Xero ShoesBarefoot Shoes for Men | Speed Force Men’s Barefoot Running Shoes | Zero Drop, Wide Toe Box, Ultra Lightweight, Minimalist |

Update (12/12/17): I have been wearing these shoes daily for the last several months, and I have only grown to love them more. They are holding up perfectly, and they just feel great on my feet. I am to the point where I don't like wearing normal shoes anymore. The only downside is that they aren't very much use when it's wet and rainy out, unless you like having soaking wet feet. But I can't fault the shoe for the fact that I live in an area where it rains a lot. Overall, several months in, still a five-star product.Original Review (10/17/12):I recently bought a pair of huaraches (running sandals) from Xero just because I wanted to give barefoot/minimalist running a try. That's so far been a good experience, but I did not expect so many benefits from wearing minimalist shoes. I ended up liking the huaraches so much that I got a pair of Hanas to wear at work.I really, really like these shoes. They are nice and wide--but no heel slippage--and I often forget that I even have them on. Usually after work I am jonesing to get home and take my shoes off (I walk several miles during the course of a normal workday), but with these my feet feel great at the end of the day. I have noticed since wearing them that my feet and ankles feel stronger, and walking/running feels like I'm giving my feet a nice workout. Additionally, I had been suffering from some mild-to-moderate lower-back pain for the past 9 months or so. That pain has all but disappeared since I made the switch, which was something completely unexpected for me.Overall, great shoes. They are a touch small, I had to bump up from my normal 10.5 to 11. I will definitely be purchasing from Xero Shoes again.

Before I get into my actual review, let me tell you first how much I wanted a pair of these.I followed the sizing guide on the Xero Shoes website and ordered a 9. I was so excited I even paid extra for next day shipping! Then, they came and I was super stoked, until I tried them on. Sadly, too small. What? But I wear a 9 normally! I reached out to the company, who was incredibly expedient about getting back to me and decided to return the 9s and get a pair of 9.5. They arrive a few days later and what, they're still a little too small! Flabbergasted at this point, I considered either committing seppuku, or maybe even grinding my feet down to fit this size. I decided instead that I would just try a size 10, so I sent the 9.5s back and ordered a 10. Got them last Friday and wonderfully, I've worn them all week as these fit! Finally I was basking in the holiness of Xero Shoes. And it has been glorious.I've been wearing them every day for the last week for a minimum of 8 hours per day, and sometimes up to 12+, and I have to admit that they've already become my favorite shoe. I'm used to wearing flat-soled shoes like Chuck Taylors or Vibram Five Fingers and these are way more comfortable, and genuinely don't feel like they crowd my toes into a little box. They do take some getting used to if you're not acclimated to a more barefoot style shoe, but for those of us who are, there's very little break in period. I stand on my feet most of the day, so I'm quite used to fatigue, but these definitely don't leave me feeling the same way after a long day. Even after walking several miles in them my feet still don't hurt nearly as much. The fact that they have a wider than normal toe box is definitely a benefit, and one of the biggest selling points for me. The lightness of the shoe is also impressive; I do lots of calisthenics and bar work and even an extra pound or two can really throw off your balance, so it's wonderful that these really don't. Who wants a back lever to suffer because of the wrong shoes?Now I also have to admit that these aren't perfect. I love the styling on them, but when I look down at my feet I almost imagine I'm wearing a pair of Birkenstocks. I think it's the wide toe box that makes me think that, but I love Birks so I'm not complaining. Because they're canvas, they do breathe, but I find that if I don't wear socks, my feet tend to get sweatier. These can be washed fairly easily though, so I'm not concerned. I have them double-knotted so I can wear them as slip-ons, but I also ride a bike a lot and am somewhat afraid the laces are going to come undone even after double-knotting them. Those are really my only gripes with the shoes, and even those are minor compared to how amazing they are.In summation, (I've always wanted to say that, :D), I am definitely in love with my Xero Hanas and plan to buy a pair of their sandals very soon, and possibly a pair of Prios.

I am in the process of losing weight and improving my health, and when looking for a new pair of shoes I thought it would be nice to look for a more minimal shoe. Xero came highly recommended in particular for their sandals, but I needed a closed-toe shoe that I felt comfortable using for travel.I have worked these shoes hard so far. I climbed steep hills at Muir Woods near San Francisco, walked streets, shopping malls, and forest trails, and even jumped through deep mud. As they will warn you, the shoes are canvas and will absorb any water they encounter. But they dry FAST and clean easy. I washed them thoroughly last night after getting back from my trip west, and they dried after sitting out for a day: good as new.I really appreciate these most for walking outside on trails. They were great for walking all over rocks and dirt, and on asphalt and sidewalks, my feet aren't quite tough enough yet for walking a lot indoors on tough surfaces like in malls and airports, but I think that won't take very long.I think these are comfortable without socks but given the chilly temperatures they worked great with wool socks. Wool socks work together with the quick drying interior. The shoes pack easy because they are so small.The construction is pretty tough. The laces work great. And the zero-drop design is awesome. If you're like me and aren't ready for minimal running yet, this is a great entree into the world. And if you're a minimal runner, this is a nice dressed up casual shoe that you can use equally as well in a restaurant or on a trail.