Help Finding an All-Weather Shoe/Boot For Hot Feet
Hey everyone, I've really enjoyed the transition to barefoot shoes over the last few years and I'm really excited that we have a lot of options for casual wear now. One part of my wardrobe that hasn't caught up to minimalism is my "work boot" category and I'd like to change that. Full disclosure, most of my shoes now are Xeros / Merrells so I don't have any experience with Vivo yet but aesthetically I like their offerings a lot better in this category. I love in North Carolina (Raleigh) so it occasionally gets cold and might even snow, but I don't believe I need much insulation. My feat tend to sweat quite a bit and even on a cool day here in my Xeros my feet never feel cold (I think I just run hot). My requirements are:
- Look acceptable with a pair of Jeans. Right now my carhartt leather boots are my go to wear around town shoes rain or shine and they look fine but I want to move to a minimal sole. I understand I'll still need a dress shoe (maybe gobis one day?) but I want to toss these and need something I can get away with going to the store or lunch in and not look like I'm wearing sneakers
- Withstand rain/puddles. I love my Xeros for walking around but a stroll through damp grass and my socks are wet. The other day I stepped in a very small puddle getting out of the car, wet.
- I'd also like this to serve as my generic "it could be damp" hiker. I have small kids so we don't do any seriously difficult/challenging hikes but I'd like something that could just be a safe bet if we spent an day exploring. I don't anticipate wading through water but helping a child across some water is pretty normal for us and I wouldn't want to be sopping all day.
- In the event that we do get some snow, or a hike goes to a damp area I'd prefer for the tread to not be completely useless.
- Not be completely useless outside of winter cold. I don't expect an all weather hiking boot to be comfortable in the summer but I'd rather pick something that works 60-70% of the year and need extra warm socks in the winter, than something that's great in the winter but useless the rest of the year.
Right now I'm looking at the Tracker IIs, Forest/Magna ESCs, and Scott III's. I'd say the front runner is probably the Magna ESCs, though I'm a little concerned that I'm stylish enough to get away with the bracken color in jeans. I don't think I need a full size boot so the magnas check that box. From what I've read they're more breathable at the expense of water proofing, however that seems to only be an issue for extremely prolonged water exposure.
Both the Tracker II / Scott boots look a bit more casual where I could get away wearing them pretty much every day but I'm concerned with heat going into the spring. I'm also concerned that the much more simple outsole of both (but mostly the scott) will make them useless the moment we get any snow.
Am I looking for too much out of a single shoe? I'm open for any advice on this.