I've been wearing Xero shoes for several years now. My feet were a little sore in them at first, but it was muscles coming to life and being used. I'm not an athlete, I'm a senior woman with knee joints that are pretty much shot, and I don't want knee replacement surgery because I love my yoga. Yoga got me flexible enough to start a walking program, and then the knees started hurting again, but I know I need to walk! So I bought an expensive pair of very arch-supported, cushioned shoes and MY FEET HATED THEM, and my Xero sandals didn't protect my feet enough. So I decided to try the HFS, and I also reviewed some therapy videos on YouTube, shortened my stride, did some leg strengthening exercises, and am trying to walk with my forefoot or midfoot hitting the ground, ... MoreI've been wearing Xero shoes for several years now. My feet were a little sore in them at first, but it was muscles coming to life and being used. I'm not an athlete, I'm a senior woman with knee joints that are pretty much shot, and I don't want knee replacement surgery because I love my yoga. Yoga got me flexible enough to start a walking program, and then the knees started hurting again, but I know I need to walk! So I bought an expensive pair of very arch-supported, cushioned shoes and MY FEET HATED THEM, and my Xero sandals didn't protect my feet enough. So I decided to try the HFS, and I also reviewed some therapy videos on YouTube, shortened my stride, did some leg strengthening exercises, and am trying to walk with my forefoot or midfoot hitting the ground, instead of my heels. The HFS is wonderful for this, as it has a bit of a thicker sole, but is still very flexible. And it gives better foot protection than my sandals, especially now that its rainy and colder while I walk. The HFS is my 7th pair of Xero's. I wear men's styles cause my feet are too big for women's, and it really doesn't matter because they all look very nice. I credit these shoes with being the spark that started me on the path to better mobility and longevity.

Extremely Disappointed

I currently own a pair of Dillion’s and the original HFS. The original HFS is the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn and I am constantly recommending Xero shoes to everyone that asks me about them.Before I ordered the HFS II, I emailed support and was told to order the same size as the originals. I have EXTREMELY wide feet and the originals gave my toes the most freedom I’ve ever experienced. When my HFS II’s arrived I was instantly surprised how much more narrow they feel and the added cushioning completely took away the ground feel the originals offered. I wear the originals with insoles and even after taking out the insoles on the II’s, they do not compare. Unlike the originals, I can’t wait to get them off at the end of a long work day.I am extremely ... MoreI currently own a pair of Dillion’s and the original HFS. The original HFS is the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn and I am constantly recommending Xero shoes to everyone that asks me about them.Before I ordered the HFS II, I emailed support and was told to order the same size as the originals. I have EXTREMELY wide feet and the originals gave my toes the most freedom I’ve ever experienced. When my HFS II’s arrived I was instantly surprised how much more narrow they feel and the added cushioning completely took away the ground feel the originals offered. I wear the originals with insoles and even after taking out the insoles on the II’s, they do not compare. Unlike the originals, I can’t wait to get them off at the end of a long work day.I am extremely brand loyal to quality products like Xero, but these being marketed as “an upgrade on the original HFS shoe” really left a sour taste in my mouth.I had no intentions of wearing anything else besides Xero’s for the rest of my life, but this experience has made me branch out and look into other brands.I have been looking into the different Xero barefoot boots for the upcoming winter and have decided to hold off after this experience.I NEVER leave reviews and don’t want to completely bash the brand, but I think a more accurate description with this specific shoe would have been nice. “Looks similar to the original, but doesn’t fit or feel the same whatsoever” would be a more honest description.I wish nothing, but the best to the Xero shoe company. I just have to be honest.

From almost perfect road racer to just average allrounder.

