Customer Reviews Xero Shoes HFS

I needed a flat soled walking shoe. Most are too cushioned and have elevated heels so, not natural for daily six mile fast walks. The Xeros were flat, with little padding and great toe room. I did add thin insoles but, otherwise just what I needed. They didn’t last even 6 months. Somehow developed a gaping hole in the heel on the otherwise unblemished shoe and now are a total loss. If I were doing anything other than just walking I might understand but, that’s all I ever used them for…All. Check the pic and good luck.

Will update as necessary but: think I love 'em. They're not *as* featherlite as the Merrell Vapor Gloves, but they're very light, very minimal. The toe box is spacious but more ordinary-shoe than the Vapor Gloves' very wide toe box. I can also compare them to New Balance Minimus, which they are similar too though--I think--a bit lighter. Yeah -- will update if they fall apart because I'm "jumping the gun" w/r/t how much runtime I've given them before writing this, but basically if you are looking for a minimal running shoe you could do much, much worse; I like them as much as either of the two above I just mentioned, maybe more than the New Balances (and those two were selected after trying a lot of other brands out, etc.

These shoes were comfortable right at the beginning. I love wearing them for work and exercising. As well, they feel true to size on the fit. I wear different types of socks and those socks range from being thin to thick - all of which fit just fine inside the shoes. I highly recommend these for casual wear and light exercise!

I love the Xero HFS shoes. I wear them hiking and they feel great on dirt, gravel and asphalt. I’ve owned vibram five fingers in the past and these are more comfortable and less of a hassle to put on. The only drawback is these don’t come in a more casual style like tennis shoes or sneakers.

Fit perfectly, normally wear 10.5, reviews mentioned to order 1 size larger. Went with 11.5 and fits perfectly, most comfortable shoes I own. Definitely recommend

Love this shoe. You will need to take your normal size then add between 1/2 to 3/4 size, otherwise they definitely run small. The toe area is a bit wider than typical shoes, which is a good thing to let your toes spread out for stability and feel of the ground. The flat format of Xero shoes is indeed like walking barefoot, but better. Super light but very well made and very secure on your foot. You can lace these loosely and they still stay perfectly snug and move with your foot. I'm now a conver to this brand and away from typical thick soled "cushioned' sneakers and joggers. These are so comfortable I forget I have on shoes. When was the last time you felt that way with typical sneakers?

Xeros description of these are very accurate. As of right now, I would not change anything about these. They are extremely COMFORTABLE! BUT, I have a recommendation they say to go up a half size. I took theyre advice. Ive always been a 9 1/2 so I got a 10. They were way too big on my feet so I exchanged for a 9 1\2 & they fit perfect now. I highly recommend them

I need to start out by stating how freakin comfortable these are!(!!!) We ordered a few pairs of minimalist shoes from here and from other sites (models and styles that Zappos didn't carry), and these were the winners. We tried 3 types of Altra, New Balance Minimus and something else I'm forgetting. Anyway, back to these HFS. The weight, or lack thereof, when you pull them out of the box is astonishing. I'm pretty sure the Xero shoe box itself weighs more than the actual pair of shoes! Once you get over marveling at how amazing they feel in your hand, you slip them on and marvel anew at how amazing they now feel on your *feet!* Yes, if I sound a bit obsessed- I am. No, I don't work for Xero in any capacity. Yes, I did have my eye on these since they came out, so I'm hyped to finally have them in person. Hyped because I'd finally saved up for them (seriously- minimalist shoes aren't cheap. Especially these- and they're made in China :( For the price, I had assumed they were made in the US. Maybe once day you could do that Xero?) Hyped because they were actually cool and looked stylish in the 'glacier blue' color fade (let's face it, most Xero models aren't exactly begging to be put on if you like fun footwear that has fun colors and sleek designs). and hyped to experience how they feel. These feel like a 2nd skin without constricting your foot. I think that's because the upper fabric is some sort of magical, breathable material that stretches in 4 dimensions to accommodate your foot shape. I had another family member try them on who's 1 or 1.5 sizes smaller than me, but has high-volume feet (high volume= very wide feet and high instep, which means it's very hard for them to find shoes that accommodate a wide+high foot) and they fit them! It fit because of this magical unicorn fabric. I also really like that the insoles are perforated and allow more air to circulate under your feet (the rubber soles themselves aren't perforated, but the insoles do keep your feet a bit cooler). There's some sort of thin fabric covering over the perforated insoles, so your feet aren't sliding all over. By the way, the insoles slide out and allow you to comfortably wear the shoes with no insole if you want. If you do remove the insoles, the inside of the shoes are smooth and finished, so you're not feeling loose threads or misshapen seams. The only con (and it may be a fluke), is that after the 2nd wearing, some of the coloring on the black sole, has worn off and is now showing some yellow. It wasn't worn for strenuous activity at all, so I'm going ot be contacting Xero to ask if this is normal. Other than that, I'd recommend these wholeheartedly to everyone on earth!

