Make no mistake - these are minimalist shoes with only a 10 mm stack height (not counting the 3.5 mm lugs). I've worn them with both casual shorts and pants on different occasions and the black color blends in and matches quite easily. Just wondering how they would do hiking day after day. I called Xero asking if thats normal and the girl, who sounded like she had limited customer service training, maybe a vacuous high school or college girl, could not give me a constructive answer. Xero US ship domestic and internationally at a fee. For the Terraflex, Ive managed to continue with a ripped forefoot, but the separation in the Mesa Trails meant I had to buy another pair. Both shoes use the Huarache-inspired design. Lots of grey on the shoes, would have liked to see more of the forest green. I believe if the insoles were better quality, this would not have been an issue. Shark Tank Pitch (I am super inspired by this video, so barefoot five to this power couple), Our minimalist designs use fewer materials than traditional shoes (especially the performance products), Our simpler designs, without midsole layers, require less energy to manufacture. Ive paired the Mesa Trails with waterproof socks for running and backpacking in the winter and early spring, and although they are functional for these kinds of trips, there are perhaps better options available. After 500 miles (805 km), this aspect of the shoe shows no signs of failure. Having flex like this gives your feet the freedom to move in their natural and full range of motion as you run. I also like the laces on the Mesa better, they are round laces as apposed to flat laces on the Lone Peak, and they aren't obscenely long like the Lone Peak. I also recently got Altra Superior 4my first nonminimalist shoe in two years. the lone peaks were quite comfortable, but i didn't get the performance out of them like i was hoping and would slip a bit going up moderately steep hills on even, packed dirt; they were as durable as they advertise, i got about 5-600 miles on those. The factories we use treat and pay their workers exceptionally well. This review of the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail will be a Limited Review. Welded components and more mesh make the Mesa Trail a lighter shoe. The upper is made up of vegan freindly abrasion-resistant material and moisture-wicking mesh. While those numbers arent bad for other brands, much of the shoe could have continued past this. What did you think? Some (but not all) of the links in this article may be affiliate links. Unrestricted access to all forums, plus the ability to post and start new threads. Coming in at $109.99, its relatively affordable for a running shoe, and for the mileage, I expect this shoe will go to, its a real bargain for the savvy trail runner. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. Theres not much heel or ankle support in the Xero Terraflex but its a minimal shoe so I wouldnt expect it. If youve read my reviews before, you might know that I like to perform a quick gait analysis of myself running in the shoes. The words lightweight and packable jumped off the page. After 4.5 months of trail running between 3-6hrs a week there are holes around the toes through the outer mesh, and now holes are appearing in the inner mesh too. You can expect some achiness in the arches, ankles, soles, calves, etc. For more information, please see our They give me enough cushioning that I don't have to overthink my form or the ground beneath me. I would recommend sizing up a half a size if looking at the US size option or just stick to the EU sizing for more accuracy. The shoes are relatively deep. It is soft, comfortable, and feels quite cushioned due to its foam sole. I long for the day I can get 1000 miles out of a lightweight, minimalist shoe. many (running) shoes have this, but in that case its the outsole. So if you have a low-volume foot, you should look at options like Vivobarefoot. Backcountry Tenkara Fishing, Read about our approach to journalistic integrity, product reviews, and affiliate marketing here. Horrible for walking. Altra Womens Vanish XC With only a few millimeters of stack height difference, youd expect the feel in both shoes to be similar. 1mm difference in the rubber outsole, 0.5mm difference in the lug length, and no difference in the 3mm foam. Weight: 11 oz If you have a foot thats wider from the heel through to the toes, give the TerraFlex a try. Because the Mesa Trail is aimed at the performance-based lightweight market, the thin materials mold perfectly around the foot, offering a sock-like feeling. Designed by Trail & Kale Creative Studios, TRAINING PLANS [5k, 10k, Half, Marathon, Ultra], Very Flexible Shoe allowing for full range of foot movement, Very Durable with grippy lugs (5000 mile sole warranty), Top pick for barefoot/minimal runners/hikers, Last Amazon price update was: 17th April 2023 7:01 pm. The flex in the Mesa Trails are the best Ive ever put on my feet. Which image closely resembles your foot arch? It means you wont find as much give in shoes if you have any pressure points, or at least itll take a while for the upper to give a little and mold to your foot shape. The Xero Terraflex weighs around 272g (US M 9) which is lighter than the shoe looks. These points sound bad, and I feel Xero Shoes could do better. Is it acceptable to have shoe breakdown so quickly? The toe bumper is not intended for hiking terrain. Stack height is 9mm - the sole is wide, flat. I'm a passionate hiker and educator based in the Pacific Northwest. No tears yet. The toe cap material separates very quickly. Very flexible, takes getting used to. NOBULL Knit Runner Review: Running Sneakers Or Better As A Workout Shoe For Cross-Training? The Mesa Trail is a truly minimalist shoe with no cushy foam padding or arch support. Still, its not quite as floppy and forgiving as some sandals or even the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail. I have the Xero Z-Trails and, while I like those sandals for everyday, they are not great for all/most hiking situations (grip, thin sole, need toe protection). The light reflectors are quite noticeable from all angles of the shoe. Thank you for your help. My feet feel lighter than air with nothing holding me down. The toebox materials and overlays are stiff and more durable than you may expect. If you're dead set on training your barefoot gait and know that the trails you hit are smooth and sandy, then the . The adjustable