I've tried a lot of barefoot/minimalist running footwear. The original HFS was an almost perfect minimalist running shoe that I absolutely love, blindly recommended and even bought twice. Lightweight, breathable, with very good barefoot feel. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the HFS II. Although the HFS II looks super great, fits and feels also very well while wearing, the ground feel is much less barefoot. The thickness of the outsole of the original HFS was claimed at 5mm. Since running on gravel isn't uncomfortable anymore I assume the HFS II has an outsole of about 8mm (it must be signicant more since Xero doesn't claim the thickness anymore). The outsole also feels harder (maybe the rubber compound ist different). The weight of the HFS II is about 8% ... MoreI've tried a lot of barefoot/minimalist running footwear. The original HFS was an almost perfect minimalist running shoe that I absolutely love, blindly recommended and even bought twice. Lightweight, breathable, with very good barefoot feel. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the HFS II. Although the HFS II looks super great, fits and feels also very well while wearing, the ground feel is much less barefoot. The thickness of the outsole of the original HFS was claimed at 5mm. Since running on gravel isn't uncomfortable anymore I assume the HFS II has an outsole of about 8mm (it must be signicant more since Xero doesn't claim the thickness anymore). The outsole also feels harder (maybe the rubber compound ist different). The weight of the HFS II is about 8% more. A 45 sized HFS II weighs 259g each (original HFS was 240g at size 45.5). The tread of the outsole is a bit deeper and more grippy which makes the shoe more suitable for running on trails/dirt/gravel. The HFS II is also less breathable. When running fast, long or in warm weather my feet gets pretty hot and therefore sweaty which causes blisters more likely. In the original HFS I've never got hot feet.Unfortunately the original HFS isn't available in my size anymore. Hope an HFS III will somehow be more like the original HFS - a lightweight road racer instead of an average allround daily trainer. Cause of the newly designed outsole the HFS II to me feels more like a trail version of the original HFS. So Xero would be better off offering 2 versions of the HFS - one with a thicker, more treaded outsole (HFS II or simply just the Mesa Trail) and a lighter version with a thinner more barefoot feel outsole.

Great Walking Shoe

I workout barefoot in our home gym and I love giving my toes the freedom to move around while developing the muscles in my feet for long term stability...plus, let's face it...they just look better!I walk between 3-6 miles per day on concrete, pavement and occasionally gravel.I purchased Vibrams more than a decade ago and used them for workouts and water activities, but they lacked the support and protection I needed for my daily walks.I didn't purchase another pair of barefoot shoes until earlier this year when I purchased a pair of Peluvas. They offered more protection than my Vibrams and were comfortable enough, but there wasn't enough room in the shoe for socks so I wore them barefoot. After wearing them for several miles over a period of a few days I ... MoreI workout barefoot in our home gym and I love giving my toes the freedom to move around while developing the muscles in my feet for long term stability...plus, let's face it...they just look better!I walk between 3-6 miles per day on concrete, pavement and occasionally gravel.I purchased Vibrams more than a decade ago and used them for workouts and water activities, but they lacked the support and protection I needed for my daily walks.I didn't purchase another pair of barefoot shoes until earlier this year when I purchased a pair of Peluvas. They offered more protection than my Vibrams and were comfortable enough, but there wasn't enough room in the shoe for socks so I wore them barefoot. After wearing them for several miles over a period of a few days I developed painful blisters on some of my toes.I recently purchased my Zero Shoes and went with the HFS II over the other shoe types because I wanted a bit more protection from the surfaces I walk on. I purchased them in my typical size and they fit perfectly. Plenty of room in the toe box which is incredible. Another bonus is that the shoe design makes my size 9.5 foot look a bit smaller! Maybe it's just an optical illusion, but I'll take it!i've worn my shoes daily for 10+ days and am very comfortable in them. I do find that when I walk 6 miles vs only 3 miles in a day I have a bit of soreness on the soles of my feet, but the discomfort doesn't last long.I had to get used to the feeling of my big toe touching the top of the shoe because that part of the shoe is firmer than the canvas my other toes connect with when walking. Overall, I recommend this shoe and will continue to purchase when a replacement is needed.I am also hoping to purchase the Nexus Knit Athletic Lifestyle Sneaker should it become available in white or some other color.

