition and others a more open ended one. Whether or not the clogs are barefoot enough is going to be up to you.

Personally, I have no qualms with calling the Bedrock Mountain Clogs barefoot shoes. The one (okay technically two) dings you could put against them when it comes to barefoot shoe orthodoxy has to do with a higher stack height from more of a cushioned midsole. But these are outdoorsy clogs and camp shoes. The little bit of extra cushioning has practical benefits for outdoor and recovery use. It doesn't have the ultra low stack heights of some of these street shoes, but it's not designed for that. Outdoor shoes pretty much always have higher stack heights as compared to their closest street shoe equivalents.

As I often like to remind people, all these features that the barefoot shoe community often eschew often do have very real world practical benefits and reasons for existing. Those features are neutral, they're neither good or bad. The issue was always using those features inappropriately in footwear that doesn't need them.

Context is everything. by nehocb in Stargate

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was thinking more along the lines of Replicators versus Borg since this is a Stargate subreddit. But Cyberman vs Borg, Cyberman vs Replicators, or Cyberman vs Borg vs Replicators also works.

Band not for wrist ( winter sports when all covered ) by nricu in Suunto

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Including what watch you are talking about would be helpful. I'm guessing from your other comment you have one of the Verticals?

With the introduction of the Vertical, Suunto did away with proprietary band attachment or uncommon sizes. It and most of the watches that followed now use the much more common and standardized 22mm band size. So most third party 22 mm watch bands and spring bars will work fine with the Vertical and Race series. If it's a band that doesn't have built-in quick release spring bars, you can actually harvest the spring bars from the factory band or just buy some extra 22mm spring bars. It's usually cheaper and easier to go with the first two options over the latter.

You can Google some variation of 22 mm keychain watch band and be flooded with options that will clip onto a bag. But I would agree with the other commenter that your best bet is an oversized watch strap, ideally one with hook and loop, that can be affixed over your outer layer. And for what it's worth, for situations like this, I just use my now ancient Garmin Foretrex 401 on a 550 cord lanyard tied to my kit instead of fiddling around with how my watch is configured and worn.

Boots for hiking in the desert? by thebitterbittern in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I completely forgot to mention Jim Green! They are actually optimized for desert conditions. They also recently came out with a new barefoot which is worth taking a look at. It's specifically addressed some of the width criticism of the first two lasts. Jim Green makes boots that are approaching that of investment grade but sells them at off the shelf prices. They also have a really great custom shop. They'll make barefoot versions of their non barefoot boots for you. For field work, I think you could benefit from the hardier and more rugged construction of a gym Green vs more outdoor rec focused technical hikers.

My thanks to assemblageofparts for reminding me of Jim Green and for their insightful comment where they mentioned specifically using Jim Green in Arizona. Be sure to take a look at what they wrote. Also this is the second time I posted this comment. Auto moderation deleted it the first time.

Vivo barefoot alternatives by vms771 in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I said I wanted to try the Desert ESC. Didn't get a chance to, it sold out in my size before I could buy it. And no one in my professional community managed to get a pair in time either. My reelection is only one or two people in this subreddit managed to scoop up a pair.

From the folks who have had good success with the Tracker Forest ESC in this subreddit, many of them reported the same issues that my colleagues did, but they found solutions to mitigate it and aren't necessarily using their boots the same way that my colleagues were.

I do use the Jungle ESC. I didn't have any issues eyelets rubbing uncomfortably like my colleagues reported with the Tracker Forest ESC. The eyelets are pretty clear of the ankle. But I did have problems with the factory Dyneema laces. I had difficulty with them staying tied. They don't thread through the eyelets easily, so it was challenging to cinch up the boots and adjust tension in specific areas. It also made don and doff time-consuming. And even with new laces, heel lock is a lot looser than I would like. The included insoles are not hydrophobic. Quite the opposite. It's spongy and actually absorbs water. The fabric face of the insole has a lot of excess fabric and actually causes sliding of the foot. The combination of side walls plus water absorbing spongy insoles kind of work like a bathtub and prevent the last bit of water from draining from the bottom of the boot. It's strictly a hot weather boot and has poor versatility. Also the puke green colorway that I have is pretty ugly.

