Prio Running and Fitness Shoe is ideal for trail running, gym workouts, or slacklining. You'll appreciate the blend of freedom and protection, designed to enhance your performance and comfort in any activity.
Prio Running and Fitness Shoe is ideal for trail running, gym workouts, or slacklining. You'll appreciate the blend of freedom and protection, designed to enhance your performance and comfort in any activity.
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Prio Running and Fitness Shoe is ideal for trail running, gym workouts, or slacklining. You'll appreciate the blend of freedom and protection, designed to enhance your performance and comfort in any activity.
Prio Running and Fitness Shoe is ideal for trail running, gym workouts, or slacklining. You'll appreciate the blend of freedom and protection, designed to enhance your performance and comfort in any activity.
Last updated at 24/10/2024 14:03:10
originally posted on xeroshoes.com
I bought the Prios to see what minimalist shoes would be like. I started walking in them and using them as my everyday shoe. Then I started training in them, specifically weight lifting. The shoe has been awesome. Not only is it a great all-around shoe, it is a phenomenal shoe for squatting, deadlifting, and everything else when it comes to working out. I just recently starting running in them and have had no issue. I'm not a light person, and that made me hesitant at first especially when it came to running in a minimalist shoe. But I did start weight training with them almost right from the beginning. Within 6 to 8 weeks I noticed a massive increase in power, especially on the squat. I think because there is no drop, and they are minimalist, it just changed my ... MoreI bought the Prios to see what minimalist shoes would be like. I started walking in them and using them as my everyday shoe. Then I started training in them, specifically weight lifting. The shoe has been awesome. Not only is it a great all-around shoe, it is a phenomenal shoe for squatting, deadlifting, and everything else when it comes to working out. I just recently starting running in them and have had no issue. I'm not a light person, and that made me hesitant at first especially when it came to running in a minimalist shoe. But I did start weight training with them almost right from the beginning. Within 6 to 8 weeks I noticed a massive increase in power, especially on the squat. I think because there is no drop, and they are minimalist, it just changed my center of gravity which had a big impact on my squat. Squat weight went up quickly. I have used no drop shoes before, but they were cushioned and not minimalist. I use the prios without the insert that comes with them. This made the experience way better for me.
originally posted on xeroshoes.com
Background: I purchased the Prios in March of 2022 and have worn (abused) them an average of 8 hours a week for the last two years. I bought the Prios following a severe high-ankle sprain I sustained while running in a maximalist foam shoe. After I graduated from my crutches the Prios lended themselves well to daily physical therapy, and were instrumental in helping me retrain my proprioception. Since then I have primarily used the Prios for amateur boxing training (jump roping, sparring, shadow boxing, and high intensity calisthenics). I also wore these shoes for short runs (â€3 miles), weight room sessions, slacklining, and running errands around town. For reference I am 190 lbs (86 kg) and wear a men's size 11.5. It is finally time to replace my Prios, and while ... MoreBackground: I purchased the Prios in March of 2022 and have worn (abused) them an average of 8 hours a week for the last two years. I bought the Prios following a severe high-ankle sprain I sustained while running in a maximalist foam shoe. After I graduated from my crutches the Prios lended themselves well to daily physical therapy, and were instrumental in helping me retrain my proprioception. Since then I have primarily used the Prios for amateur boxing training (jump roping, sparring, shadow boxing, and high intensity calisthenics). I also wore these shoes for short runs (â€3 miles), weight room sessions, slacklining, and running errands around town. For reference I am 190 lbs (86 kg) and wear a men's size 11.5. It is finally time to replace my Prios, and while I'm curious about other Xero models my experience with the Prios was so positive than I am reluctant to switch styles.Read on for pros, cons, summary, and suggestions:Pros: The shoes were comfortable out of the box and ran true to size. True to Xero's marketing I did not wear out the outsole. Boxing footwork puts tremendous lateral and rotational stress on shoe sidewalls and soles respectively. In my 8 years of boxing I have worn a variety of footwear, and the Prios were as durable and comfortable as any shoe I have abused, with the added bonus of being a barefoot trainer. Being able to root and connect to the ground helps with my balance and power transfer, and the thin soles are essential for maintaining the agility required for