HFS II - The Best Road Running Minimalist Shoe to Date

I was a big fan of the original HFS, but love the HFS 2 even more. I have logged over 400 miles in them and below are my pros and cons.Pros:- Thicker soles, while still being a minimalist shoe. I am an avid runner and the biggest downside, when I committed to fully transitioning to minimalist shoes for running, was the fact that any time I would run over 10-12 miles the bottoms of my feet would start to hurt and feel beat up... Especially when running on roads. The HFS 2 has fixed that issue for me. My feet feel great on runs, and I have ran as far as 19 miles in my HFS 2s. If I want more ground feel, I just grab a pair of the original HFSs without the insoles and I am good to go.- Better grip on wet surfaces. In the original HFS I would slip quite a bit on wet ... MoreI was a big fan of the original HFS, but love the HFS 2 even more. I have logged over 400 miles in them and below are my pros and cons.Pros:- Thicker soles, while still being a minimalist shoe. I am an avid runner and the biggest downside, when I committed to fully transitioning to minimalist shoes for running, was the fact that any time I would run over 10-12 miles the bottoms of my feet would start to hurt and feel beat up... Especially when running on roads. The HFS 2 has fixed that issue for me. My feet feel great on runs, and I have ran as far as 19 miles in my HFS 2s. If I want more ground feel, I just grab a pair of the original HFSs without the insoles and I am good to go.- Better grip on wet surfaces. In the original HFS I would slip quite a bit on wet and muddy surfaces. In the HFS 2, while not completely slip resistant, they slip much less on wet surfaces.- More aggressive tread pattern. This kind of ties into my better grip point, but the HFS 2's tread pattern has low profile lugs, so if you don't need something aggressive for really technical trails, these work great!- More durable tread: My HFS 2 tread at 400 miles looks much less worn than my original HFS' with about the same amount of miles on them.- Less toe fabric... I'm not exactly sure how to put this, but in the original HFS it sometimes felt like the toe area was flopping during runs, almost like it seemed to have too much fabric or material. In the HFS 2 this issue has been fixed completely.- Great for people new to minimalist footwear. With the thicker sole and bare foam I think these shoes are great for someone just getting into minimalist shoes.- Great for cross training: The HFS 2, just like the original, are great for cross training. Whether lifting, doing metcons, you can do it all in these shoes. They have proven to be quite durable.Cons:- HFS 2 feels slightly more narrow: I have a wide forefoot and the HFS 2 feels slightly more narrow. they still fit my foot fine, but something that I noticed. Also, the toe box seems slightly more narrow. I still feel like my toes have room to splay, but I hope they do not get any more narrow.- Shorter shoe laces than the HFS: These shoes have an extra hole for a runners know tie down system, but if you plan on using them you will most likely need to buy longer shoe laces. I personally don't use the extra hole, but I have tried using it and the laces are too short.Overall the HFS 2 is exactly what I have wanted... A zero drop, minimalist, running shoe that provides enough protection that I can go on double digit mile runs with out my feet aching from the pounding. For more ground feel, I have other shoes I can change into. I highly recommend the HFS 2!!

Highly Recommend

I have been keeping an eye on Xero's shoes for years, as I have been wondering for a long time if zero-drop, barefoot shoes might help me with my foot issues. I have just about every foot/lower leg problem someone could ask for - genetic structural deformities, a history of major sports injuries/shin splints/hairline fractures/etc, multiple prior surgeries on both feet, acute and chronic tendonitis, etc. I am literally missing bones in both feet and was told as a child by doctors that I would never be able to walk normally, balance well, or run at all. They were wrong - while I'll likely never be an Olympic marathoner, I can do all those things - but finding shoes that don't aggravate those issues (much less make them better) has been a lifelong challenge and mostly ... MoreI have been keeping an eye on Xero's shoes for years, as I have been wondering for a long time if zero-drop, barefoot shoes might help me with my foot issues. I have just about every foot/lower leg problem someone could ask for - genetic structural deformities, a history of major sports injuries/shin splints/hairline fractures/etc, multiple prior surgeries on both feet, acute and chronic tendonitis, etc. I am literally missing bones in both feet and was told as a child by doctors that I would never be able to walk normally, balance well, or run at all. They were wrong - while I'll likely never be an Olympic marathoner, I can do all those things - but finding shoes that don't aggravate those issues (much less make them better) has been a lifelong challenge and mostly a losing battle. Anyway, back to Xero....I've actually purchased a few different types of shoes from Xero over the years, but had to return them all because of bad fit or shape or general performance. Several months ago I tried again and purchased Xero's Glenn for an upcoming business event, and was thrilled to find they actually worked for me. Still, I was apprehensive about going "full Xero" and spending the money to replace my current footwear with barefoot shoes. Between my home life, gym workouts, and my job I spend a HUGE amount of time standing on concrete (along with a fair amount of walking/running/jumping) and I have endured a lot of foot pain/bruised heels/severe stiffness in "supportive" footwear - I was concerned it would be much worse without any cushioning. These shoes went on sale a couple months ago and I decided to give them a try. After progressively testing them, to include standing on concrete for 8+ hours and running obstacle courses, I have decided that was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I haven't been this close to fully pain-free since I was a child, old aches from old injuries are fading, the constant snap/crackle/pop complaints from my tendons are significantly reduced, and I can balance so much better than ever before. All of my fears about bruised heels, recurring shin splints, worsening tendinitis, and other issues that supposedly come from not having enough cushioning have proved unfounded (bearing in mind that you do have to work up to barefoot-style shoes, you cannot switch cold-turkey from highly padded ones and expect no issues). To top it off, the HFS II soles seem very durable, the shoe itself is secure and does not rub, and the toe is insanely flexible - nothing digs in when you bend your toes while moving.The only complaint I have about these shoes is that the laces on the pair I received were WAY too short. I could barely tie them even without lacing through all the holes. I'm assuming it's a random defect and have just switched the laces out with an old pair of shoes. If you're on the fence about buying these, go for it.