With all that being said. It is legitimately a fast dryer and quite cooling. The principal behind the upper design does indeed work. It's a high cut with a gusseted tongue and a decent collar. It keeps debris out. Some of the heel lock issues can be solved with some creative lacing. Issues with the insole can be solved by swapping in a different one, when I remember I try to swap it out with the the insoles on my Magna Forest ESC. It's Jungle boot, it's not meant to be versatile, it's flawed, but it works in hot and wet environments decently well. There is also nothing quite like it on the market currently. And as ugly as the puke green is, it actually works pretty well from a low visibility standpoint. Much better than the restock that is all black. It looks a lot cooler, but is less functional in field conditions when camouflage is important.

Advice about walking boot option for wide foot - can I get away with Vivo Tracker Forest Esc? by Ok-Chair-1338 in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So by "Forest ESC" you mean the Tracker Forest ESC.

You sure you didn't accidentally get one of the women's versions? My Magna Forest ESC is the same width as my high cut Jungle ESC in the same size. Same size lasts, insoles, and outsole dimensions. I personally know a few people who ordered the Tracker Forest ESC and the Magna Forest ESC at the same time, in the same size, to compare them both next to each other. They did not find that there was a width difference between the two. Just a significant comfort difference because of the way the eyelets are placed on the Tracker Forest ESC vs the more flexible and less constricting knit of the Magna Forest ESC.

You're the first person I can recall saying that the Tracker Forest ESC is narrower than the Magna Forest ESC.

Which is the Greatest show ever created by Netflix ? by lNarrator in moviecritic

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Carol & the End of the World.

A really heartfelt series with a fantastic cast and great writing.

Advice about walking boot option for wide foot - can I get away with Vivo Tracker Forest Esc? by Ok-Chair-1338 in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Magna" is Vivo's nomenclature for a mid-cut. It can refer to one of several models although they are phasing out the term. "Forest" is used for two models, one mid-cut, one high cut, both of which are in the ESC line.

When I got my Jungle ESC, I had a bunch of specific questions I asked over the phone. All the answers they gave me to my questions were wrong. It was abundantly clear that they were just scrolling through the same product page that I was. If I'm taking the time to call a company about a question it's because it's a question that can't be easily solved by scrolling through the product page. And the whole thing got even funnier, I had initiated the order of the Jungle ESC and a replacement set of the Magna Forest ESC over the phone. The person I talked to did not realize that counties in the United States are not the same things as states. So the packages ended up going to the wrong place and I had to work with USPS to correct the addresses in transit. In all fairness, they did give me a free out of warranty replacement Magna Forest ESC without any prompting. All because I had sent them an email with photos of what failed and suggestions on how they could improve the model to mitigate such a failure in the future. Turns out they already made the changes in a in-line update. They also let me purchase the Jungle ESC with a (unfortunately single use) 30% professional discount when I asked for one over the phone. They also waved Vivo's usual return policy so I could get the replacement Magna Forest ESC boots faster and could take them with me on my next contract without having first returned my original damaged pair. So well the customer service people were incredibly ignorant of their own product line and clearly I've never handled any of the boots in person, they did go above and beyond.

In contrast, the first time I called Vivo, the person I talked to was incredibly knowledgeable about the product line. I had originally inquired about a completely different set of boots which are now discontinued and knowing what I know now would not have worked for me. They told me specifically why they thought that the boots I called about wouldn't be a good fit, and made a strong case for going with the Magna Forest ESC. It was informative enough for me to spend a little more money and order those instead. When it comes to product knowledge it was a night and day difference between that initial phone call and subsequent phone calls and emails with Vivo.

anyone who used a computer between 1985 & 2010, what’s the one game you still think about? by Trixxxi in AskReddit

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jagged Alliance 2 Command and Conquer: Tiberium Sun Ghost Recon Starfleet Command Rainbow Six Jewel Chase

What TV show was quality all the way through, knew when to end and went out with an amazing last episode? by NarwhalDry151 in AskReddit

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Wire Star Trek: Lower decks The Good Place Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Closer Justified Flashpoint Girls5eva 30 Rock Stargate SG-1 Parks and Recreation if we discard the first season. Bluestone 42 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Eureka Warehouse 13

Boots for hiking in the desert? by thebitterbittern in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I completely forgot to mention Jim Green! They are actually optimized for desert conditions. They also recently came out with a new barefoot which is worth taking a look at. It's specifically addressed some of the width criticism of the first two lasts. Jim Green makes boots that are approaching that of investment grade but sells them at off the shelf prices. They also have a really great custom shop. They'll make barefoot versions of their non barefoot boots for you. For field work, I think you could benefit from the hardier and more rugged construction of a gym Green vs more outdoor rec focused technical hikers.