ringwork (the vast majority of wrestling and boxing shoes tend to be low-no drop for this reason, but most of them are stiff and cram your toes into a tight, pointy box). The fact that this shoe survived two years of this type of training is remarkable. I never had a lace or strap break, the mesh upper remains intact, and I experienced only minimal flaking of the leather toe cap. This shoe is very breathable, and even though I sweat through them every session (my coach insists on keeping the gym at 90 degrees F (32.2 degrees C)) they were always bone dry the next day. Unlike the rest of my boxing kit and other shoes I've worn, the Prios resisted funky foot smell admirably and are easy to wash. They also travel well and pack into a gym bag or suitcase better than any shoe I've previously worn. While serious powerlifters seem to be all about high-drop platforms, I felt grounded, balanced, and explosive while wearing the Prios for weighted single-leg exercises, sled pushes, box jumps, deadlifts, and squats. Likewise the protection and connection of the shoe is well adapted to slacklining outside when sharp sticks and stones are too much for bare feet.Cons: About 18 months in I did wear a hole clean through the honeycomb insole where the ball of my foot swivels while throwing my cross (dominant hand punch). This is not unusual or unique to Xero shoes, and I considered just buying a replacement pair of insoles (found under the "accessories" section of the website), but found the shipping cost to be prohibitive relative to the cost of the insoles themselves. Given the discrepancy in durability between the insoles and outsoles, it would be nice if shipping on replacement insoles were free. Instead I toughed it out with holy insoles for another six months, during which the uppers began to slightly separate from the outsole creating a mild (~5mm) flapper. This wasn't a failure of the sole itself, but an inevitable breakdown of the adhesive that joins the upper and outsole together. Other boxing shoes I have worn have had physical stitching connecting the outsole to the upper which may mitigate this issue better than glue alone.Summary: I suspect Xero was striving to put the "-prio," in proprioception when they conceived these shoes, and overall they did a fantastic job. The combination of biofeedback and protection provided by this shoe strikes a highly functional compromise that is great for physical therapy, agility, HIIT, martial arts, balance, and general fitness training. You can expect better than average durability out of these shoes, accordingly you can expect to wear through the insoles before the rest of the shoe is ready for retirement, so plan and purchase replacement insoles accordingly. Overall this is an outstanding piece of equipment for the money and I will be buying a second pair. Strong work Xero shoes!Suggestions: Xero, if you're listening, please provide free shipping on replacement insoles, and considering offering a free replacement pair per shoe purchase. The life of the outsoles is great, but holy insoles are no good! Your shoes are surprisingly durable, but if the connection between the uppers and outsoles were reinforced (say, by integrating high-tensile connective stitching in addition to adhesive), this shoe would be truly bomber. Lastly, if your shoes were carried at an in-person retailer (say, REI stores) I suspect it would be a win-win for your companies, and a win for consumers as well. Being able to try on your shoes in-store would introduce more feet to relative freedom, with the ancillary benefit of expediting returns without cumbersome shipping arrangements.*If you found this review helpful please click the thumbs up in the lower right corner of this box so others can find it. Cheers and fight on!*
originally posted on xeroshoes.com
As the title implies, I have been making my own footwear (minimalist, primitive, period, etc.) for some time now and never imagined I would actually be buying shoes again. Unfortunately, I encountered a perfect storm of four older pairs failing at once for various reasons in the same week, having to spend over $300 on additional materials to make enough to replace them all since I was nearly out, and just not having enough time to sit and stitch that many by hand. So I went looking for alternatives and stumbled across Xero's site while they were having a sale.After reading a bunch of reviews, I took a chance on the Prios since they were one of the items on sale and their lacing system is similar to that of the turnsoles I liked to wear the best. (Honestly, Xero's ... MoreAs the title implies, I have been making my own footwear (minimalist, primitive, period, etc.) for some time now and never imagined I would actually be buying shoes again. Unfortunately, I encountered a perfect storm of four older pairs failing at once for various reasons in the same week, having to spend over $300 on additional materials to make enough to replace them all since I was nearly out, and just not having enough time to sit and stitch that many by hand. So I went looking for alternatives and