FAQ

Tens of thousands of people all around the world of all ages use Xero Shoes for running… and walking, hiking, biking, camping, going to the beach, hitting the gym, doing yoga, even running 100-mile ultramarathons. Our Customer Service Manager, Bill, runs from his house to the bus, from the bus stop to the office, back home, and then around with his dogs… he puts about 70-90 miles on his Xero Shoes each week!

Light and easy.

I can’t give you a barefoot running lesson here (for that, see the links on our home page).

But just by wearing them, you’ll find quickly that you don’t want to land hard on your heel as you walk or run in Xero Shoes.

The best advice I can give is: play with your gait and stride, looking for the thing that feels the most comfortable and is the easiest. But, most importantly: TAKE IT EASY at first… remember, Xero Shoes are just like barefoot, only with protection and style. If you’re not used to walking barefoot, that alone could take some time to get used to.

Plus, since you’re not putting as much stress on your skin when you wear huaraches, which means it hurts less, it’s tempting to do too much, too far, too fast at first. I know that no matter what I say you’ll probably overdo it (I did). Besides, how do you know what “too much” is, unless you do too much!?

Well, even though that’s true, I recommend you break into your huaraches SLOWLY. Walk around in them for a while first. Maybe only a half mile or so. When that’s comfortable, extend the time you’re walking and, when you feel ready, try running. If you’re already running a mile a day, try half a mile in these one day and see how you feel. Give yourself a day or two off and then repeat. If that’s not a problem, build up SLOWLY.

I also use the “slap-test.” If my sandals are slapping on the ground when I walk or run, I need to make some kind of change, probably by not reaching my foot out as far, or using better posture, etc.

If you have a headache because you’re hitting yourself on the head with a hammer, wearing gloves won’t stop the pain.

In other words, it’s not just a question of taking off your shoes and experiencing magical healing powers.

Running barefoot, or in running sandals, gives you a lot of feedback about your running form. In short, if it hurts, you’re probably doing something wrong.

If you are willing to listen to that feedback and use it as an opportunity to change the way you run, to adjust your stride, to find a way to move that doesn’t hurt, then there’s a good chance any problems you had that were caused by bad form sure might clear up.

In other words, barefoot and minimalist running could show you how to let go of the hammer.

Being barefoot, or in huaraches, is an opportunity to find a cure, not a cure in and of itself.

Check out this post to read about people who, instead, thought barefoot running was about putting on gloves.

Frankly, we don’t know. We’ve had people put over 10,000 miles on a pair… and they’re still going!

Like any shoe, how long they last depends on your running style. If you use good barefoot technique and are light and easy, without scraping your foot on the ground, you’ll enjoy them for quite a while.

Besides, considering how inexpensive they are compared to big, padded, running shoes, we expect that you’ll be saving a fortune by using Xero Shoes.

And, more importantly, Xero Shoes come with a 5,000 mile warranty!

There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of different ways to tie Xero Shoes, from ultra-simple minimalist, to way-extravagant decorative, to everything in between.

It seems like there’s been more creative ideas about tying these sandals since we started selling them in 2009 than there was in the 14,997 years before that when they were invented

Check out our page of tying ideas and, if you’re experimental and come up with your own, share what you create!

Eventually, sure.

But since the knot is kinda flat, and since the rubber is flexible, and since the knot tends to be in between your toes, it’ll last WAY longer than you think.

Many Xero Shoes customers have put thousands of miles on their shoes without wearing out the knot.

And, we give you enough lace that when/if the knot does wear out, you can just pull another inch of lacing through the huaraches sole and make a new one.

You can buy extra laces for just a few dollars.

We do! We’ve sold Xero Shoes to people in more than 84 countries around the world.

We use the US Postal service to send our shipments. The cost to ship will depend on the weight of the package and the delivery speed you select; several options will be provided at checkout.

International delivery can take anywhere from 3 days to 8 weeks – the big variable seems to be how long your order spends in customs at the border.

Also, check our Stores page — there may be a Xero Shoes dealer closer to you

Please note that some countries do require the payment of import duties for international shipments above a certain value. We advise you to know the import regulations of your country and understand that you will be responsible for payment of any duties and fees imposed by your government at the border.

All packages will be marked as merchandise; as a commercial shipper, we are not able to mark a package as a gift (if you’re giving Xero Shoes as a gift, that’s not the same as us sending a gift).

Some people get their Xero Shoes (either a kit or custom-made sandals), put them on, and immediately love them. They walk and run painlessly and with the freedom that Xero Shoes provide.

