Hello, my name’s Andrew, and these are the Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG (Water-Resistant Soft Ground), a lightweight barefoot boot with a slip-on vegan upper and aggressive tread for hiking and trail running.

Features

One of the first barefoot shoes I ever bought was the original Vivobarefoot Primus SG and, to be honest, it was the only Vivo shoe I never liked, because the whole thing just felt kind of stiff and uncomfortable.

So I asked Vivobarefoot for a pair of the new Magna Lite WR SG’s and basically they’re the kind of shoe that makes you want to drop everything, book a trip to Europe, and enter the world’s steepest trail race.

Upper/Inner

Because the Magna Lite has a wide foot-shaped toebox with a stitched guard and water-resistant vegan upper that’s woven with rip-stop, plus reinforced lace loops, a heel strap to prevent tear-outs, and a slip-on collar.

Inside the Magna Lite is lined with ribbed fabric for breathability and stretch, as well as a removable heat-reflective insole for extra warmth and padding.

Sole/Tread

Underneath you’ve got a wraparound 2.5mm zero-drop sole that’s highly flexible in all directions, along with aggressive 5mm soft ground lugs that are angled for going up hills in the forefoot and down at the heel.

Testing

The interesting thing about the Vivobarefoot Magna Lite SG is that even though it’s a bit thicker at 7.5mm total, the sole itself is only 2.5mm.

Hiking

So going out out for a hike on muddy ground the Magna Lite felt like having the grip of a hardcore hiking boot with the freedom of a lightweight trail shoe.

Along a swampy area the water-resistant upper did a good job of shedding mud and even survived a test dip in some icy water, although it will soak through eventually and the tongue isn’t meant for deep submersion.

Temperature wise the Magna Lite isn’t insulated, but it was plenty warm down below freezing with a pair of Injinji merino wool toe socks and thick Smartwool’s, or some wool felt insoles for even colder days.

Trail Running

Although the Vivobarefoot markets the Magna Lite as a hiking boot, it’s one of those barefoot shoes that’s so light it just makes you want to take off running.

Unlike the leather Magna FG the vegan upper felt like wearing nothing at all and with the aggressive tread I was able to scramble up rocky slopes and down steep muddy hills without any slipping.

Also, despite being water-resistant the Magna Lite’s upper was still thin and breathable enough for fast-paced runs, while the rip-stop fabric was nice for deflecting sharp objects, but I did find it more comfortable to wear a couple layers of socks to prevent the strap material from rubbing on my ankle.

Ok, one last thing, when I was filming the water section my foot slipped off a wet rock (bad idea with a soft ground tread) and got soaked, but I find out the WR vegan upper dries super fast and doesn’t make that “squelching” noise, like thicker, more padded shoes. Silver lining! (literally)

Conclusion

Overall the Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG is a great option for anyone who wants the grip and protection of a hardcore hiking boot with the agility of a lightweight trail running shoe.

Pros/Cons

Because the vegan upper is wide and water-resistant, the slip-on collar is super comfortable for longer milage, and the aggressive tread provides some excellent grip on soft ground terrain, like dirt, mud, and slush.

However, the Magna Lite’s toebox may not being roomy enough for extra-wide feet, the collar material isn’t waterproof for deeper puddles, and the chevron lugs will wear down faster on hard surfaces, like rocks and roads.

Alternatives

In terms of similar barefoot trail shoes…

Resources

If you’d like to support the channel, you can shop with the referral links below, filter and compare products at barefootwear.org, or watch my Zero-Drop Transition video to learn more about barefooting.

Finally, if you have a question about the Vivobarefoot Magna Lite WR SG, or about barefoot shoes in general, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for watching, catch ya next time. Peace!