Lightweight, Slight Cushion, Exactly What I Wanted

Felt compelled to review these largely based on the negative reviews predominantly here which I simply do not agree with. I got these specifically for road running and sometimes walks (they've also turned out to be a *fantastic* jump-rope shoe as well). Yes, indeed they run smaller than Prios and I'm glad I researched that and knew this fact before I ordered. My Prios were 9.5 and a touch large, but because I got those for a more casual shoe, that fit was fine. These HFS II pair are roughly a half-size smaller, though they are also a 9.5. I would actually say that the Prio runs large and that these are more true-to-size/expected. That said, please just know that ahead of time.I've been wearing minimalist footwear for about a decade now and I was burned a bit by a ... MoreFelt compelled to review these largely based on the negative reviews predominantly here which I simply do not agree with. I got these specifically for road running and sometimes walks (they've also turned out to be a *fantastic* jump-rope shoe as well). Yes, indeed they run smaller than Prios and I'm glad I researched that and knew this fact before I ordered. My Prios were 9.5 and a touch large, but because I got those for a more casual shoe, that fit was fine. These HFS II pair are roughly a half-size smaller, though they are also a 9.5. I would actually say that the Prio runs large and that these are more true-to-size/expected. That said, please just know that ahead of time.I've been wearing minimalist footwear for about a decade now and I was burned a bit by a Xero shoe purchased many years ago (around 2017 or 2018) and swore them off due for quite a bit of time. However, my wife has two pairs of Xeros in the past couple years now (she joined me in the "barefoot" shoe realm). After her having a good (in contrast to me years back) customer experience and seeing how well her Prios have held up in the past couple years I decided to order a pair. Well my experience was the same - they were great (Prios).So good that two months later I ordered these HFS II pair, as well as a pair of Speed Force II. I intended to keep only one but I kept BOTH. (The SpeedForce is much more minimal and has become my go-to workout shoe, replacing a very worn out Vivobarefoot Primus Lite II pair which I loved). The HFS is much lighter weight than the Prios, slightly heavier than the SpeedForce II ... It has more cusion than either. There is still ground-feel, for certain, but it is more muted. It is exactly what I wanted for minimal shoe road running. I will say that the wet-surface performance is definitely not a grippy as I would like (something I've experienced with all Xero shoe outsoles) but it isn't awful.For reference, in this or similar categories, I own or have owned this HFS II, Speedforce II, and Prio from Xero, as well as Lems Primal 2, and four different pairs of Vivobarefoot Trail (FG, Knit, Sg, Primus). Of them all, Vivos are my favorite overall but they have become insanely expensive, and Xero seems to be making shoes with better construction/durability than I experience in years past. I give this shoe 4 or 4.5 stars, but I'm going to round up based on improvement! Great minimalist running shoe after about 2+ month and a couple hundred miles thus far. (Photos were taken when the shoes were brand new.)