midfoot and instep straps hug this trail runner snugly to your foot. The toe-box allows my feet to splay, the mid-foot is also quite generous, and the shoe is suited for a foot with an average to slightly larger width and volume. You should probably suggest that Backpackinglight.com correct the incorrect teaser headline they used in their email to subscribers linking to your excellent review. The Terraflex also comes in a womens version so check them out in the Xero Shoes storeif youre interested. Theres nothing there. Unrestricted access to all 2,300+ articles, gear reviews, skills, stories, and more. Required fields are marked *. The Mesa Trail is wider than a conventional running shoe with a toe box that more accurately mimics the shape of your feet. We can see here that the Terraflex II acts more like the cushioned Superior. This failure occurred at the only spot on the front three-quarters of the shoe that doesnt have a welded covering marrying the sole and the mesh upper. Privacy Policy. I was honestly amazed at how perfectly the Mesa Trail fit my feet. You can find him onInstagram,Twitter, and at hiswebsite. I know, it sounds crazy, 1.5mm. Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); When wearing running shoes, do you have any recurring issues with the following area(s) of your foot? While Xero shoes arent the widest on the market, they are pretty voluminous and broader than other brands, such as Vivobarefoot. If I keep these shoes, I will probably replace them with some thinner, more user friendly laces. I get about 200 miles per pair of MT10s backpacking and trail running. I am an affiliate with Xeroshoes (links above) and may receive compensation for referrals, but ONLY because I already love their shoes. This recommendation is particularly true for people on a budget. To me, they are horrible for trail running if you truly like a minimalist shoe. Trail running in the Mesa Trail is an absolute dream. Knowing that youll be less likely to batter your feet at the end of a race or a long run is always a bonus. -Alastair. With Altras, it seems that having tactile feedback through the sole keeps me from committing all my weight before proceeding, so I don't think I've rolled my ankle once since using them. Once you practice barefoot running, or minimal running with the protection of a shoe like this, you wont have to rely on extra support because your feet should be stabilising you in the way that they have evolved to do so. MSRP: $100 Lugs dont seem to hold dirt/mud. I havent ruled them out, but Im keeping them indoors till I decide. How do the Xero Mesas compare to the Merrell Trail Gloves? Since the sole is quite thick it doesn't have the best ground-feel, however foot function isn't compromised whatsoever. Ive switched to Xero Mesas with Superfeet Trailblazer insoles. Your cadence should increase, to somewhere around 180 steps a minute and youll be using your calf muscles more. Aside from the size discrepancy, the overall shape of the shoes are similar. Both shoes utilize a 5 mm outsole, a 3 mm foam midsole, and a removable 2 mm insole. I measured the Lone Peak at 22oz for the pair, and the Mesa Trail at just under 16oz for the pair. @tjaard I havent noticed anything of that sort, but then again the terraflex doesnt bother me for walking either. Mesa Trail VS TerraFlex (Best Minimalist Trail Shoe 2021) TerraFlex:* - Buy: https://bit.ly/3fBvKtZ - Watch Solo Review: https://bit.ly/31voKGI Mesa Trail (pronounced \"may sa\" apparently) :*- Buy: https://bit.ly/2PHRl8Q - Watch Solo Review: Coming Soon___Full disclosure. Give yourself time to get used to using your muscles naturally, to relaxing, and to your gait changing. In matching the theme of the outsole, the upper is ideally suited to aggressive conditions. The shoe it self will never hold up long enough for the sole to get that many miles. Hey Todd, and receive 10% off our barefoot transition course. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Xero Terraflex is a barefoot style trail running shoe that can benefit your running technique in a multitude of ways. Lending to great protection. Impact force is the force exerted in a verticle direction when my foot first contacts the ground. The Terraflex II is made with durability and protection in mind, and the thick overlays contribute to a stiffer, more secure fit. The 5000 mile sole warranty doesnt matter when the sole isnt what wears out. I've bought a pair of the above to ease myself into eventually using more minimalist shoes while . But looking at the material used and how flat they lay against the shoe, I still think its improbable. The TerraFlex II is undoubtedly still a minimal shoe, with all the wonderful flexibility youd expect from a barefoot-like shoe. Press J to jump to the feed. I dont pretend to love them because Im an affiliate (as you can tell from other brutal reviews)___My go to MINIMALIST Shoe Companies (*Affiliate Links, I may receive compensation for referrals)Xeroshoes: https://bit.ly/3b9AlhP Earthrunners: https://bit.ly/2V6Fh1aVivobarefoot: http://tidd.ly/81506e15 ___Follow us on Social:https://www.instagram.com/movementtrainingco/ https://www.facebook.com/MovementTrainingCo/ Track: Move KV [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/mQm340YnF2wFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/move This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated. Be cautious if this is your first foray into minimalist shoes and start slowly. I can grab hold of the excess with a full grab. Be more. You did not feel cold? The colour of the mens Terraflex that I have is called Forest but they also come in Black. Sara did not feel there was enough room in the toe box area since hers felt a half size too small. Your request will be processed within 10 business days of receipt. I'm normally an EU42 or US8 in most brands. A generous amount of soft padding in the upper, in particular around the ankle - there is slightly less thickness on the tongue. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. MSRP: $80 Does the Terraflex have any water resistance that would keep my feet a little more dry? Whereas the Terraflex II fits true to size. Delivered weekly. We also have an on-the-ground manufacturing agent who oversees the factories when were not there to ensure that conditions are good, workers are treated fairly, and the shoes are made in compliance with all local laws and regulations. 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