******
- Verified Buyer
Excellent lightweight minimalist running shoe. I have never seen a running shoe this light. Like running barefoot with protection for your soles. However, beware these shoes are sized extremely small. The online description notes this and I ordered a half size larger than my usual size. Even then, my toes were rubbing against the front of the shoe. I returned them and ordered a pair one full size larger than my usual shoe size.i'm shocked of the transformative effect these shoes have had on my life. strong words indeed, yet true. truly amazing.I've been running minimalist for over 12 years now. It started with Five Fingers for a few years then I moved into minimalist shoes. I stuck with Merrells for a long time but then they totally wrecked their Trail Glove series....Merrell has totally lost their way in the minimalist shoe world - the Trail Glove 6 is trash. I wear the shoes for everyday use, road running, and trail running.So, all that lead me to these shoes. I am a happy camper. I went from unboxing them to a 4 mile trail run in the same day. These are what minimalist shoes should be. Thin and light. No support and just protection for your foot instead of support for your foot.I never wear socks so the removeable insole should be a good thing. I am excited to see how these hold up going forward. I will be sure to update my review.Edit 5/28I'm about 45 miles into the shoes with walks/running and one stairwell workout. Still very happy with the shoes. I did a run yesterday without the insoles and it's amazing how different they feel without them. I can see myself doing some runs without insoles.My only gripe so far is the insole material sticks to my skin when my feet get sweaty. It sort of feels slimy which is unfortunate because I don't wear socks.I've taken them around the block a few times and they are great. They are shaped like your foot with the natural fit and are comfortable to wear for just walking around too. You don't have to worry about your pinky toes being smushed or your big to being pushed in. There isn't much tread and I anticipate them wearing down faster than a traditional running shoe because of it. That wouldn't be too bad except that they are a little pricey. Natural fit shoes do tend to be a bit pricey, but they tend to be worth it with helping with foot related pain. This is my first time with this brand and time will tell. Wish there were more color options.First off, I love these shoes. They fit great and I think my feet and ankles are stronger from them. I would wear these shoes all the time if I didn't have to worry about stepping on stones or getting them wet.Second, the customer service has been great! When the soles on my first pair wore thin and the strap eyelet on the side of the shoe broke after a year, I was given a new pair with very little fuss (the fuss was on my part). Customer service even sent me replacement insoles upon request.But, as you might gather, the shoes just don't hold up. After wearing two pair, over two years, each one lasted about a year before a major failure (the strap eyelet on both wore away and broke) and most of the sole wore thin. For a $30 pair of shoes, I'm fine with that. For shoes this comfortable and for such good customer service, I'd pay $50 a year for a new pair. I just can't pair $130 a year for shoes.I've bought a pair of XERO Mesa Trail shoes, and while they don't fit as great as the Speed Force, I am hopeful they will last longer.This shoe has been a staple in my running shoe rotation (Xero Speed Force, Shamma Sandals, and SoftStar DASH) since it launched. By far, the best and highest quality shoe Xero makes.The ground feel is great with a soft, flexible sole.The upper is supple enough to not impinge movement and is form-fitting just enough (in just the right places) to keep the shoe from flopping around on the foot.I have at least 1,000 miles on my current pair and I still haven't managed to wear through the soles or uppers.The only shoe-shoe better than this is the New Balance MT00 / WT00 - long-since discontinued.There's not a lot of items that compel me to write a review (good or bad). I'm diabetic, but I do strive to live at least a semi-athletic lifestyle... but that means shoes are an important decision for me. I'm also a designer and kinda strive to present my own image as somewhat nuanced. Diabetic/orthopedic (or however you want to classify them) shoes are all totally lame and made for old people that don't get out much... and really don't help me. I usually find myself constantly going back to NewBalance which have some decent options, but are still lame and I'm getting way bored having to settle for them... I also have a lot of criteria when choosing a new shoe because of my neuropathy.These Xero Shoes just hit every single nail with one fell swoop and I'm overly excited about them.First, they look great. They are super thin so they don't make my feet look overly big and the design is that of modern activewear. I like how these specific ones have a low ankle.They are light. It's almost like putting on another sock. Drop-foot is one of my issues because I no longer have a heel reflex. These are the perfect weight.The main inside of the sole is a little rough for me (but understandable for more of the barefoot feel) but the optional, included insole is perfect for the bottom of my foot and doesn't take up much room. Which brings me to my next criteria.They are way roomy, despite the tight look. Nothing is compressed, which is a main source of some pain that I have. My toes are free and nothing is pushing down on the top of my foot.The sole is perfectly balanced in protection and feel. I still remain as active as anyone who has a full-time job can. A lot of that is hiking and nature-type stuff, when it's not too hot. These shoes allow me to run and feel the ground without sacrificing the protection needed to divert the pain of rocks and everything in my way.I feel like I want to wear them to bed because of how comfortable they are... my wife won't let me.Absolutely love these shoesIdeal shoes for those aiming to transition to “barefoot running”. Like any true minimalist running shoe the sole on this product can be rolled and packed compact for those traveling for business or pleasure. These shoes fit ~ 1/2 size smaller than you might otherwise order. The roomy toe box allows your toes to spread properly when landing. Good fit and finish as well.
