Xero ShoesMen's HFS Original Barefoot Running Shoes

About a year ago, I posted a review of these shoes. High-level, my impressions were good; however, I found that, at least for my feet as they were at the time, these shoes did not work for me, primarily in the toebox area, which I found a little too shallow/narrow relative to this area in the other minimalist shoes I'd been kicking around in.Well, fast-forward to recently. I have made significant progress in strengthening my feet and getting my toes/body better aligned, particularly in improving the mobility of my big toes and gradually getting my feet to point straight ahead instead of curving inwards (which had been causing my outer toes to roll outwards). Whereas before, my curved feet were causing my big toes and the outer edges of my feet to struggle with these shoes in the midfoot/toebox areas, my feet are now much straighter and go right down the center of the shoes.Given that I'm starting to find "traditional" running shoes pretty cumbersome and restrictive - even lower-stack (20 - 24mm) zero-drop ones from some of the top brands - I decided on a whim to give these shoes another shot.Boy, am I glad I did.What a joy these shoes are to wear. I can't exactly put my finger on where the difference in fit comes from vs. the last time I'd tried out a pair of these shoes, since I'm pretty sure nothing has changed in how these shoes are made, but it's pretty drastic.Speaking to specific areas of the shoes that I dig the most (in no particular order),• Outsole - Super grippy; zero concerns about traction on any of my usual running surfaces, in dry or wet, including asphalt/concrete and small gravel (though the tread is thick enough that I could see being able to take these shoes on light trails with no worries)• Fit/Lockdown - Hands-down the most dialed-in, confidence-inspiring shoe I've worn to date; my feet stay perfectly centered in these shoes regardless of the level of turning/side-to-side movement, with no slop whatsoever• Flatness - Just like standing barefoot on a flat surface; a huge plus since my left foot is slightly narrower than my right foot (work in progress), which causes a noticeable difference in fit with shoes that are U-shaped inside• Comfort - Literally one of the most comfortable, "barely there"-level shoes I've ever worn, with just the right balance of padding to keep inside surfaces from rubbing my feet the wrong way while staying light and low-profile• Flexibility - The most flexible, accommodating shoe I own; factoring in the thin, protective layer that these shoes provide between my feet and the ground, I'm happy to report that my feet otherwise function 100% like they were barefoot in these shoes, which is something I've been unable to say about any other shoes I've worn to this point. These shoes also eschew a pesky "toe spring" (artificially curving up the front edge of a shoe), instead being flexible enough in the forefoot area to allow the big toes to function naturally.• Build quality - Top-notch materials and overall build quality; love the reflective bits for added safety in lower-light situationsSo, to those who read my previous review, please take it with a grain of salt. Our bodies are always in flux, and after the ongoing improvements made with mine over the last year, I'll just say mine was much more ready for these shoes this time around than it was the last time I tried out a pair. Long story short, if ground feel and overall foot strength/mobility are your main focus, and you plan on doing more than just walking/standing, e.g. running/HIIT, look no further than the HFS. It's a winner.

As an airline pilot I am always looking for the perfect travel shoes. Living out of a suitcase for half of the week you quickly figure out how much space a pair of shoes takes up. This is what originally got me into wearing minimalist/barefoot shoes about ten years ago. Since then I have gone back-and-forth between wearing minimalist and traditional shoes. I recently switched to international flying and once again had to address my travel shoe needs. The Xero Shoes Men's HFS shoe fits my travel needs perfectly. Supper comfortable, the laces cinch down perfectly and holds it’s position. I think this design would accommodate a good number foot widths. I love working out in them, using them on long city walks or just kicking back in them on layovers. Normally my travel shoes stay in my suitcase when I’m home but I keep taking them out to workout in because I’m enjoying them so much. (Maybe I should get a second pair 😁) They don’t look too wide in the toe box. We all know how some of these shoes make you look like you have duck feet. As my wife has pointed out about several other shoes I have owned in the past. Xero shoes has done a good job on updating there designs. Not sure I love all their colors. This could be an area they could improve on. I like this shoe so much I recently picked up a pair of Xero Shoes DayLite Hiker Fusion Hiking Boots. Not sure if I’ll use this shoe for my work travels but I’m thinking it will be a good shoe for local hiking and fishing in Colorado. I’ll post a review later. Next on my list will be a pair of running sandals and an all around travel shoe (I have a big wishlist for this one). I’ll post an update if I find some that I like. Safe travels!

This Xero HFS is the 10th pair of Xero shoes that presently exists in my extended household of 5. This is not counting the ones I have worn out over the years.There are barefoot shoes that are well, really bare, eg Vivobarefoot shoes. The sole is so thin I sometimes feel I need to be really careful where I step for fear of hurting myself. There are other barefoot shoes by the big brands eg Nike that just won't cut it. After all, the idea of barefoot shoe is the antithesis of the cushiony, heel strike shoes that is the signature of Nike and the likes. And then, there is Xero shoes.Xero is barefoot in every way. Zero drop, wide toe box, lightweight, excellent ground feel but with just enough foot protection for me to not feel I need to tread cautiously. This is particularly important for older runners like myself(I am approaching 60 years old), who although having run in all types of barefoot shoes over the years, just having that ever so slight and subtle protection without it feeling like it is too much of a compromise on barefoot running is most helpful. At my age, my goal is to keep up with my health and lifestyle sustainably without risking injuries. Injuries take longer to heal, and it is necessary to exercise in an age appropriate manner.The HFS looks great. It feels great to run in. It is not overpriced(at least compared to Vivobarefoot shoes). Makes you wonder why the company chose to name their shoes XERO and not Ten!