Xero Shoes Men'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 situations So, 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.

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!

I bought these for a sim racing shoe. Water shoes felt to soft in the sole, loose fitting, substandard build quality and material. Puma speedcats and similar are too narrow footed and uncomfortable only tested in store. Sparco race shoes have the same issue being way to narrow at the toes. Also who wants to wear a full race spec shoe in their bed room. The Xero HRS fit the bill for what I was looking for. Very light and breathable, good build quality so far, excellent feel through the sole for what your feet are touching. And the wide foot toe space is amazing while still holding a smaller profile than a typical shoe. I am sure they a great for many purposes, I want a pair to exercise/lift in as well.

As far as barefoot shoes go these are fairly normal in that they have quite a bit of structure/rigidity to them. I think this makes them more practical for being athletic since they hold your feet in place when you are changing directions for example. However, it does make them a bit less comfortable for casual use and they do squeeze my feet fairly tightly and it means that you have to untie them everytime to put them on. I think they could definitely use a bit more room in the toe box. The rubber soles are completely flat which is good since they are zero drop and don't have much padding seperating your feet from the floor. This makes them good for lifting but not much cushion for running and your feet will be pretty sore until you get used to them. The rubber soles are quite stiff, which makes them pretty durable but not that much ground feel and not much cushioning to absorb the impact of landing as I said. There also seems to be a bit of toe spring which I'm not sure why alot of barefoot shoes seem to have since it is a modern shoe gimmick that should not exist in barefoot shoes in my opinion. But it's not too bad and when you put your weight on them your toes kind of touch the ground, hopefully as they break in the toe spring will not be too noticeable. I would like to see no toe spring and wider toe box so that your toes can fully spread on the ground and give maximum balance. Design wise I think they look pretty good, I like that they hid the heel strap inside the shoe.. But I think they are a little expensive at this price and probably more suited toward weight lifting than running. Overall I think they are a decent gym shoe weight lifting and some light running but I wouldn't really wear them as an everyday running shoe due to the lack of padding and stiff rubber soles. I would probably wear something like the Altra SOLSTICE XT 2 if I was doing alot of running due to it having a bit more cushion while still being zero drop and having plenty of space in the toe box. And if you have tougher feet from wearing barefoot shoes for years you would probably want something with a bit more ground feel. I think the tight fit and rigid structure of the shoe makes it suitable as a weight lifting shoe but not really suitable for an everyday casual shoe since you cannot slip it on and your toes don't really have enough room to full spread out. And I would like to see them increase the toe box and get rid of the toe spring completely so that your toes can touch the ground for increased balance. For what they are I think they are decently made but a bit expensive, though I know that this is a bit of a niche market.

i'm a minimalist runner who took an exceptionally long time in semi-minimal transition shoes, never sure i'd go all the way because i run on concrete and asphalt. the reason i went minimal was herniated L4 L5 back discs that docs said needed surgery and i should never run again. the minimal-esque running allowed me to keep running, but i kept it at zero drop shoes with thicker 24ish mm soles because of the concrete. of late i could feel that the pounding from the thicker soles blunting my foot/ground feel was ironically causing damage to my back (i go 65min). having tried full minimal 5 years ago my feet were just not strong enough to not hurt. but a week ago i took an old 10mm minimal pair of mine to see if i could handle it to save my back...and it was much much better. so i jumped into the reviews of a half dozen brands to get a true minimal shoe and Zero HFS came out pretty much on top. despite going down to 8mm in the HFS, i did great. i could feel my entire body (esp my upper torso/arms) getting a fuller workout. it's a great shoe with a serious purpose helping me keep running despite the back injury. note: i did think the bulbous front made it look too much like a clown shoe prior to my first run...happy to say the shoe (like my cowboy boots) conforms to the foot with use and the clown/duckfoot look has diminished. thanks for an excellent shoe!

I have wide feet. Not only wide feet, but wide straight feet with a high instep. My feet are widest slightly at or behind the ball of my foot, and don't taper much from the heel. Most "wide" shoes just make the toebox have more fabric, but don't increase the size of the platform, and have a strong taper still. Finding shoes is extremely difficult for me. The best I have found are Brooks 4E or some New Balance 4E, and even those aren't perfect. I've tried other wide or barefoot brandsl ike Altra, Lems, Sofstar and many others but have always found them uncomfortably tight. These Xero's fit perfectly. They are extraordinarily comfortable, and do not pinch my feet at all. They have a pretty straight platform that provides width in the right places. They are featherlight, breathable, and have held up pretty well in the months I have had them. I will absolutely purchase another pair. My only note is that the shoelaces are kind of short, so if you want to do any kind of alternate lacing pattern like an ankle lock, you'll need to get longer laces. Not a big deal. For sizing reference I wear a 10 in New Balance, 8.5 in Red Wing Boots, 44 in Lems, and I purchased a 10.5 in the Xero HFS. Xero does say to size up half a size from your normal size, and they were right. These are perfect.

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!

Good shoe, comfortable. But the laces are so thin and cheap that they cause the shoe fabric to pucker when you tighten the laces. It affects both the comfort and appearance of the shoe. Would probably not buy the HFS Original again.

Las he comprado de segunda mano y aparte la caja algo tocada los zapatos estaban perfectos. Así que los pagué una cantidad ridícula por la calidad que tienen. Son super cómodas, flexibles y se sienten de buena calidad. He corrido hoy 20 kms y unos 60 en total y estoy muy contento con ellas. Vengo de una merrel glove, también cómodas pero creo que son aún más minimalistas que las Xero shoes, en el sentido que tienen aún menos estructura. En fin, las dos muy buenas opción para correr barefoot, happy feet happy running! :)

Toller Barfußschuh 👍🏻 Der erste Barfußschuh, den mein Mann nun dauerhaft trägt, da er auch bei breiten Füßen super passt.

Están muy bien. Los uso en el trabajo y siento que los pies se mueven con total libertad. Como si estuvieses descalzo.

I normally never find shoes that fit my feet, but these shoes fit like a frigging glove 🧤 Couldn’t be happier, like I go to bed looking forward to going for a long walk/run in the morning. The color is also really beautiful! The pictures don’t make em justice.

Excellent shoes, well worth the price!