Whether you're out on a run, trying out a new trail, hitting the gym, or toeing a slackline, you'll love the combination of freedom and protection from the Xero Shoes Prio. Life-changing comfort and superior performance come from using your feet naturally. Low-to-the-ground for balance and agility. Made from 100% vegan-friendly materials. Breathable mesh upper with a huarache-inspired tensioning system. Anatomically wide toe box for power-producing movement. Huarache sandal-inspired reflective heel and instep straps hold your foot securely - with or without socks - while keeping your toes free to move. Optional 2mm insole lets you have more or less of a barefoot feel depending on your mood. Dual-direction chevron tread provides stability and ground-gripping confidence. 5.5mm FeelTrue rubber sole. Polyester upper. Synthetic lining and insole. Rubber outsole. Imported.
Whether you're out on a run, trying out a new trail, hitting the gym, or toeing a slackline, you'll love the combination of freedom and protection from the Xero Shoes Prio. Life-changing comfort and superior performance come from using your feet naturally. Low-to-the-ground for balance and agility. Made from 100% vegan-friendly materials. Breathable mesh upper with a huarache-inspired tensioning system. Anatomically wide toe box for power-producing movement. Huarache sandal-inspired reflective heel and instep straps hold your foot securely - with or without socks - while keeping your toes free to move. Optional 2mm insole lets you have more or less of a barefoot feel depending on your mood. Dual-direction chevron tread provides stability and ground-gripping confidence. 5.5mm FeelTrue rubber sole. Polyester upper. Synthetic lining and insole. Rubber outsole. Imported.
Whether you're out on a run, trying out a new trail, hitting the gym, or toeing a slackline, you'll love the combination of freedom and protection from the Xero Shoes Prio. Life-changing comfort and superior performance come from using your feet naturally. Low-to-the-ground for balance and agility. Made from 100% vegan-friendly materials. Breathable mesh upper with a huarache-inspired tensioning system. Anatomically wide toe box for power-producing movement. Huarache sandal-inspired reflective heel and instep straps hold your foot securely - with or without socks - while keeping your toes free to move. Optional 2mm insole lets you have more or less of a barefoot feel depending on your mood. Dual-direction chevron tread provides stability and ground-gripping confidence. 5.5mm FeelTrue rubber sole. Polyester upper. Synthetic lining and insole. Rubber outsole. Imported.
Whether you're out on a run, trying out a new trail, hitting the gym, or toeing a slackline, you'll love the combination of freedom and protection from the Xero Shoes Prio. Life-changing comfort and superior performance come from using your feet naturally. Low-to-the-ground for balance and agility. Made from 100% vegan-friendly materials. Breathable mesh upper with a huarache-inspired tensioning system. Anatomically wide toe box for power-producing movement. Huarache sandal-inspired reflective heel and instep straps hold your foot securely - with or without socks - while keeping your toes free to move. Optional 2mm insole lets you have more or less of a barefoot feel depending on your mood. Dual-direction chevron tread provides stability and ground-gripping confidence. 5.5mm FeelTrue rubber sole. Polyester upper. Synthetic lining and insole. Rubber outsole. Imported.
Last updated at 05/10/2026 15:56:43
Xero Prio Mens Shoes [Colour:Lunar][Shoe Size:8.5 USM]
Free delivery
XERO Prio - Men's MultiāPurpose Athletic Shoe Lunar / 8.5
Delivery $9.90
Prio - Men's MultiāPurpose Athletic Shoe Lunar Men's size (US):8.5
Free delivery between Tue ā Wed
originally posted on xeroshoes.com
I recently bought a pair of Prio Xero Shoes.I will start with how they feel because thatās most important to me. My feet feel barefoot yet protected. Also, I like the way they look and the tread grips well. The lace material holds well, I havenāt had to double knot them like I do with most other shoes. I like that Xero Shoes are comfortable without socks. Because of their flexibility and the way they strap to the foot, thereās no rubbing to cause blisters.Iām happy to have found wide toe area, flat souled, flexible shoes like Xero Shoes. For me, spungy souled shoes are annoying. My body has to work extra to maintain balance because Iām standing on a cushion and canāt get a direct read on the surface of the ground. Barefoot, I can stand on one foot with my eyes ...