The Xero Blog

Best Gifts for Outdoor Enthusiasts: Guide for Men & Women

Best Gifts for Outdoor Enthusiasts: Guide for Men & Women

Find The Perfect Xero Shoe For Your Outdoor Adventurer If your outdoor-loving family and friends seem like they have all the gear they need – tents, stove, backpacks, jackets, etc – make their next outdoor adventure a little more comfortable with barefoot hiking shoes, boots, or sandals from Xero Shoes. Whether they backpack, camp, fish, trail run, surf, or snowshoe… they’re bound to be surprised. What makes Xero Shoes the perfect gift for outdoor enthusiasts? Our outdoor shoes, boots, and sandals are so  that they’ll forget they’re wearing them. The wider, foot-shaped toe box and zero-drop sole makes it feel like you’re wearing nothing. Plus, Xero Shoes are the gift that lasts longer, since all shoes have a 5,000 mile sole warranty. Gift for the Stylish Hiker: Ridgeway  The Ridgeway looks good and feels comfortable, perfect for that person who curates their hiking outfit and always looks put-together in their hiking photos. Waterproof suede keeps feet dry and a grippy sole performs on various hiking surfaces for epic pictures. Ridgeway - Men SHOP MEN Ridgeway - Women SHOP WOMEN Gift for the Camper: Sunrise For campers with chilly feet in the mornings or evenings, the Sunrise is easy to slip on or off when they're getting in and out of their tent. The microfiber suede feels so soft and is even water-repellant, so they don't have to worry about the morning dew. Sunrise -Men SHOP MEN Sunrise - Women SHOP WOMEN Gift for the Skier/Snowboarder: Alpine  After a day of shredding the slopes, there is no better relief than taking off stiff, heavy boots. That's where the Alpine snow boot is like a welcome hug for tired feet. Plus the 200g/sq. in. polyester insulation, heat-reflective insole, and a fully seam-sealed lining give you the warmth your feet need. Alpine - Mens SHOP MEN Alpine - Womens SHOP WOMEN Gift for the Lightweight Backpacker: Scrambler Mid The Scrambler Mid is a “do it all” lightweight hiking boot for the hikers in your life who are always looking to shed weight without sacrificing performance.  A Special Michelin sole differentiates this boot and makes it more agile, flexible and lighter than others. Scrambler Mid - Men SHOP MEN Scrambler Mid - Women SHOP WOMEN Gift for the Surfer or SUPer: Aqua Cloud Before hitting the water or waves, they will arrive at the beach in style with the color-popping Aqua Cloud. The adjustable straps ensure the best fit for any foot, and this sandal even floats, so if they drop it in the water they won't lose it. Aqua Cloud - Men SHOP MEN Aqua Cloud - Women SHOP WOMEN
Read More Best Gifts for Outdoor Enthusiasts: Guide for Men & Women
Best Gifts For Fitness Lovers: Xero Shoes Guide

Best Gifts For Fitness Lovers: Xero Shoes Guide

Find A Xero Shoe For The Fitness Lover In Your Life If your fitness-loving family and friends have it all, skip the ordinary gifts and give them barefoot shoes from Xero Shoes. Whether they like to lift weights, play pickleball, run or tackle bootcamps, you can surprise them with a barefoot fitness shoe for any activity. What makes Xero Shoes the perfect fitness gift? Our workout shoes are designed to fit like a sock on your foot, featuring a comfortable wider, foot-shaped toe box and zero-drop sole. When you hit the gym in Xero Shoes, did you know that you’re working your feet just as well as your muscles? Barefoot strength training can offer better balance and stability, improved proprioception, and better form. Plus, Xero Shoes are the gift that lasts longer, since all shoes have a 5,000 mile sole warranty. Gift for the Lifter: Forza Trainer The award-winning* Forza Trainer is made for weight lifting and CrossFit. The bootie-style construction and instep strap provides a more custom fit, ensuring you stay stable and secure. *Awards: Women’s Health Sneaker Award, HEALTH Fitness Award, SELF Sneaker Award Forza Trainer - Men SHOP MEN'S Forza Trainer - Women SHOP WOMEN'S Gift for the Pickleball Player: 360º The 360º cross training shoe features responsive, omni-directional tread that gives you superior traction for lateral movement when you're cutting across the pickleball court.  360º - Men SHOP MEN 360º - Women SHOP WOMEN Gift for the Runner: HFS II The HFS II running shoe is an update to Xero Shoes' bestselling run shoe, to look even more stylish and versatile. The new tire-inspired outsole is great for runners who explore roads, gravel and dirt paths on their jaunts. A thin BareFoam™ layer adds extra protection. Featured in: Doctors of Running, Garage Gym Reviews HFS II - Men SHOP MEN HFS II - Women SHOP WOMEN Gift for the Stylish Gym-Goer: Prio Neo The Prio Neo is a sleek performance training shoe that’s ready for action at the gym, your bootcamp or CrossFit class. Breathable, moisture-wicking mesh keep feet cool for all-day comfort, so you can go from the gym to the rest of your day. Featured in:WIRED "Best Barefoot Shoes for Walking" and Men's Health"Best Minimalist Shoes." Prio Neo - Men SHOP MEN Pro Neo - Women SHOP WOMEN
Read More Best Gifts For Fitness Lovers: Xero Shoes Guide
tips for keeping your shoes clean

