Steve W.
Level 8 Valued Member
@Steve Freides
I wear Xero Shoes more than often than not and have several different models. The Prio is by far my LEAST favorite. I have the same issue with a sloppy-feeling fit, the sole is not very grippy and they feel "slappy" (like it's hard to avoid my feet slapping against the ground on each step).
However, I quite like the Speed Force, the HFS and the Terraflex. The Speed Force is the most minimal, the HFS is a nice all around shoe that would work for running or KB training. The Terraflex is like a beefier Prio, with a grippier lugged sole, and I find it just fits, feels and works much better than the Prio. I also like the Mesa Trail, which is like a beefier version of the HFS, designed for trails, but I'm not crazy about the colors (I tend to only go for black on black or black and gray).
A couple of people have mentioned Altras. If you want minimal, Altras ain't it. They are zero drop and have wide toe boxes (although they are snug around the instep), but have quite a lot of cushioning. My wife describes them as being like walking barefoot on a foam mat, which she means in a good way. I like my Altra Lone Peaks and wear them when I want a cushioned shoe, but as I said, they are far from minimalist.
I wear Xero Shoes more than often than not and have several different models. The Prio is by far my LEAST favorite. I have the same issue with a sloppy-feeling fit, the sole is not very grippy and they feel "slappy" (like it's hard to avoid my feet slapping against the ground on each step).
However, I quite like the Speed Force, the HFS and the Terraflex. The Speed Force is the most minimal, the HFS is a nice all around shoe that would work for running or KB training. The Terraflex is like a beefier Prio, with a grippier lugged sole, and I find it just fits, feels and works much better than the Prio. I also like the Mesa Trail, which is like a beefier version of the HFS, designed for trails, but I'm not crazy about the colors (I tend to only go for black on black or black and gray).
A couple of people have mentioned Altras. If you want minimal, Altras ain't it. They are zero drop and have wide toe boxes (although they are snug around the instep), but have quite a lot of cushioning. My wife describes them as being like walking barefoot on a foam mat, which she means in a good way. I like my Altra Lone Peaks and wear them when I want a cushioned shoe, but as I said, they are far from minimalist.