Xero Shoes HFS Grey Black Blue - 39.5

I've been wearing Xero shoes for several years now. My feet were a little sore in them at first, but it was muscles coming to life and being used. I'm not an athlete, I'm a senior woman with knee joints that are pretty much shot, and I don't want knee replacement surgery because I love my yoga. Yoga got me flexible enough to start a walking program, and then the knees started hurting again, but I know I need to walk! So I bought an expensive pair of very arch-supported, cushioned shoes and MY FEET HATED THEM, and my Xero sandals didn't protect my feet enough. So I decided to try the HFS, and I also reviewed some therapy videos on YouTube, shortened my stride, did some leg strengthening exercises, and am trying to walk with my forefoot or midfoot hitting the ground, ... MoreI've been wearing Xero shoes for several years now. My feet were a little sore in them at first, but it was muscles coming to life and being used. I'm not an athlete, I'm a senior woman with knee joints that are pretty much shot, and I don't want knee replacement surgery because I love my yoga. Yoga got me flexible enough to start a walking program, and then the knees started hurting again, but I know I need to walk! So I bought an expensive pair of very arch-supported, cushioned shoes and MY FEET HATED THEM, and my Xero sandals didn't protect my feet enough. So I decided to try the HFS, and I also reviewed some therapy videos on YouTube, shortened my stride, did some leg strengthening exercises, and am trying to walk with my forefoot or midfoot hitting the ground, instead of my heels. The HFS is wonderful for this, as it has a bit of a thicker sole, but is still very flexible. And it gives better foot protection than my sandals, especially now that its rainy and colder while I walk. The HFS is my 7th pair of Xero's. I wear men's styles cause my feet are too big for women's, and it really doesn't matter because they all look very nice. I credit these shoes with being the spark that started me on the path to better mobility and longevity.

Best thing ever!

I’m a 70 yr old man, still working long days and some nights, run 15-20 mi/week, stand on concrete sometimes for hours at a time, and walk a lot. For many years standing hurt and I could not run because of repeated, frustrating minor injuries (knees, ankles, lower back, neck, hips). Ended up disregarding medical advice to me, did personal research on various foot types and shoes, and after some changes my running got somewhat better. Then my introduction to Xero Shoes was for a short 5k run, totally by unwanted accident, and I was extremely skeptical; thought I knew a lot about the shoes needed for my particular feet by then. I was SO WRONG! After that first Xero HFS run (a little long for the first time though) my calves were ultra-tight, but my fast time at the ... MoreI’m a 70 yr old man, still working long days and some nights, run 15-20 mi/week, stand on concrete sometimes for hours at a time, and walk a lot. For many years standing hurt and I could not run because of repeated, frustrating minor injuries (knees, ankles, lower back, neck, hips). Ended up disregarding medical advice to me, did personal research on various foot types and shoes, and after some changes my running got somewhat better. Then my introduction to Xero Shoes was for a short 5k run, totally by unwanted accident, and I was extremely skeptical; thought I knew a lot about the shoes needed for my particular feet by then. I was SO WRONG! After that first Xero HFS run (a little long for the first time though) my calves were ultra-tight, but my fast time at the end shocked me. Have never looked back. I’ve seldom had more than one athletic shoe at a time, yet since discovering Xero shoes I’ve bought eight pairs of five different kinds of Xero Shoes (four being HFS) over five years, and truly enjoy wearing them all, except I wore out my first pair of HFS; I’m sure they exceeded 5,000 mi just as advertised. With eight kids, their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and some friends, I’ve influenced about 15 more Xero purchases. Am thankful to be able to run again and be on my feet all day, and enjoy it, at my age. I consider the shoes to have enabled that. My advice to anyone: Get Xero shoes, and enjoy wiggling those toes and raising up on and around the balls of your feet often while standing for hours, and get amusement by observing everyone else in discomfort; and for the first time actually enjoy running UP hills, being relaxed instead of in dread, with the toes splaying apart on each step, helping you move. Try a slightly faster cadence than you’ve been used to, which will avoid your steps being over-extended and prevent harmful heel strikes. Your life will be refreshed. Really!

