Review on Xero Shoes TerraFlex Running Hiking Men's Shoes in Athletic by Bryan Brant

Good: I like it overall. Okay, detailed: The toe protection is well thought out. Very light shoes, close to the Merrell Trail Glove 4 which I liked so much. This Merrell lacked the padding on the rough sections of the Washington Cascades (PCT-J). Deeper lugs than this comparison. But not as deep as the Inov-8 Terraultra G260. It feels like this shoe could be a good compromise between Merrell and Inov-8. Passed some hard roots by the creek and felt well protected. Climbs 30-40 degrees, holds up very well on wet clay and loose gravel. The toe is wide, the bridge not too narrow. The sole/insole padding is good enough (I prefer it to protect rocks and roots). Bad detail: I bought a size 12 and although it's wide enough, it feels 1/4 size shorter when worn. my typical hiking socks. It may be worth upgrading to 12.5, but I'm not sure. The ledges were very slippery on kitchen tile after getting wet outside and may not work well on slippery stone surfaces. The laces are a bit short for my preferred measurements and foot size. Construction: As with all modern shoes, the sole is glued to the sole. It feels like the rubber is firmer than an Inov-8 or Merrell shoe. The front studs are slightly longer at the ball of the foot than at the heel. The lugs are narrower and have less surface area for gripping hard surfaces. That explains the slickness on the tile, but we're hoping the rubber lasts a little longer. The insole is removable. Thick foam padding throughout the ankle. The front half of the cover is double stitched and most of the back half is single stitched. The lid and interior are similar to typical polyester or nylon materials. Soft rubber material extends from the outsole 1" around the bottom of the cover. Probably for extra protection against water and dirt. The toe guard is another layer of harder rubber glued and double stitched over another soft rubber cover. Therefore, there must be adequate protection for the toes. A nylon strap is integrated in the lacing system and in the pocket. This allows the tightness of the bridge of the nose and the toes to be regulated. Black on gray is stylish enough, but who cares next? 05/29/2022