I’m not huge into barefoot running. I am a minimalist when it comes to gear and packing, especially when trying to cover 100km in 4 days on La Cloche Silhouette Trail. Thus, I wanted a pair of barefoot sandals I could ease into barefoot running with, as well as hopefully use as light hiking and camp shoes in the future. After too much research, I landed on the Xero Shoes Z-Trail, and here is my absolutely unbiased and truthful review!
Xero Shoes Z-Trail Overview
Product:Xero Shoes Z-Trail Sandal
Rating out of 5:3
Would I buy this again:No
Price:$120 CAD
I own and have loved my pair of Chaco Z/Volv sandals, which I will review soon too. For an upcoming trip to Portugal on The Fishermen’s Trail, however, I wanted a pair that was light and would take me effortlessly over kilometres of sand. I bought the Xero Shoes Z-Trail after weeks of furious research on the barefoot movement and the seemingly endless options for my first pair of barefoot sandals. Here were my requirements:
- No toe strap (sandals and socks are important)
- Less than $150CAD… they’re sandals, after all!!
With that criteria, I was left with the Unshoes Pah Tempe 2.0, the Unshoes PT Sleek 2.0, the Xero Z-Trek, and the Xero Z-Trail. Unshoes has an awesome customization process where you can create a custom sandal to your foot shape – this was incredibly appealing as I have flat, narrow feet. The problem, however, was the shipping and cost. Living in Toronto, Xero shoes are available atCool East Market and that was convincing enough. So, I biked down to the little store and had a lovely interaction with the lady on site and purchased my pair of Z-Trail sandals. I was thinking of the Z-Treks until I felt and saw them in person: the Z-Trail has a layer of “BareFoam” that is soft and slightly cushioned, making it significantly more comfortable off the shelf. So, off I went in my new pair of sandals.
First Impressions: Not a Good Start
They’re comfortable as soon as you put them on, and are easy (ish) to adjust. Unlike Chacos, the webbing doesn’t go through the sole so it never gets quite as stuck. I left the store, started biking, and got about 10 minutes into the ride when I decided the right shoe needed to be tightened some more. So, I bent down, pulled the webbing that runs diagonally across the foot, and lo and behold: the shoe broke. The rubber piece that holds the webbing right by your pinky toe snapped in two (seen below), leaving the shoe utterly useless. Imagine if I had tried to use these to cycle the length of Vietnam, or even just to bike to Niagara Falls from Toronto!!
I put the my Chacos back on and biked right back to the store. The woman was apologetic and accommodating, offering a refund or a new pair, noting that this was unusual. I was pissed but not bitter and had mentally committed to the shoe so left yet again with a new pair of Z-Trails. This time, I made it all the way home without incident.
Pros
After the initial disappointment from the first pair that immediately broke, I was determined to give it a proper chance. I have gone on a number of 8km runs in the shoes, experiencing general satisfaction and no major problems. The soles are grippy and robust, and come with a 5,000 mile warranty.
The shoes are unbelievably lightweight and packable, especially when compared with my Chacos. I experienced little slipping around, and found one small part that was rubbing (mostly due to strap adjustments). I started wearing them to the gym for a bit as well, which was actually rather comfortable and airy.
Cons
I’m not sure why, but the strap that runs across the toes is definitely too low. Instead of covering the foot, the strap covers a lot of the toes, making it way less breathable and comfortable. Perhaps this was for added stability and reduced slippage, but it just does not feel good at all. My toes need air!!
The second and most significant setback is how difficult they are to put on and take off. Unlike Chacos that can be loosened in one fluid motion with hand by simply loosening the top buckle, the Xero Shoes Z-Trail requires two hands and careful threading to take off. Where my Chacos are almost slip-on, the Xero Z-Trail is much more involved.
Final Thoughts: It Will Do…
After a number of runs and workouts in the Z-Trail, I did end up taking them to Portugal for the Fishermen’s Trail. I had intended to wear them while hiking, but brought a pair of running shoes as a backup as well. Alas, the Xero Shoes Z-Trail would only carry me 2 of the 6 days spent hiking as sand was made worse in the sandals. With the sandals, each step would be on the rough sand that was accumulating between the soles of my feet and the platform of the shoe. This was far from ideal. Of course, this isn’t the fault of the shoes, but was still too bad. I put up with it for two days before finishing the rest of the trail in my trusty and oh-so-comfortable running shoes. The Z-Trail most certainly does not make my list of My 6 Essential Hiking Gear Items.
In conclusion, I think these shoes will serve the following purposes:
- Camp and river crossing shoes for camping, hiking, and canoe trips (they would be GREAT for river crossings on The Fundy Circuit)
- Home and/or gym workouts
So if you’re looking for a lightweight camp shoe that has great tread and light weight, this is absolutely an option for you. If you’re a barefoot ultra-marathoner, I’m sorry I can’t comment on its performance for that purpose. I do think I would have been happier with the Unshoes PT Sleek 2.0, but I do love the light weight of my new Z-Trails. Have you tried barefoot running or barefoot sandals? What was your experience?