Ā MoreI recently bought a pair of Prio Xero Shoes.I will start with how they feel because thatās most important to me. My feet feel barefoot yet protected. Also, I like the way they look and the tread grips well. The lace material holds well, I havenāt had to double knot them like I do with most other shoes. I like that Xero Shoes are comfortable without socks. Because of their flexibility and the way they strap to the foot, thereās no rubbing to cause blisters.Iām happy to have found wide toe area, flat souled, flexible shoes like Xero Shoes. For me, spungy souled shoes are annoying. My body has to work extra to maintain balance because Iām standing on a cushion and canāt get a direct read on the surface of the ground. Barefoot, I can stand on one foot with my eyes closed and there is enough information to keep my balance until minutes later when my leg gets tired. I can still balance on one foot with my eyes closed while wearing Xero Shoes.Running barefoot on a road rings our bones like a bell. These shoes allow us to ring our bones without wearing off the pads of our feet. According to Taoist Nei Kung practices, hitting the bottom of the feet helps increase the chi flow and circulation. It opens the channel for Earth energy to be drawn into the body. Bone Marrow Nei Kung explains that vibrating the bones opens their pores which allows accumulated energies to access the bone marrow. The vibrations also shake toxins out of the fasciae, muscles, and internal organs, while breaking up deposits of uric acid and releasing tension from the body. Running barefoot or in Xero Shoes strengthens our bones and helps us detoxify.The one improvement I would suggest is to somehow make the soul of the shoes conductive so that we can also enjoy the excellent healing benefits of Earth Grounding. There are years of extensive research which shows that connecting to Earthās natural energy, by walking barefoot, can diminish chronic pain, fatigue and other ailments. Free electrons are taken up into the body. These electrons are natures antioxidants and help neutralize damaging excess free radicals that can lead to inflammation and disease. If Xero could make a shoe that can ground and protect, that would be ideal.The engineering of this shoeās design is well thought out and they are well made. I like the double rows of stitching, the reflective bands which ingeniously tighten around the heal and over the foot, that the pull-on loop at the back is big enough for my finger, the extra layer of protection at the tip to the toes, the smooth interior which negates the need for socks, the excellent gripping action of the treads, the tight holding action of the laces negating the need to double knot, the flexibility of the shoe which allows for all manner of movement, and that theyāre light, so they donāt weigh down my feet.Thanks for an excellent shoe that helps me move as evolution intended. I prefer my feet to be *****, but in the cold of winter and with the litigious regulations of human policies, I wear shoesā¦Xero shoes.Chris Kemp September 2022
originally posted on xeroshoes.com
I purchased this version of the Prio after picking up my first pair of Xero Piro (suade) at REI. The suade is fantastic for everyday wear around town, while I use these for more active pursuits. I have a very high arch and was skeptical that a minimalist, zero drop shoe would be the answer to my chronic foot pain and crunched pinky toe. In fact, I expected it to make the problem worse, but decided to give them a shot with nothing to lose. This is game changing footwear for me. From the instant I put the Prio's on, I knew these might be something good. The wider toe box is a huge improvement for my foot, and the lacing/strap system dials in the prefect snug fit on my foot. I as I started to gradually wear these more and more each day, I noticed long dormant muscles ...Ā MoreI purchased this version of the Prio after picking up my first pair of Xero Piro (suade) at REI. The suade is fantastic for everyday wear around town, while I use these for more active pursuits. I have a very high arch and was skeptical that a minimalist, zero drop shoe would be the answer to my chronic foot pain and crunched pinky toe. In fact, I expected it to make the problem worse, but decided to give them a shot with nothing to lose. This is game changing footwear for me. From the instant I put the Prio's on, I knew these might be something good. The wider toe box is a huge improvement for my foot, and the lacing/strap system dials in the prefect snug fit on my foot. I as I started to gradually wear these more and more each day, I noticed long dormant muscles in my calves and hips "waking up". I'm not a runner, I am a desk jockey, so feeling these muscles ignite after switching shoes was amazing. My true test of these shoes (to see if they would be a killer to my arch) was to wear them all day around the San Diego Zoo. I was AMAZED that my feet felt amazing, my arch felt fantastic, and with the bigger toe box, my feet could swell and still not experience discomfort. The last bonus is that I can wear these shoes with my Correct Toes toe spreader. My only, ONLY quip on this version of the prio is this: they feel just a little bit more narrow in the toe box than the suade version. I am now a convert. I can't believe these shoes made such a vast difference in my overall foot comfort and well being. I am also thankful that Xero has a line of shoes for every need I have from a water shoe to winter boot. I will be converting all my shoes to zero drop/Xero shoes going forward.
