Xero Shoes Men’s HFS Running Shoes – Zero Drop, Lightweight & Barefoot Feel – Product characteristics
- Made in the USA or Imported
- Rubber sole
- SHAPED FOR COMFORT, BUILT FOR SPEED – Xero HFS features a lightweight, minimalist build that contours to the shape of your feet. Its spacious toe-box allows you to splay, spread, and relax your toes for superior comfort
- XERO DROP SOLE FOR PERFECT POSTURE – The Xero Drop sole offers a non-elevated heel and is low-to-the-ground – this allows for proper posture, balance, and agility for all-round performance
- FLEX YOUR FEET, FEEL THE FLOOR – Our tire tread inspired patented 5.5mm FeelTrue sole strikes a balance between just-right protection and feedback – it delivers heel to toe cues to the brain for your best run ever. Allows your feet to bend and flex as nature intended
- TRAVEL FRIENDLY, 5000 MILE WARRANTY – Xero HFS’ extra-durable construction is backed by our 5,000 Mile Feel the World Sole Promise. Being ultra-flexible, you can roll ‘em up and put in your pack or pocket for compact storage and easy travel
- VEGAN FRIENDLY – Xero Shoes believes in promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles which is why the HFS is made with zero animal products
- SHAPED FOR COMFORT, BUILT FOR SPEED - Xero HFS features a lightweight, minimalist build that contours to the shape of your feet. Its spacious toe-box allows you to splay, spread, and relax your toes...
- XERO DROP SOLE FOR PERFECT POSTURE - The Xero Drop sole offers a non-elevated heel and is low-to-the-ground - this allows for proper posture, balance, and agility for all-round performance
- FLEX YOUR FEET, FEEL THE FLOOR - Our tire tread inspired patented 5.5mm FeelTrue sole strikes a balance between just-right protection and feedback - it delivers heel to toe cues to the brain for your...
Xero Shoes Men’s HFS Running Shoes – Zero Drop, Lightweight & Barefoot Feel – Reviews
I take it all back! (in the best way possible)
About a year ago, I posted a review of these shoes. High-level, my impressions were good; however, I found that, at least for my feet as they were at the time, these shoes did not work for me, primarily in the toebox area, which I found a little too shallow/narrow relative to this area in the other minimalist shoes I’d been kicking around in.Well, fast-forward to recently. I have made significant progress in strengthening my feet and getting my toes/body better aligned, particularly in improving the mobility of my big toes and gradually getting my feet to point straight ahead instead of curving inwards (which had been causing my outer toes to roll outwards). Whereas before, my curved feet were causing my big toes and the outer edges of my feet to struggle with these shoes in the midfoot/toebox areas, my feet are now much straighter and go right down the center of the shoes.Given that I’m starting to find “traditional” running shoes pretty cumbersome and restrictive – even lower-stack (20 – 24mm) zero-drop ones from some of the top brands – I decided on a whim to give these shoes another shot.Boy, am I glad I did.What a joy these shoes are to wear. I can’t exactly put my finger on where the difference in fit comes from vs. the last time I’d tried out a pair of these shoes, since I’m pretty sure nothing has changed in how these shoes are made, but it’s pretty drastic.Speaking to specific areas of the shoes that I dig the most (in no particular order),• Outsole – Super grippy; zero concerns about traction on any of my usual running surfaces, in dry or wet, including asphalt/concrete and small gravel (though the tread is thick enough that I could see being able to take these shoes on light trails with no worries)• Fit/Lockdown – Hands-down the most dialed-in, confidence-inspiring shoe I’ve worn to date; my feet stay perfectly centered in these shoes regardless of the level of turning/side-to-side movement, with no slop whatsoever• Flatness – Just like standing barefoot on a flat surface; a huge plus since my left foot is slightly narrower than my right foot (work in progress), which causes a noticeable difference in fit with shoes that are U-shaped inside• Comfort – Literally one of the most comfortable, “barely there”-level shoes I’ve ever worn, with just the right balance of padding to keep inside surfaces from rubbing my feet the wrong way while staying light and low-profile• Flexibility – The most flexible, accommodating shoe I own; factoring in the thin, protective layer that these shoes provide between my feet and the ground, I’m happy to report that my feet otherwise function 100% like they were barefoot in these shoes, which is something I’ve been unable to say about any other shoes I’ve worn to this point. These shoes also eschew a pesky “toe spring” (artificially curving up the front edge of a shoe), instead being flexible enough in the forefoot area to allow the big toes to function naturally.• Build quality – Top-notch materials and overall build quality; love the reflective bits for added safety in lower-light situationsSo, to those who read my previous review, please take it with a grain of salt. Our bodies are always in flux, and after the ongoing improvements made with mine over the last year, I’ll just say mine was much more ready for these shoes this time around than it was the last time I tried out a pair. Long story short, if ground feel and overall foot strength/mobility are your main focus, and you plan on doing more than just walking/standing, e.g. running/HIIT, look no further than the HFS. It’s a winner.