From almost perfect road racer to just average allrounder.

I've tried a lot of barefoot/minimalist running footwear. The original HFS was an almost perfect minimalist running shoe that I absolutely love, blindly recommended and even bought twice. Lightweight, breathable, with very good barefoot feel. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the HFS II. Although the HFS II looks super great, fits and feels also very well while wearing, the ground feel is much less barefoot. The thickness of the outsole of the original HFS was claimed at 5mm. Since running on gravel isn't uncomfortable anymore I assume the HFS II has an outsole of about 8mm (it must be signicant more since Xero doesn't claim the thickness anymore). The outsole also feels harder (maybe the rubber compound ist different). The weight of the HFS II is about 8% ... MoreI've tried a lot of barefoot/minimalist running footwear. The original HFS was an almost perfect minimalist running shoe that I absolutely love, blindly recommended and even bought twice. Lightweight, breathable, with very good barefoot feel. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the HFS II. Although the HFS II looks super great, fits and feels also very well while wearing, the ground feel is much less barefoot. The thickness of the outsole of the original HFS was claimed at 5mm. Since running on gravel isn't uncomfortable anymore I assume the HFS II has an outsole of about 8mm (it must be signicant more since Xero doesn't claim the thickness anymore). The outsole also feels harder (maybe the rubber compound ist different). The weight of the HFS II is about 8% more. A 45 sized HFS II weighs 259g each (original HFS was 240g at size 45.5). The tread of the outsole is a bit deeper and more grippy which makes the shoe more suitable for running on trails/dirt/gravel. The HFS II is also less breathable. When running fast, long or in warm weather my feet gets pretty hot and therefore sweaty which causes blisters more likely. In the original HFS I've never got hot feet.Unfortunately the original HFS isn't available in my size anymore. Hope an HFS III will somehow be more like the original HFS - a lightweight road racer instead of an average allround daily trainer. Cause of the newly designed outsole the HFS II to me feels more like a trail version of the original HFS. So Xero would be better off offering 2 versions of the HFS - one with a thicker, more treaded outsole (HFS II or simply just the Mesa Trail) and a lighter version with a thinner more barefoot feel outsole.

Great all-round shoe: from walking to training to racing a half marathon!

This was my first pair of Xero shoes and I am extremely pleased. I have 353km of running in them, including two sub 1:45 half marathons. It fits true to size. The upper is breathable and there's a plastic toe guard which I prefer compared to a full fabric upper.The lockdown of the shoe is firm and the heel area is slightly cushioned to prevent chafing. I wear them without insoles to get more ground feel. This does lose the comfort of the insole, but it's worth it.The outsole is sturdy and has slight lugs which makes this suitable for light trails (thus a do-it-all shoe). However, I'm seeing some wear on the outside of both feet (could be the way I land). Another thing to note is that my feet do get hot after running long distances or at a faster pace (for me ... MoreThis was my first pair of Xero shoes and I am extremely pleased. I have 353km of running in them, including two sub 1:45 half marathons. It fits true to size. The upper is breathable and there's a plastic toe guard which I prefer compared to a full fabric upper.The lockdown of the shoe is firm and the heel area is slightly cushioned to prevent chafing. I wear them without insoles to get more ground feel. This does lose the comfort of the insole, but it's worth it.The outsole is sturdy and has slight lugs which makes this suitable for light trails (thus a do-it-all shoe). However, I'm seeing some wear on the outside of both feet (could be the way I land). Another thing to note is that my feet do get hot after running long distances or at a faster pace (for me that's around 4'00"/km). Not sure if there's a way to mitigate this or I just have to get used to it.My long-term goal is to run marathons and road ultras in minimalist shoes. The HFS II seems to fit the bill, but more training is required so I can cover those distances with little protection. My alternative is to get the Speed Force II as my racing shoe, and use the HFS II (which has slightly more cushioning) as my training shoe.