I was really excited to try these out for a run -- however, disappointed before even a mile into the run. For the next 4 miles I was stopping every 1/2 mile to re-insert the insole. Every time I pushed off the insole slid toward the back of the shoe. After a bit a portion was hanging out the back. Never had that happen to me before. Customer service was nice, quick and efficient to provide RMA and shipping label to send back for and exchange. Hope to update this with better new on replacement pair.

These are incredible running shoes. Wide toe box, not too thin on the soles, and yet you get the barefoot benefits at the same time. After about 100 miles they still feel new. I use these strictly for running and the Prio for HIIT. Both fit the same—don’t get different sizes.

Very nice shoes. So lightweight it feels like a pair of socks. Love the vegan friendly options. The Xero website says if you normally wear a 9.5 you should order a 10. So I ordered a size 10. Shoes came in and were too big. Returned them for a 9.5 and they fit perfect. The exchange was very easy. Got the replacements in no time.

When I ordered these, they were a last resort and I was 'meh' about them. I have a wide forefoot and regular to narrow heel. My feet are cranky from past years of distance running and I have a small bunion on one foot. I have been wearing Altras for years but they've been very hit & miss with sometimes too much cushioning, or an engineered knit upper that doesn't support my foot for lateral movements. I ran across these Xero shoes when googling 'shoes for wide forefoot'. They did not have the color I wanted in womens size, so I ordered a men's size (1.5 sizes smaller in men's - there's a conversion chart on the Xero website). I was so meh about them I almost cancelled my order. I am so glad I didn't!! I put them on a week ago when they arrived and worn them every single day since. I walk around my neighbohood in them. I hike some easy (but rocky/rooty) trails around a lake. I wear them to run errands. I do HIIT workouts in them. I probably would not run in them - I need more cushioning for road running. I've already gotten them muddy. I washed them in the machine and they air dried quickly, looking like new. They are comfortable with plenty of room for my wide forefoot without being sloppy. The only minor I thing I don't like is that the laces are kind of thick and tend to come untied easily, but that is a minor quibble. The only possible difference I can see between a man's shoe and woman's shoe in this case is maybe some extra room top to bottom. I have a thin foot. It doesn't affect the fit or comfort. I am (obviouly) super happy with these shoes.

Review of Men’s and Women’s Xero size 7.5 HRS. Finding a fit. Well, five stars guys. Nearly a perfect minimal shoe. As a person who went barefoot most of my life, these are a joy to wear. Shoes have tortured my feet all my life. I have even ended up taking off my hiking boots and hiking down a mountain barefoot. What a lovely minimal shoe! No arch support in the wrong place, no overly engineered sole extensions outside the foot’s natural stride or, rocker soles. Sizes are an issue and do not conform to US sizes. One full size up did not fit my feet in the women’s shoe, as well as the width. My foot is an exact, 6.5, wide D, in US measurements. My toes are just like your logo. They progress down is size like 28% of the population, yet, no shoes are really made for this foot shape, or that fit my feet. The slight cut out and rounding on the inside toe, has the effect of shoving my toe inward and restricting all mobility, or spread. This is very true for the women’s 7.5 HRS. The woman’s 7.5 has an overly rigid material on the toe box, and is too tight over the toe box. This may be do to the light gray material on this one shoe. My big toe is centered and shoved inwards. It is wearable, but the rounded toe box, narrow toe box over the front top of the shoe, and too narrow of width, makes it uncomfortable. It may measure a D, 3.5 width, on the outside of the sole, but not inside. I’d never run in them. So I tried the men’s HRS, 7.5 in black. The men’s shoe has a softer more playable material, and is about 1/2 inch bigger. The entire base is wider and more flexible, and the toe box is more generous in depth. The toe box accommodates toe movement and spread running up hills, and fits my big toe. Again, there is a cutout and rounding on the inside toe that is not good. The mesh is, as you have heard, a problem. The smaller interior hole size is great, except it sifts fines in between the meshes. This fine sand then accumulates IN THE TOE BOX. After every run, I sit and pound the sand out for a long time. My advice is to fuse the mesh if possible. These fit my personal foot supports and have enough width that I can actually tie them all the way up on my feet for the first time! They are too big in length for all but my big toe, but my toes are so happy. Yay! I feel somewhat like I am wearing big shoes with my tiny feet inside, but they accommodate my highly angled toes perfectly. I love them. The first to fit at all in years! Please make shoes that can fit the Egyptian foot. See photos for the fit of an Egyptian foot shape.