Not the original my feet and I fell in love with

Normally, when reviewing a shoe, I give a quick summary of my footwear journey and share about how I transitioned to barefoot running after various trouble with "traditional" shoes. I'll spare those details for another time. Long story short, I've "Xeroed" in on Xero's shoes as my go-to's for anything requiring shoes, with the HFS covering my running needs since it was first released. My original pair lasted me over 2k miles, and my current pair is going strong at nearly 1k already. After seeing the HFS II come out, I was curious to see if there were any ways Xero could possibly improve on the already basically-perfect original, particularly knowing that the original would eventually not be available to buy, and I'd need to have a replacement scoped out for when my ... MoreNormally, when reviewing a shoe, I give a quick summary of my footwear journey and share about how I transitioned to barefoot running after various trouble with "traditional" shoes. I'll spare those details for another time. Long story short, I've "Xeroed" in on Xero's shoes as my go-to's for anything requiring shoes, with the HFS covering my running needs since it was first released. My original pair lasted me over 2k miles, and my current pair is going strong at nearly 1k already. After seeing the HFS II come out, I was curious to see if there were any ways Xero could possibly improve on the already basically-perfect original, particularly knowing that the original would eventually not be available to buy, and I'd need to have a replacement scoped out for when my current pair wears out.So I decided to give a pair of the II's a try.I should have taken a cue from the description on this website in expecting that the shoe might not measure up, particularly with the little blurb about the thicker sole that immediately made me have a feeling the sole would result in the II's being a no-go for me. After watching many of my favorites gradually get thicker and less flexible with each iteration, I just had a feeling I'd run into the same issue with the II. Sure enough, I did. I gave the shoes an initial bend test along the usual axes before trying them on and honestly was pretty dumbfounded that a shoe with this thin a sole could have such a stiff/inflexible profile - especially given that the original HFS can easily roll into a ball and feels like more of a protective second skin than a shoe.Some additional thoughts after wearing the shoes, and in order of cons to pros:• Flexibility - The II is significantly stiffer and all-around less flexible than the original. Whereas the original, when laced up, would conform around your foot as the laces were cinched up (including the sole, which would flex around your heel and create a rounded sole shape), the II is stiff as a board, particularly in the heel area.• Heel lock - As a result of the decreased flexibility, it is significantly more difficult to keep my heel from slipping out of the heel cup in the II. The shoe has a tendency to stay flat and rigid instead of bending/rotating with my foot, which pulls down on the heel any time my foot is bent. (This was one of the biggest reasons I transitioned out of inflexible, traditional shoes that got in the way of my feet functioning as they would when barefoot.)• Ground feel - I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd rather run truly barefoot than in the II. The original had a super-thin but appreciably soft foam/gel-like strobel layer above the rubber outsole that, even if running without the insole, provided a just-enough amount of protection from larger rocks or bumps. Not to be overly hard on the II, but wearing it feels like having a plastic (not rubber) slab attached to my foot, which somehow actually feels worse when running than if I were just landing barefoot on the ground. Unless I received a dud pair, there is zero cushion between the rubber and my foot without the insole, other than a thin/un-cushioned cloth layer. The cushion/dampening that the original was able to pull off even without the insole easily beats the feel of the II with the insole left in.• Upper - As mentioned, the heel cup in the II doesn't lock down as well as in the original, even though its shape is pretty much the same, again likely due to the stiffer sole in the II not allowing the same level of flex/articulation as the original. On the plus side, the slight floppiness in the material in the midfoot area of the original (the material on the outside of the straps) is now gone, and the midfoot area now fits much more snugly around the foot and doesn't appear as "baggy," which is a plus. The forefoot has pretty much the exact same profile between both versions, at least when standing still, but the stiffness of the sole and lower portion of the II overall means my big toe presses harder against the top of the toebox in the II than in the original, leaving it feeling noticeably cramped while running/walking.• Outsole - I'm a sucker for grip, and the II has plenty, particularly with the new lug pattern. Granted, I didn't have any trouble or complaints in this area with the original, but from what other folks are saying, the II grips well on both hard surfaces and light trails. I can see how that'd be the case. Unfortunately, the rubber in the II is significantly "harder" (even if likely more durable) than what was used in the original, so rather than acting as a dampening layer, it literally just transfers a hollow jolt to the foot that feels worse than landing barefoot. (Think carbon fiber vs. aluminum)That said, judging by the reviews, it sounds like I'm alone (or in a very small minority) in not digging the II, but no amount of wearing the shoe around helped it feel better. I'm not sure what feedback ultimately led to the updates in the II, but I'm sorry to say it's a step backwards for me, and I'll be snatching up as many pairs of the blue/green original from my favorite shoe vendor as I can before it sells out.(Note: I'll also be eagerly awaiting the III in hopes of a bit of return to form - the original is *that* good.)

