swimrun shoes

Vivobarefoot ESC Tempest Review

Welcome to Swimrun Gear Talk, co-hosted by our friends Annie and Brooke from the Swimrun Labs.

In this episode, we break down the Vivobarefoot ESC Tempest Swimrun Shoe. Chris and Chipper have trained in the swimrun shoes for several weeks and they are ready to share their thoughts on the Tempest and get peppered with questions by the Swimrun Labs.

(Note: Vivobarefoot was kind enough to send us a couple of pairs of shoes to demo and they have not asked us for an endorsement or paid us for this review.)

(Second Note: if you want to learn more about Vivobarefoot and the genesis of the ESC Tempest, check out episode 23 of the podcast for our interview with Asher Clark, Co-founder of Vivobarefoot.)

Previous Show Review Updates

Salomon Amphib Shoe Mini Review

In the “Shoedown” episode we chatted about the Salomon Amphib shoe (not the S-Lab version) and Chris has recently have been using these shoes for urban Swimrun practices in San Francisco for several weeks and really liked them. In the Shoedown episode, it was brought up that traction was an issue with these shoes on trails but they have been working extremely well on pavement. Chris would definitely recommend these for more urban adventures.

These shoes aren’t in production anymore in the current iteration but the new version is called the Amphib Bold Water Shoe and looks very similar to the version that Chris used.

Ark Sports ORNÖ 02 Swimrun Wetsuit

In our previous review about the Ark Sports ORNÖ 02 wetsuit, we chatted about durability being an issue since the suit is so thin. Recently Annie noticed that she was getting yet another hole in the armpit of the suit and had to fix it with Aquaseal + Neo Neoprene Contact Cement. At this point, she’s thinking that the armpit wear might be a problem if this suit is used too often.

Gear Talk First Impressions Reports

Arc’teryx Norvan SL Shoe Review

Annie recently picked up a pair of the Arc’teryx Norvan SL shoe at a rock-climbing store and loved them. The upper material is very similar to the Amphib uppers and allows for maximum drainage. The Norvan SL is a trail shoe so the tread had a great grip coming out the water and on trails. Annie now thinks that this shoe is a contender to become her everyday Swimrun shoe. 

Ark Sports VIGG Swimrun Wetsuit Review

As mentioned previously, Chris made an ill-advised late-night purchase and ordered the Ark Sports VIGG Swimrun Wetsuit. He used it for one Swimrun practice and it’s safe to say that he’s hooked. The suit is very light and uses the Running++ material in the legs, back and arms. Running in the suit was amazing. It felt more like running in swim skin than a wetsuit. Even though the suit is thin, the neckline kept water out and the suit was comfortable in relatively cold water (around 56-58 degrees Fahrenheit/13-15 Celsius) even without using arm sleeves. Note: the VIGG does not include removable arm sleeves. The Running++ material repelled/shed water as soon as he came out of the water. 

After observing the ORNÖ O2 and the VIGG closely, the Running++ material appeared to be a tighter weave that the Running+ and felt thinner. The seams on the VIGG look a bit sturdier than those on the ORNÖ as well. This might be due to all the Running++ material used. The jury is still out on durability but it looks like it might last with proper care.

Overall, the suit was amazing and Chris now understands why Annie and Chipper want to use their Ark Sports suits in training despite the durability issues. The VIGG is a joy to Swimrun in and Chris plans to use it in training as long as the water temperature allows.

The Main Event: The Vivobarefoot ECS Tempest Swimrun Shoe Review

The Tempest is the first style to launch as part of the “Extreme Survival Collection,” and is touted as “the best Swim Run shoe on the planet, for the amphibious athlete” on the Vivobarefoot website. The description of the shoe states that it was “[i]nspired by nature's aquatic animals and blended with modern technology, we created a lightweight organic cage to provide flexibility, drainage, and protection.” The sole was developed in collaboration with Michelin using a proprietary compound that provides grip on every surface. The shoe retails for $220.

The shoe looks pretty revolutionary from top to bottom and has the following features:

• Sticky rubber outsole developed in collaboration with Michelin
• Speed toggle for easy fastening
• Quick draining mesh and recycled plastic PET ankle sock construction
• Bio-based Bloom EVA midsole gives additional flotation reduces heavy feet in the water

There’s a lot to unpack here so let’s jump right into the review of the shoe.

Swim Review

The shoe performed excellently on the swim. It was definitely a non-issue and didn’t require any mental energy while swimming. A great shoe for swimming. Period.

Swimrun Transitions Review

In transition, the shoe performed well. The ankle sock construction isn’t tight around the ankle so some debris can enter the shoe but it wasn’t very noticeable. The shoe drains exceptionally well since the entire upper part of the shoe is basically all mesh. 

Chipper got scientific with the shoe and did the Swimrun Labs-prescribed water bucket test. He took the shoes and weighed them while dry, then he immersed them in water to soak for 20 minutes, weighed them afterward, waited two minutes, and then re-weighed them. (Note we had to two different measurements because Chipper used one black and one orange shoe for the test.) Here are his results for the Men’s size 11 shoe:

Dry Weight:

Orange shoe (342 grams per shoe)

Black shoe (337 grams per shoe)

Weight after the 20-minute soak:

Orange shoe (426 grams)

Black shoe (423 grams)

Weight after 2-minute dry time:

Orange shoe (415 grams)

Black shoe (394 grams)

Interestingly, the Black color version of the shoe appears to be slightly lighter than the coral color. We didn’t notice any performance impact but it was worth noting.