originally posted on xeroshoes.com
My wife who has had 12 foot surgeries in her life time since she was a teenager, has 50 pairs of different types of shoes, but has finally settled on the Prio shoe at 55 years of age. She has always had issues with balance and foot pain. She is able to walk without pain and can keep her balance, even on uneven ground which never happened before in her life time. It alleviated her walking issues !! To be fair I personally have never worn a minimalist shoe but was intrigued by her results. I am a runner and have never tried minimalist shoes and have a hard time finding wide enough shoes. I ordered the Prio and one of the running shoes from Xero shoes. The Prio was by far the wider of the two so I sent the running shoes back and kept the Prio's. I watched videos on how ...Ā MoreMy wife who has had 12 foot surgeries in her life time since she was a teenager, has 50 pairs of different types of shoes, but has finally settled on the Prio shoe at 55 years of age. She has always had issues with balance and foot pain. She is able to walk without pain and can keep her balance, even on uneven ground which never happened before in her life time. It alleviated her walking issues !! To be fair I personally have never worn a minimalist shoe but was intrigued by her results. I am a runner and have never tried minimalist shoes and have a hard time finding wide enough shoes. I ordered the Prio and one of the running shoes from Xero shoes. The Prio was by far the wider of the two so I sent the running shoes back and kept the Prio's. I watched videos on how to run in minimalist shoes and will need to practice as I do not advise anyone to run with a minimalist shoe until they have watched some videos to avoid any type of issue. It made a lot of sense! I have worn these for a while and they have taken away my heal pain I was having but noticed that you will feel differently as you walk at first. Now that I have worn these for a while my feet are starting to get happier and I can't wait to start jogging in them. I recommend theseThese are the first shoes I have ever recommended since I started running in 2008-2022. The reason is, it feels right on my feet as the width is wider than I've ever found and it alleviated my wife's walking issue with her Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (connective tissues ā primarily skin, joints and blood vessel walls). These were also her first pair of minimalist shoes. To be fair, it did take a few days for her to get used to them as they are different (better for your feet). Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an incurable disease but if it alleviates the issue of walking then these shoes are worth it !! Miracles do happen !! Thank you both, Steven and Lena for creating these!!
Xero Prio Mens Shoes [Colour:Lunar][Shoe Size:8.5 USM]
Free delivery
XERO Prio - Men's MultiāPurpose Athletic Shoe Lunar / 8.5
Delivery $9.90
Prio - Men's MultiāPurpose Athletic Shoe Lunar Men's size (US):8.5
Free delivery between Tue ā Wed
I recently bought a pair of Prio Xero Shoes.I will start with how they feel because thatās most important to me. My feet feel barefoot yet protected. Also, I like the way they look and the tread grips well. The lace material holds well, I havenāt had to double knot them like I do with most other shoes. I like that Xero Shoes are comfortable without socks. Because of their flexibility and the way they strap to the foot, thereās no rubbing to cause blisters.Iām happy to have found wide toe area, flat souled, flexible shoes like Xero Shoes. For me, spungy souled shoes are annoying. My body has to work extra to maintain balance because Iām standing on a cushion and canāt get a direct read on the surface of the ground. Barefoot, I can stand on one foot with my eyes ...Ā MoreI recently bought a pair of Prio Xero Shoes.I will start with how they feel because thatās most important to me. My feet feel barefoot yet protected. Also, I like the way they look and the tread grips well. The lace material holds well, I havenāt had to double knot them like I do with most other shoes. I like that Xero Shoes are comfortable without socks. Because of their flexibility and the way they strap to the foot, thereās no rubbing to cause blisters.Iām happy to have found wide toe area, flat souled, flexible shoes like Xero Shoes. For me, spungy souled shoes are annoying. My body has to work extra to maintain balance because Iām standing on a cushion and canāt get a direct read on the surface of the ground. Barefoot, I can stand on one foot with my eyes closed and there is enough information to keep my balance until minutes later when my leg gets tired. I can still balance on one foot with my eyes closed while wearing Xero Shoes.Running barefoot on a road rings our bones like a bell. These shoes allow us to ring our bones without wearing off the pads of our feet. According to Taoist Nei Kung practices, hitting the bottom of the feet helps increase the chi flow and circulation. It opens the channel for Earth energy to be drawn into the body. Bone Marrow Nei Kung explains that vibrating the bones opens their pores which allows accumulated energies to access the bone marrow. The vibrations also shake toxins out of the fasciae, muscles, and internal organs, while breaking up deposits of uric acid and releasing tension from the body. Running barefoot or in Xero Shoes strengthens our bones and helps us detoxify.The one improvement I would suggest is to somehow make the soul of the shoes conductive so that we can also enjoy the excellent healing benefits of Earth Grounding. There are years of extensive research which shows that connecting to Earthās natural energy, by walking barefoot, can diminish chronic pain, fatigue and other ailments. Free electrons are taken up into the body. These electrons are natures antioxidants and help neutralize damaging excess free radicals that can lead to inflammation and disease. If Xero could make a shoe that can ground and protect, that would be ideal.The engineering of this shoeās design is well thought out and they are well made. I like the double rows of stitching, the reflective bands which ingeniously tighten around the heal and over the foot, that the pull-on loop at the back is big enough for my finger, the extra layer of protection at the tip to the toes, the smooth interior which negates the need for socks, the excellent gripping action of the treads, the tight holding action of the laces negating the need to double knot, the flexibility of the shoe which allows for all manner of movement, and that theyāre light, so they donāt weigh down my feet.Thanks for an excellent shoe that helps me move as evolution intended. I prefer my feet to be *****, but in the cold of winter and with the litigious regulations of human policies, I wear shoesā¦Xero shoes.Chris Kemp September 2022