stumbled across Xero's site while they were having a sale.After reading a bunch of reviews, I took a chance on the Prios since they were one of the items on sale and their lacing system is similar to that of the turnsoles I liked to wear the best. (Honestly, Xero's setup may be a little better.) After a week of breaking them in, they are now the only shoes besides what I make for myself that I don't feel the need to get off my feet once I am done for the day. The only complaint I have about fit and feel is that the materials used on the uppers keep my feet a bit on the warm side. It's not bad enough to remove a star in my opinion though. I intend to use these as 'daily drivers' along with the surviving pair of loafers I made in October of last year. If they last and wear well enough, I will happily buy another pair of Prios when these begin to die.Other thoughts: Most of the bad reviews I've read concern either durability and sole separation, or fit and feel. I've long been accustomed to low stack, low rise footwear, as opposed to 'normal' shoes, so the Prios feel quite nice to me. If you've never worn shoes like these before, you might need to ease into them. Once you get used to this kind of shoe, you probably will not want to go back to 'normal' shoes either. As for durability, I am concerned about that; not with the soles themselves, but with the uppers and the adhesives used to glue them down. If I'm spending this much on footwear, then I am expecting a good service life from them. I've never known vegan and/or manufactured materials to last as long and age as gracefully as well cared for leather. (I've gotten up to eight years with resoling mine for example.) I was still willing to give these a try despite those misgivings since Xero does appear to honor their warranties, plus I know how to care for footwear and could likely effect a repair if they chose not to for some odd reason. (A tube of Shoe Goo and some large binder clips will take care of a separating sole for example.) I'm not going to knock them for a 'possibility' though, so the Prios get five stars. (Pic shows the new Prios alongside the loafers.)
I bought the Prios to see what minimalist shoes would be like. I started walking in them and using them as my everyday shoe. Then I started training in them, specifically weight lifting. The shoe has been awesome. Not only is it a great all-around shoe, it is a phenomenal shoe for squatting, deadlifting, and everything else when it comes to working out. I just recently starting running in them and have had no issue. I'm not a light person, and that made me hesitant at first especially when it came to running in a minimalist shoe. But I did start weight training with them almost right from the beginning. Within 6 to 8 weeks I noticed a massive increase in power, especially on the squat. I think because there is no drop, and they are minimalist, it just changed my ... MoreI bought the Prios to see what minimalist shoes would be like. I started walking in them and using them as my everyday shoe. Then I started training in them, specifically weight lifting. The shoe has been awesome. Not only is it a great all-around shoe, it is a phenomenal shoe for squatting, deadlifting, and everything else when it comes to working out. I just recently starting running in them and have had no issue. I'm not a light person, and that made me hesitant at first especially when it came to running in a minimalist shoe. But I did start weight training with them almost right from the beginning. Within 6 to 8 weeks I noticed a massive increase in power, especially on the squat. I think because there is no drop, and they are minimalist, it just changed my center of gravity which had a big impact on my squat. Squat weight went up quickly. I have used no drop shoes before, but they were cushioned and not minimalist. I use the prios without the insert that comes with them. This made the experience way better for me.
Background: I purchased the Prios in March of 2022 and have worn (abused) them an average of 8 hours a week for the last two years. I bought the Prios following a severe high-ankle sprain I sustained while running in a maximalist foam shoe. After I graduated from my crutches the Prios lended themselves well to daily physical therapy, and were instrumental in helping me retrain my proprioception. Since then I have primarily used the Prios for amateur boxing training (jump roping, sparring, shadow boxing, and high intensity calisthenics). I also wore these shoes for short runs (â€3 miles), weight room sessions, slacklining, and running errands around town. For reference I am 190 lbs (86 kg) and wear a men's size 11.5. It is finally time to replace my Prios, and while ... MoreBackground: I purchased the Prios in March of 2022 and have worn (abused) them an average of 8 hours a week for the last two years. I bought the Prios following a severe high-ankle sprain I sustained while running in a maximalist foam shoe. After I graduated from my crutches the Prios lended themselves well to daily physical therapy, and were instrumental in