XERO SHOES HFS Review: Brilliant for sport and everyday wear

We tested the Xero Shoes HFS II trainers and found out how they perform on trails, in the gym and in everyday life with small children.

Tested model	XERO SHOES HFS II Raspberry / Sunset Coral Gradient
Best for	sport and leisure, outdoors, running, gym workouts
Upper material	densely woven mesh
Lining	silky mesh for better moisture wicking
Insole	3.5mm removable insole
Outsole	5.5mm FeelTrue® rubber sole
Fit	roomy in the toe box, suitable for average to wider feet
Shoe height	low
Colour options	black, blue, pink, white, grey
Available sizes	36–48
Price	3 490 Kč
Testing conditions	running in the woods and on tarmac, gym workouts and chasing after the kids
Manufacturer	Xero Shoes

I’d been looking for the right barefoot sports shoes for training and running for ages. I used to do a lot of sport… workouts, running, cycling… With kids, my “running” was mostly pushing the buggy or sprinting after them, but now felt like the right time to start doing something for myself again. Properly — with the right clothing and footwear. Thanks to the kids, I discovered barefoot footwear and how comfortable it is, so I knew straight away my sports shoes had to be barefoot. I can’t imagine squeezing into conventional shoes for sport. That’s why I decided to test the barefoot trainers Xero Shoes HFS II in Raspberry.

The very first time I tried them on at home, I was struck by how light, soft and roomy they are. I chose Raspberry because I prefer brighter colours for sport — and it was the right call. They catch your eye straight away. There are plenty of other colour options too, or classic black. Sizes range from small to large. I personally wear EU 42.

I wore them to exercise with the kids in the sports hall, and I also gave them a proper airing outdoors while running and training outside. I think they’ll suit both sporty types and parents with small children doing activities together.

Main pros:

• the shoes are very comfortable and roomy enough
• a great choice of sizes and colours
• they’re very lightweight, even in larger sizes
• they adapt to the terrain really well and don’t slip
• they’re breathable, and your feet don’t get sweaty even during tougher workouts
• they have a removable insole
• the landing feels soft and comfortable even on tarmac
• you can wear them for sport and everyday use

Main cons:

• personally, with sports shoes I’d appreciate the option to machine-wash them, but they’re still fairly easy to look after

Key features and technical assessment

The Xero Shoes HFS II are sports shoes suitable from spring through to autumn. Compared to the original model, they have an improved 5.5mm sole with better grip off-road and a layer for a softer landing. You’ll appreciate that especially on tarmac or in more demanding terrain. The landing really is very comfortable. The HFS name itself stands for “highly flexible sole”.

They’re suitable both for the city and for trails. They’re also unisex sports footwear, so both men and women can choose.

You’ll definitely appreciate how light they are — you can easily take them as a second pair. They won’t weigh your kit bag down. I enjoyed the low weight most when running.

The shoes are breathable, and inside there’s a thin mesh layer for better moisture wicking, so there’s no risk of your feet getting sweaty during sport.

Testing out and about

Running off-road and on tarmac

I put the shoes through their paces — both in more challenging terrain and running through the woods and on tarmac. And I have to say they performed brilliantly. Thanks to the roomy toe box, running feels genuinely pleasant and comfortable. In the past, after longer runs my feet or calves often ached, so I was pleasantly surprised that this time no pain showed up. Quite the opposite — I felt great, both physically and simply because the shoes fit so well. The two-part sole also provides a soft landing even on harder surfaces, and it responds really well to more uneven ground too.

Working out in the sports hall

When I wore them for training, I immediately noticed how flexible and bendy they are — something that’s often missing in standard shoes. The whole time you feel like you can truly sense the surface, which really suits me when exercising. They’re also super breathable, so your feet don’t get sweaty, and even after a longer session you still feel comfortable.

All-day wear and chasing after the kids

I also tested the shoes properly with the kids during all-day wear: in the morning on the way to school and nursery, then running around after my 18-month-old little one, plus brisk walking with the buggy and a walk off-road. And I have to say the shoes are very comfortable for everyday wear too.

Final verdict

The Xero Shoes HFS II sports shoes completely exceeded my expectations, and I’d happily recommend them to anyone who loves sport and sports footwear. They’ll definitely suit anyone who’s just starting out with barefoot shoes, as well as those who can’t imagine a normal day without them — like me. They’re fantastic for sport: comfortable, lightweight, breathable and roomy enough. For me, they’re great not only for trails, but also for workouts in a sports hall or gym.

The Xero Shoes HFS sports shoes were tested for you by Lenka Dolenská, a mum of three small children and the creator of the Instagram profile monte_sorry_aktivity, where she shares various tips for parents and their children. You’ll find advice on quality games, toys and helpful tools, as well as ideas for activities that support children’s development in a meaningful way.

 

Where will your next steps take you?

• How to run in barefoot shoes?
• How to choose shoes for sport – from yoga and the gym to trail running
• 260 kilometres, 10 days and one pair of barefoot shoes. Buen Camino!
• Keep your feet in shape: simple exercises to help you