Xero Shoes is a company that’s been making minimalist footwear since 2009. This also happens the be the same year that the book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall hit the stands. I read it, and like many others, was convinced to give barefoot running a try. To my surprise, shedding shoes as much as possible eliminated all foot and back pain within a few months. As my feet regained all of their natural strength and flexibility, I started seeking out shoes with the thinnest soles I could find, and at the time, there weren’t many options.
As the minimalist shoe movement caught on, more and more companies responded to a demand for more natural feeling footwear. Xero Shoes started with running sandals, but it wasn’t long before they began to release shoes. Today, they have 15+ styles of minimalist footwear for almost any activity you could imagine.
One of their most recent releases is the Xero Shoes Aptos, which is a super comfy loafer style shoe. They have a hemp canvas upper, and they only weigh about 8 ounces. The tread is grippy, but not aggressive, so they’re perfect for easy hikes and kicking back in camp.
When I tried the Xero Shoes Aptos on my immediate thought was, “oh yeah, I’ll be wearing them for the rest of the summer.” It immediately felt like I’d had them for years. They’re incredibly light and nimble, and I love the slip-on style. If you’re looking for a comfortable “do just about anything shoe,” I don’t think you can go wrong with the Aptos.
