Now through September 5th, you’ll get 20% OFF all of the Fall ’23 styles! Plus, when you buy more than one Fall ’23 style in the same order, you’ll get an additional 5% OFF those styles!
Scrambler Low
Ultralight Hiking and Trail Running Shoe With Michelin Fiberlite Sole
The Xero Scrambler Low is an exceptional light, rugged, and comfortable technical trail shoe. You can quickly scramble up and down trails in these shoes with their grippy Michelin soles, protective uppers, adjustable midfoot, and heel/instep straps that offer a secure and stable fit. Like all their lineup, you notice the uber-wide toe box that allowed my toes to splay out, offering comfort and relaxation.
Measured specs: 9.3 oz (M9.5)
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.
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.
With this incredible combination of lightness, flexibility, grip, protection, and comfort, the Scrambler Mid outperforms most trail running shoes. It’s the perfect technical shoe for day hikes, thru-hikes, and scrambles around town.
The thin insole can be removed for a closer to barefoot feel, but I didn’t find it necessary and always left it in.
The Scrambler Mid uppers feature a breathable, abrasion-resistant material, protective welded sidewalls, and a beefy two-layer toe cap. The padded heel cuff keeps debris from entering the shoe and offers additional comfort and protection.
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.
Bottom Line
The Xero Scrambler Low is a light, rugged, and comfortable technical trail shoe ideal for short and long hiking days. 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.
The technical trail Xero Scrambler Low shoe is stable, secure, and comfy, with just enough protection for rugged trail use, and it’s perfect for everyday wear around town and at home. One of my faves!
Click here to purchase the Scrambler Low
Note: The shoes we reviewed were received for free, and we are a #PaidXeroAffiliate. Detailed Compensation Disclaimer
Speed Force II
Running & Speed-Training Shoe
The Xero Speed Force II is an upgraded version of their classic Speed Force, and it’s lighter, sleeker, and features a super-breathable upper with welded components for extra durability. It’s a high-performance minimalist gym, trail running, court sports, and training shoe. This is the closest you’ll get to an actual barefoot experience. Like all their lineup, you notice the uber-wide toe box that allowed my toes to splay out, offering comfort and relaxation.
Measured specs: 6.7 oz (M9.5)
The most significant upgrade from the Speed Force is the addition of a super-breathable upper with welded components for extra durability.
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 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 4.5mm sole has the FeelTrue rubber compound to soften blows.
The mesh uppers are highly breathable and comfortable and wick moisture well. The shoe has minimal light padding for an optimal feel.
The Speed Force II is highly 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 thin insole can be removed for a closer to barefoot feel, but I didn’t find it necessary and always left it in.
Bottom Line
The Xero Speed Force II minimalist barefoot shoe is super light, agile, twistable, and flexible, allowing 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 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. The zero-drop design lacks internal and arch support and is excellent for minimalist runners, exercise buffs, and gym rats.
The Xero Speed Force II feels like a slipper, fits like a glove, and is about as barefoot as a shoe can be, and they provide supreme ground feedback.
Click here to purchase Speed Force II
Note: The shoes we reviewed were received for free, and we are a #PaidXeroAffiliate. Detailed Compensation Disclaimer
Ridgeway
Ultra Lightweight, Stylish, Waterproof Hiking Boot
The Xero Ridgeway offers a retro-styled old-school hiking boot with cutting-edge barefoot-friendly technologies and a waterproof lace-up design. It’s a tough and rugged hiking boot ready to conquer technical trails and backpacking adventures, yet it offers comfort and around-town usage.
Measured specs: 14.6 oz (M9.5)
The Ridgeway is stylish and comfortable; it’s waterproof, with a fully seam-sealed inner bootie, gusseted tongue, and waterproof membrane in the boot’s upper to keep your feet dry. In my testing, I didn’t get wet feet during thunderstorms during hiking forays.
The sole is grippy and decently lightweight for a beefy hiking boot. Utilizing an aggressive trail-ready lugged outsole allows you to navigate rugged terrain, trails, rocks, and roots without slipping and sliding all over the place.
The top two eyelets sets are elevated, and the laces are integrated into them, so there is no worry about them flopping out while hiking.
It appears as though the Ridgeway has a thick midsole, but in reality, they took their embedded TrailFoam layer and wrapped it around the upper, giving the illusion of thickness. This design provides exceptional trail compliance for undulations and bumps, along with a hiker shoe’s flexibility and natural movement. The upper has abrasion-resistant material, protective sidewalls, and a toe cap.
The padded heel cuff keeps debris from entering the shoe and offers additional comfort and protection. The three-tiered design offers extra ankle flexibility when needed on the trail.
Bottom Line
The mid-height Ridgeway hiking boot is defiantly a beef meister compared to their more minimalistic shoes, but it’s surprisingly lightweight. The lining around the cuff, lower tongue, and inner boot is soft and comfortable. The padding around the ankle is articulated, which provides some flex and give, allowing your foot to move with the ground and stay firmly planted. The sole is somewhat stiff compared to most of their shoe lineup, but it’s still flexible and offers excellent walking and movement characteristics. The wraparound sole is grippy, but the compound is a bit stiffer for improved durability, and the deep chevron tread pattern grabs the terrain and ground with aplomb. It has rugged, fully wraparound bumpers above the sole for durability and protection.
The Ridgeway is a comfortable waterproof lace-up hiking boot with a barefoot-inspired design and sure-footed grippy traction; perfect technical boot for day hikes, thru-hikes, and scrambles around town.
Click here to purchase Ridgeline Boot
Note: The shoes we reviewed were received for free, and we are a #PaidXeroAffiliate. Detailed Compensation Disclaimer
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