Xero Shoes Mesa Trail II

Product Information

Perhaps it’s important to point out that the marks I’ve given this shoe are a little bit lower simply because there’s not a lot to mark. I achieved the rest of my miles while trail running. On these runs, I often carried 10 lb (5 kgs) of water and food. Fast forward a few years and now everything has to be categorised, so we have minimalist and maximalist shoes.

The Mesa Trail ( men’s and women’s) looks somewhat similar to the Lems Primal 2 or a pair of Merrell Vapor Gloves, but with lugs and lateral support. There’s a bit of the goofy pill shape some of these low-cut and wider shoes have, but the style is much better than a shoe with five toes or an overbuilt, energy-swallowing marshmallow shoe — and the lugs have some muscle!

Introduction 👟

The TerraFlex is a heavier, more solidly constructed shoe, with heavier mesh and a higher content of non-mesh components. One would assume this would make for a more durable shoe - but to be fair, I haven’t subjected the TerraFlex to the same amount of miles as the Mesa Trails. My preference is always the undulating wave laces some shoes use but these do work, even if they feel kind of nerdy. Removable Insole The durability in these minimalist trail runners is quite impressive - especially for their weight. The Xero Mesa Trail could be described as a shoe without cushioning. It’s simply an upper with a sole, as simple as that. The first aspect to like about the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail is its upper construction. This model features a huarache-inspired design with a layered breathable mesh upper. Throughout the toe and midfoot there are additional layers of material to protect the shoe from early breakdown.

The Mesa Trail isn’t perfect, but there also isn’t much not to like about it. I’m keeping these in my training toolbox.The best barefoot running shoes – or best natural running shoes / best minimal running shoes, according to your preferred terminology – share certain very specific characteristics, yet, as evidenced here, they can also look very different to one another.

Tested: Size up one-half size if your feet run slightly long for your normal size. Use standard sizing-up procedures to account for foot swellings on long hikes. The lugs on this shoe are unobtrusive and provide a great balance of grip and ground feel, unlike the more cushioned trail shoes. Xero Shoes reached out to me years ago to see if I might be interested in reviewing some barefoot running sandals. This was around the time Born to Run was trending and popular shoe makers like New Balance were experimenting with minimalist shoes. Xero Shoes founder Steven Sashen had recently been on Shark Tank. Since then, maximalist shoes like Hokas and Fresh Foam have flooded the running shoe market, and minimalism has faded with some manufacturers, but not Xero Shoes! The toe box is lovely and wide, allowing the wearer plenty of room to spread their toes and really feel the terrain.Yes, you can lift in the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail. You’ll likely notice the lugs on this model when lifting, but I don’t think it will be to a point in which your performance will be hindered. Final Thoughts My testing occurred in the Lake Tahoe area of the Sierra Nevada, at altitudes ranging from 6,500 ft to 10,000 ft (1,981 m to 3,048 m). To ensure a proper fit, go ½ a size larger! Even Xero Shoes suggests you buy ½ a size larger than your normal shoe size. Sometimes Xero Shoes have these inconstancies, but don’t fret too much with the sizing. When you buy direct from Xero Shoes, they offer free exchanges, to make sure you’re 100% happy. Increasing mileage slowly and listening to your body are paramount when pushing distance in this shoe, especially if you're new to the zero drop minimalist category. Multisurface performance