Xero HFS II Review: Keeping Minimalism Alive
By Matthew Klein
Xero HFS IIPrice: $119.99 at Xero Shoes
Weight: 7.4 oz, 209.8 g (men's size 9), 5.9 oz, 167.3 g (women's size 8) Measured Weights: 8.8 oz (Men's size 10)
Stack Height: 12 mm / 12 mm with insole (7mm midsole + 1.5 mm non-woven strobel sheet + 3.5 mm removable sockliner)
Drop: 0 mm
Classification: Minimalist Road Running Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Xero HFS II is a highly flexible, minimal, barefoot inspire shoe for road and some mild off-road running. A new upper provides solid security through the midfoot with a wider, anatomic toe box and fit. A thin but protective midsole is highly flexible and provides solid ground feel without being too bare bones. A new outsole provides better traction on a great variety of surfaces, making the Xero HFS II a great option for those looking for a minimalist running/training shoe that can handle more than just road running.
SIMILAR SHOES: Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III
PAST MODE: Xero HFS I
FIT
The Xero HFS II fits me true to size in my normal men's US size 10. Initially they felt slightly short due to the light toe guard, but this sensation went away quickly. The forefoot features a wide, anatomic foot for plenty of toe splay. The midfoot fits normally and I did not have to lace lock or tighten down the laces. The tongue is free-floating, moderately thick and did not slip. The heel fits normally with mild heel collar padding and no heel counter. There is some stitching and material in the heel to give it structure, but those with heel sensitivities will have no issues with this shoe. The security is surprisingly good for a minimal shoe with a wider toebox. The midfoot overlays are thicker than the last version and do a great job of locking the foot down without being overbearing. I have done a variety of activities in this shoe and not had major slippage even when doing lateral movements.
I have run plenty of miles sockless in these and not had any issues. I have not done longer miles sockless, so someone else will have to comment on that. However, for the majority of running and daily activities, the fit of these has been awesome for those wanting an anatomic but secure fit.
PERFORMANCE
The HFS II is a highly flexible shoe with a minimal ride. There is 9mm of stack height underfoot, which provides a little protection without muting ground feel. This is a little more than the previous version and I have had better experiences dealing with rocks and other hazards, although you will still have to tread carefully. As a barefoot/minimal shoe, there is a 0mm heel drop. This is noticeable but not aggressive like other highly cushioned zero drop shoes due to there being no midsole compression which keeps the drop consistent (which can change the drop of a zero drop shoe depending on where you land). Despite being a minimal shoe, there is still protection that is evident while walking. I have spent 8-10 hour days on hard hospital and university floors with issue or irritation. I have also run on sidewalks and not come away with overly beat-up feet, although I have kept mileage to 1-2 miles max per run (for my body). The midsole flexes in all directions, making for a natural heel transition and forefoot flex. With the minimally inspired design, this shoe is better for shorter miles, walking and other activities like weight lifting. Among minimal shoes, these are more likely to be training/workout shoes rather than racers. The newest version weighs in at 8.8 ounces for my size 10, a 0.8 ounce increase compared to my HFS I. While not a major deal as I do not do speed work in these (I prefer true racing flats), they are still light enough to do a variety of things in. The new outsole does allow additional versatility onto softer surfaces thanks to improved tread. However, those who want a true minimal trail shoe should check out the Xero Scrambler Low (review soon).
As expected with a Xero Shoe, the outsole has zero wear after 20 miles of running and countless days of walking additional mileage. I had well over 100-200 miles of locomotion in my previous pair (over a year of use) with no wear and expect exactly the same. So those wanting a durable minimal/barefoot-inspired shoe will enjoy the Xero HFS II.
STABILITY
The Xero HFS II is a minimal shoe with no methods of stability. There are no sidewalls to the shoe, no guidance lines, no specific areas of stiffness and no guidance elements. The one nice thing is that the midfoot is not overly tapered, which provides solid contact with the ground. Even with a 9mm drop midsole, having the midfoot cut out can still feel awkward for those of us who do collapse (and again, pronation is a normal movement and method of shock absorption if you have adequate control of it... like any movement). If you are sensitive to any form of stability or guidance, this is a perfect shoe for your. If you have significant stability needs, this either may not be appropriate for you or will be something to ease into to see if your body can tolerate it.
