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With my experience in fitness, whether it was weight lifting, running or calisthenics, I would often get caught in my routines. I know I’m not alone in this situation, as it is a constant complaint for anyone who finds themselves in the gym more than twice a week.  Change in the gym is never a bad thing. It helps keep workouts fresh, it keeps your mind fresh and it gives your body a chance to do something new and shock the muscles. One thing that is extremely important to me, no matter what type of exercise it is, is my footwear.

I was presented with an opportunity to test out the Prio running and fitness shoe by Xero Shoes. I had never seen this shoe before and I love trying new things, so right away I was looking forward to giving it a go. Xero Shoes are a minimalist style shoe that have many different options for every activity the day brings. I have used mine now for a number of different activities from calisthenics indoors and outdoors, to weight training in the gym, to indoor rock climbing. So far, my experience has been very positive.

There’s a lot of great qualities that this shoe has to offer. It’s extremely lightweight, remarkably breathable, flexible, and my favorite attribute: it has a real natural fit, mainly around the toes. The front of the shoe has a wide toe box that allows for your toes to have room to move around and stretch. With a lot of running shoes, the toes get bunched up and can tend to squish together, making it a little uncomfortable.

Now with the name like Xero, you can also expect them to have zero drop, meaning your heals won’t be elevated compared to your toes, giving you a much better posture. One of the big reasons why this is personally important for me is because I frequently perform olympic style weight lifting. When doing exercises such as any type of deadlift or squat, I always had to take my shoes off in the gym to make sure that the extra heal support in my normal gym shoes didn’t ruin my posture.

I have used other minimalist shoes in the past that have also performed well in the gym, but still had just a little bit too much elevation in the heal which forced me to drive with the ball of my foot instead of the heals. When I heard about Xero’s stylized Prio shoes, I immediately knew I had to put it to the test. Because of the versatility this shoe provides, I can move throughout my workouts without having to worry about taking my shoes off in between sets, or change them to other styles on, which pushes me to break up my routines a bit more.

I was really curious to see how the Prio held up in comparison to my past experiences and I was actually surprised to see that I wasn’t disappointed. They have a true zero feel to them, making it feel that I was actually barefoot on the floor. Next to that, wearing them for when I run and climb have been a very comfortable experience. They remain just flexible enough, while holding up their structural integrity.

Overall, I have been really happy with the way they perform. I would greatly recommend these shoes to all athletes regardless of what your sport of choice is. Truth be told, I even enjoyed wearing them during travel—proving their athletic style is versatile enough for every day use as well. For everyone who is interested in getting their feet in a shoe that will fit their everyday training cycle, the Prio running and fitness would be a great choice.

Comfortability: 5/5 Stars

• One thing to note is that these are great during training, but my feet did get sore after wearing them for an all day event. Great for exercise, but maybe go for something with more padding if you’re on your feet a lot for most of the day.

Price: 4/5 Stars

• Compared to other minimalist shoes, they sit pretty close to the middle.

Style: 4/5 Stars

• The Prio has a great look to them that also comes with great functionality. Right now they only come in 2 different colors, so I do hope that more are offered in the future.

Durability: 5/5 Stars

– These shoes have been made to be put to the test. With the amount of flexibility they have, they’ve been able to withstand a lot of different movements. They also are made with a dual chevron design on the sole that offers great traction and is also backed with a 5,000 mile warranty.

Stability: 5/5 Stars

– The Prio also comes with a Huarache inspired heel strap that can be adjusted to your comfort, as well as adjustable instep straps to tighten up along the top of your foot without creating any restriction for your toes. These straps are also reflective for when you are running at night.

Material Disclosure

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product. No commission was received for this review, although we are bound by Xero’s updated Terms and Conditions to disclose that we could for reviews.