Very comfortable and they look great too - zero complaints

I took up running this year on a treadmill, streets, and sometimes trails although nothing too extreme. I had previously been using my Xero 360s which were taking a beating and I thought I would try something designed for running. I was a little bit nervous about sizing since I'm find size 11s are sometimes fine and sometimes too small. From tons of running (500 miles in 6 months) my toes have taken a beating even wearing the 360s. So I bought 11 1/2s and although there's room at the ends I find with socks and laced up using the lace lock there's no slipping at all. They feel just right. So far I've only worn them with the inner soles and it feels much more padded than my 360s although realistically there's probably only a mm or two in it. My only complaint would be ... MoreI took up running this year on a treadmill, streets, and sometimes trails although nothing too extreme. I had previously been using my Xero 360s which were taking a beating and I thought I would try something designed for running. I was a little bit nervous about sizing since I'm find size 11s are sometimes fine and sometimes too small. From tons of running (500 miles in 6 months) my toes have taken a beating even wearing the 360s. So I bought 11 1/2s and although there's room at the ends I find with socks and laced up using the lace lock there's no slipping at all. They feel just right. So far I've only worn them with the inner soles and it feels much more padded than my 360s although realistically there's probably only a mm or two in it. My only complaint would be that for the first time I have a pair of Xero shoes where the supplied laces are too short - at least using lace lock lacing with an extra wrap to ensure they don't come undone which everyone should do when running. So I think the laces could stand to be a couple of inches longer because that's how much not using lace-lock frees up and then they are perfect. A bonus is they look great - even my wife thinks so, although the mesh exterior does mean they are a little bit fragile. I had to bush-whack a bit while off-trail and that tore the mesh a tiny bit where it caught on some undergrowth. I have hosed them off a few times and they are holding up well

Working out well

These are my first pair of road running shoes from Xero though I started using a couple of different Xero trail shoes (Mesa II and Scrambler Low) almost a year ago. I was a little hesitant to go minimalist on the road as I am mostly a trail runner and consider road running a necessary evil when I can't get to the trails ("the road to **** is paved"). I've been running in some version of the Brooks Adrenaline shoe for 20+ years but have recently started to suspect that some of the necessity for "stability" or "control" in road running shoes is actually due to the high cushioning and heel drop causing or allowing one's foot to move more than it naturally would. However, I have also been a bit skeptical of abandoning all cushioning since pavement and asphalt are not ... MoreThese are my first pair of road running shoes from Xero though I started using a couple of different Xero trail shoes (Mesa II and Scrambler Low) almost a year ago. I was a little hesitant to go minimalist on the road as I am mostly a trail runner and consider road running a necessary evil when I can't get to the trails ("the road to **** is paved"). I've been running in some version of the Brooks Adrenaline shoe for 20+ years but have recently started to suspect that some of the necessity for "stability" or "control" in road running shoes is actually due to the high cushioning and heel drop causing or allowing one's foot to move more than it naturally would. However, I have also been a bit skeptical of abandoning all cushioning since pavement and asphalt are not natural surfaces and the repetitive motion of every step being the same on flat hard surfaces can be tough on your feet and joints.With all that said, I have been pleasantly surprised that the transition to running in the HFS II has not been too bad. It has probably helped that I had already mostly transitioned to minimalist trail running shoes first. I started by alternating the Xero shoes into my runs but lately have been using them whenever I am forced to run on roads. I've got about 80 miles on the shoes so far and it's going well, though I haven't done many runs longer than 6 miles or so. I will have to see how they (and my body) hold up if I go longer on the roads.My only real beef with these shoes is the laces. I like to do the heel-lock lacing pattern and for some reason, these laces are a LOT shorter than on my other Xero shoes. After I make the extra loop, there is barely enough lace left to fully tie the shoes.