Thoughts as a DPT: Evidence-Based Benefits and Who May Benefit from Minimal Shoes
By Matthew Klein
Like the barefoot running craze, there continues to be misinformation regarding the true benefits and risks of running barefoot. There is currently no evidence that suggests running in traditional shoes weakens your feet. There is also no evidence that running in maximalist shoes weakens your feet. They simply encourage you to run in ways that require more muscular work elsewhere and you get used to that. However, there is initial evidence to suggest walking and running in minimalist shoes can increase the size (hypertrophy) of the intrinsic foot muscles beyond normal (Ridge et al., 2018). This does not necessarily mean your feet are weak, but that they will get stronger beyond "normal" because there is more demanded of them in minimalist shoes.
There is also no evidence that suggests there is a higher or lower injury risk in minimalist shoes compared to traditional or even maximalist running shoes (Grier et al., 2016; Malisoux & Theisen, 2020). The injury rates are not different but the types are different. Those who tend to run in minimalist shoes suffer more bone stress-related injuries (stress fractures, etc) and musculotendinous strains of foot/ankle muscles, while those in traditional shoes tend to have injuries more commonly higher up the leg (knee/hip).
Our greatest suggestion from this is that these shoes are tools. Different people will be able to tolerate these tools differently. If you have plenty of minimal running experience, have good calf strength, ankle mobility and balance/proprioception, then you will be able to tolerate more minimal running. Most people will benefit from spending some time in a minimal shoe, be it walking or brief running, to improve intrinsic foot strength. How much is necessary to get that benefit will depend on the person. It may be a good idea to spend some time in these shoe types (if you do not have major injuries or issues that prevent you from doing so) if you spend a ton of time in maximalist shoes just to balance out what areas of your body are used to working most. This does not necessarily mean running as walking has been shown to be just as effective. These are tools that different people will be able to tolerate, so understanding how they work, who they might work best for and when they might work best are critical questions to ask about each individual.
References
Ridge, S. T., Olsen, M. T., Bruening, D. A., Jurgensmeier, K., Griffin, D., Davis, I. S., & Johnson, A. W. (2018). Walking in minimalist shoes is effective for strengthening foot muscles. Faculty Publications. 3159.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The HFS II, like the HFS I, is my go-to all-day shoe. I have enjoyed these for their wider toe box, anatomic fit, solid security and having just enough cushioning while maintaining a high level of flexibility. The durability is awesome and the level of flexibility is exactly what I would want in a minimal shoe. The improved midfoot security is also a great step in the right direction and as mentioned I have had zero issues during movements in a variety of planes of motion. My only major gripe is the weight. My size 10 weighs 8.8 ounces, up from the 8.0 ounces of the original. I can understand that having a durable shoe requires some weight. The upper, midsole and outsole will last forever on these. If that is the necessary sacrifice for that, then I will accept this. However, this is so much less shoe here than others on the market that still weigh far less, even maximalist racing shoes. So my challenge moving forward with Xero Shoes is to focus on making these lighter. With so little cushioning, weight is the primary factor that will effect running efficiency with these shoes. The lighter you get these, the more truly "minimal" and "barefoot" these will become.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The Xero HFS II is for those who want a barefoot-inspired/minimalist shoe with a highly flexible sole, a little more protection and traction than the previous version and an anatomic that works for running and all day wear. The newest version can handle a greater variety of terrain and gym/athletic activities thanks to an improved outsole and upper security. The improved security does come at a weight cost, although it is still light. This will be a walking/foot strengthening tool for most people while seasoned barefoot/minimal runners will be able to enjoy decent mileage in them. Most people will need to ease into this and work on their ankle mobility, toe mobility, balance and calf strength while transitioning. Others may continue to use this as a great protective tool for barefoot strides and shorter runs. My only challenge to Xero is to think about dropping the weight and the price given how little shoe there is. However, given the durability of both the upper and sole, the trade-off and price might be worth it.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: A- (True to size although initially felt short, anatomic fit. Improved midfoot security and solid lockdown)
Performance: B (Rationale for grade)
Stability: N/A (Not applicable as this is a barefoot/minimalist shoe)
DPT/Footwear Science: B (Nothing major or earth-shattering. Continues to be a highly durable minimalist shoe. A little disappointed with weight gain for a shoe with so little there.)
Personal: A- (Like the last version, still my go to for non-running activities. Careful practice has allowed me more frequent miles in these, but not something I can tolerate longer mileage in)
Overall: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORXero HFS IIPrice: $119.99 at Xero Shoes
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Adidas Prime X 2 Strung - Adidas stablizes the 50mm trainer greatly for a universal experience
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