The special Michelin compound of the sole lived up to the hype for us. We exited and entered water on sand, dirt, and slippery rocks and grip was never an issue. Same was true while running on pavement, sand, dirt, grass, train tracks and wood planks.

Run Review

A caveat to the run review is that this shoe is super minimal and it does take some getting used to. Chris didn’t do any of the recommended exposure to get accustomed to minimal shoes but Chipper went through the protocol as described by Vivobarefoot. All that being said, neither Chipper nor Chris were ready to totally commit to minimal-style running. Chipper could see himself racing a short Swimrun event in the shoe but Chris wasn’t into it. Training in these shoes will definitely happen. (Annie, Brooke and “science” recommend using a variety of shoes regularly of different types since this is the easiest way to prevent common running injuries.)

One issue that both Chipper and Chris experienced on the run was that they got a blister on the pinky toe on the black shoe. The hot spot was probably due to where the top of front part of the shoe was creasing while running. Interestingly, there weren’t hot spots on the orange shoe.

It’s too early to tell about the durability of the shoe. The shoe is really well crafted but there is a potential for some ripping on the mesh of the shoe because the materials are so specific. The material used in the upper to create some structure might also start peeling off after long-term use.

Overall, the shoe performed really well on the run (blisters aside) and it was an ideal shoe…if you can run in them.

Pull Buoy Rankings

Chipper

(4.5 Pull Buoys)

While Chipper thought that the shoe wasn’t necessarily for him, he thought that the Tempest was the best Swimrun shoe that he’s been exposed to. Yes, the shoe might be a bit more fragile and a bit expensive but the shoe is next level. If swimrunners are looking for the top of the line when it comes to Swimrun shoes, then this is the shoe for them.

Chris

(4 Pull Buoys)

Despite his personal concerns with the shoe, Chris thought that the shoe was amazing and really appreciated the tech that was used to create a shoe that is specifically for swimrun. Vivobarefoot has set a high bar for shoes. He took some Buoy points away for the cost and for the break-in period required to really be able to race long distances in the shoe.

Overall Impressions

The Vivobarefoot ESC Tempest is the most advanced Swimrun shoe in the world. It’s amazing to see the technology that was put into this shoe and how they executed something that is a game-changer for the sport. It is literally the best Swimrun shoe out there.

That’s it for this week’s Swimrun Gear Talk show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, please be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Google Podcast. You can also follow our meme page on Instagram and on Twitter. Email us at lowtideboyz@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions and/or meme suggestions. Finally, you can also support us on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.

Welcome to our third Low Tide Boyz swimrun gear review show! This review is co-hosted by our friends at Swimrun Labs and we’re super stoked to have them back for another episode.

This show is all about swimrun shoes! Instead of doing a specific review of a product this week, we thought it would be helpful to take a big picture look at Swimrun shoes and all the considerations that should go into selecting the right pair for everyone. 

Let’s get right to it!

Global Considerations in Selecting a Swimrun Shoe (or a pair of shoes to use for Swimrun training or events.)

1. Drainage
2. Tread
3. Cushioning/Stack Height
4. Buoyancy 
5. Good Fit
6. Particle Size Impermeability/Water Permeability

In general, you shouldn’t do anything different for swimrun than you wouldn’t do for trail running. If you’ve never run in Hokas or minimal shoes, then you shouldn’t go all in because there is a risk of injury. From a medical perspective (courtesy of Annie and Brooke from Swimrun Labs) is to make sure that you take a graded progression to make sure that you don’t go down an injury rabbit hole. Another consideration is that studies have shown that runners that train in various models of shoes have seen a reduced occurrence of injury by 39%.

With all that, let’s talk about specific considerations for Swimrun.

Swim Considerations

Overall, shoe performance in the water should be a net neutral. Swimming with shoes is an unnatural experience and they create a lot of drag. Some of this is mitigated by using a large swimrun pull buoy but at the end of the day you are swimming with shoes and the best that you can hope for is that they are a non-factor. 

The features of the shoes should be considered based on the general considerations above. For example, Asher Clark of Vivobarefoot mentioned in Episode 23 of our podcast that they used bright orange on the soles of their swimrun shoes so that partners could easily spot their partner swimming in front of them.

Rule of thumb: you shouldn’t feel annoyed while swimming.

Run Considerations

Obviously, shoes are pretty important on the run. 

A great place to start is looking at what shoes you already have and preferably a trail shoe since most if not all Swimrun events are on trails. Not all shoes are created equal so you should make sure to try a couple of shoes because a sloshy shoe will get annoying quickly and not all shoes will feel this way. Does the shoe drain well? Do they retain a lot of water and feel waterlogged?

It is important to test the shoes on various terrains (after swimming in them) to make sure they will work. You can also get technical and soak the shoes in a bucket and then weigh the shoes, wait 2 minutes and then weigh them again to see if they shed a lot of water.