Tips to Clean Your White Shoes

Use this three-step Xero Shoes-approved process to keep your shoes looking their best. No fancy equipment needed! If you wear shoes outdoors eventually it's going to attract some dirt. If Possible, Plan in Advance If you have a brand new shoe and you want to give it the most dirt protection possible,  consider using a protectant spray like Kiwi Spray or Scotch Guard. Cleaning Advice Here’s how the designers and Customer Happiness Team at Xero Shoes recommend keeping your shoes their cleanest and brightest.  Step 1. Mix Some Dry Laundry Detergent with Cold Water This doesn’t have to be a strong solution. Two cups of water and around a teaspoon of dry non-bleach laundry detergent is sufficient. Make sure it’s non-bleach, because bleach is a powerful chemical that can permanently discolor some shoes.  Mix the water and detergent in a small bucket or bowl until slightly sudsy, and you’re ready to go.   Step 2. Spot-Clean Shoes with a Soft Bristle Brush Have an old toothbrush? It works great here. So does a small plastic-bristled cleaning brush. Avoid metal bristles, which can rip shoe fabric.  Softly brush any discolored spots on the upper, sidewalls, or soles of your shoe. If you’ve been out in bad weather, this might be most of the shoe.   Step 3. Air Dry Once you’re done cleaning your shoes, wipe off any excess detergent and then rinse the cleaned areas gently under cold water. Let them air dry completely before wearing them again.  How Often Should I Clean My Shoes?  Here’s the most important rule: The sooner you clean your shoes after they get dirty, the better. Stains that settle in over time are far harder to remove.  Want to know how to care for a specific shoe? Check the 'care tab' on the product page for whatever style you are looking to clean. Now that you have this info, maybe now you'll feel more comfortable slipping on our whitest and brightest shoes. LIGHT-COLORED SHOES FOR YOU Kelso BUY HERE Dillon BUY HERE Forza Trainer BUY HERE Forza Runner BUY HERE Prio Neo BUY HERE Prio Suede BUY HERE HFS BUY HERE Prio BUY HERE Zelen BUY HERE
Read More Tips to Clean Your White Shoes

latest News

Best Selling Barefoot Shoes Now At XeroShoes.eu

Best Selling Barefoot Shoes Now At XeroShoes.eu

If you are anyone you know is in the EU, they can now buy Xero Shoes from our NEW website, XeroShoes.euWe're so excited to have this new site so our European Union customers can save time and shipping costs and VAT.One thing to note for you barefoot and minimalist shoe lovers: Crazy as it may sound, if you're in the UK, Norway, Switzerland or other European-but-non-EU coutries, it'll probably be less expensive to order from our US-based website since the cost to ship into non-EU countries is often more than shipping from the US.Since Xero Shoes started, a significant number of our customers have come from the EU, but many more didn't order because of the extra time it takes for orders to get across the Atlantic, as well as delays that occurred once the products got to customs or to the local mail delivery service.If you have any questions about our new site for barefoot-inspired shoes, boots and sandals, feel free to email our European Customer Happiness Team at support@xeroshoes.eu

Can you workout in bare feet? ABC 10 Sacramento finds out

Can you workout in bare feet? ABC 10 Sacramento finds out

  Can you workout in bare feet? Your Life California asked that to Xero Shoes CEO, Steven Sashen To answer the question, think about baby feet. Yes, baby feet... those cute things at the end of their legs that we like to tickle and nibble. When a baby learns to walk, do you want to squeeze its toes, mess with its posture by elevating its heel, put it in stiff shoes that don't let its feet bend and flex, get in the way of the sensations its feet are sending to its brain (so the brain can learn how to move)? Of course not. Well, that's what most athletic shoes do to you! There's a reason that powerlifters deadlift in socks or bare feet. Or why when we do pushups we spread our fingers (for balance and strength). Treat your feet the same way. Let them do what's natural. Xero Shoes give you that barefoot experience, but with a layer of protection and style. See the complete line at https://xeroshoes.com/shop/ What do you think? Have you worked out in bare feet? Or Xero Shoes?

