Prio Neo
Performance Training Shoe
The Xero Prio Neo is a tweaked version of their Prio, and it’s lighter, sleeker, and has a more minimalist design. It’s a high-performance minimalist gym, trail running, walking, and hiking shoe.
The Prio Neo upper features durable welded accents, a breathable mesh material, and a moisture-wicking lining to keep your feet cool, dry, and comfortable. The heel cinch and adjustable mid-foot webbing give you a secure and stable fit. Along with a grippy outsole, the Prio Neo offers confidence-inspiring abilities to run, jump, lift, and play at the gym, courts, or elsewhere. The Prio Neo fits like a glove and feels like an extension of your body thanks to its lightweight, flexible FeelTrue sole and barefoot-themed design. The wide toe box lets your toes splay and flex to invigorate your stride and provide comfort and relaxation, and their ground feedback enables you to move efficiently and effectively.
Measured specs: 9.5oz/268g per shoe (M9.5)
Impressions
The first thing I noticed after wearing the Prio Neo was the uber-wide toe box that allowed my toes to splay out, offering up oodles of comfort and relaxation. The shoe is amazingly flexible and is close to noodly when bent by hand, but they fit like a glove and are secure when tightened down properly with the laces.
The Chevron tread design is closely spaced and 3mm tall and provides plenty of traction and grip on floors, gym, carpets, vinyl, concrete, and other workout and everyday terrain you’ll encounter. Even though it is a barefoot-style shoe, the 5.5mm sole has the FeelTrue rubber compound to soften blows.
The Huarache-inspired heel cinch strap is attached to the laces and loops through the sole and back around the upper rear of the heel. It works exceptionally well and helps pull your heel and foot into the shoe, providing a secure, connected, and stable fit without any heel lift. The separate instep straps, hidden under some welded access, lock down your instep for stability while letting your toes move comfortably.
The thin 3mm insole can be removed for a closer to barefoot feel, but I didn’t find it necessary and always left it in.
The Prio Neo is flexible, but they fit like a glove and are secure when tightened with the laces. You can easily smoosh and crumple the shoes into a ball and twist the sole.
The mesh uppers are highly breathable and comfortable and wick moisture well, and I never felt like the shoes got too damp or hot. The shoe has minimal light padding for an optimal feel without overly losing protection.
Bottom Line
The Xero Prio Neo minimalist barefoot design shoe is light, agile, twistable, and flexible, which allows the foot to feel and conform to the ground and stretch and move naturally. Even with those minimal attributes, the combination of the breathable mesh outsole, insole, FeelTrue rubber sole, and Chevron lugs provides lots of flexibility, comfort, grip, and traction, with just enough foot protection. The zero-drop design lacks internal and arch support and is excellent for minimalist exercise buffs, gym rats, and hikers.
The Xero Prio Neo is a high-performance, proper minimalist gym, workout, lifting, and hiking shoe that lets the toes and feet move, bend, flex, and feel the way they’re meant to. When snugged down with the laces and the integrated strap system, which cinches down over the instep and pulls the foot down into the rear, they’re stable and secure, while the toe box allows your toes tons of room to splay and wiggle.
MSRP $99.99
Click here to purchase the Xero Prio Neo – Men’s
Note: The shoes we reviewed were received for free, and we are a #PaidXeroAffiliate. Detailed Compensation Disclaimer
Scrambler Mid
Your New Go-To, Ultra Light, Hiking Boot
The Xero Scrambler Mid is an exceptional light, rugged, and comfortable technical hiking boot. You can quickly scramble up and down trails in these shoes with their grippy Michelin soles, padded ankles, protective uppers, adjustable midfoot, and heel/instep straps that offer a secure and stable fit.
Measured specs: 11.2oz/317g per shoe (M9.5)
Impressions
Xero collaborated with Michelin for the outsoles of the Scrambler Mid. It utilizes the thin Michelin Fiber Lite sole, which features an embedded textile layer for improved strength, flexibility, and lightness. The widely spaced lugs shed mud and provide exceptional grip and traction on any terrain.
Above the Fiber Lite sole is a thin layer of their cushy TrailFoam, which gives you extra comfort and protection when you’re on a challenging trail. This design wraps both sole layers around the upper, and while that makes the sole seem overly thick, your foot sits cradled down within things.
With this incredible combination of lightness, flexibility, grip, protection, and comfort, the Scrambler Mid can outperform many trail running shoes. It’s the perfect technical boot for day hikes, thru-hikes, and scrambles around town.
The Scrambler Mid uppers feature a breathable, abrasion-resistant material, protective welded sidewalls, and a beefy two-layer toe cap.
Bottom Line
The Xero Scrambler Mid is a light, rugged, and comfortable technical hiking boot that is ideal for short and long hiking forays. It features a Michelin Fiber Lite sole with a layer of Xero’s TrailFoam, offering comfort, flexibility, protection, and grip on any terrain. The uppers feature a rugged, abrasion-resistant, breathable material, protective welded sidewalls, and a dual-layered toe cap. They’re stable and secure when snugged down with the laces and the integrated strap system, which cinches down over the instep and pulls the foot into the rear. The toe box allows your toes tons of room to splay and wiggle, and the non-elevated heel and a low-to-the-ground design that provides improved posture, balance, and stability.
MSRP $169.99
Click here to purchase the Scrambler Mid – Men’s
Note: The shoes we reviewed were received for free, and we are a #PaidXeroAffiliate. Detailed Compensation Disclaimer
Sunrise
The Super-Light Camp and Travel Shoe
The Xero Sunrise is what you slip on when you step out of your tent in the morning, wake up at home, and utilize post-workout. Think of it as a bedroom slipper that can be used for multiple indoor and outdoor activities. The light microfiber upper feels soothing and comfortable against the feet.
Measured specs: 5.7oz/160g per shoe (M9.5)
Impressions
The Sunrise is Xero’s lightest shoe, with a barely-there weight. It features their FeelTrue rubber outsole with a grippy dual Chevron tread.
The Sunrise is also a perfect travel, camping, and post-workout shoe since it takes up no room in your bag.
It can be stashed in your backpack or duffel, clipped to your belt, or rolled up and put in your pocket. They can be smushed down to take up very little room.
Bottom Line
The Xero Sunrise is a super comfortable slip-on shoe, a part shoe, and a bedroom slipper, but it’s tough enough for any light-use activity. It’s highly flexible and offers comfort, naturally allowing your foot to bend, move, flex, and feel. The soft lining is breathable, and the elastic upper side slots offer lots of stretches to make it easy to slide your foot into the shoe.
You can wear the Sunrise like a regular shoe, pulled up over the heel, or slide in like a flip-flop.
MSRP $69.99
Click here to purchase the Xero Sunrise – Men’s
Note: The shoes we reviewed were received for free, and we are a #PaidXeroAffiliate. Detailed Compensation Disclaimer
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