helping me retrain my proprioception. Since then I have primarily used the Prios for amateur boxing training (jump roping, sparring, shadow boxing, and high intensity calisthenics). I also wore these shoes for short runs (â€3 miles), weight room sessions, slacklining, and running errands around town. For reference I am 190 lbs (86 kg) and wear a men's size 11.5. It is finally time to replace my Prios, and while I'm curious about other Xero models my experience with the Prios was so positive than I am reluctant to switch styles.Read on for pros, cons, summary, and suggestions:Pros: The shoes were comfortable out of the box and ran true to size. True to Xero's marketing I did not wear out the outsole. Boxing footwork puts tremendous lateral and rotational stress on shoe sidewalls and soles respectively. In my 8 years of boxing I have worn a variety of footwear, and the Prios were as durable and comfortable as any shoe I have abused, with the added bonus of being a barefoot trainer. Being able to root and connect to the ground helps with my balance and power transfer, and the thin soles are essential for maintaining the agility required for ringwork (the vast majority of wrestling and boxing shoes tend to be low-no drop for this reason, but most of them are stiff and cram your toes into a tight, pointy box). The fact that this shoe survived two years of this type of training is remarkable. I never had a lace or strap break, the mesh upper remains intact, and I experienced only minimal flaking of the leather toe cap. This shoe is very breathable, and even though I sweat through them every session (my coach insists on keeping the gym at 90 degrees F (32.2 degrees C)) they were always bone dry the next day. Unlike the rest of my boxing kit and other shoes I've worn, the Prios resisted funky foot smell admirably and are easy to wash. They also travel well and pack into a gym bag or suitcase better than any shoe I've previously worn. While serious powerlifters seem to be all about high-drop platforms, I felt grounded, balanced, and explosive while wearing the Prios for weighted single-leg exercises, sled pushes, box jumps, deadlifts, and squats. Likewise the protection and connection of the shoe is well adapted to slacklining outside when sharp sticks and stones are too much for bare feet.Cons: About 18 months in I did wear a hole clean through the honeycomb insole where the ball of my foot swivels while throwing my cross (dominant hand punch). This is not unusual or unique to Xero shoes, and I considered just buying a replacement pair of insoles (found under the "accessories" section of the website), but found the shipping cost to be prohibitive relative to the cost of the insoles themselves. Given the discrepancy in durability between the insoles and outsoles, it would be nice if shipping on replacement insoles were free. Instead I toughed it out with holy insoles for another six months, during which the uppers began to slightly separate from the outsole creating a mild (~5mm) flapper. This wasn't a failure of the sole itself, but an inevitable breakdown of the adhesive that joins the upper and outsole together. Other boxing shoes I have worn have had physical stitching connecting the outsole to the upper which may mitigate this issue better than glue alone.Summary: I suspect Xero was striving to put the "-prio," in proprioception when they conceived these shoes, and overall they did a fantastic job. The combination of biofeedback and protection provided by this shoe strikes a highly functional compromise that is great for physical therapy, agility, HIIT, martial arts, balance, and general fitness training. You can expect better than average durability out of these shoes, accordingly you can expect to wear through the insoles before the rest of the shoe is ready for retirement, so plan and purchase replacement insoles accordingly. Overall this is an outstanding piece of equipment for the money and I will be buying a second pair. Strong work Xero shoes!Suggestions: Xero, if you're listening, please provide free shipping on replacement insoles, and considering offering a free replacement pair per shoe purchase. The life of the outsoles is great, but holy insoles are no good! Your shoes are surprisingly durable, but if the connection between the uppers and outsoles were reinforced (say, by integrating high-tensile connective stitching in addition to adhesive), this shoe would be truly bomber. Lastly, if your shoes were carried at an in-person retailer (say, REI stores) I suspect it would be a win-win for your companies, and a win for consumers as well. Being able to try on your shoes in-store would introduce more feet to relative freedom, with the ancillary benefit of expediting returns without cumbersome shipping arrangements.*If you found this review helpful please click the thumbs up in the lower right corner of this box so others can find it. Cheers and fight on!*