Barefoot MYTHS debunked on Fox31 Denver

Barefoot MYTHS debunked on Fox31 Denver

What are the Myths and TRUTH about being barefoot (whether you're walking, running, climbing, lifting, or just getting into a store)?Xero Shoes CEO, Steven Sashen, takes a look at a few of these on @KDVRDenver* MYTH -- being barefoot is dangerous. TRUTH -- for a looong time, humans have been barefoot on terrains WAY worse than anything you'll encounter. BUT... if you feel you want some protection and still have that fun, natural, barefoot-like experience, that's why we made Xero Shoes.* MYTH -- you can't go into public places, stores, and restaurants barefoot. TRUTH -- while some of those may have *rules* about wearing shoes, there's no law against it.* MYTH -- you can't drive in bare feet. TRUTH -- 100% false. There is no law in any state preventing you from doing so. It's totally legal.For those times where you want a bit of protection, some traction, and a stylish way to have a barefoot-inspired feeling, check out the performance and casual shoes, boots, and sandals at https://xeroshoes.com/shop/

XeroShoesCanada.com and cheap Xero Shoes on eBay - FRAUD!

XeroShoesCanada.com and cheap Xero Shoes on eBay - FRAUD!

DO NOT BUY Xero Shoes from these sellers!In short, if you see NEW Xero Shoes for sale at significant discounts, they are not authorized sellers and you will most likely be giving your credit card information to thieves who are engaged in various types of ecommerce and credit card fraud.The latest site to be violating our copyrights and stealing from potential customers is XeroShoesCanada.com. This is NOT an authorized seller of Xero Shoes. They do not own the product they claim to sell. If you purchase from them, you are putting your credit card data at riskNOTE: If you do not see a retailer listed at https://xeroshoes.com/stores/ there is a high likelihood they are engaged in some sort of fraud. If you're not sure, email our Customer Happiness Team -- support@xeroshoes.com.Similarly, there are a number of eBay "sellers" offering New Xero Shoes at significant savings. You can spot them because they're offering multiple sizes and/or colors. They are engaging in fraudulent behavior, and do not own the product they claim to be selling. If you purchase from them, you will not receive your product and could be putting your identity at risk. 

Xero Shoes Sponsors USA Artistic Swimming

Xero Shoes Sponsors USA Artistic Swimming

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEEmily Falkenberg | USAAS | emily@usaartisticswim.orgLaura Beachy | Xero Shoes | beachy@beachymedia.comUSA Artistic Swimming Announces Partnership with Xero ShoesCOLORADO SPRINGS, CO – (July 8, 2020) - USA Artistic Swimming signs Xero Shoes as its official footwear partner providing athletes innovative shoes that match the team’s style in the water. “They are not your conventional shoe, and we are not your conventional sport,” said USA Artistic Swimming CEO, Adam Andrasko. “We both embrace what is special about ourselves and use it in a positive way.”Established 41 years ago, USA Artistic Swimming officially rebranded from USA Synchronized Swimming in March. Artistic swimming is a women's Olympic discipline which combines technical perfection, synchronisation, choreography, artistry and expressive power. Athletes wear beautifully decorated swimsuits and waterproof make-up. They often perform choreography and use music that is unique to their heritage, creating a rich and distinctive spectacle.Xero Shoes’ lightweight footwear prides itself on minimalism and natural movement. Xero Shoes have sold hundreds of thousands of shoes, boots, and sandals to customers in 97 countries, ages 2-92, and will now be worn by the USA Artistic Swimming Senior National Team at every international competition. "We're so excited that USAAS asked us to support their incredible athletes and coaches,” said Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes CEO. “We are looking forward to having lots of fun together and helping the team reach their goals, feet first." About USA Artistic SwimmingUSA Artistic Swimming [USAAS] was established as a nonprofit organization in 1979 and is the United States national governing body for the sport. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee and FINA (Federation International de Natation Amateur) — the international governing federation. USAAS organizes, participates in, and promotes a variety of competitive events each year. These events begin at the local level and continue in the following categories: Age Group (12-19), Junior (15-18), Senior and Masters (20+). https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Artistic-SwimmingAbout Xero ShoesFeel The World, Inc. (dba Xero Shoes) of Broomfield, CO, manufactures Xero Shoes®, addictively comfortable, lightweight, performance and casual sandals and shoes built with a “foot-first” design. Durable, stylish and affordable — Xero Shoes supply the fun and benefits of natural, barefoot-inspired movement with a layer of protection and comfort. FTWI launched in December 2009 and now has customers ages 2 to 92, in 97 countries who wear Xero Shoes for walking, hiking, yoga and gym-going, CrossFit, kayaking, rafting, paddle boarding, jogging, and even running hundred-mile ultra marathons. www.xeroshoes.com  