Highly Recommend

I have been keeping an eye on Xero's shoes for years, as I have been wondering for a long time if zero-drop, barefoot shoes might help me with my foot issues. I have just about every foot/lower leg problem someone could ask for - genetic structural deformities, a history of major sports injuries/shin splints/hairline fractures/etc, multiple prior surgeries on both feet, acute and chronic tendonitis, etc. I am literally missing bones in both feet and was told as a child by doctors that I would never be able to walk normally, balance well, or run at all. They were wrong - while I'll likely never be an Olympic marathoner, I can do all those things - but finding shoes that don't aggravate those issues (much less make them better) has been a lifelong challenge and mostly ... MoreI have been keeping an eye on Xero's shoes for years, as I have been wondering for a long time if zero-drop, barefoot shoes might help me with my foot issues. I have just about every foot/lower leg problem someone could ask for - genetic structural deformities, a history of major sports injuries/shin splints/hairline fractures/etc, multiple prior surgeries on both feet, acute and chronic tendonitis, etc. I am literally missing bones in both feet and was told as a child by doctors that I would never be able to walk normally, balance well, or run at all. They were wrong - while I'll likely never be an Olympic marathoner, I can do all those things - but finding shoes that don't aggravate those issues (much less make them better) has been a lifelong challenge and mostly a losing battle. Anyway, back to Xero....I've actually purchased a few different types of shoes from Xero over the years, but had to return them all because of bad fit or shape or general performance. Several months ago I tried again and purchased Xero's Glenn for an upcoming business event, and was thrilled to find they actually worked for me. Still, I was apprehensive about going "full Xero" and spending the money to replace my current footwear with barefoot shoes. Between my home life, gym workouts, and my job I spend a HUGE amount of time standing on concrete (along with a fair amount of walking/running/jumping) and I have endured a lot of foot pain/bruised heels/severe stiffness in "supportive" footwear - I was concerned it would be much worse without any cushioning. These shoes went on sale a couple months ago and I decided to give them a try. After progressively testing them, to include standing on concrete for 8+ hours and running obstacle courses, I have decided that was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I haven't been this close to fully pain-free since I was a child, old aches from old injuries are fading, the constant snap/crackle/pop complaints from my tendons are significantly reduced, and I can balance so much better than ever before. All of my fears about bruised heels, recurring shin splints, worsening tendinitis, and other issues that supposedly come from not having enough cushioning have proved unfounded (bearing in mind that you do have to work up to barefoot-style shoes, you cannot switch cold-turkey from highly padded ones and expect no issues). To top it off, the HFS II soles seem very durable, the shoe itself is secure and does not rub, and the toe is insanely flexible - nothing digs in when you bend your toes while moving.The only complaint I have about these shoes is that the laces on the pair I received were WAY too short. I could barely tie them even without lacing through all the holes. I'm assuming it's a random defect and have just switched the laces out with an old pair of shoes. If you're on the fence about buying these, go for it.

I'm confused by these shoes.