I purchased this version of the Prio after picking up my first pair of Xero Piro (suade) at REI. The suade is fantastic for everyday wear around town, while I use these for more active pursuits. I have a very high arch and was skeptical that a minimalist, zero drop shoe would be the answer to my chronic foot pain and crunched pinky toe. In fact, I expected it to make the problem worse, but decided to give them a shot with nothing to lose. This is game changing footwear for me. From the instant I put the Prio's on, I knew these might be something good. The wider toe box is a huge improvement for my foot, and the lacing/strap system dials in the prefect snug fit on my foot. I as I started to gradually wear these more and more each day, I noticed long dormant muscles ...Ā MoreI purchased this version of the Prio after picking up my first pair of Xero Piro (suade) at REI. The suade is fantastic for everyday wear around town, while I use these for more active pursuits. I have a very high arch and was skeptical that a minimalist, zero drop shoe would be the answer to my chronic foot pain and crunched pinky toe. In fact, I expected it to make the problem worse, but decided to give them a shot with nothing to lose. This is game changing footwear for me. From the instant I put the Prio's on, I knew these might be something good. The wider toe box is a huge improvement for my foot, and the lacing/strap system dials in the prefect snug fit on my foot. I as I started to gradually wear these more and more each day, I noticed long dormant muscles in my calves and hips "waking up". I'm not a runner, I am a desk jockey, so feeling these muscles ignite after switching shoes was amazing. My true test of these shoes (to see if they would be a killer to my arch) was to wear them all day around the San Diego Zoo. I was AMAZED that my feet felt amazing, my arch felt fantastic, and with the bigger toe box, my feet could swell and still not experience discomfort. The last bonus is that I can wear these shoes with my Correct Toes toe spreader. My only, ONLY quip on this version of the prio is this: they feel just a little bit more narrow in the toe box than the suade version. I am now a convert. I can't believe these shoes made such a vast difference in my overall foot comfort and well being. I am also thankful that Xero has a line of shoes for every need I have from a water shoe to winter boot. I will be converting all my shoes to zero drop/Xero shoes going forward.
My wife who has had 12 foot surgeries in her life time since she was a teenager, has 50 pairs of different types of shoes, but has finally settled on the Prio shoe at 55 years of age. She has always had issues with balance and foot pain. She is able to walk without pain and can keep her balance, even on uneven ground which never happened before in her life time. It alleviated her walking issues !! To be fair I personally have never worn a minimalist shoe but was intrigued by her results. I am a runner and have never tried minimalist shoes and have a hard time finding wide enough shoes. I ordered the Prio and one of the running shoes from Xero shoes. The Prio was by far the wider of the two so I sent the running shoes back and kept the Prio's. I watched videos on how ...Ā MoreMy wife who has had 12 foot surgeries in her life time since she was a teenager, has 50 pairs of different types of shoes, but has finally settled on the Prio shoe at 55 years of age. She has always had issues with balance and foot pain. She is able to walk without pain and can keep her balance, even on uneven ground which never happened before in her life time. It alleviated her walking issues !! To be fair I personally have never worn a minimalist shoe but was intrigued by her results. I am a runner and have never tried minimalist shoes and have a hard time finding wide enough shoes. I ordered the Prio and one of the running shoes from Xero shoes. The Prio was by far the wider of the two so I sent the running shoes back and kept the Prio's. I watched videos on how to run in minimalist shoes and will need to practice as I do not advise anyone to run with a minimalist shoe until they have watched some videos to avoid any type of issue. It made a lot of sense! I have worn these for a while and they have taken away my heal pain I was having but noticed that you will feel differently as you walk at first. Now that I have worn these for a while my feet are starting to get happier and I can't wait to start jogging in them. I recommend theseThese are the first shoes I have ever recommended since I started running in 2008-2022. The reason is, it feels right on my feet as the width is wider than I've ever found and it alleviated my wife's walking issue with her Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (connective tissues ā primarily skin, joints and blood vessel walls). These were also her first pair of minimalist shoes. To be fair, it did take a few days for her to get used to them as they are different (better for your feet). Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an incurable disease but if it alleviates the issue of walking then these shoes are worth it !! Miracles do happen !! Thank you both, Steven and Lena for creating these!!