For others, there could be a process of learning how to tie huaraches, and how to walk and run in minimalist footwear. In fact, one of the points of going barefoot/minimalist is to let the discomfort teach you how to move in a different way… a way that will be more efficient and potentially healing. Getting a blister, or feeling some tension in the cord isn’t a sign that there’s a problem with your sandals, but rather they’re working as they should: They’re giving you important feedback about your form (usually overstriding and/or landing too hard). Once your body/mind naturally figures out how to adjust, those issues resolve themselves. If you have any questions, check out Invisible Shoes Forum to see if someone else has already answered your question or solved your problem (they probably have).

All that said, here’s the official policy:

We accept returns and exchanges for kits that are still in their original, unaltered condition within 45 days of purchase.

If you wish to return or exchange your kit, please send your complete kit, a copy of your invoice, and whether you would like a refund or an exchange to:

Xero Shoes
5470 Conestoga Ct.
Boulder, CO 80301

Your refund/exchange will be processed within 10 business days. Refunds will include the purchase price only. If you are exchanging an item and live in the US, please include $3.50 for return shipping. If you are exchanging a package from an international destination, please contact us for shipping fees and payment options.

For custom Xero Shoes, we accept returns within 45 days of receipt of the product, and only if the shoes have not been worn outdoors and are in their original condition. If you’re having some problem, call us and let us help you. If we’re unable to resolve your issue, we’ll provide a Return Authorization Number (RAN) and instructions. We don’t take returns on custom-made sandals without an RAN.

Refunds will include the purchase price only.

Check out this page for the details but, basically: if you wear your FeelTrue® outsoles down to less than 1mm in less that 5000 miles, we’ll replace them for just the cost of shipping and handling.

We make Xero Shoes to last! We’ve had, I think, 2 people, who’ve taken us up on our Warranty (and one of them said he had a physical problem and dragged his foot on the ground when he walked).

Okay, that’s not a question, but I’ll talk about it anyway

Most people who say this are thinking of flip-flops. Xero Shoes arevery different than flip-flops, and people who don’t like things between their toes are usually fine in Xero Shoes.

What’s the difference?

• First, because of the heel strap, Xero Shoes stay on your foot comfortably, no matter what you’re doing with them. You don’t need to scrunch your toes to hold them on (like you do with a flip-flop).
• Second, also because of the heel strap, you don’t need to jam your foot into the toe strap with every step (like a flip-flop)
• Third… Speaking of the toe strap, it’s a soft, flexible bit of lace, not a hard rubber door stopper (like a you-know-what)
• And finally, you can adjust the tension of the toe strap, unlike a… Well, you get the idea.

Also, there are tying styles for Xero Shoes that don’t have a lace between your toes!

Not at all.

When you first start wearing your huaraches, you’ll notice it somewhat. After all, it is a thing. But very quickly the sensation fades into the background.

Also, you can change the tightness by the way you lace your sandal. If you loosen the heel, your foot moves further back and takes some pressure off the string. Or, obviously, you can loosen that “foot string”, or change the placement of it by tightening/loosening the loop that goes around it.

Plus, there are ways of tying Xero Shoes huaraches that don’t have a string going between your toes.

Finding the perfect way to tie huaraches is a personal thing, there’s no “one best way.” You’ll find the one that works for you with a couple of tries.

Nope.

Wait, let me back up… Not all tying styles have a knot at the bottom of the shoe.

But for the ones that do, you shouldn’t feel it.

• The knot is in between your toes.
• It’s not very thick.
• The sole material bends around it some.
• The knot flattens out as you wear your huaraches.

If you want, you can melt the knot with our laces into a tiny “bead.”

You can use almost anything for lacing huaraches.

In my testing, though, I found some issues with hemp and leather that I didn’t like:

• Both leather and hemp tended to stretch, especially when moist
• Both leather and hemp tighten and stiffen when they dry
• Both leather and hemp wear out faster than our nylon/poly laces
• Leather is much more expensive
• Most leather laces are rectangular, and the edges can dig into your skin
• Leather, isn’t vegan (for those who care about that)
• Leather and hemp don’t give you as many fun color choices

The nylon/polypro cord we use is strong, light, and doesn’t stretch or tighten, especially when wet.

Also, I prefer the “slip-on” method of tying which works best with a round lace, rather than a flat one (like leather).

Needless to say, you can replace the lace we send you with whatever you like.