Xero Shoes Mesa Trail II

Product Information

The hyper-agile Mesa Trail is the most footloose and fancy free shoe for trail running the brand has ever made. They’ve chosen a subtly foot-shaped last to build these on that will please most runners. The upper is soft and comfortable and the eyelet chain, a mixture of punched holes and webbing, does a great job of securing the mid-foot. It has a low-to-the-ground construction that is essentially a 5mm flexible rubber outsole, an interior 3mm foam layer and a 2mm insole (made from a closed-cell foam, which won’t gain weight when soaked) that’s cushy, breathable and removable. The strap design offers a snug yet supportive fit that can be fine-tuned for each run by tightening or loosening the tension in the laces. The forefoot and midfoot have plenty of room to flex without excess space. The Xero Mesa Trails WPs have such a low-slung collar, you don’t want to be running in anything other than the shallowest puddles, because water will find a way in (Image credit: Pat Kinsella) And in case it’s not clear, you should look elsewhere if you know you prefer a shoe with a substantial, more traditional midsole that absorbs impacts and makes the trail feel smoother than it is.

If you’re newer to barefoot shoes, then you’re going to want to ease into this style of footwear as you may find trails uncomfortable with super-thin barefoot shoes. Weak feet and legs from overbuilt shoes are still a problem, regardless of trends towards mega shoes. My Vibram V-Alphas leave me wanting when the trail surface is nothing but half dollar sized, arch stabbing limestone debris or a steep descent. Plus, running everyday in VFFs isn’t my preference — I use them as a training tool. The construction of the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail running shoes provide many VFF-like benefits while adding features a technical trail runner needs. Aggressive but Not Overbuilt Lugs The Mesa Trail has aggressive lugs which still work well on smooth surfaces without creating drag. 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!

Customer Reviews

Although that was countered by higher braking forces (reduction in forward motion). This time we had 12.5G for the Mesa’s and 12.1G in the Superior. The durability in these minimalist trail runners is quite impressive - especially for their weight. As a 6’7″ trail runner, I’ve also played a lot of basketball over the years and have been studying the KneesOverToesGuy who rehabbed his frail and chronically painful knees through unorthodox methods. Many of his videos show him wearing Xero Shoes including the HFS, the Prio, and even the Mesa Trail (Notice the cameo here, including on the dunk)! This is on the basketball court during training sessions. He doesn’t appear to wear the shoes during games.

A streamlined insole is a welcome option on a zero drop and low profile trail shoe. The Mesa Trail shoes work well with or without the provided insoles. When the insoles are out, ground feel increases and the seams have obviously been designed with the barefoot runner in mind. Personally, I’ve been enjoying the insoles because I don’t have to be quite as careful about my foot placement on debris. Protection Toe protection is more than sufficient for most trails. The toe box is lovely and wide, allowing the wearer plenty of room to spread their toes and really feel the terrain.

Sizing

For my first run, I probably covered only around 2 miles in total and it’s important to bear this in mind when starting to use this type of footwear.

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. These shoes are super lightweight at only 8.5oz (240g) in a Mens 9.5 US. Less weight on the feet means a smoother airy running feeling, helping add to the true barefoot style.With all the marketing and technology going around the shoe industry, the value of a sturdy and dependable trail shoe can be hard to define. And, then came the Trail Mesa from Xero Shoes. I got a size 10 for continuity purposes and to see just how tight this model is if you don’t size up. If you don’t size up, then expect to feel the sizing issue with respect to this shoe’s length. I can wear a 10 in this model and it’s not incredibly uncomfortable, but I definitely feel a bit limited with the toe box’s length and width. If you’ve ever opined that some of the bigger shoe companies spend too much on product styling, you'll appreciate the XeroShoes Mesa Trail. They are aesthetically functional. It’s not really until they’re on your feet that the excitement levels rise. They’ve chosen a subtly foot-shaped last to build these on that will please most runners. The upper is soft and comfortable and the eyelet chain, a mixture of punched holes and webbing, does a great job of securing the mid-foot. A combination of bonded overlays and a stitched toe bumper toughen up the upper where required. No bonded toe-cap over the front of the toe-box means there’s nothing to peel away immediately as in most trail runners. Over the course of my testing with the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail, I’ve found three key pros that I really like.