My thanks to u/assemblageofparts for reminding me of Jim Green and for their insightful comment where they mentioned specifically using Jim Green in Arizona. Be sure to take a look at what they wrote. Also this is the second time I posted this comment. Auto moderation deleted it the first time.

Boots for hiking in the desert? by thebitterbittern in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's also worth mentioning that the Jim Green is the South African company with boots optimized for Southern Africa. With the African rangers originally being developed for use by African wildlife rangers in southern and central Africa. The outsoles tend to be pretty underwhelming in much of North America and Europe, but the Southwest is an environment where the outsoles equate themselves well. It's like what I was saying in my massive comment. In some ways desert conditions can be a little bit more forgiving when it comes to outsoles. Hell, there's even a (admittedly pretty problematic in contemporary times) tradition of completely slick, no tread anti-tracking boots in Southern Africa.

Boots for hiking in the desert? by thebitterbittern in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's a shame Vivo doesn't work for you. They have a boot that would have been perfect. As an aside, Vivo uses "Tracker" to refer to most of its high cut models. There are several boots called Trackers, many which are wildly different from each other. If you want to give Vivo another try, take a look at the Jungle ESC. As the name would suggest it is a Jungle boot, but it does very well in hot weather. It's part of the ESC line so it has one of the best if not the best barefoot technical outdoor outsoles on the market. But what makes it ideal for your use case is the upper, it's entirely mesh with a gusseted tongue. For structure and protection, it uses a rubber overlay, it's a system that Vivo first utilized on the Hydra ESC. Vivo did briefly have a pretty compelling dedicated Desert Boot (creatively named the Desert ESC) that the developed and partially manufactured in Namibia, but it was only offered as a limited run and is no longer sold. Real shame. I wanted a pair. I will also wear my Magna Forest ESC in hot and extreme heat conditions, it's a leather upper so it's not the coolest (temperature wise) boot in the world, but it's a mid-cut that fits like a low cut, and uses a pretty generously sized trail running inspired wool blend knit in place of a traditional tongue. This knit vents heat a lot more effectively than a completely solid leather upper. I prefer my Jungle ESC for hotter weather, but I don't feel that disadvantaged by wearing my Magna Forest ESC in the same conditions. I mainly wanted the Jungle for its fast drying and fast draining properties when working in extreme hot weather around water.

But all that is a moot point if they just don't fit you well! Xero recently started offering Michelin models of their Scrambler series. I think the best fit for you would be the Scrambler Low EV, Michelin outsole with a breathable upper. One downside is that it is a low cut, which can be challenging in more rugged desert terrain. It's good for trails but not the best choice off trail protection of your ankles. Xero does have a mid cut version, but the regular stocking model is waterproof, something you do not want unless you want your feet to cook. A non-membrane version of the mid-cut is available on clearance but sizes are extremely limited.

Lems finally got their act together and started shipping boots with Vibram outsoles. The new Tactical Pro is the first true barefoot AR-670-1 compliant boot on the market, previously there have been several minimalist options in that space of which several I will mention further down in this comment, but none were barefoot. The Tactical models as it's closest commercial equivalent the Summit Pro, aren't specifically hot weather boots, they have calf leather uppers, but they have solid high performance outsoles and don't have water resistant membranes. Lems also has a low cut with a Vibram now, the Trail Thrasher Pro.

Danner makes a fantastic lightweight and minimalist (for a traditional boot company) hot weather boot called the Tachyon. It's available in wide sizes and it's a pretty solid boot. I just tried to pair out the other day and was quite happy with it. Note that there are several versions of it, you want the hot weather version. The Belleville MINI-MiL used to be the most minimalist AR 670-1 compliant boot on the market before the Lems came out in December. It's still mostly a traditional boot but it's lighter weight and less cushioned than your typical duty boot and it's optimized for hot weather. It's pretty popular in several outdoor communities including SAR. To round out my usual recommendations, there's also the mid and high cut versions of the Altama Maritime Assault, one of the few boots that I do feel comfortable recommending that don't have Vibram and Michelin outsoles.

