Vivobarefoot ESC Tempest Review
Low Tide Boyz, a Swimrun Podcast18 Aug 2020

Vivobarefoot ESC Tempest Review

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.

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Fueling Masterclass for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship

Fueling Masterclass for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship

Welcome to episode 272 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got nothing short of a masterpiece/masterclass episode this week. In 2022, Andy Blow joined us on Episode 118 for our Countdown to ÖTILLÖ series to share his thoughts on how to best approach fueling for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship. We decided to re-release this episode since it is still solid gold advice almost three years later. What he shared was nothing short of a continuous knowledge bomb that should be mandatory listening for anyone racing Worlds in September and frankly, anyone racing a Swimrun. Full stop. Enjoy!~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

20 Mars 57min

Top 5 Worst Swimrun Advice Nuggets

Top 5 Worst Swimrun Advice Nuggets

Welcome to episode 271 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got something new for everyone. In this week’s episode we break down the 5 worst pieces of Swimrun advice that we’ve heard and have some fun reframing these into good advice. Don’t commit Swimrun malpractice and make sure that you’re not making these mistakes whether you’re a beginner or grizzled veterans like us. Enjoy!~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

13 Mars 22min

Ötillö Catalina Course Preview with Ötillö USA Race Director Lars Finanger

Ötillö Catalina Course Preview with Ötillö USA Race Director Lars Finanger

Welcome to episode 270 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!ÖTILLÖ Catalina is just under two months away and, in case it wasn’t already apparent, we’re super stoked for the return of this amazing event. Joining us today to get everyone who may not be on our level of stoke (yet) is our dear friend and race director Lars Finanger. In this conversation we cover course changes, share course previews for all three event distances, and run down memory lane of the 2020 edition. You’ll definitely want your notepads out for this one…and maybe have the course map open to follow along.00:00 Introduction to the Three Races00:44 Deep Dive into Ötillö Catalina01:06 Gratitude and Reflections03:25 What is Swimrun?06:27 Course Changes and Challenges14:46 Experience Race Overview19:57 Sprint Race Insights28:23 World Series Race Breakdown32:49 Starting Strong: The Initial Run and Swim35:26 Navigating the Slippery Swim Exit35:47 Tackling the Deer Trail Run37:41 The Challenging 10K Run40:52 Fueling Strategies for Success43:58 The Iconic Parsons Landing Swim50:21 The Long Swims and Scenic Views54:03 Final Push: The Last Swim and Run55:54 Race Registration and Final Thoughts01:00:04 Outro and Thanks~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

6 Mars 1h 1min

Team Poppy and Branch

Team Poppy and Branch

Welcome to episode 269 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’re wrapping up Partners Month with an epic “meet up right the before the race” story of Team Poppy and Branch, a.k.a. Hannah Calton and Aaron Palaian. If these names sound familiar it’s because Aaron is a race director and Hannah runs social media for ÖTILLÖ USA. In this conversation we chatted about their first Swimrun experience at the Mackinac Island in 2024, what it’s like to meet up on race morning and take on a Swimrun, what the near future holds for ÖTILLÖ, and so much more. Enjoy!~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

27 Feb 57min

Team H2O

Team H2O

Welcome to episode 268 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Partners month continues with yet another great story of siblings coming together to do cool stuff! Joining us to talk about their Swimrun partnership is Team H20, A.K.A. Halie and Hunter Olsen. In this conversation we talked about what it’s like to race with your sibling, whether it fills their parents with joy, racing ÖTILLÖ before they were “ready,” and so much more.  Enjoy!~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

20 Feb 43min

Team Twisted Sisters

Team Twisted Sisters

Welcome to episode 267 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Partners month continues with a great story about Canada, sisterhood, and Canadian sisterhood! Joining us to talk about their Swimrun journey is Team Twisted Sisters, A.K.A. Karen and Lorraine Natho. This was a great conversation where we discussed what it’s like to race with your sister, what it’s like to have been the first women’s Canadian team to race ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship, and so much more.  Enjoy!~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

13 Feb 58min

Team Sight the Beam!

Team Sight the Beam!

Welcome to episode 266 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!Welcome to the 4th Annual Partners Month where we highlight one of our favorite features of Swimrun…the team aspect. To kick things off this month we have Team Sight the Beam, a.k.a., Justin Young and James Noonan from Sacramento California. These guys are super stoked on the sport (obviously) and their Swimrun journey is a great one.Enjoy!~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

6 Feb 46min

ÖTILLÖ Catalina Training Guide w/Nicolas Remires

ÖTILLÖ Catalina Training Guide w/Nicolas Remires

Welcome to episode 265 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!We’ve got a great show for everyone this week! Joining to talk about training for ÖTILLÖ Catalina is the one and only Nicolas Remires, founder of Envol Coaching. (He is also the winner of the World Series distance at Catalina 2020 in the Men’s team division with his partner Francesc De Lanuza Gimeno.) We asked Coach Nico to come on to help get everyone that is racing (or thinking of racing) the 2025 edition in late April get to the start line as prepared as possible. We covered a lot of ground in this conversation and you’ll definitely want to get out your notepads for this one.Are you still on the fence about signing up for ÖTILLÖ Catalina? Use the code LTBZ10 to save 10% off of your registration. Trust us, this race is “a whole vibe” and you don’t want to miss it!ÖTILLÖ Catalina World Series Distance Leg by Leg BreakdownTotal distance: 38km/ 23.5mi8 runs7 swims19% swimmingLeg 1:  Two Harbors to Isthmus Harbor Beach (2.3 miles or 3.7 kilometers)Leg 2:  Isthmus Harbor Beach to Big Fisherman Cove (1640 yards or 1500 meters) Leg 3:  Big Fisherman Cove to Ballast Point Beach (2.9m or 4.8k)Leg 4:  Ballast Point Beach to Catalina Harbor Boat Ramp (440y or 400m)Leg 5:  Boat Ramp to Parsons Landing (5.3m or 9.5k) Leg 6:  Parsons Landing Bay (765y or 700m) Leg 7:  Parsons to Emerald Bay (1.1m or 1.9k)Leg 8:  Emerald Bay to Howland’s Landing (1400y or 1300m)Leg 9:  Howland’s to Big Geiger Cove (1.3m or 2.2k)Leg 10:  Big Geiger Cove to Lion’s Head Cove (1750y or 1600m)Leg 11:  Lion’s to Fourth of July Cove (2.2m or 3.6k)Leg 12:  Fourth of July Cove to Isthmus Harbor Beach (875Y or 800m)Leg 13:  Isthmus Harbor Beach to Big Fishermen Cove (3m or 4.9k)Leg 14:  Big Fishermen to Isthmus Harbor Beach (1530y or 1400m)Leg 15:  Beach to finish line (.2 miles)Enjoy!~~~That’s it for this week’s show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.Thanks for listening and see you out there!-  Chip and Chris

30 Jan 59min

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