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.

If I had just one word to describe Xero shoes new trail shoe the Terraflex it would be versatile.  Built on the platform of the popular Prio, Xero added a lugged sole for better grip, 3mm of Barefoam™ for extra comfort and a Tough Tek toe bumper for added protection.  It’s marketed as a running/hiking shoe and works equally well for both activities with just enough tread to bite into soft surfaces but not be awkward on harder surfaces. It has a tough durable rubber sole that offers just enough protection without being too heavy, and it’s low profile and natural foot shape make it steady not only on uneven terrain but also for a variety of gym exercises as well.  Being a minimal shoe by design cushion is not a priority but it still provides a comfortable run on just about any surface.  It packs down to nothing so it is great for travel and its ability to handle any surface or activity eliminates the need to pack along a whole arsenal of footwear.  It doesn’t look bad with jeans or shorts either!

The Tech Sheet:

Natural FIT — A wide toe box lets your toes spread and relax. Plus the “XERO-drop” sole (non-elevated heel and low-to-the ground) allows for proper posture, balance and agility

Natural MOTION — The TerraFlex is flexible enough to let your feet bend, move, and flex the way, well, that feet are supposed to. Plus, they’re so light weight, you’ll barely know you have them on. A men’s 9 is only 9.6 ounces each

Natural FEEL — The TerraFlex uses our FeelTrue® rubber with an removable 2mm insole, to let you Feel The World®

Vegan friendly materials — No animal products in the TerraFlex

Huarache inspired design — The heel strap is not only eye-catching but functional

Adjustable instep strap — The “inverted V” straps aren’t sewn down, so you can use them to lock in your instep while keeping your toes free to move

Reflective straps — That middle section of the heel and instep straps is highly reflective for evenings and night

Removable 2mm insole — For a more “barefoot” feeling, you can remove the optional 2mm insole

Barefoot friendly — Wear the TerraFlex with or without socks

5,000 mile sole warranty — like ALL our FeelTrue®

My personal experience:

I love the versatility of this shoe.  I did several runs it on varying terrain, hit the gym, wore it to the playground with the kids, hiked, climbed and was comfortable in all these activities.  The step in feel of this shoe is great, it has a natural shape so your toes can move but it’s not sloppy on the foot.  Underfoot it’s a solid platform and Xero really hit the outdoor all-purpose nail on the head with the lugs on these.  Large enough to shred some mud and soft surfaces, but not overly aggressive that you lose surface area or proprioception on slick-rock or boulders.  You can also hit the road without having the feeling that your lugging mud tires around on your feet.  They are a minimal shoe so you will feel the ground, and my feet were a little sore after running some rough rocky terrain, especially with steep descents and loose rocks but compared to other minimal shoes the protection was more than adequate.  They are a little bit too heavy for me to use as a racing shoe for trails or OCR but compared to lighter weight racing shoes they definitely seem to be more durable so I look forward to getting a lot more quality use out of them.

Final Assessment:

Step in feel – 5/5

Grip – 5/5

Weight 4/5

Ride – 5/5

Total: 19/20

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