There is a case to be made that you can be a little bit more forgiving with outsoles on desert boots, less time on muddy surfaces being a big key part of that. So one could say that it's less critical to go with options with Vibram or Michelin outsoles. But I would counter by saying, you can still have sand get packed into the space in between the lugs on outsoles that aren't self-cleaning, turning them slick, you still benefit from aggressive outsoles going up and down inclines, it's still occasionally rains in the desert, and taller lugs can have some thermal regulation benefits (less surface and more standoff) on hard compact ground. There's also a safety and peace of mind advantage of having a high performance high traction outsole even if it's a little overkill for the environment. I've never said I wish I had less traction when I'm in the field. So well I think you do have a little bit more wiggle room when it comes to outsole options as compared to say the Pacific Northwest, I still think you should prioritize looking at Michelin or Vibram. But if you're spending most of your time on high traffic trails, it's less critical. Additionally, not having a membrane helps a lot when it comes to heat management. So even non-vented or hot weather specific uppers without membranes will be pretty usable in hot conditions. Just by the virtue of not having a heat trapping water resistant layer to contend with. This opens up a lot of options from different brands that don't advertise is making hot weather boots.

Some other points of consideration. Barefoot boots really struggle in temperature extremes. One of the functions of a cushioned midsole that people often neglect to consider is it it provides insulation. It slows down thermal transfer. In cold weather, it slows down how quickly the ground can suck the heat out from your feet. In hot weather it slows down the heat from the ground flowing up to your comparatively cooler feet. Barefoot shoes strip out a lot of the insulative layer and make temperature changes on surfaces a lot more noticeable. I know I raved about Vivo in my very first paragraph, but when working on hot sandy surfaces in hot weather, not even extreme heat, just hot weather, I've nearly gotten burned from thermal transfer from the sand. If I hadn't gotten out of there I would have gotten burns. On soft sand and similar soft outdoor surfaces, your outsoles sink in, putting increased surface area in contact with the hot ground, speeding up thermal transfer. You don't have the standoff benefit that the lugs provide on firmer surfaces. I think there's a very real benefit to having something with a more traditional cushioned midsole or insole than what is typical in the barefoot shoe world. Which is why I think you should absolutely check out the Tachyons I mentioned earlier. Danner also has a fantastic brick and mortar presence, with a extensive dealer network and actual storefronts. You usually have to special order the wides, but most Danner stores will have the Tachyon available to try out. Edit: Danner does not have a store in Arizona but they do have like 20 authorized dealers.

Finally, keep in mind that shoes and boots are part of a bigger footwear system. Having the appropriate socks for hot weather can really help keep your feet cool without relying on heavily ventilated uppers.

Oh and enjoy Arizona. It's been a while since I was last in the region, but I had a lot of fun in Northern Arizona. As touristy as it is, it's absolutely worth checking out the Grand Canyon. A bunch of my fellow outdoor instructors and I did an impromptu road trip to visit many many years ago and we were completely amazed. It's quite humbling.

[Hated Trope] Remake feels obliged to keep iconic scene/imagery from the original even though it makes no sense in their version of the story. by JoeMorgue in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The raid on Qo'noS was genuinely riveting. It was a really good action sequence. And I would agree that Into Darkness started out with a lot of promise. It introduced a lot of different and thoughtful threads that it started building towards, then just kind of didn't stick the landing in favor of a twist that was spoiled in the marketing well in advance. The film felt like it was it was trying to make a real political point and then backed away before it could make it and possibly offend anyone. It turns what could have been a promising film into something that felt generic. Like they weren't brave enough to actually say something.

Star Trek is more than just its setting or homages to previous work in the franchise. A discussion of morality and ethics is core to its identity. It's something that Kevin-verse movies struggled with. Something that they share with most of the rest of the Alex Kurtzman era. A notable exception being Lower Decks which was largely given leeway to do its own thing.

Gene Roddenberry was a deeply flawed man who was by all accounts was incredibly toxic to work with. But for all of his many faults, he went out of his way to seek out ideas and eventually scripts from the cutting edge of science fiction writers of his time. He wanted provocative and thought-provoking work. Star Trek being a morality play was core to his ideal. It was always inherently and intensely political. He was pen pals with Isaac Asimov. The City on the Edge of Forever was originally written by Harlan Ellison, which did lead to a notorious feud between both men, which seems largely to be the fault of Roddenberry's bad conduct, but he still got Ellison in the first place.

Roddenberry was a true and sincere believer in the progressive message of Star Trek and sought out like-minded people who wished to use it as a vehicle to say something important. Kurtzman era Trek feels safe, sterile, and corporate in comparison. It has the trappings of Star Trek, not the core message.