Getting into the water is also loaded with considerations. Speaking of loaded…do your shoes load up with rocks and sand? This can get annoying quickly but it doesn’t happen with every shoe. This is where particle size permeability can come into play and help you have a better race experience. Basically, you want particle impermeability and water permeability.

Another consideration is having an integrated insole in the shoe that you settle on. Removable insoles are basically sponges for water that can lead to sloshiness on the run. Depending on the course, a shoe with a rock plate or a tough sole to prevent sharp rocks from causing discomfort.

Roundtable Discussion, A.K.A. “Shoedown”

This is probably the best part of the show but it’s too much good intel to write it all down. So just listen to the show for all the golden nuggets of wisdom shared.

Overall Impressions

If you haven’t figured it out already, shoes are an individual decision and there are a lot of options to chose from. It’s best to start with what you currently have and experiment in training to make sure that they meet all or most of the general considerations mentioned at the outset. If you have a couple of shoes that work well all the better for injury prevention and for having options depending on the terrain of your next swimrun event. 

Feel free to hit us up if you have any questions about this special episode and/or reach out the Annie and Brooke from the Swimrun Labs on their website or on their Swimrun Labs Facebook Group.

Handy List of Shoes Mentioned on the Show

Altra Superior

Altra Vanish XC

Hoka One One Evo Jawz

Hoka One One Speedgoat

Hoka One One Speedgoat Evo

Inov-8 X-Talon 212

Inov-8 X-Talon 220

Merrell All Out Crush

Salomon Amphib

Salomon S-Lab Amphib

Vivobarefoot ECS Tempest

VJ Shoes IROCK 3

That’s it for this week’s special edition show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, please be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Google Podcast. You can also follow our meme page on Instagram and on Twitter. Email us at lowtideboyz@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions and/or meme suggestions. Finally, you can also support us on Patreon…if you feel so inclined. 

Welcome to episode twenty-three of the Low Tide Boyz, a Swimrun Podcast!

On this week’s show, we have Asher Clark, the Co-founder of Vivobarefoot. We will be talking about the origin story of the company and do deep dive into the new Vivobarefoot ECS Tempest Swimrun shoe. (We also talked about surfing, which is awesome!) More on that later in the show.

We added another thing to the list of “things the Low Tide Boyz are doing” with the first swimrun column at Triathlete Magainze! Be sure to give it a read and share it with your networks. 

Training is about to get a kick in the pants as it appears that pools are starting to open and open water swims are now fully allowed at our usual spot. RIP to our shoulders! We also just dropped our ARK Keel Swimrun Pull Buoy Review, so be sure to check that out as well. 

We wanted to give a shout out this week to Helene from Sweden. She has been sending kind words and feedback along since the very beginning. Thanks for the support Helene!

Now for this week’s interview. We’re stoked to get to chat with Asher of Vivobarefoot. If you’re not familiar with Vivobarefoot, they are a minimalist shoe company and are a staple in the Swimrun space. The company was started in 2010 with a simple idea to make shoes that allow feet to do their thing and, in effect, respect human movement.

We chatted about the origins of the company and the simple/profound idea that feet should be allowed to unleash their natural potential and the shoe should be as minimal as possible and be as sustainable as possible by using a few materials as possible. Vivobarefoot had the goal of being sustainable since the beginning. The foundation of making a sustainable shoe for Vivo is to make sure that the shoe functions to allow for natural movement. The guiding light being regenerating as a concept and not just being sustainable as a company to get closer to the ultimate goal of mimicking nature.

Vivobarefoot got into Swimrun while they were developing their Primus trail shoe. They tested the prototype of the shoe with some elite athletes in Sweden. Asher then met with Mats Skott and Michael of Ötillö in 2015 and went for a short 10k Swimrun (No wetsuit, cold water) and Asher was hooked. Swimrun to him was one of the most visceral ways to be connected with nature. It’s human locomotion over land and you hit the coast and you keep going. The first Swimrun shoe was released soon after adapting the Primus Trail shoe for Swimrun with the now iconic orange sole.

The new Tempest shoe was a few years in the making. The ESC (Extreme Survival Collection) Tempest is basically the best Swim Run shoe on the planet, for the amphibious athlete. It is inspired by nature's aquatic animals and blended with modern technology, Vivobarefoot created a lightweight organic cage to provide flexibility, drainage and protection. The sole was developed in collaboration with Michelin to provide super grip to the ground in both slick and dry conditions. The shoe sounds awesome and looks like it would work in every race condition easily.

The main caveat to using minimal shoes is that the Tempest isn’t for everyone because there’s not a lot cushioning and if your feet aren’t used to running in barefoot or minimal shoes, you can get hurt. Like anything, it’s a journey and Vivobarefoot has a guide to transitioning to barefoot-style shoes on their website to help people transition to running well in their shoes. 

Make sure to check out the Tempest shoe. They are available now!

That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, please be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Google Podcast. You can also follow our meme page on Instagram and on Twitter. Email us at lowtideboyz@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions and/or meme suggestions. Finally, you can also support us on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.