Xero Shoes Men's Z-Trail EV Barefoot Hiking Sandals

I just ordered my second pair, the 1st is holding up like new but I wanted a backup. I never, ever want to be without these. I'm a woman but I purchased the men's because of my foot size. Almost a year ago I had a neurologic reaction to a medication and got severe neuropathy in my legs and feet that I have been very slowly recovering from. I spent a lot of time fighting for every step. I started out numb, and as I get more sensation back in each part of my foot, normal stimuli can be very, very painful. Before this, the only thought I put into my shoes if if they look good (on a woman with big feet!), and I wore a lot of cheap shoes and low quality flip flops. After the injury, my feet would come right out of the flip flops, and the pain of a closed shoe was severe. Barefoot felt best indoors, but even a little texture underfoot like walking around barefoot in the backyard caused severe pain. I realize some people are really into a structured shoe with arch support, and these are not that. But if you want that same-as-barefoot feeling but with enough cushion to protect your feet from the irregularities of the ground, these are perfect. The straps have so much adjustability that for someone with neuropathy, there is no place for them to impinge and hurt. At the same time, they can be adjusted to hold your foot securely so that they don't flop around. I have worn these everywhere with no pain at all. They are suitable for walking any distance or stair climbing, however I am using them for urban activities and can't speak to their traction in the great outdoors. As a woman who used to only wear cute shoes, these are a change aesthetically but due to their minimalist style and thin sole they are actually very unobtrusive. I can wear them with a nice pair of slacks and they look surprisingly un-weird... though obviously this is in my private life and not in any professional capacity. If you are suffering from neuropathy and just looking to be able live your life and do your errands without pain and struggles, I can't recommend these enough.

Minimalist sandals are no joke--you have to work your way up to them. But when the small muscles in your feet are ready, these are a great pair to try. If you have ever been disappointed at how other footwear companies add more straps and buckles and thickness and weight and junk and more junk to their products year after year, Xero may be for you. I like these Z-Trail a lot. My only complaint about the Z-Trail (and also the Z-Trek) is that the straps do not slide through the hardware smoothly to equalize across my foot as intended; I have taken to adjusting for my perfect fit and then rubber-cementing the strap in place in the hardware next to my small toe. Having done that, I can walk miles in mixed terrain in these lightweight sandals. They look to have years of future abuse ahead of them. The Xero Z-Trail sandals are a good preliminary step to prepare you for the even thinner super-ultra-minimalist Xero Z-Trek sandals. I find the Z-Trek to be most enjoyable in the back yard or on a sandy beach, but I find that over longer distances and tougher terrain I appreciate the comfort and protection of the Z-Trails; over all terrains I prefer Xero over other clunky, maximalist brands. Five stars, but only if you're serious and experienced with minimalist footwear.

Had my Z Trails for almost exactly a month and I can say they are the best sandals I think I have ever had. Going zero drop, barefoot has done my body a lot of good, I think. When I walk with them on, my feet still feel tired, but the way my legs are sore is new, and I can tell I am using muscles that haven't been used in a long time. I've been solely using my Z Trails as my "popping out to the store" and "walking the dog" shoes to help me ease into them and I think that has been a beneficial approach, and now I am taking 2plus mile walks and hiking in them. Walking takes some getting used to if thick soles are what you are used to, you gotta me mindful not to hammer your heel down over and over - although the 10mm is more than enough cushion at the end of the day, when walking on cement, crazy foot striking will result in sore bits. Hiking was a magnificent experience in these sandals! Even clambering down steep sandy unstable slopes I felt sure footed because I could feel everything. Small sharp rocks are really no problem at all, and I actually find that I prefer feeling them (but the 10mm sole keeps them from hurting my foot) because it makes me naturally more careful and I haven't slipped yet. And something I never thought about when first getting these sandals is that when tiny pebbles do inevitably get stuck between my foot and the sandal it's so simple and easy to get them out because of the minimalist style of the thing! My feet are out in the open and working hard, and it feels great. A few quibbles, now. Adjusting the sandal takes a bit of work. If you go onto the Xero website you will see a video of the owner very easily demonstrating/explaining NOT to use the velcro hell to get in and out of the sandal, but rather the strap tightener...that is easier said than done. You can't put them on standing up at all, you have to be sitting down, with your legs crossed over, and the strap fastener is on the OUTSTIDE of the foot, resulting in an awkward angle - especially for a big person...and the strap is a bit stubborn in allowing the strap to slide easily to and fro for a good fit - it takes some work. Furthermore, you pretty much have to be touching the bottom of your sandal to put on and adjust. Maybe it's just me, but that is something I really wish I didn't have to do, because then I have to immediately wash my hands afterward - which often has me walking through my "no shoes indoors" house wearing my sandals, which defeats the purpose of the no shoes allowed part. As well as when I am out, say at the beach, putting them on requires again all that bottom shoe contact with no real place to then wash my hands. I admit, this issue my be mainly my own personal picadillo, but long story short, it could be...it SHOULD be easier to adjust these straps. And finally - when these babies get wet, such as stepping through a stream or stomping around beach water - the top of the soles get SLIIIIIICK. You have to have these pups strapped on right and tight or else your foot will slip in ways you really don't want to be slipping. They do dry in minutes, however. But even with those issues and my cleanliness neurosis going on in my head...I still love these sandals. I'm hoping that more mileage will result with resolution, and I can't see myself going back to thick soled sandals at all.