As the title implies, I have been making my own footwear (minimalist, primitive, period, etc.) for some time now and never imagined I would actually be buying shoes again. Unfortunately, I encountered a perfect storm of four older pairs failing at once for various reasons in the same week, having to spend over $300 on additional materials to make enough to replace them all since I was nearly out, and just not having enough time to sit and stitch that many by hand. So I went looking for alternatives and stumbled across Xero's site while they were having a sale.After reading a bunch of reviews, I took a chance on the Prios since they were one of the items on sale and their lacing system is similar to that of the turnsoles I liked to wear the best. (Honestly, Xero's ...Ā MoreAs the title implies, I have been making my own footwear (minimalist, primitive, period, etc.) for some time now and never imagined I would actually be buying shoes again. Unfortunately, I encountered a perfect storm of four older pairs failing at once for various reasons in the same week, having to spend over $300 on additional materials to make enough to replace them all since I was nearly out, and just not having enough time to sit and stitch that many by hand. So I went looking for alternatives and stumbled across Xero's site while they were having a sale.After reading a bunch of reviews, I took a chance on the Prios since they were one of the items on sale and their lacing system is similar to that of the turnsoles I liked to wear the best. (Honestly, Xero's setup may be a little better.) After a week of breaking them in, they are now the only shoes besides what I make for myself that I don't feel the need to get off my feet once I am done for the day. The only complaint I have about fit and feel is that the materials used on the uppers keep my feet a bit on the warm side. It's not bad enough to remove a star in my opinion though. I intend to use these as 'daily drivers' along with the surviving pair of loafers I made in October of last year. If they last and wear well enough, I will happily buy another pair of Prios when these begin to die.Other thoughts: Most of the bad reviews I've read concern either durability and sole separation, or fit and feel. I've long been accustomed to low stack, low rise footwear, as opposed to 'normal' shoes, so the Prios feel quite nice to me. If you've never worn shoes like these before, you might need to ease into them. Once you get used to this kind of shoe, you probably will not want to go back to 'normal' shoes either. As for durability, I am concerned about that; not with the soles themselves, but with the uppers and the adhesives used to glue them down. If I'm spending this much on footwear, then I am expecting a good service life from them. I've never known vegan and/or manufactured materials to last as long and age as gracefully as well cared for leather. (I've gotten up to eight years with resoling mine for example.) I was still willing to give these a try despite those misgivings since Xero does appear to honor their warranties, plus I know how to care for footwear and could likely effect a repair if they chose not to for some odd reason. (A tube of Shoe Goo and some large binder clips will take care of a separating sole for example.) I'm not going to knock them for a 'possibility' though, so the Prios get five stars. (Pic shows the new Prios alongside the loafers.)
My sonās size 4 Nikeās were getting worn out, and I wanted to replace them with a pair of the Xero Prio. The sizing information on their site states that the shoes āfit true to sizeā and they ārecommend ordering your regular shoe sizeā.I ordered and received a pair of the Youth 4 Prio, but they were way too small for my sonās feet. I emailed Xero about the issue and asked for help. They promptly replied with instructions on their exchange process and a note that the Womenās 6 is a half size larger than the Y4. This is where things started going downhill. Without knowing how their size relates to actual length, I didnāt feel like I had the necessary information to pick the correct size. So I measured my sonās feet, sent them the measurements, and asked for a ...Ā MoreMy sonās size 4 Nikeās were getting worn out, and I wanted to replace them with a pair of the Xero Prio. The sizing information on their site states that the shoes āfit true to sizeā and they ārecommend ordering your regular shoe sizeā.I ordered and received a pair of the Youth 4 Prio, but they were way too small for my sonās feet. I emailed Xero about the issue and asked for help. They promptly replied with instructions on their exchange process and a note that the Womenās 6 is a half size larger than the Y4. This is where things started going downhill. Without knowing how their size relates to actual length, I didnāt feel like I had the necessary information to pick the correct size. So I measured my sonās feet, sent them the measurements, and asked for a recommendation on which size to choose. They responded that they donāt give out size recommendations based on 2 dimensional measurements. They also noted that they have templates available for their sandals, but those templates donāt work for the Prio so they donāt recommend using them.I didnāt have any way of sending them a 3 dimensional model of my sonās foot and I didnāt want to continue with the trial and error approach that they seem to favor, so I asked them for the dimensions of the insole for the Womenās 6.5 Prio.They replied back that, unlike every other shoe company, they do not provide measurements for their closed toed shoes.So after multiple emails over multiple days, my attempts to try to get help on choosing the correct shoe size for my son were unsuccessful. Unlike every other shoe company, Xero wonāt provide any type of size to measurement mapping. Xero only offers a full refund if itās part of an exchange. They said that the Womenās Prio 6.5 should be about the same size as my sonās size 4 Nike, so without any other recourse, I used their trial and error approach and ordered the Womenās size 6.5 Prio for my son. They are still too small.All of the time, effort, aggravation, and frustration are not worth it. I canāt condone giving my money to a company that makes their customers go through that.