As the title implies, I have been making my own footwear (minimalist, primitive, period, etc.) for some time now and never imagined I would actually be buying shoes again. Unfortunately, I encountered a perfect storm of four older pairs failing at once for various reasons in the same week, having to spend over $300 on additional materials to make enough to replace them all since I was nearly out, and just not having enough time to sit and stitch that many by hand. So I went looking for alternatives and stumbled across Xero's site while they were having a sale.After reading a bunch of reviews, I took a chance on the Prios since they were one of the items on sale and their lacing system is similar to that of the turnsoles I liked to wear the best. (Honestly, Xero's ... MoreAs the title implies, I have been making my own footwear (minimalist, primitive, period, etc.) for some time now and never imagined I would actually be buying shoes again. Unfortunately, I encountered a perfect storm of four older pairs failing at once for various reasons in the same week, having to spend over $300 on additional materials to make enough to replace them all since I was nearly out, and just not having enough time to sit and stitch that many by hand. So I went looking for alternatives and stumbled across Xero's site while they were having a sale.After reading a bunch of reviews, I took a chance on the Prios since they were one of the items on sale and their lacing system is similar to that of the turnsoles I liked to wear the best. (Honestly, Xero's setup may be a little better.) After a week of breaking them in, they are now the only shoes besides what I make for myself that I don't feel the need to get off my feet once I am done for the day. The only complaint I have about fit and feel is that the materials used on the uppers keep my feet a bit on the warm side. It's not bad enough to remove a star in my opinion though. I intend to use these as 'daily drivers' along with the surviving pair of loafers I made in October of last year. If they last and wear well enough, I will happily buy another pair of Prios when these begin to die.Other thoughts: Most of the bad reviews I've read concern either durability and sole separation, or fit and feel. I've long been accustomed to low stack, low rise footwear, as opposed to 'normal' shoes, so the Prios feel quite nice to me. If you've never worn shoes like these before, you might need to ease into them. Once you get used to this kind of shoe, you probably will not want to go back to 'normal' shoes either. As for durability, I am concerned about that; not with the soles themselves, but with the uppers and the adhesives used to glue them down. If I'm spending this much on footwear, then I am expecting a good service life from them. I've never known vegan and/or manufactured materials to last as long and age as gracefully as well cared for leather. (I've gotten up to eight years with resoling mine for example.) I was still willing to give these a try despite those misgivings since Xero does appear to honor their warranties, plus I know how to care for footwear and could likely effect a repair if they chose not to for some odd reason. (A tube of Shoe Goo and some large binder clips will take care of a separating sole for example.) I'm not going to knock them for a 'possibility' though, so the Prios get five stars. (Pic shows the new Prios alongside the loafers.)
Wow. First time minimalist shoe and what an amazing difference. At first, my lower calves were sore as I spent more time on the balls of my feet, but the calves got stronger, and itâs not problem anymore. Super light, cool and breathable. I decided going minimalist because regular running shoes (and tried lots for several thousand miles) never âfitâ my foot, even after going to a running specialist for fitting. I was VERY skeptical at first that xero would do what many claim, but, they are simply great, super comfortable, and I enjoy running again. I would recommend a try if youâre interested in minimalist shoes.The fit: I wear a 13 in Brooks and 12.5 in Hoka, but I bought these zeros in a 12. There is less toe length, but the shoe is super flex. The toe box is ... MoreWow. First time minimalist shoe and what an amazing difference. At first, my lower calves were sore as I spent more time on the balls of my feet, but the calves got stronger, and itâs not problem anymore. Super light, cool and breathable. I decided going minimalist because regular running shoes (and tried lots for several thousand miles) never âfitâ my foot, even after going to a running specialist for fitting. I was VERY skeptical at first that xero would do what many claim, but, they are simply great, super comfortable, and I enjoy running again. I would recommend a try if youâre interested in minimalist shoes.The fit: I wear a 13 in Brooks and 12.5 in Hoka, but I bought these zeros in a 12. There is less toe length, but the shoe is super flex. The toe box is room, but secure. I have a shallow heel, but the heel strap makes for a nice fit without heel slip. Think of it like a glove, itâs there to protect, but not interfere with your natural foot movement. I have a wide foot, and these feel good. Iâm 6â, 210 lbs, a runner and weight lifter.