Watch the video from the manufacturer that shows how to adjust the shoes and take them on/off. It's not obvious but the straps and adjustments work great. Basically get the rear straps adjusted where you want them, then use only the buckle on the outside of the shoes to loosen/tighten the strap for removal/insertion. I bought them to use as camp shoes while backpacking and they do fold down flat so they are easy to slide into my pack. They are a little heavy to be considered ultralight but are of excellent durable construction so they will stand up to normal camp conditions. I ended up liking them so much for the freedom around my feet that they became daily wear for me except at the gym where closed toed shoes are required. I even bought the shoe version from the same manufacturer because my feet are so happy in these things.

The strap grommet broke the first time i tried to tighten these to my toes. I hiked 12 miles all the way to Kalalau and these were my camp shoes. I managed to fix them with some super glue. But even with the repair these shoes are aweful. The rubber does not provide any grip on most surfaces. The edges bend and pick up any loose rocks, sand or dirt. The materials are bad, the velcro doesn't run the full length of the strap so you always have a pice of fabric jutting out. I can not say enough bad things about these shoes. I ended up leaving them behind. I wish I didn't so I could get a full refund. I strongly dislike these shoes. I was very very disappointed in every aspect, quality, comfort, materials, and reliability.

My feet would not stay on straight in these. I was maybe half a size bigger than my normal size, which is recommended. My pinkie toes would end up rubbing on the side, which was a minor issue, but overall comfort was good. Feedback on ground was great. The durability of these is also questionable. I took them for a 14 mile hike on dirt and gravel road. And the tread is worn pretty significantly already.

I asked my kids if I was cool... They said 10/10... I put on these sandals and asked them again and got demoted to a 6/10. I'll log it in the dad book and proudly where these sandles anyway. The Xero sandals are very comfortable. As soon as I got them I took them straight on a weekend long camping trip. No blisters or anything, they feel great. I got a size 11 per Amazon's recommendation and initially I thought they were too big but after adjusting them I think they're just right (my boot size is 10.5) I strongly recommend these but you need to keep 2 things in mind: 1) I do not recommend these for water shoes. The top gets slippery and it can be difficult to walk properly. This only applies to them being soaking wet... Dew and such is fine. 2) If you have never worn barefoot shoes before I recommend getting actual barefoot shoes first. It's a totally different feel and works different muscles than traditional shoes and sandals. The quality of these seem great for the price and the design is good especially since there's not much room for strapping. Your kids may think they're goofy looking but aren't most sandals???? Just do it and never look back.

Extremely comfortable, but the 5,000 mile tread? Only if you weigh under 70lbs and never walk on anything harder than beautifully maintained golf course grass. I walk about 1-2 miles per day while wearing them and the heel is almost bald. It hasn’t even been 2 months… probably a total of 100 miles of walking on concrete. I don’t even drag or shuffle my feet.

I was sceptical at first when I put the sandals on. Nothing more than flip flops with different attachment strings I thought. Overpriced perhaps? Oh, yeah. Big time! The experience of walking in them on park trails is priceless though and so is using the muscles my body forgot about ages ago.

思ったより丈夫で、しっかり作られていますので、色々な場面で使うことができると思います。ネットで調べるとサイズの型紙を印刷することができるので、購入前に確認することをお勧めします。

Não sabia que eu andava com os pés entortados até usar essas sandálias. Ela força a pisada completa da planta dos pés no chão. Faço tudo com elas. São resistentes e firmes. Solado aderente. Não escorrega fácil. Deixa o corpo estável ao caminhar.

Se ajustan muy bien

Siempre quise unos de estos. No estoy desilusionado, creo que cumplen hasta ahora lo que prometen aunque no estoy seguro si valgan lo que costaron, veremos si cumplen la parte de la resistencia. No los he usado para caminar mucho, pero se ven bien, son muy ligeros, son minimalistas, son ligeras, flexibles, y lucen resistentes, además me siento casi descalzo (realmente quería los otros más simples pero no estaban disponibles) y me gusta mucho estar descalzo pero no me agrada tanto ensuciarme los pies. Lo que debo comentar es que si bien, en el sitio original te ayudan mucho a encontrar la medida precisa, en Amazon México se pone una tabla que confunde más que ayudar y que no tiene equivalencia con las medidas originales (esas se pueden VERIFICAR con una plantilla que se puede bajar de la página original). Terminé casi adivinando y corrí con suerte, quizá no pase con otros. Esto satisfecho, pero conforme pase más tiempo actualizaré este comentario.