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2020
An almost perfect shoe
Xero attempts another running shoe. I switched to this shoe from the Vibram FF V-Run because the latter was giving me blisters. I now run with the Correct Toes toe spacers to keep my toes spread. All in all, I’m happy with the purchase.Pros:- It’s a Xero shoe. It’s zero drop, has a spacious toe box, a flexible sole, no arch support, and no toe spring. Xero doesn’t make pseudo-minimalist shoes: they go all the way.- It’s lightweight. Not quite as lightweight as the Lems Primal 2 or the Vibram V-Run, but still very light; lighter than the Prio.- It’s pretty! Most athletic shoes (including some Xero shoes) are downright ugly. I love how the Crimson Red color fades into blue in the back. The Glacial Blue looks nice as well. Although it’s a running shoe, I would feel comfortable wearing this at the gym or casually.- No blisters or hotspots. Massively better for my feet than the V-Run.- As a running shoe it’s competently designed. The sole travels up near the front of the toes, the toe protector extends over the big toe (good for durability), the sole treads are made for the pavement, and there are extra lace holes to make a runner’s loop.Cons:- As one other reviewer noted, the fit is poor. It feels loose around the heel. After comparing the shoe to other minimalist shoes (I own a few), the problem is that the shoe does not taper at the midfoot. Not a problem if you tie the laces tight, but it’s bad enough to knock a star off the rating.- The insoles slide back as I run. I suspect this is due to the poor fit. I now hold the insoles in place with double sided tape.- Finally, this shoe runs a little small. Maybe go up half a size if you consider purchasing.If Xero ever makes an HFS v2 I hope they fix the fit. Otherwise, it’s still a great shoe that I enjoy running in.
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2020
Not for me; no response from company/money wasted
I really liked these shoes when I first got them- they seemed to fit perfectly and felt nice on my feet for the first two or three weeks. However, the insole on the right shoe began slipping. I contacted the company with an email to support for a new insole or possibly a replacement shoe within the allotted time for returning the product and received no response. Following several days with no response, I called support and reiterated my concerns (the return window by this time had closed according to Amazon). Again- no response.I tried wearing the shoes occasionally anyway but began suffering pains in my left arch when I had them on, so I have completely stopped wearing them and no longer have those pains. A real shame- at first they seemed to be such a good product.I wish I could say good things, but due to the many issues I had and the lack of response by the company’s support team-would not recommend.Another note to buyers- as the soles are very thin these shoes get very uncomfortably hot in a short period of time in places with scorching temps and endless sun (aka, my experience walking in them on sidewalks in the Arizona Valley in summer). This did not appear to deform the shoe at all, but it TRULY felt like I was walking barefoot on the scorching sidewalk- and not in a good way.
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2020
- SHAPED FOR COMFORT, BUILT FOR SPEED - Xero HFS features a lightweight, minimalist build that contours to the shape of your feet. Its spacious toe-box allows you to splay, spread, and relax your toes...
- XERO DROP SOLE FOR PERFECT POSTURE - The Xero Drop sole offers a non-elevated heel and is low-to-the-ground - this allows for proper posture, balance, and agility for all-round performance
- FLEX YOUR FEET, FEEL THE FLOOR - Our tire tread inspired patented 5.5mm FeelTrue sole strikes a balance between just-right protection and feedback - it delivers heel to toe cues to the brain for your...
Xero Shoes Men’s HFS Running Shoes – Zero Drop, Lightweight & Barefoot Feel – FAQ
Can these work on light trails (gravel, dirt, mud)?