Are these meant to be minimalist or zero drop stability shoes? The lower or sole of the shoe would qualify for me, but the upper does not work for so many reasons. Much like the Prio the upper is too thick and not at all comfortable. The stability elements around the base of the upper, especially around the toes defeats the purpose of a wide toe box and is constricting. I want my feet to do the work, not the shoe. That's the whole point. The support/stability strips on the side are to narrow to be of any real use and put pressure on my mid to forefoot at the big toe. The tongue is very thick as are the laces. The upper for me should disappear. The HFS II is markedly better than the Prio, but not by much. If you're looking for a minimalist shoe, keep looking. I get ... MoreAre these meant to be minimalist or zero drop stability shoes? The lower or sole of the shoe would qualify for me, but the upper does not work for so many reasons. Much like the Prio the upper is too thick and not at all comfortable. The stability elements around the base of the upper, especially around the toes defeats the purpose of a wide toe box and is constricting. I want my feet to do the work, not the shoe. That's the whole point. The support/stability strips on the side are to narrow to be of any real use and put pressure on my mid to forefoot at the big toe. The tongue is very thick as are the laces. The upper for me should disappear. The HFS II is markedly better than the Prio, but not by much. If you're looking for a minimalist shoe, keep looking. I get that this is a smallish company, but it took all together more than a month to get the original pair or Prios, exchange them and get the new size. Beware of the return shipping and "return" fee before ordering. My overall experience, not great. Two stars because they are actually shoes.Take out all of the stability features and make the upper a nice flexible knit and this could be a great shoe.

One year with my new favorite shoe

I have had these for just over a year now, averaging about 14,000 steps per day. I use these at work everyday, I’ve gone hiking with them, running, walking around town, sports, everything. They feel like no other shoe. They feel like how a shoe should feel, you can literally wear them all day and there’s no relief when you take them off like other shoes where you feel as if you are finally letting your feet out of their prison. My favorite is hiking, I feel incredibly nimble and in control. They feel especially great on rocky hikes where I can feel every contact point and can actually fine-tune the pressure of how my foot is positioned which feels so free. The material has held up well, especially the sole which has barely worn down at all. The only damage has shown ... MoreI have had these for just over a year now, averaging about 14,000 steps per day. I use these at work everyday, I’ve gone hiking with them, running, walking around town, sports, everything. They feel like no other shoe. They feel like how a shoe should feel, you can literally wear them all day and there’s no relief when you take them off like other shoes where you feel as if you are finally letting your feet out of their prison. My favorite is hiking, I feel incredibly nimble and in control. They feel especially great on rocky hikes where I can feel every contact point and can actually fine-tune the pressure of how my foot is positioned which feels so free. The material has held up well, especially the sole which has barely worn down at all. The only damage has shown up in the last few months, where the sole has come up just a little from the top of the shoe and the mesh has a little tear in it in the same spot on both shoes. However, I have no doubt they can last much, much longer. Overall, I am thrilled I invested in this shoe and my experience has made me a lifelong customer.

Thinnest sole. Lightest shoe. Slippery insole

I generally find that Xeros fit small. I get a full size bigger than the size I buy shoes elseplace and sometimes they still come out small. My regular Xero shoe size is 11.5 and these ones fit into what I call "my regular Xero shoe size." I got them looking for a walking/running shoe. The sole is the thinnest out of all the Xero shoes I own. Take from that what you will. For me, it was an adjustment and the parks around here have dirt paths with twigs and small stones. It took some time to get used to it, as my Prios offered what I would say is a bit more cushioning. The more I use them the more I like them though. The only drawback was that the insoles were slippery inside and would slip out the back behind my heel. I had to contact customer support about it. They ... MoreI generally find that Xeros fit small. I get a full size bigger than the size I buy shoes elseplace and sometimes they still come out small. My regular Xero shoe size is 11.5 and these ones fit into what I call "my regular Xero shoe size." I got them looking for a walking/running shoe. The sole is the thinnest out of all the Xero shoes I own. Take from that what you will. For me, it was an adjustment and the parks around here have dirt paths with twigs and small stones. It took some time to get used to it, as my Prios offered what I would say is a bit more cushioning. The more I use them the more I like them though. The only drawback was that the insoles were slippery inside and would slip out the back behind my heel. I had to contact customer support about it. They provided me with a new set of insoles that had little texture balls on the bottom that the originals did not have. I'm not sure if that's what did the trick, but it did! This drawback became a minor one, which is that the replacement insoles they sent do not match the color scheme of the shoe like the originals did. I like Xeros, but I am surprised how much it's necessary to contact their support team. I really don't have that kind of time, and many pairs of Xero shoes I have purchased have required me to contact support for sizing or defect issues. Still my favorite brand though!

