Xero Shoes Fall '21 Review
Xero Shoes was kind enough to send me some of their Fall ‘21 shoes to test out. Read or watch to get my full review!
360: It’s a little bit wider than the Speed Force, which is my favorite shoe to workout in. I like the snugness of the Speed Force, especially because the toe box is still wide enough and it’s not forcing my toes together like traditional running shoes. But the 360 isn’t overly spacious; I still feel quite stable to cut or change directions in a workout.
The sole is (obviously) flexible and it (obviously) has a wide toe box that allows for full toe splay (and may even accommodate Correct Toes if you’re wearing those and have a more narrow foot shape to begin with). (Note, I say “obviously” because I wouldn’t be wasting time reviewing a shoe that wasn’t actually designed to accommodate a foot; Xero Shoes accommodate feet.)
This is the shoe I’m going to recommend to my tennis and volleyball players. A lot of tennis players end up with ankle sprains from falling over the side of their shoe; the 360 ought to help avoid that because the shoe is so low profile and also because of the grippy tread. (This is a consideration and not a guarantee that you won’t roll your ankle, or whatever disclaimer I need to make so you don’t blame me when you come hobbling into my office.) I personally plan to wear these for playing indoor volleyball.
Tari: Holy cute. I love these. A few years ago, Xero released the Vienna, and the upper was not my favorite. I actually sent them back, which is a rarity for me. Lots of my friends loved them, but they weren’t for me. When I pulled these out, my friend who has the Vienna commented on how similar these look to that. But these are way more versatile than the Vienna, in my opinion.
The leather and stretchy sides are comfortable with plenty of space, but aren’t flopping all over my feet. I wore them with pants, a dress, and shorts so far and they added a little something to each outfit. Don’t ask me what that something was, but trust me: I looked cute.
The leather is soft and thick enough to feel durable but thin enough to be a pretty light leather shoe (official specs state that a women’s size 7 is 9.6 oz).
They have a strap that makes them easier to resize at the heel if you need a bit more snug or a bit more room.
Overall, I love both of these. And since I’ve done this before and have worn Xero Shoes since 2012, when they were called “Invisible Shoes”, it’s pretty safe to say that I’m loyal to the brand. That’s not because I love to stick with companies forever, but because I love to stick with companies that are continually innovating, listen to customer feedback, and make really great products.
If I were in your shoes (oh, I’m witty, aren’t I?) and wanted to revamp my shoe wardrobe, I’d do this:
SWAP
Jessie sandals for flip flops or Birkenstocks (you are not doing yourself any favors by having horrifically rigid arch support in your sandals, anyway)
Speed Force or 360 for whatever workout tennis shoe you wear
Phoenix knit for your Rothys or other ballet flat (I definitely prefer the fit and look of the knit Phoenix to the leather one)
Tari for your Timberlands or cowboy boots or whatever casual boot you’re wearing
To your happy feet!
- Lindsay Mumma, DC