Not really. Unless you like to defy convention. These are very breathable, which means pourous. On dirt trails, I get a lot of sand in them. Does not impair your running, but expect to have dirty feet. Mud is not your friend in these shoes. Given these are barefoot running shoes, gravel if varying sizes you are going to feel them. I rain a half marathon trail run, first 250 meters was gypsum rock gravel. That hurt, had to come back through it on the return as well. Beat my feet up pretty well at the start, and was punishment on the return. The dirt was hard pack on most of the trail, but with portuding but difficult to see, rocks hitting midfoot would get your attention given there is no rock plate, not that a rock plate was needed on this moderate trail run, just some deformation a cushioned shoe could better compensate for. There were some steep ascent and descents. With my fit, the shoes are not great in terms of lock down in the shoe, so your foot may more around inside the shoe in contrast to your intent on complex terrain. The traction is very limited in the dry when ascending and descending. It’s not a trail specific shoe, so no soft rubber to form around or stick to the terrain. It was fun, but the aftermath wasn’t. Blood busters, neuroma. I was pretty beat up. Mind you, I run in the shoes all the time in flat trails, very fine gravel,. These trails have more in common with road running than a trail run. Think dirt road vs paved as opposed to a trail. Still a great shoe to have in your inventory, not expensive, you can test their limits and use them where appropriate. Hope this helps.
Could anyone who owns both this shoe and the prio tell me if this shoe has a little more cushion in it?
Hello! Thank you for your interest in Xero Shoes! All of our shoes and sandals are designed to allow the foot to move, bend and flex naturally. This means that there is no arch support, minimal if any cushioning and wider than average forefoot to allow for toe splay. Our main concept is to allow you to move naturally, as if you were barefoot, but with protection! Neither the Prio nor the HFS are equipped with any cushioning however you may find the sole of the HFS to be more flexible than the Prio. The Prio actually has a little more padding in the upper than the HFS. Please let us know if you have any more questions!
All running shoes. I can’t run. I walk for my health. Where are your walking shoes??
I can’t run. I walk. Flexibility and zero drop are in my opinion keys to good function. These are great, I have several different ones. I do use a dark blue cushioning insole because my feet are pretty bony, there’s plenty of room for them. Don’t need walking shoes. Which are almost all stiff and with too much height on heel.
I’d like to make sure these shoes do not have arch support? i bought xero genesis and i am sold. i feel like i’m getting my feet back.
I don’t know about the genesis, but I have the Xero HFS and they do not have an arch support. Like all/most running shoes there i is a removable sock liner that is slighly raised in the arch. but it has no support and is very tbhin. I think it there just to fit the contour of the shoe to the arch properly. It’s removable and I’ve removed them in other running shoes, but I always put them back in. I find that it somehow helps tiny pebbles from becoming as aggravating as they are withougtit. and after awhile if I take one out there is always some road trash under them.
Is it still comfortable to walk heel to toe? Or is it best to walk like barefoot toe to heel in the shoes?
You probably could, but I find it more comfortable walking with a mid foot landing. However, if you walk on roads or sidewalks that have aggregate in the surface you will feel those gravels through the shoes because there is ZERO cushioning in the sole.
When will you have “black” xero shoes men’s hfs running shoes size 15 in stock???? i purchased 3 other pairs and want them in black!
We’re anticipating a restock towards the end of next month if all goes according to plan.
How much does each shoe weigh, in ounces or grams? (Please state the size.)
Great question! A men’s 9 weighs 7.4oz per shoe. A women’s 9 weighs 5.9oz per shoe.
How many miles do them last? Will I need to replace them after 300-400 miles as standard running shoes?
The sole has a 5000 mile warranty. The upper prob won’t last that long but they will last a lot longer than conventional running shoes. You won’t be disappointed
Is the pewter color shoe more of a brown color or a gray color? It looks brown to me in the picture. Thanks!
Hello, The Pewter is much closer to a gray color than a brown color. The mesh can appear more brown in photos depending on your display but in real life it looks much more gray. Hope that helps!
- SHAPED FOR COMFORT, BUILT FOR SPEED - Xero HFS features a lightweight, minimalist build that contours to the shape of your feet. Its spacious toe-box allows you to splay, spread, and relax your toes...
- XERO DROP SOLE FOR PERFECT POSTURE - The Xero Drop sole offers a non-elevated heel and is low-to-the-ground - this allows for proper posture, balance, and agility for all-round performance
- FLEX YOUR FEET, FEEL THE FLOOR - Our tire tread inspired patented 5.5mm FeelTrue sole strikes a balance between just-right protection and feedback - it delivers heel to toe cues to the brain for your...
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