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COVID-19 Shipping

Due to COVID-19, many countries have suspended postal deliveries, and many others are experiencing extremely long delivery times, something we, unfortunately, learned AFTER shipping many parcels during our recent sale.The below list includes countries we are currently unable to ship to due to COVID-19.Please note this list includes Israel. In addition, there may be significant delays with shipments to any international location, including Japan and Europe.If you're in one of these countries please check xeroshoes.com/stores to see if there's a retailer or distributor nearer to you that's open and/or able to ship to you. New Restricted Countries Bermuda Brunei Cape Verde French Guiana Israel Italy Saudi Arabia St. Martin UAE Western Sahara  Updated March 27th, 2024

Get Xero Shoes Z-Trail at REI and get a $10 Xeroshoes.com Gift Certificate

Get Xero Shoes Z-Trail at REI and get a $10 Xeroshoes.com Gift Certificate

We are THRILLED to announce that you can now buy our best-selling Z-Trail sandal at REI stores across the country and at REI.com!Plus, we have a special offer for you:Buy a pair of Z-Trail at an REI store or REI.com and you can get a $10 XeroShoes.com gift certificate!Get all the details about which stores have the Z-Trail sport sandal and how you can get your bonus -- CLICK HEREWatch Lena and Steven discover the Z-Trail at the Boulder REI

Can't Find the Size, Color, or Style You Want? Here's why...

Can't Find the Size, Color, or Style You Want? Here's why...

We know that some people are upset because we may not have the size, or color, or style of the Xero Shoe that they want.Huge apologies.Clearly, it's not our intention to run out of inventory and be unable to replace it in a timely manner. It's happening for a few reasons, that I describe in this video:Before I jump into the details, I'll let you know we have more Prio and TerraFlex on the way. We don't yet have a firm date for their arrival though.Okay, so why can't you always get the Xero Shoes you want? In short, the biggest cause is how fast we're growing!When we bring in a new product, or even bring in more of an existing product, we're basically guessing how well it's going to sell.No company has ever gotten this formula perfect. If they did, there would be no TJ Maxx or Ross or Marshall's or any of the other overstock and closeout stores.But this is especially challenging for a new and rapidly-growing company like ours.When we're wrong -- when demand is WAY greater than we expected -- the issue morphs to one of timing and minimums.When it comes to timing, it can take 90-120 days or more from the moment we place an order for product until it arrives in our warehouse (and that's assuming there's not a strike at the port, or that our container didn't fall off the ship mid-ocean, or any other crazy scenario).Thinking about our Genesis sandal -- it sold 4x faster than we expected. If we ordered more now, we wouldn't get that shipment until winter. Not the best time to get a ton of sandals in the warehouse.  Holding onto that inventory until sandal season picks up again creates a serious cash flow issue.So, for that product, we can't responsibly bring in more until 2020.Then, there are the minimums. We can't simply call our factory and ask for a couple hundred pairs to fill in for a size or color that we've run out of. The minimum number of pairs we can order is in the thousands.The problem this creates relates back to timing. That is, if that minimum is, say 8 months' worth of inventory, but we were planning to to update the product in 5 months -- by launching a new color, or making some tweaks to improve the product -- then we'd be sitting on 3 months' worth of product that we might not be able to sell.Again, a company our size, bootstrapped by me and Lena, without venture capital funding, can be sunk by that kind of situation. And we want this ship to keep sailing.I hope you're starting to understand the complicated calculus of managing inventory.It's what keeps Lena and I up at night.We know that when we outgrow this "awkward teenage" phase of our business, problems like this will become less likely. And we hope that the new products we bring in will excite you enough to make the memories of out-of-stock issues fade into the background (get yours before they sell out! ;-) ).To hear about when we get "fill-in" inventory, make sure you've joined our newsletter list (see the bottom of this page) or joined the Xero Circle (top right in the navigation section of the page).As always, Lena and I greatly appreciate your support and hope that you stick with us through our growing pains.Make sure you've joined the Xero Circle (which, among other things, gets our newsletter into your e-hands) to hear about when we get more (and NEW) inventory. Click the link in the menu at the top-right of this page.