I was born with and extra toe on my left, which was removed when I was 6 months old, I have had to wear wide sized shoes and always a size to big for my right foot. Modern shoes have never been very comfortable for me due to the toes being squished together. That plus all the padding and the high arches my feet hurt more often than not. Doing yoga over the years, the instructors always get you to flex your feet to get a stable foundation to perform the postures. It always seems like I have been mitigating issues caused by weak feet. In my zeros I finally have room. I'm am slowly working my way into wearing them more and more but already my feet feel better. The wide toe box give my abnormal bone structure in my left foot room and relief. Theses are great shoes and ... MoreI was born with and extra toe on my left, which was removed when I was 6 months old, I have had to wear wide sized shoes and always a size to big for my right foot. Modern shoes have never been very comfortable for me due to the toes being squished together. That plus all the padding and the high arches my feet hurt more often than not. Doing yoga over the years, the instructors always get you to flex your feet to get a stable foundation to perform the postures. It always seems like I have been mitigating issues caused by weak feet. In my zeros I finally have room. I'm am slowly working my way into wearing them more and more but already my feet feel better. The wide toe box give my abnormal bone structure in my left foot room and relief. Theses are great shoes and I'm hopeful that when I gain more strength and flexibility in my feet that I can wear them all day everyday.
I bought a pair of these after a trainer recommended looking into barefoot shoes for deadlifts. I've been wearing my Prios for four months, and I use them for all of my weightlifting and indoor track walking now.They're comfortable, and they're easy to slip on and off. They feel weightless on my feet, but I also feel stable lifting in them without having to wear the laces ultra tight. Ventilation is excellent. The soles have great grip for a gym floor.I can't speak to long-term durability, but if you're not going to wear them on an abrasive surface (ie: indoor gym), the pricing is very fair in my opinion.If you're on the fence and have never worn a barefoot shoe for lifting, they're an absolute game changer if you're coming from a conventional trainer. The ... MoreI bought a pair of these after a trainer recommended looking into barefoot shoes for deadlifts. I've been wearing my Prios for four months, and I use them for all of my weightlifting and indoor track walking now.They're comfortable, and they're easy to slip on and off. They feel weightless on my feet, but I also feel stable lifting in them without having to wear the laces ultra tight. Ventilation is excellent. The soles have great grip for a gym floor.I can't speak to long-term durability, but if you're not going to wear them on an abrasive surface (ie: indoor gym), the pricing is very fair in my opinion.If you're on the fence and have never worn a barefoot shoe for lifting, they're an absolute game changer if you're coming from a conventional trainer. The feedback you get through your feet is just on another level when you can spread your toes out and you're not lifting through a mushy sole.
I was always under the impression that a solid comfortable sole that supports your foot is what your feet/body needed. Itâs hard to believe or know anything else when that is the only thing we are presented and told when buying shoes. Iâve seen Xero around for awhile, but had yet to take the opportunity to try them.When I went to REI to buy a new pair of shoes for the year I saw only one pair of drop zero shoes (the Xero brand) and found my size and was ready for the switch. I fell in love with my first pair so much I bought a second pair off the Xero site along with a pair of sandals.These shoes have made me reconstruct what I believed about a good, comfortable, healthy shoe. I no longer wear my Berkinstocks sandals or other traditional shoes and am impressed ... MoreI was always under the impression that a solid comfortable sole that supports your foot is what your feet/body needed. Itâs hard to believe or know anything else when that is the only thing we are presented and told when buying shoes. Iâve seen Xero around for awhile, but had yet to take the opportunity to try them.When I went to REI to buy a new pair of shoes for the year I saw only one pair of drop zero shoes (the Xero brand) and found my size and was ready for the switch. I fell in love with my first pair so much I bought a second pair off the Xero site along with a pair of sandals.These shoes have made me reconstruct what I believed about a good, comfortable, healthy shoe. I no longer wear my Berkinstocks sandals or other traditional shoes and am impressed and excited about drop zero styles, Xero brand and bringing back healthy walking patterns to my feet.Not to mention my toes are no longer being pushed together by a poor foot boot design I can now focus on bringing space back in between my toes.If you havenât figured it out already these shoes are the future. Sometimes humanity needs to move backward to move forward. In this case we need to go back to the style of footwear older than any shoe brand around.This is something I want to scream from the mountain top for everyone to hear. Instead, I really try not to come off pushy and only inform the people who inquire about the shoes I wear, which happens to be a fair amount of people on a regular basis.I usually donât write reviews, but this is meaningful to me and I realize this style of footwear is still misunderstood and not well recognized. If you are on the fence or just doing research I can not implore you enough to try this style of shoe out. The only thing you have to lose is the boundaries that the popular/standard shoe style has put on your feet and mind!Jump in feet first my friends!
