REASONS TO BUY
Best-in-class traction
Unbeatable durability
Spacious for toes
REASONS TO AVOID
Very sweaty
On the heavier side
Expensive
Vivobarefoot Tracker Leather AT II Review
If you want a tough barefoot‑style shoe, this all‑leather boot delivers durability without abandoning ground feel
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ July 3, 2026
RELATED: The Best Barefoot Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
While hiking boots are typically considered the most robust footwear available, models like the Vivobarefoot Leather Tracker AT II blend the durability of a traditional boot with the sensitivity of a barefoot shoe. If you're a fan of minimalist footwear but need more protection and durability, these are a fantastic choice that'll allow you to hit the trail with confidence, thanks to an all-leather construction and incredible outsole traction. While these have very little breathability, our testing team felt like it was a worthwhile trade-off when hiking through rugged terrain, though they certainly weigh more than the competition. If these are in your budget, the Leather Tracker AT II is worth considering as a go-anywhere hiking boot with barefoot sensitivity.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Tracker AT II has a deceptively thin and flexible outsole, yet doesn't compromise protection from abrasive trails. Credit: Zach Lovell
Ground Feedback
While these may look like hefty high-top boots, the Vivobarefoot Leather Tracker AT offers excellent sensitivity when considering its intended uses. These may not have the thinnest outsole, but for a barefoot hiker, the Tracker AT II provides clear feedback when stepping on tree roots or gravel.
There is an inherent trade-off between protection and ground feel, but the Tracker AT II surprised every single member of our testing team with how detailed the trails felt. The outsole of this model is just 2.5mm thick and is very flexible, allowing our feet to naturally adjust to uneven ground, whether from side to side or from heel to toe.
These utilize a wide last, flexible outsole, and a high-top construction to provide best-in-class stability. Credit: Kory Markel
Stability
The wider last of the Tracker AT II allowed our toes to splay naturally, providing a stability reminiscent of a more traditional barefoot shoe. These also offer a high-top design with trustworthy side-to-side support, even when wearing a heavy backpack.
Trails often require awkward side-hilling, steep climbs, or loose descents, but the Tracker AT II kept up every step of the way in our testing circuits. The outsole design does have some slightly rounded edges, but the more spacious last and ankle support kept us from rolling ankles. These also have a relatively low stack height, which is the amount of material between your feet and the ground, and the zero drop from the heel to the toe boosted stability even more. Wherever your minimalist shoe ambitions take you, the Traker AT is likely to support your feet, legs, and body.
If your hiking plans include a bit of snow, the Tracker AT II offers more traction than most models in its footwear class. Credit: Zach Lovell
Traction
If you need traction in sand, loose dirt, or mud, the Tracker AT II should be on your list of final contenders. This shoe kept up with our reviewers better than most barefoot shoes during our testing hikes and scrambles, thanks to an outsole that combines loose-ground bite with slick-surface friction.
The Tracker AT II uses a blend of synthetic and natural rubber in the outsole, which offers decent traction on granite slabs and firm trail dirt. Vivobarefoot designed the tread pattern in this shoe to dance between a more lug-oriented outsole for loose ground and a more modest outsole for more surface area. In wet conditions, we were able to hike confidently in mud, though it wasn't quite as trustworthy on wet rock.
These are incredibly grippy boots that are confidence-inspiring in most hiking conditions. Credit: Zach Lovell
These also had enough lug length for some moderate snow hiking, which we rarely see in barefoot shoes. On steeper slopes, however, we might steer you towards a true mountaineering boot, as that type of terrain benefits from a stiff midsole.
These are very heavy boots in the realm of barefoot shoes, though it's a necessary trade-off for performance in other areas. Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight
There's no way to avoid the weight of an all-leather boot. The Tracker AT II may not weigh as much as some traditional hiking boots, but it's one of the heaviest barefoot shoes we've tested.
We firsthand measured the Tracker AT II at 30.7 oz in a men's 9, making it almost triple the weight of ultralight barefoot shoes. These include substantially more material as a high-top design, and the leather build is ideal for shoppers wanting longevity, but they aren't the right choice for high-cadence workouts.
Even after miles of wearing these on rough trails, the Tracker AT's leather was in great shape, and the lacing system was equally as durable. Credit: Kory Markel
Durability
This was our favorite metric for the Vivobarefoot Leather Tracker AT II, which has a 100% leather upper that held up flawlessly on all sorts of hikes. Even when we voyaged off-trail through deep gravel, the wild hide leather showed minimal wear and tear. If durability is a priority, this pair is an easy choice.
The leather-focused build of the Tracker AT II easily fights sharp rocks, branches, and brushy trails, unlike other models with mesh construction, which were a point of failure. The included laces also held up unwaveringly, and the metal lace eyelets were dependable for daily use.
The latest version of the Tracker AT II includes double stitching to attach the various leather sections to the outsole, which was a failure point for some users in past iterations of the AT. The outsole held up well during our testing, though if you're used to a standard hiking boot construction, keep in mind these are much thinner.
These hikers rewrite what we think of as “barefoot shoes”. Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Vivobarefoot Leather Tracker AT II?
If you want a barefoot hiking shoe, this leather-focused model breaks the mold as minimalist footwear that still offers foot protection and ankle support. These certainly get sweaty on hot days and aren't very light, but the Tracker AT II's longevity is in a whole other league compared to designs that rely on mesh.
These are go-anywhere boots that are not often seen in barefoot-oriented footwear. Credit: Kory Markel
What Other Barefoot Shoes Should You Consider?
If you want a more breathable high-top model, the Xero Scrambler Trail Mid is an excellent pair of shoes that offers more ankle padding than the Tracker AT II and is lighter. For a low-top option that's great for hiking, the Merrell Trail Glove 8 is worth looking into. Both of these options cost substantially less than the Tracker AT II, though neither of them offers leather.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Vivobarefoot Tracker Leather AT II versus top competing products:
| Awards |  Most Durable Barefoot Boot |
|---|---|
| Price | $270 List |
Overall Score  |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | If you want a tough barefoot‑style shoe, this all‑leather boot delivers durability without abandoning ground feel |
| Pros | Best-in-class traction, unbeatable durability, spacious for toes |
| Cons | Very sweaty, on the heavier side, expensive |
| Rating Categories | Vivobarefoot Tracker... |
| Ground Feedback (30%) | |
| Stability (20%) | |
| Traction (20%) | |
| Weight (15%) | |
| Durability (15%) | |
| Specifications | Vivobarefoot Tracker... |
| Measured Weight (per pair) | 30.7 oz (size 9) |
| Stack Height | 6.5mm |
| Heel to Toe drop | 0 mm |
| Outsole | 55% Synthetic Rubber, 20% Natural Rubber, 25% Additives |
| Midsole | None |
| Insole | Foam: 100% Polyurethane (PU) Foam; Thermal sheet: 100% Aluminium; Topper: 100% Polyester |
| Upper Material | 100% Wild Hide Leather |
—Zach Lovell
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