Sign up for the Investor Waiting List

Sign up for the Investor Waiting List

After a successful raise that ended on August 31st, 2017, with over $1,148,348 committed, we've stopped taking new investors.We may do another equity crowdfunding raise in the future.If you would like to be notified about future opportunities to invest in Xero Shoes, please submit your best email address below:

Become a Part-Owner of Xero Shoes

Become a Part-Owner of Xero Shoes

Now you can invest in a company you believe in, and it doesn't cost millions to do it! Here's a presentation I did at NextGenCrowfunding on June 16th, describing the opportunity to invest in the Future of Footwear.   Find out more and see how you can become a part-owner of Xero Shoes at https://invest.xeroshoes.com   This is not an offer to buy or sell securities. Any securities offered are qualified in their entirety by and subject to the terms of the Offering Circular, which can be found at https://xeroshoes.com/sec. Investing in shares of Feel the World, Inc. is highly speculative involves significant risks and is suitable only for persons who can afford to lose their entire investment. Furthermore, investors must understand that such investment could be illiquid for an indefinite period of time. No public market currently exists for the shares of Feel the World, Inc, and if a public market develops following this offering, it may not continue. Also, past performance should not be relied upon as a forecast of future performance. To obtain a copy of the Offering Circular, go to https://invest.xeroshoes.com/#deal_room or https://xeroshoes.com/sec.

You can own a piece of Xero Shoes

You can own a piece of Xero Shoes

Now you can invest in the future of footwear. We're offering a limited number of shares of stock in our company. And thanks to the new equity crowdfunding rules, you don't need millions to invest. In fact, if you look at the bonuses that come with your investment, you may be quite surprised at the true cost. Check out this video to learn more. And wait for the "Easter egg" at the very end ;-) ... or see how you can become a part-owner of Xero Shoes on this page: https://invest.xeroshoes.com   At https://invest.xeroshoes.com you'll also find our SEC-qualified documentation (our financials and all the details about our company), but you can also find them directly at https://xeroshoes.com/sec If you have any questions, there's a Q&A section at https://invest.xeroshoes.com as well. And be on the lookout for emails from us... we'll be hosting Facebook Live events to tell you more. Oh, if you're not already receiving our emails, subscribe at the bottom of this page. We are so thankful to everyone who has helped us make Xero Shoes what it is today. And we look forward to having you come along for the ride into the future. Live Life Feet First!   This is not an offer to buy or sell securities.  Any securities offered are qualified in their entirety by and subject to the terms of the Offering Circular, which can be found on our investment page at https://invest.xeroshoes.com as well as at at https://xeroshoes.com/sec. Investing in shares of Feel the World, Inc. is highly speculative involves significant risks and is suitable only for persons who can afford to lose their entire investment.  Furthermore, investors must understand that such investment could be illiquid for an indefinite period of time.  No public market currently exists for the shares of Feel the World, Inc, and if a public market develops following this offering, it may not continue. Also, past performance should not be relied upon as a forecast of future performance.  To obtain a copy of the Offering Circular, go to https://invest.xeroshoes.com/#deal_room or https://xeroshoes.com/sec.

The Lena minimalist casual shoe for women is here!

The Lena minimalist casual shoe for women is here!

We announced our first closed-toe shoe in October 2016, the Hana. The Hana is mostly a "men's" shoe, even though there are LOTS of women who wear it.Well, we're thrilled to announce the "sister" to the Hana... the Lena.And, yes, technically the Lena is a "women's shoe," but if you're a man with a narrow foot, or are smaller than a Men's size 6.5, the Lena could be just right for you. (What makes a shoe "men's" or "women's" is a combination of typical shape differences -- women's shoes are a bit narrower, have a thinner heel, have a slightly higher instep, for example).The Lena comes in 3 colors for the Spring of 2017: Navy / Silver Sand / Black Black / Tango Red What will you do in the Lena?Well, it is a casual shoe. But it's also built on our FeelTrue® outsole base, the same one we use for the Z-Trail. So, technically, it'll handle more than just a trip to the coffee shop. And, like all our shoes and sandals, the Lena is super flexible, zero-drop, low-to-the-ground for balance and agility, and supports true natural movement. And the sole is backed by our 5,000 mile sole warranty.Oh, and if you're wondering, Yes, we did name the Lena after Xero Shoes' co-founder, owner, and COO, Lena Phoenix.Live Life Feet First!