It's been 25+ years since I bought my first pair of quality running shoes. They were from a big name brand with a fancy checkmark on the side, and they were quite expensive for me...but they were tremendously comfortable. Unfortunately, my pinky toes wore through the outside edges of the fabric on these before long. I wore them, despite the "aftermarket ventilation" because of their comfort and because I was running then.Fast forward 25 years and many attempts to find another pair of shoes that felt as comfortable and could motivate me to reclaim the joy of walking and running. A few years ago I bought another name brand pair of running shoes from a running shoe store, with all kinds of running shoe store wisdom about "pronation" and "heel strike" and all the rest ...Ā MoreIt's been 25+ years since I bought my first pair of quality running shoes. They were from a big name brand with a fancy checkmark on the side, and they were quite expensive for me...but they were tremendously comfortable. Unfortunately, my pinky toes wore through the outside edges of the fabric on these before long. I wore them, despite the "aftermarket ventilation" because of their comfort and because I was running then.Fast forward 25 years and many attempts to find another pair of shoes that felt as comfortable and could motivate me to reclaim the joy of walking and running. A few years ago I bought another name brand pair of running shoes from a running shoe store, with all kinds of running shoe store wisdom about "pronation" and "heel strike" and all the rest of it, hoping that those shoes would be the answer. But even in those shoes, I struggled with back and hip pain as I switched back and forth from those shoes to my everyday shoes for work, and for working in the yard and such.When I saw an ad for Xero, I decided to try a pair of a style that were on sale (Hana), to see if the whole "zero rise, wide toe box" stuff was all it claimed it was, and if my heels and shins could adjust to it. I VERY quickly fell in love.I just saved up and bought a pair of Prio, and I could not be more excited about these! Honestly, I was nervous. Because of the minimalist-ness of my canvas Hanas, I wasn't sure if the Prio was going to feel too flimsy to feel like a real shoe. The Prios not only feel legit, but when I put them on, I felt like they were custom-designed for my feet...it was almost surreal! I don't know if it is because I have kinda learned how to do the minimalist/ground-feedback thing with my Hanas already or what, but they feel absolutely perfect. I feel like the dude version of Cinderella! No joke, my only concern since the day they arrived has been that one day yall might stop producing them, and then where will I find it's equal???At any rate, 12 stars! These things are awesome, and you've got a lifetime customer!
I was always under the impression that a solid comfortable sole that supports your foot is what your feet/body needed. Itās hard to believe or know anything else when that is the only thing we are presented and told when buying shoes. Iāve seen Xero around for awhile, but had yet to take the opportunity to try them.When I went to REI to buy a new pair of shoes for the year I saw only one pair of drop zero shoes (the Xero brand) and found my size and was ready for the switch. I fell in love with my first pair so much I bought a second pair off the Xero site along with a pair of sandals.These shoes have made me reconstruct what I believed about a good, comfortable, healthy shoe. I no longer wear my Berkinstocks sandals or other traditional shoes and am impressed ...Ā MoreI was always under the impression that a solid comfortable sole that supports your foot is what your feet/body needed. Itās hard to believe or know anything else when that is the only thing we are presented and told when buying shoes. Iāve seen Xero around for awhile, but had yet to take the opportunity to try them.When I went to REI to buy a new pair of shoes for the year I saw only one pair of drop zero shoes (the Xero brand) and found my size and was ready for the switch. I fell in love with my first pair so much I bought a second pair off the Xero site along with a pair of sandals.These shoes have made me reconstruct what I believed about a good, comfortable, healthy shoe. I no longer wear my Berkinstocks sandals or other traditional shoes and am impressed and excited about drop zero styles, Xero brand and bringing back healthy walking patterns to my feet.Not to mention my toes are no longer being pushed together by a poor foot boot design I can now focus on bringing space back in between my toes.If you havenāt figured it out already these shoes are the future. Sometimes humanity needs to move backward to move forward. In this case we need to go back to the style of footwear older than any shoe brand around.This is something I want to scream from the mountain top for everyone to hear. Instead, I really try not to come off pushy and only inform the people who inquire about the shoes I wear, which happens to be a fair amount of people on a regular basis.I usually donāt write reviews, but this is meaningful to me and I realize this style of footwear is still misunderstood and not well recognized. If you are on the fence or just doing research I can not implore you enough to try this style of shoe out. The only thing you have to lose is the boundaries that the popular/standard shoe style has put on your feet and mind!Jump in feet first my friends!