Very comfortable and they look great too - zero complaints

I took up running this year on a treadmill, streets, and sometimes trails although nothing too extreme. I had previously been using my Xero 360s which were taking a beating and I thought I would try something designed for running. I was a little bit nervous about sizing since I'm find size 11s are sometimes fine and sometimes too small. From tons of running (500 miles in 6 months) my toes have taken a beating even wearing the 360s. So I bought 11 1/2s and although there's room at the ends I find with socks and laced up using the lace lock there's no slipping at all. They feel just right. So far I've only worn them with the inner soles and it feels much more padded than my 360s although realistically there's probably only a mm or two in it. My only complaint would be ... MoreI took up running this year on a treadmill, streets, and sometimes trails although nothing too extreme. I had previously been using my Xero 360s which were taking a beating and I thought I would try something designed for running. I was a little bit nervous about sizing since I'm find size 11s are sometimes fine and sometimes too small. From tons of running (500 miles in 6 months) my toes have taken a beating even wearing the 360s. So I bought 11 1/2s and although there's room at the ends I find with socks and laced up using the lace lock there's no slipping at all. They feel just right. So far I've only worn them with the inner soles and it feels much more padded than my 360s although realistically there's probably only a mm or two in it. My only complaint would be that for the first time I have a pair of Xero shoes where the supplied laces are too short - at least using lace lock lacing with an extra wrap to ensure they don't come undone which everyone should do when running. So I think the laces could stand to be a couple of inches longer because that's how much not using lace-lock frees up and then they are perfect. A bonus is they look great - even my wife thinks so, although the mesh exterior does mean they are a little bit fragile. I had to bush-whack a bit while off-trail and that tore the mesh a tiny bit where it caught on some undergrowth. I have hosed them off a few times and they are holding up well

Working out well

These are my first pair of road running shoes from Xero though I started using a couple of different Xero trail shoes (Mesa II and Scrambler Low) almost a year ago. I was a little hesitant to go minimalist on the road as I am mostly a trail runner and consider road running a necessary evil when I can't get to the trails ("the road to **** is paved"). I've been running in some version of the Brooks Adrenaline shoe for 20+ years but have recently started to suspect that some of the necessity for "stability" or "control" in road running shoes is actually due to the high cushioning and heel drop causing or allowing one's foot to move more than it naturally would. However, I have also been a bit skeptical of abandoning all cushioning since pavement and asphalt are not ... MoreThese are my first pair of road running shoes from Xero though I started using a couple of different Xero trail shoes (Mesa II and Scrambler Low) almost a year ago. I was a little hesitant to go minimalist on the road as I am mostly a trail runner and consider road running a necessary evil when I can't get to the trails ("the road to **** is paved"). I've been running in some version of the Brooks Adrenaline shoe for 20+ years but have recently started to suspect that some of the necessity for "stability" or "control" in road running shoes is actually due to the high cushioning and heel drop causing or allowing one's foot to move more than it naturally would. However, I have also been a bit skeptical of abandoning all cushioning since pavement and asphalt are not natural surfaces and the repetitive motion of every step being the same on flat hard surfaces can be tough on your feet and joints.With all that said, I have been pleasantly surprised that the transition to running in the HFS II has not been too bad. It has probably helped that I had already mostly transitioned to minimalist trail running shoes first. I started by alternating the Xero shoes into my runs but lately have been using them whenever I am forced to run on roads. I've got about 80 miles on the shoes so far and it's going well, though I haven't done many runs longer than 6 miles or so. I will have to see how they (and my body) hold up if I go longer on the roads.My only real beef with these shoes is the laces. I like to do the heel-lock lacing pattern and for some reason, these laces are a LOT shorter than on my other Xero shoes. After I make the extra loop, there is barely enough lace left to fully tie the shoes.