As I said above, I would choose this shoe for running in the desert, which, for me, is often a springtime activity. And in my mind, the natural running style that requires a reactive running gait contributes to increased strength in the feet and ankles (so long as you don’t overdo it and get injured). For that reason, I might use the Mesa Trail to build strength early in the season. But once the high country opens up, I might go for something with (much) more cushion, such as the Altra Timp 3. In the barefoot-inpsired category in general, I’d say the Mesa Trail will appeal most to those who will be using it on smoother trails and who prioritize low weight and excellent breathability. One of the great things about Xero Shoes is they offer virtually no break-in period for those adapted to minimally cushioned, zero-drop shoes. It’s worth noting a few things here. Firstly, this mesh failure on this exact spot occurs in many of my trail runners (prompting Steven Sashen to point out, rightly, that the problem could be my feet, my mechanics, my general terrain, or all of the above.) But it’s also worth noting that this failure occurred at mile 200 (322 km) on my Altra Lone Peaks and went all the way through the shoe (see my photo above). On my Mesa Trail shoes, the failure has stopped at the outer layer of mesh.

Moving up the shoe, the lacing system is based loosely on a traditional Huarache sandal. If you’ve ever worn any Xero sandals, you’ll be familiar with the strap system, except this time, they’re hidden behind an outer layer to protect from any abrasion or wear.

Waterproof and lightweight, Xero Mesa Trail WPs are for barefoot runners who want to feel soggy ground beneath their feet, but who can’t cope with soggy socks

The Xero Mesa Trail could be described as a shoe without cushioning. It’s simply an upper with a sole, as simple as that. So, you've read all about the Prio and Mesa Trail 2 and you're all fired up about barefoot shoes! What's next on your minimalist footwear journey? 🤔 Enter the Xero Shoes Mesa Trail. These sturdy little shoes have lasted 500 miles (805 km), and I expect to get at least 200 more out of them before complete failure. Is that ideal? No. I long for the day I can get 1000 miles out of a lightweight, minimalist shoe. But the Mesa Trail is getting close to that milestone. The standout feature of the shoe is deep airy toe box. Yes, the toe box is moderately wide, but having that depth to the shoe is refreshing, allow for the toes to wiggle in every direction.

The shoe laces themselves seem odd to me, but they work. The laces are rounded and sturdy, reminding me of a boot lace or sturdy camping cord. On my size 14 shoe, there is just enough length to double-knot. A single-knot test failed and the shoes untied while running. When double-knotted the shoes have never untied. For the rougher terrain, the TerraFlex offers a bit more protection for the trail runner and Xero Shoes even offers barefoot hiking shoes with ankle protection like the Xcursion Fusion ( Mens and Womens). Sidenote: they even offer a snowboot! Mesa Trail Shoe Running Experience When it comes to the perfect blend of cushion, fit, and ground feel, both the Prio and the Mesa Trail II from Xero Shoes don't disappoint. So what about the sizing, fit, and comfort features of these two models. The lugs on this shoe are unobtrusive and provide a great balance of grip and ground feel, unlike the more cushioned trail shoes.

Like the rest of the Xero Shoes lineup, it does a bewitching job of being simultaneously barefoot during mid-stance but offering enough of a responsive spring from the rubber to keep the zip in your step during push-off and landing. For my first run, I probably covered only around 2 miles in total and it’s important to bear this in mind when starting to use this type of footwear.