Iāll admit, I ordered these shoes with no previous experience with Xero, other than seeing advertisements online. Iām a committed HIIT and kettlebell workout guy, and typically perform all exercises barefoot when I can (weather and fitness center rules permitting), so I was interested in a zero-drop barefoot style shoe.My first impression was the obvious manufacturing quality of the shoe - top notch. When I initially put them on, it felt a little strange with zero drop because all of my shoes have some sort of elevated heel. Walking around initially felt awkward, and I noticed a definite tightness in my calves after walking a few miles - likely due to the additional leg stretch since my heels were on the same level as my forefoot. That tightness faded after a few ...Ā MoreIāll admit, I ordered these shoes with no previous experience with Xero, other than seeing advertisements online. Iām a committed HIIT and kettlebell workout guy, and typically perform all exercises barefoot when I can (weather and fitness center rules permitting), so I was interested in a zero-drop barefoot style shoe.My first impression was the obvious manufacturing quality of the shoe - top notch. When I initially put them on, it felt a little strange with zero drop because all of my shoes have some sort of elevated heel. Walking around initially felt awkward, and I noticed a definite tightness in my calves after walking a few miles - likely due to the additional leg stretch since my heels were on the same level as my forefoot. That tightness faded after a few days of continuing to wear the shoes.I also noticed that I could feel a lot more through my feet - imperfections in the flooring, changes in surface hardness, and the occasional rock or pebble (ouch!), but Iāve found I prefer feeling more in tune with the ground. Yes, that sounds weird and touchy feel-ly (which I am not), but itās true.I initially intended to wear these only for workouts, but after wearing them casually a few times and forgetting to take them off, I realized how comfortable they actually are! The big revelation was after wearing my Zero shoes daily for about 3 weeks, I put on a pair of my expensive, ābig brandā running shoes because I was going to be walking around all day on a concrete floor at a convention center and thought the additional cushioning would be better - wrong! After a few hours those shoes (which I previously considered comfortable) were killing my feet, and I felt the cushioning was excessive and actually made me feel less balanced. The next day I wore my Xeros to the same place and walked around all day long with no foot pain - other than what youād expect for being on your feet for 8 hours straight.Long story short, I canāt recommend these shoes enough. They are light, breathable and exceptionally comfortable. Iāll definitely be purchasing again in the future - particularly if they come out with some dress or business-casual shoes for the office workplace!
TL;DR - Buy these shoes, you'll love them!I just ordered my third pair of Xero shoes, so I figured I'd come back and write a review for the shoes that started it all. Like as the title states, Xero shoes have absolutely ruined me. I expect way too much from other companies, to the extent that trying to just buy a pair of slippers I'm happy with turned into a two week long ordeal.I got the Prios last summer as part of a weight loss effort. Just normal diet and light exercise, going out for walks or playing disc golf. I had heard of barefoot style shoes before, but I hadn't really paid much attention. But I needed a new pair of shoes, and I had seen Xero advertised online, so why not try something different?For those that don't know, the idea behind barefoot ...Ā MoreTL;DR - Buy these shoes, you'll love them!I just ordered my third pair of Xero shoes, so I figured I'd come back and write a review for the shoes that started it all. Like as the title states, Xero shoes have absolutely ruined me. I expect way too much from other companies, to the extent that trying to just buy a pair of slippers I'm happy with turned into a two week long ordeal.I got the Prios last summer as part of a weight loss effort. Just normal diet and light exercise, going out for walks or playing disc golf. I had heard of barefoot style shoes before, but I hadn't really paid much attention. But I needed a new pair of shoes, and I had seen Xero advertised online, so why not try something different?For those that don't know, the idea behind barefoot shoes is that your foot is actually very capable of doing its own job: Providing proper support for the rest of your body. Pairs of shoes that offer ridiculously thick padding or arch support are actually preventing your foot from being a proper foot. Not to mention the cramped toe boxes that we've come to expect from modern pairs of shoes prevent our toes from spreading out and providing good tactile feedback to the ground and helping us to balance better.Like I said, I had never put much thought into barefoot style shoes, but I liked the design of the Prio, so I figured I'd try them out. The first day I got them, I decided to go out for a walk without the additional (removeable) insole that comes with the shoes. If I'm going to try something new, I might as well go all-out, right?I went out for a 2 mile walk that day at a local park, and it was a euphoric experience. