Closer to the Board
The limited-edition Gobi Sneaker Skate strips down the prototypical skate shoe to a simpler and far more flexible construction. It's made with a suede upper sourced from small-scale farming communities that's paired with an 80% natural rubber outsole. Inside, a cork and recycled polyurethane insole molds to the wearer and has naturally antibacterial and moisture-management properties. The shoe also comes with a repair patch to help extend its lifespan.
All of Vivobarefoot's shoes are built on the premise that the biomechanics of feet are fundamentally sophisticated, and shoes shouldn't inhibit their natural movement. Thin and flexible soles are a core feature, including in the Gobi. The shoe is so flexible that it can roll up onto itself. That contrasts with typically rugged skate shoe design, which accounts for constant friction and unforgiving surfaces. The Gobi Sneaker Skate offers a small counterpoint and proposes an alternative philosophy of skating where there's not as much material between rider and board.
Snowsurfer in The Tracker Pioneer WP
Feel the Powder
Where the Gobi takes to the streets, the Tracker Pioneer WP is for snow surfing in mountain environments. It's designed with waterproof protection, lightweight insulation, a warm lining, a removable thermal insole, and four-millimeter lugs for traction. All without sacrificing the foot-to-ground connection that both brands subscribe to.
The Tracker Pioneer WP handles winter conditions without the bulk and rigid structure of more traditional winter boots. Through a flexible design, the foot can bend and respond to changing terrain. That's coupled with a bungee-lacing system that allows for an adaptable fit and quick adjustments.
All of these design elements make for a notably minimal winter boot, and while the Tracker Pioneer WP is suitable for snowy city life, it's the ideal footwear for powsurfing. Much of its design was influenced by Moonlight’s Gear’s community within the Japanese snow-surfing scene. As with the Gobi, board feel is an important factor for fully experiencing deep powder lines in the mountains.
The Tracker Pioneer WP
A Simple Idea of Performance
With both models, Vivobarefoot and Moonlight Gear are challenging the assumption that more is more when it comes to outdoor performance. Vivobarefoot is known for it, and Moonlight Gear has a track record too. (The brand pioneered the world’s first big toe climbing cap earlier this year with Daisuke Ichimiya, an important figure in Japan's niche barefoot climbing scene.)
Vivobarefoot brings the barefoot footwear know-how, and Moonlight Gear's culturally-driven, ultralight, and offbeat identity helps adapt it for communities that might've otherwise viewed these types of shoes with the old, slightly podiatric lens.
We'll see if barefoot shoes take off beyond niche sets during this new wave of the trend. Here, the proposition is at least more approachable: less is closer, and closer is more fun.
Learn More from Vivobarefoot