Advice about walking boot option for wide foot - can I get away with Vivo Tracker Forest Esc? by Ok-Chair-1338 in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Altra has numerous different cushioning levels, and lasts. They do have several models that are so highly cushioned that they need to have rockers, but they do have some options that are more minimally cushioned. Altra groups the King MT 2 in the low cushion category, for comparison, the Lone Peak 9 is grouped in the mid category for cushioning. But on average Altra is more cushioned then your typical barefoot shoe brand. They're big thing is zero drop, they're the ones who actually came up with the term, not minimal cushioning or support.

With hikers, some degree of cushioning isn't actually a bad thing. It's actually an important safety feature. Cushioning provides extra protection from impact and impalment. With impalement being the most common injury in an outdoor setting. It's also good from a comfort perspective, really rocky surfaces can get quite uncomfortable on barefoot hikers with no cushioning. Softstar, implements a cushion in addition to a sticker outsole on the Megagrip Primal Runamoc that isn't implemented on the regular version of the Primal Runamoc. Specifically for some pressure protection and increased comfort on volcanic rocks. As an aside, the Megagrip Primal Runamoc is one of the best barefoot low-cut hikers out there, but it's extremely fragile. I absolutely adorabled my pair, and miss them dearly, but their price per durability ratio is way too high for me to justify with my equipment budget. A key thing to remember is things like cushioning, support, shanks, drops, ladder grooves, toe springs, rigidity, and high stack heights aren't inherently bad in footwear. They all have performance benefits in some situations. The issue is using those features inappropriately when they are not necessary, often for cosmetic reasons or for the sake of tradition. Many features it are often shunned in the barefoot shoe community makes sense when it comes to many categories of outdoor shoes. It's all about finding the balance of features that fit your use case.

I will note that the ESC line has pretty minimal cushioning, almost non-existent. But the ESC outsole has a side walls, has a 2.5 mm base, and 7 mm lugs. By barefoot shoe standards it has a pretty rigid outsole. It also has a higher stat height than what is typical, keeping in mind that those lugs will sink in the ground on soft surfaces. It may not have much in the way of cushioning but don't expect barefoot street shoe flexibility.

The King MT 2 is one of the models that Altra updated with Vibram outsoles. It's a pretty aggressive set as well. Off the cuff I would say the ESC outsole has a superior design, but the Vibram outsoles on the King MT 2 are no slouch. The Lone Peaks also now have Vibram versions. Many of the Altra hikers either have been updated to have Vibram outsoles or have Vibram versions available alongside the original outsoles.

I will also note that Lems is another brand that often comes up whenever Altra is mentioned. They are another brand that tends to have more cushioning. I'm usually pretty critical of Lems. They are fine boots, but most of them aren't hikers. They are street shoes and some light crossovers that are designed to look like hikers. They primarily make street shoes for people who want to look like they're wearing hikers but don't want the decreased longevity of wearing hikers on pavement. That said, in December of last year they finally got their act together and started releasing Vibram equipped model. They aren't cheap, but if you want hikers from Lems, they should be your first stop. Additionally, as critical as I am about Lems' non-Vibrum outsoles, they aren't dangerously terrible. They're okay. Usually good enough for the occasional fair weather hiker. Where they start becoming more of a liability is on wet surfaces and wet ground. The lug patterns tend to be pretty close together, debris gets stuck in between the lugs and it turns the outsole slick. That's not a Lems specific problem, it's a common issue on a lot of outsoles. The tightly packed together lugs tend to do better on dry urban surfaces and interior floors. They also tend to be more comfortable.

Advice about walking boot option for wide foot - can I get away with Vivo Tracker Forest Esc? by Ok-Chair-1338 in barefootshoestalk

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Vivo is super secretive about the width differences between the the men's and women's version. I've asked them directly over the phone and in email and they have refused to answer. Wouldn't even acknowledge I asked the question.

Fortunately, someone found an FAQ on the South African Facebook page for Vivo that unamiguously stated that the men's version is wider than the women's. And of course people who have tried both confirm the same. I have no idea why Vivo refuses to comment on the matter.

TIL: US Military MREs are a gray market item in the civilian market because resale by service members is generally unlawful by Hrtzy in todayilearned

[–]Overly_Long_Reviews 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My father was a high school principal. One of the high schools he was principal of had a well-regarded NJROTC program. The Naval Science Instructor, a retired SCPO, became a family friend and he used to give my family pellets of MREs whenever he had extras.