Uber Comfy 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 gives 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, 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 how 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.
Almost anytime I need to wear a pair of shoes for any activity, I grab my pair of Prio Neo!
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
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