Shoe is great, when they fit! Super comfortable, and they hold up ok. I've got 2 pairs of the fusion light hikers, the kelso, these x2, and the leather version for work. The insole has a habit of moving around which I use a dab of shoe goo to stop.If you attempt to use the free exchange program, ensure you get a tracking number. From what I can discern, a while back the shoe mold was changed and the size 12's I bought that fit perfectly were too snug when I repurchased. Maybe my feet grew a bit? At 37 years old, I doubt it, but who knows?Regardless, after following the return/exchange instructions, several weeks went by with no response/update. When I wrote to customer service, they said they couldn't find the shoes/package. I no longer had the tracking ID ... MoreShoe is great, when they fit! Super comfortable, and they hold up ok. I've got 2 pairs of the fusion light hikers, the kelso, these x2, and the leather version for work. The insole has a habit of moving around which I use a dab of shoe goo to stop.If you attempt to use the free exchange program, ensure you get a tracking number. From what I can discern, a while back the shoe mold was changed and the size 12's I bought that fit perfectly were too snug when I repurchased. Maybe my feet grew a bit? At 37 years old, I doubt it, but who knows?Regardless, after following the return/exchange instructions, several weeks went by with no response/update. When I wrote to customer service, they said they couldn't find the shoes/package. I no longer had the tracking ID number, and got no more traction with support. So, either UPS lost the package with Return Number properly affixed, or Xero has room for improvement in their customer service/returns department. Either way, moral of the story: make sure you follow up your return with a tracking number if you need a return/exchange.The soles on my most worn prios are shot after a lot of use. I would've replaced a while back but after the above experience, burning $90 for the shoe and $30 for return shipping, I've been very leery about reordering directly from Xero. Might be worth buying from someone like Amazon to have some other third party on your side if you need exchanges.
TL;DR - Buy these shoes, you'll love them!I just ordered my third pair of Xero shoes, so I figured I'd come back and write a review for the shoes that started it all. Like as the title states, Xero shoes have absolutely ruined me. I expect way too much from other companies, to the extent that trying to just buy a pair of slippers I'm happy with turned into a two week long ordeal.I got the Prios last summer as part of a weight loss effort. Just normal diet and light exercise, going out for walks or playing disc golf. I had heard of barefoot style shoes before, but I hadn't really paid much attention. But I needed a new pair of shoes, and I had seen Xero advertised online, so why not try something different?For those that don't know, the idea behind barefoot ... MoreTL;DR - Buy these shoes, you'll love them!I just ordered my third pair of Xero shoes, so I figured I'd come back and write a review for the shoes that started it all. Like as the title states, Xero shoes have absolutely ruined me. I expect way too much from other companies, to the extent that trying to just buy a pair of slippers I'm happy with turned into a two week long ordeal.I got the Prios last summer as part of a weight loss effort. Just normal diet and light exercise, going out for walks or playing disc golf. I had heard of barefoot style shoes before, but I hadn't really paid much attention. But I needed a new pair of shoes, and I had seen Xero advertised online, so why not try something different?For those that don't know, the idea behind barefoot shoes is that your foot is actually very capable of doing its own job: Providing proper support for the rest of your body. Pairs of shoes that offer ridiculously thick padding or arch support are actually preventing your foot from being a proper foot. Not to mention the cramped toe boxes that we've come to expect from modern pairs of shoes prevent our toes from spreading out and providing good tactile feedback to the ground and helping us to balance better.Like I said, I had never put much thought into barefoot style shoes, but I liked the design of the Prio, so I figured I'd try them out. The first day I got them, I decided to go out for a walk without the additional (removeable) insole that comes with the shoes. If I'm going to try something new, I might as well go all-out, right?I went out for a 2 mile walk that day at a local park, and it was a euphoric experience. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but hear me out! My walk took me down gravel paths, across wooden bridges, and through grassy fields. Being able to walk through those different environments and feel the different textures of the ground was such a unique sensation. I've never gone on a walk before where I felt so plugged in to my environment, and it's exactly as amazing as you might expect it to be.Remember that whole thing about modern shoes preventing our feet from being feet? After my 2 mile walk, my feet were super sore. Not in a "oh no, I've injured myself" kind of way, but sore like you just got done a good workout kind of sore. After about a week of wearing the shoes, my feet got used to doing their own job again. But that's also when I realized that these shoes absolutely ruined my expectations for other shoes.The nice waterproof hiking shoes/boots that I got for wet outdoor activities? I can't wear them anymore. They're too tight, too cramped, and the thick sole raises me off the ground in an unnatural way that throws off my balance. Steel toe work boots that are required by OSHA? So far I haven't found anything in the barefoot shoe industry that offers steel toes, so I'm stuck wearing super uncomfortable steel toe shoes for work. And I just ordered a pair of the Xero hiking sandals because I know I'm not going to wear the fancy new sandals I got last year with thick soles and arch support. I'm slowly replacing every pair of shoes I can with Xero shoes, they're that much better than everything else I own.One final note before I wrap up this overly-long review. I've seen comments online saying that Xero shoes have quality issues and that they don't last long at all. I put my Prio's through their paces in the first year. I've walked and ran in them (though I don't run much, so your mileage may vary there.) I have played plenty of disc golf in them, which puts a lot of torque through your hips/legs/feet when you're throwing. I've even thrown the removeable insole back into the shoes and used them as my primary shoes for riding my Onewheel. I still haven't managed to seriously damage these shoes, and I'm trying my best!Sorry for the wall of text, but I have a lot to say about these shoes. Give them a shot, you'll seriously love them!
I wanted a shoe in which I could run 3-10 miles, walk comfortably on cobblestone European streets for 12+ hours, that could scrunch into a minimal travel bag (I bought size 11.5 and could just fold my Xero shoes into my Pakt One Bag), and dry relatively quickly (the olâ âstick crumpled newspaper in âem overnightâ trick); and the Xero Shoes Men's Prio Cross Training Shoe - Lightweight Zero Drop, Barefoot in black/white fit the bill splendidly. While wearing, watch out for pebbles and small debris, like ammunition cartridges or what have you, because the shoeâs sole does not keep you far frommother earth (more on that later).To complain: the mesh toe box, which admittedly provides excellent ventilation, of the X.S.M.P.C.T.S.L.Z.D. in black/white does let water ... MoreI wanted a shoe in which I could run 3-10 miles, walk comfortably on cobblestone European streets for 12+ hours, that could scrunch into a minimal travel bag (I bought size 11.5 and could just fold my Xero shoes into my Pakt One Bag), and dry relatively quickly (the olâ âstick crumpled newspaper in âem overnightâ trick); and the Xero Shoes Men's Prio Cross Training Shoe - Lightweight Zero Drop, Barefoot in black/white fit the bill splendidly. While wearing, watch out for pebbles and small debris, like ammunition cartridges or what have you, because the shoeâs sole does not keep you far frommother earth (more on that later).To complain: the mesh toe box, which admittedly provides excellent ventilation, of the X.S.M.P.C.T.S.L.Z.D. in black/white does let water permeate the toe box and soggy the wearerâs sock (your author in this case) which is less than lovely (understandably, âThe greater the ventilation, the greater the water permeability.â as my mother always said), the toe box (seems like I have a real toe box axe to grind, doesnât it?) is intentionally wide and bulbous to allow for a healthy spreading of the toes (or some noise like that) which is not my first choice sartorially (as my sister always says, âIt either looks good or is functional and comfortable, you never get both.â).But I mean, Iâd totes buy them again, even having to learn to love that damn toe box. Also, the VERY thin soul requires the wearers body to break in a bit (my guess strengthening muscles, tendons, ligaments, and leg stuff which other shoes donât require the strengthening of (maybe thatâs XEROâs raison d'ĂȘtre... naw, it couldnât be that simple)) before the shoes became comfortable for your author. When itâs cold out, I hope you have on thick socks because your piggies gonnaâ be cold if youâre juststanding around trying to help your dad figure out how to frame a DIY greenhouse, or what have you.The customer service I received through e-mail from Brooke was extraordinary. She provided me with lots of options of how to ameliorate a problem and eventually completely replaced my shoes free of charge, shipping included. Love is a considered e-mail by friendly customer service folk, am I right, people??10/10 Iâd do business with and buy shoes from these people again.
