REVIEW: XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION – Ready for sunshine and storms

REVIEW: XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION – Ready for sunshine and storms REVIEW: XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION – Ready for sunshine and storms

Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes Stories and Brands Reviews

We tested the Xero Xcursion hiking boots. They meet demanding outdoor requirements and combine comfort and flexibility even in tough conditions.

Tested model

XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION Spruce

Best for

light trekking, leisure activities, the outdoors, spring to autumn

Upper material

mesh

Lining

mesh and textile with a water-repellent membrane

Outsole

5.5mm FeelTrue® rubber sole

Fit

roomy in the toe box, suitable for medium to wider feet

Boot height

mid (medium)

Colour options

black, grey, brown

Available sizes 

36–48

Price

4 290 Kč

Testing conditions

approx. 250 km (mountains, hills, meadows, bogs), May–August 2022

Manufacturer

XERO SHOES

I spend a big chunk of my free time outdoors. I’ve walked all over the Czech Republic, and also places like Slovakia and Estonia; now and then my travels take me to Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Iran or Iraq too. In spring 2022, I got my hands on the minimalist hiking boots XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION.

Over the summer they joined me in the land beyond the Arctic Circle, in Estonian bogs, on Polish beaches, and in Czech mountains and meadows. We walked, hitchhiked and stood around together quite a bit – it was a very intense summer.

Main pros:

  • they’re comfortable and fit well on the foot
  • they follow the ground well and protect your feet
  • dry quickly
  • wear down only slowly
  • they’re lightweight and pack down well in a rucksack
  • don’t cause blisters, not even on first wear
  • thanks to good breathability, your feet don’t get overly sweaty
  • don’t beep at airport metal detectors

Main con:

  • sadly, they’re not as water-resistant as I’d imagined – but they still handled a longer stretch in waterlogged terrain

Key features and technical assessment

The XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION hiking boots are ankle-height barefoot “hikers” you can take into more demanding conditions in the Czech Republic (spring, summer and autumn) and even beyond the Arctic Circle (summer). They’re minimalist yet robust footwear built for challenging terrain.

With a quality 5.5mm FeelTrue® sole, smart reinforcement with a double chevron pattern, 3.5mm lugs and an integrated TrailFoam™ layer, they deliver comfort, grip and solid support.

The inner padding has recessed seams and your foot feels properly cushioned inside. A durable toe cap protects your toes, while the quality outer material helps protect the boots from abrasion and from letting in too much water. The outsole is sufficiently rugged and textured, so it doesn’t slip as much and gives your foot the right kind of support. Overall, the materials are put together in a tasteful design – they look great in nature and also for casual wear.

A huge plus for me is the weight. Until now, I’d always travelled with heavier hiking boots, which took up loads of space in my rucksack – and, above all, were very heavy. That’s changing now. The XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION boots pack down into a small bundle, which is why they’re becoming an essential part of my travels.

Testing out on the trail

Czech Republic – up to the mountain tops

As part of testing these hiking boots, I climbed two Czech peaks: Kleť (1084 m) and Poledník (1315 m).

The hike up Kleť was special mainly because it was the very first time I’d worn XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION. I was a bit nervous, but there was no need. That day we only had 15 kilometres from Holubov to Český Krumlov, and the boots proved themselves. The temperature climbed to around 35 degrees, but luckily most of our route ran in the shade of trees. In the end it was a pleasant walk and, despite the heat and sweating, it didn’t end with blisters or chafed feet.

The next hill – Poledník – was a bit more demanding. I had the boots on all weekend, as I needed to take photos in Šumava and the surrounding area, and one of my stops was Kašperk Castle. Most of the path to the top follows a road, which isn’t exactly pleasant for your feet – especially when it’s tarmac.

Even though the sun was blazing and the temperature climbed to ridiculous levels (and this time with no shade), the boots still felt comfortable and my feet felt good too. After the whole weekend in XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION, I didn’t have a single small rub, which I consider a great result.

Estonia – boardwalks through the bogs

This year’s trip around Estonia was full of surprises. First – within the very first hour after arriving – my girlfriend saw a bear, even though I’d insisted it’s practically impossible to spot them there. Right after that, we accidentally drove into Russia for a few seconds, unlikely as that sounds. But the biggest surprise was the weather: over two weeks in this beautiful country, about 20 drops of water fell on us – and that’s never happened in the 15 years I’ve been travelling up north there.

That’s exactly why I only wore the XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION boots once – for the walk across the Riisa bog in Lahemaa National Park. The rest of the time I walked in XERO SHOES Z-TRAIL. It’s not a particularly demanding trail, so it was an easy enough walk. It was muggy and the air felt heavy with moisture; combined with the surrounding bog, there was a thick, damp humidity hanging around. Still, I walked comfortably, my feet didn’t get clammy, so there was no chafing either. It was a lovely trip.

Norway – a trek beyond the Arctic Circle

The truly tough test for these boots came in Norway – specifically on the island of Senja, about 500 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. This July was the rainiest locals could remember in years. We hitchhiked and walked around the island, and then I spent long hours standing on the coast trying to catch a fish for dinner – mostly unsuccessfully.

After getting the licence required to hire sea kayaks for our future plans, my friend Pavel and I set off on a trek into the island’s interior. The first thing that surprised us was the near-total lack of waymarking and a path that disappeared between bogs and rocks. The route crossed streams and waterlogged meadows. If water didn’t seep in through the sides, it simply came in from the top. There was so much water everywhere that it didn’t really matter where you stepped. One way or another, your boots were wet.

After a full day of walking, luckily we had a cabin waiting for us, where we could sleep comfortably and dry our clothes, boots and gear. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION boots dried. By the evening they were nicely dry. Not that it helped much – the next morning we continued through a bog, then a stream, and finally a swollen lake, so the chances of keeping dry boots were basically zero.

Even so, the walking was good, even though water was running everywhere, falling, or standing still. The boots managed to keep warmth, even when you stopped for a while. So the journey stayed enjoyable despite the constant squelching.

Final verdict

For me, the minimalist hiking boots XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION are a really great travel-friendly alternative when I need not only outdoor performance, but also packability and low weight. Last summer was the testing phase, so I’m hoping they’ll join me next year on a trip to Greenland and Africa. We’ll see – I’m already looking forward to it.

To finish, I’ll just say this: I feel great in them in the forests of Šumava, on trips beyond the Arctic Circle in Norway, and even when driving my camper in Estonia.

The minimalist hiking boots XERO SHOES XCURSION FUSION were tested by Jiří Kalát. A travelling scribbler who gives talks for people who like to listen. He loves the Middle East and North Africa, but he’s happy to roam anywhere you can find adventure or discover something new. He’s the author of the books Všichni tady lžou and Černobyl na kolečkách, collaborates with several magazines and travel websites, and speaks at festivals and venues across the Czech Republic. He also tries to help, which is why he supports projects such as 1000 statečných, Nadace Leontinka and Domov sv. Josefa v Žirči.

 

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