I’ve recently come across a new concept in footwear that makes sense! This logically created footwear works with the body instead of against it.
These shoes from Xero are true barefoot shoes. With a wide toe base to give your digits room to move and no artificial padding to upset the delicate balance of your spine, these shoes are like running barefoot with a layer of protection between you and the ground. All that padding and support in most other athletic shoes works contrary to the natural way our spines want to move, causing back, knee, leg, hip, and foot pain over time.
Why a Barefoot Shoe?
From the Xero website:
One quarter of the bones and joints in your entire body are in your feet. You have more nerve endings in your soles than anywhere but your fingertips and lips.
This means your feet are meant to bend, to move, to flex, and feel the world.
Comfort and performance come from letting your feet do what they’re meant to do, naturally.
Xero Shoes let them do that with what we call “3 Pillars of Natural”:
- Natural FIT — wide toe boxes let your toes spread and relax. A non-elevated (zero-drop) heel for proper posture.
- Natural MOTION — super flexible to let your feet bend and move naturally. Low-to-the-ground for balance and agility.
- Natural FEEL — the patented FeelTrue® soles give you just-right protection while still giving the ground feedback your brain needs for efficient, natural movement.
Truly, this new concept in footwear is one I’d urge you to check out!
But how can they be durable enough to last the long haul, you ask? Well, this part really sold me on these shoes: Xero offers a two-year/5,000-mile warranty.
So, I took a chance, feeling more confident, given the generous warranty, and bought the shoes.
Now the important questions: Did I like them? Were they comfortable? Yes, and yes. I loved them!
Experience with Previous Shoes
Here’s a short journal of my experience:
I had been wearing zero-drop shoes for three years, which I thought were similar to barefoot shoes but found out they were not. Being a casual runner, I was delighted when I was able to up my running to 6 miles a week. But after four weeks at this distance, I developed a sore knee that prevented me from running at all. Furthermore, my toes (yes, toes!) would hurt even when walking in my old shoes. And in the evenings following a 4-mile walk in those shoes, my legs would ache!
That’s when I bit the bullet and brought the Xero barefoot shoes, in an attempt to rehabilitate my knee, realign my spine, and get back to running again.
New Concept in Footwear: My Xero Shoes Arrive
Day 1: After my shoes were delivered two days earlier than expected (!) even during the height of the Covid-19 season, I donned my brand-new tennies and set off on a 1.5-mile walk. I ran a total of 300 yards of this distance in two spurts. I noticed immediately that my feet were not aching like they would have been in my old shoes.
Day 2: I decided to walk a similar distance but with no socks. After all, they’re barefoot shoes, right? My experience in the past wearing shoes with no socks has been dismal–even with most sandals I easily develop blisters. After another 1.5-mile walk, this time running 600 yards of that distance, I had NO achy feet and NO blisters. Amazing.
Day 3: Again tried no socks and ran 1/2 mile of my 1.5-mile outing. Still, no blisters or leg aches. And my knee is slowly improving.
Day 4: I took a 4-mile walk (with socks; even though I’m not getting blisters, I prefer socks). For some reason, I’ve noticed that in general, my feet and legs hurt more after a walk than after a run. With my old shoes, a walk gave me painful leg aches when evening rolled around. So, I was delighted to have no leg or toe issues following my walk in my new Xero shoes.
Zoom ahead to a month later, I wore these shoes for a 6-hour service stint where I was walking, standing around, and going up and down stairs the entire time. No foot pain! My knee rehab is progressing nicely.
Adding Xero Sandals to My Collection
I’m so sold on the shoes that I decided to purchase Xero sandals to get me through the summer months. This is noteworthy because I’m one who doesn’t make many clothing purchases. So two sets of shoes within a month means I love the shoes and can’t live without them.
Do I have anything negative to say about the shoes? I initially had a little sensitivity on the bottom of my feet in the section of foot near the toes. This foot pad was likely accustomed to padded shoes, but after a couple weeks, that’s not an issue anymore.
I love the fact that I’m giving my body and spine what it needs to strengthen the muscles I need for any kind of motion. Oh, and another important fact: I have inherently weak ankles and was an intense overpronator. Does the word intense even go with overpronator? I don’t know, but I definitely lack strong structure in the whole ankle area. Even so, my feet feel great in Xero shoes.
Something else that makes me feel good about my purchase is that I love the Xero company! Steven Sashen and his wife Lena Phoenix own the company. If you want, you can sign up to receive their emails. I feel like I’ve joined a supportive community and have also enjoyed listening to their podcast, The MOVEMENT movement.
I’ll be sticking with this new concept in footwear (but really, an old concept since barefeet came before cushy padded shoes were ever invented!). I’d urge you to stop wearing shoes that work against you and try a pair of Xero shoes!
Please, if you decide to check out Xero shoes, use one of the links in this post. I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Since you’re a person whose interested in health, check out my post on 7 Ways to Boost the Immune System naturally.
Here’s to a pain-free future!