No laces to tie. No upper to protect my toes. Just a 6mm buffer between my skin and the ground. That was the proposition as I slipped a thin pad of rubber under my foot and went for a run.
Xero Shoes were invented by Boulder, Colo., resident Steven Sashen to mimic the old-school huaraches footwear worn by the Tarahumara of Copper Canyon, Mexico.
If you haven’t read Christopher McDougall’s book “Born To Run” the short story is that the Tarahumara are Native Americans renowned for their distance running prowess. The book, which lauds the benefits of barefoot-style running, was clearly influential in the proliferation of minimalist shoes.
The Xero sandals are at the extreme end of the “barefoot” footwear spectrum. They are light and flexible. They bend and curve over everything on the ground and transfer that shape directly to the wearer’s foot.
The company tag line of “feel the world” is definitely apt.
Running in the sandals reminds me of streaking through the forest — it’s awesome, good fun, exhilarating and natural. . . until something goes horribly wrong.
I haven’t stubbed my toes too badly in the sandals yet. Given enough miles, I expect that an unpleasant foot-bashing will be inevitable.
Sashen said you learn to pick up your feet and watch where you step when wearing the sandals. I suspect he is right. These shoes train you to run more aware of what’s ahead.
Xero Shoes are very close to actually being barefoot and provide pretty much no support. I have strong feet and enjoy the sensation but also note each pebble and root that I cross.
Because of the sensitivity, the Xero Shoes can be a training tool for runners who want to improve their form and encourage a mid-foot stride. They are by no means everyday training shoes, though.
