Xero Shoes Prio: Initial Thoughts

"Wait, am I even wearing shoes?" This is the highest praise for a minimalist shoe to receive...and I thought that more than once today.

Ya'll know that when it comes to shoes, I apply the #lessismore philosophy. Through science and personal experience I have found that a less restricted foot is a happier foot and that happy feet promote a happier more capable body. But diving into that soapbox is another post for another time, because today I am giving my initial reactions to the Xero Shoes' Prio.

The Prio is billed as a minimalist fitness all-arounder and thus far, I think Xero Shoes has really created something special!

Note: This assessment comes after a Whim Day obstacle course based session at BAREfit followed by some extra natural movement play.

Design & Performance

This is just a really well designed and thought out shoe created by folk who really get what a barefoot fitness shoe should be. It's super light weight and flexible, allowing my feet to move and splay naturally while not feeling weighed down. The sole and removable insole give just the right amount of cush to absorb the shock of box jumps etc. while still offering good ground feel. This is a hard balance to strike as many shoes I've worn either provide no cushion, making higher impact movements unpleasant, or add too much cushion hindering balance, ground feel and natural movement. In addition, the sole is grippy, without being sticky. My footing felt solid on all the gym's wood, metal, rubber and concrete surfaces, staying rooted when needed and sliding/pivoting on demand. The flexibility of the sole added to the grip as it conformed to the contours of both the surface and my foot. The hurache style heel strap adds extra security and flare to an otherwise standard lacing system. The upper is a combination of mesh and synthetic leather, striking a good balance between high breathability and increased durability in high wear areas. The "leather" has a nice tack to it too, aiding in climbing, crawling and traversing obstacles. They have a solid low key style that fits both gym and bar vibes.

Fit

All the above would be for naught if the Prio didn't fit well, fortunately Xero really nailed this aspect too! I have rather difficult feet when it comes to finding a well fitting shoe. My forefeet are wide, and have only gotten more so as I've taken to wearing huraches 80% of the time. My little toes especially, get cramped and irritated, even by many "wide" shoes. I can usually tell within 5 minutes of wear this will be an issue. At no point during the hour long session, or the 2+ hours of play that followed, did my toes feel cramped or irritated. They were able to flex, spread, extend and generally move freely. At the same time, the Prios felt very secure, especially compared to other wide toe box shoes (looking at you Altra) that just feel sloppy, even with the laces cranked all the way down. The heel strap also added to this security.

I will say though, that I had to size up. Normally I wear a 10/10.5 in shoes and according to the Xero size charts, I was a 10.5. Though when they arrived, the fit was too small, toes pressing against the end etc. I'm actually kinda glad this happened though, because I got to experience Xero Shoes' baller customer service first hand. My email about the sizing was answered by Steven, the company's CEO, in like 15 minutes (#truestory) and my 11's were on their way the next day along with a free return shipping label.

Conclusion

In my short time spent with them, the Prios are proving to be a stellar natural movement training shoe. I've worn a lot of shoes, sandals, and lack thereof over my past 10+ years of coaching and these might just be my favorite.

I'm excited to see how they hold up long term and perform outside of the gym for the likes of trail running, bike commuting and general adventuring.

Of course, stay tuned for more homies.

To grab your own, hit up their website at https://xeroshoes.com/go/Captcurtis