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but hear me out! My walk took me down gravel paths, across wooden bridges, and through grassy fields. Being able to walk through those different environments and feel the different textures of the ground was such a unique sensation. I've never gone on a walk before where I felt so plugged in to my environment, and it's exactly as amazing as you might expect it to be.Remember that whole thing about modern shoes preventing our feet from being feet? After my 2 mile walk, my feet were super sore. Not in a "oh no, I've injured myself" kind of way, but sore like you just got done a good workout kind of sore. After about a week of wearing the shoes, my feet got used to doing their own job again. But that's also when I realized that these shoes absolutely ruined my expectations for other shoes.The nice waterproof hiking shoes/boots that I got for wet outdoor activities? I can't wear them anymore. They're too tight, too cramped, and the thick sole raises me off the ground in an unnatural way that throws off my balance. Steel toe work boots that are required by OSHA? So far I haven't found anything in the barefoot shoe industry that offers steel toes, so I'm stuck wearing super uncomfortable steel toe shoes for work. And I just ordered a pair of the Xero hiking sandals because I know I'm not going to wear the fancy new sandals I got last year with thick soles and arch support. I'm slowly replacing every pair of shoes I can with Xero shoes, they're that much better than everything else I own.One final note before I wrap up this overly-long review. I've seen comments online saying that Xero shoes have quality issues and that they don't last long at all. I put my Prio's through their paces in the first year. I've walked and ran in them (though I don't run much, so your mileage may vary there.) I have played plenty of disc golf in them, which puts a lot of torque through your hips/legs/feet when you're throwing. I've even thrown the removeable insole back into the shoes and used them as my primary shoes for riding my Onewheel. I still haven't managed to seriously damage these shoes, and I'm trying my best!Sorry for the wall of text, but I have a lot to say about these shoes. Give them a shot, you'll seriously love them!
I wanted a shoe in which I could run 3-10 miles, walk comfortably on cobblestone European streets for 12+ hours, that could scrunch into a minimal travel bag (I bought size 11.5 and could just fold my Xero shoes into my Pakt One Bag), and dry relatively quickly (the olā āstick crumpled newspaper in āem overnightā trick); and the Xero Shoes Men's Prio Cross Training Shoe - Lightweight Zero Drop, Barefoot in black/white fit the bill splendidly. While wearing, watch out for pebbles and small debris, like ammunition cartridges or what have you, because the shoeās sole does not keep you far frommother earth (more on that later).To complain: the mesh toe box, which admittedly provides excellent ventilation, of the X.S.M.P.C.T.S.L.Z.D. in black/white does let water ...Ā MoreI wanted a shoe in which I could run 3-10 miles, walk comfortably on cobblestone European streets for 12+ hours, that could scrunch into a minimal travel bag (I bought size 11.5 and could just fold my Xero shoes into my Pakt One Bag), and dry relatively quickly (the olā āstick crumpled newspaper in āem overnightā trick); and the Xero Shoes Men's Prio Cross Training Shoe - Lightweight Zero Drop, Barefoot in black/white fit the bill splendidly. While wearing, watch out for pebbles and small debris, like ammunition cartridges or what have you, because the shoeās sole does not keep you far frommother earth (more on that later).To complain: the mesh toe box, which admittedly provides excellent ventilation, of the X.S.M.P.C.T.S.L.Z.D. in black/white does let water permeate the toe box and soggy the wearerās sock (your author in this case) which is less than lovely (understandably, āThe greater the ventilation, the greater the water permeability.ā as my mother always said), the toe box (seems like I have a real toe box axe to grind, doesnāt it?) is intentionally wide and bulbous to allow for a healthy spreading of the toes (or some noise like that) which is not my first choice sartorially (as my sister always says, āIt either looks good or is functional and comfortable, you never get both.ā).But I mean, Iād totes buy them again, even having to learn to love that damn toe box. Also, the VERY thin soul requires the wearers body to break in a bit (my guess strengthening muscles, tendons, ligaments, and leg stuff which other shoes donāt require the strengthening of (maybe thatās XEROās raison d'ĆŖtre... naw, it couldnāt be that simple)) before the shoes became comfortable for your author. When itās cold out, I hope you have on thick socks because your piggies gonnaā be cold if youāre juststanding around trying to help your dad figure out how to frame a DIY greenhouse, or what have you.The customer service I received through e-mail from Brooke was extraordinary. She provided me with lots of options of how to ameliorate a problem and eventually completely replaced my shoes free of charge, shipping included. Love is a considered e-mail by friendly customer service folk, am I right, people??10/10 Iād do business with and buy shoes from these people again.