TBe specific about your likes and dislikes. How was the fit and size? What does the material feel like? How awesome (or not) do you feel wearing them?

I like that there's an option for a little more padding as I run on some very rough, rocky roads. When I run in these shoes, I feel very light and free.

Too much of a minimalist shoe for me. Too little shoe but like the larger toe box!

I liked the shoe however, the insole would slide backwards in the shoe as I walked. I tried two pairs and experienced the same thing. I think the issue is the inside of the shoe has a smooth lining and the underside of the insole does as well; there is too little friction to keep it in place. These shoes are supposed to offer the option of wearing with or without the insole, and I think they would be great for someone who does not intend to use it. They are very light weight, have no arch support and a wide toe box, thus they hit everything a true barefoot shoe should be. I wanted to like them however, I need the padding of the insole as the asphalt in my area is too coarse for them to be comfortable without it. It's a shame as I have other pairs of Xero shoes that I enjoy. I have to compliment Zappos in that they were completely supportive of my returning a used shoe because of the issue I experienced.

Very comfortable and fairly stylish for a zero drop shoe. However, not all that durable. Had mine less than a year and they’re falling apart. Will be exploring other brands before committing to another pair of these.

These are great shoes but will take some getting used to if you don't wear barefeet type shoes often. Definitely nice to walk around with at home but I haven't used them much for running.

Hands down, these are the best shoes I’ve ever worn. I have been wearing the same shows every day for the last 10 months. I walk a lot, and fast, some days tallying over 30,000 steps. These shoes have kept up. I have finally worn the outsole through on the heel, so it is time to replace them. What I have to say is about these shoes is based on these last many months. This was my first pair of Xero shoes. What caught my eye was manifold: the sleekness of the shoe, the super low profile, the width of the toe box (I have a bit wider of feet), the owners’ story (yeah, that’s important to me), and the allure of the “barefoot experience.” Xero crafted a sleek and beautiful shoe. The craftsmanship was immediately apparent. Many colleagues and friends commented on their appearance. What is more is that shoes didn’t lose their “new” look and feel for many months. I didn’t do anything special or treat them with any particular deference. They are easy to wipe clean if anything gets on them. I was concerned that the white outsole would get discolored, as is so often the case, but to my surprise, after hundreds of miles walking through manufacturing facilities and hiking extremely dusty Arizona trails, the white outsole is still white. Granted, it isn’t pristine white, but it hasn’t yellowed or been unalterably stained. As for the fabric, it has not yet deteriorated. About two months ago, one of the seams on the left side of the right toe box separated from the fabric (it’s glued, not stitched) and I thought, “Oh, that’s the end of these!” Nope. There’s only that one small gap, and I have added sometimes 20 miles a day on the shoes since without the gap growing. I don’t know how these guys constructed these shoes so well. I could have an anomaly, but I cannot imagine that. These shoes are just superbly constructed. The shoes low profile caught my eye, but the barefoot experience really tantalized me. The outsole is thin. In barefoot mode, you can literally feel the little pebbles in gravel concrete! Really, you feel whatever you’re walking on. I’ve had low profile shoes for a long time. The barefoot feeling was unlike anything I’d experienced in any of the other shoes. At first, I thought, “I dunno if I’m gonna like this.” After a week, it didn’t bother me. Now, I don’t think I will ever be able to wear shoes that don’t provide this experience. I have some cushioned slippers (thanks Mom!) that bother my feet because, honestly, they are too soft. I *love* feeling the ground now. Inside, naked bare feet. Outside, only these shoes. Now, I chose the barefoot experience with these shoes deliberately, and it has changed the way I walk dramatically. You can choose to use the insert which comes with the shoes, which dampens the robust sensations of the barefoot experience. I mentioned that the outsole is thin, but that doesn’t mean it is cheap. Like I said, I have put many hundreds of miles on these guys, and the heel is so thin now I expect it to break through to my heel any day. By comparison, most of my other shoes would’ve already worn through to the padding between the outsole and insole. Walking on that padding is like running fingernails down a chalkboard. This is not the case with these shoes. I have more to say, but I’m tired. These shoes fit perfectly, look great, are constructed superbly, and offer a really wonderful experience. Thank you to the owners because you guys have made a really spectacular shoe.

love these shoes.

The best vegan shoe out there!

These shoes are amazing. Absolutely very comfortable. I keep thinking I have on house slippers and they are not made from animals. Bravo. Thank you.

The shoe fits like a hand in glove.

best. shoes. ever. super cute in grey. nice roomie toe box. lots of ventilation with mesh. awesome barefoot shoes. wish they made work shoes.