[Try to get a barefoot!] 】The results of living "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HF 2" from XEROSHOES for about a month
Written by Saito Titoce
Barefoot shoes are said to be rekindling with health-consciousness, so I, who recently ran about 200km a month, have been very interested in them, so I introduced XEROSHOES' M's Z-Trek 2 and M's HF S2, and actually tried living with these two barefoot shoes for about a month. What is the outcome?
table of contents
What is XEROSHOES in the first place?
"M's Z-Trek 2" arrived at my home. It shows a great deal of interest in recycling, including the packaging, giving it a stylish impression.
Founded in 2009, a manufacturer that pursues barefoot running
The XEROSHOES shoes I introduced this time, but what kind of brand and manufacturer is XEROSHOES? Kenko in Japan , and was founded in Colorado in 2009.
The founder, Stephen, was introduced to a book called Born to Run by a sprinter who was a track and field sprinter when a friend introduced him to the book "Born to Run," and he came across barefoot running, and began to devote all his energy to making the simple sandals featured in the book, which is why he seems to be a hardcore barefoot running fan.
The translated book for "Born to Run" is "BORN TO RUN: Ultra Runners VS the Strongest Running Ethnicity of Humanity" published in Japan in 2010, so it is a barefoot shoe brand that was founded in the United States before that. Founded with the cooperation of former Nike and Reebok designers, the company now has a lineup of shoes that are useful not only for sandals, but also for running, trail running, hiking, walking, trekking, fitness, kayaking, and SUP.
The three major features of XEROSHOES are "Natural Fit", "Natural Feel", and "Natural Motion". The loose toe structure gives you a natural fit, allowing you to move from your thumb to your little toe freely without obstructing toe movement. Furthermore, the zero-drop structure with no difference in height between the toes and heels makes it the same posture as standing barefoot, and the extremely thin sole, at about 5 to 10 mm, is designed to make it closer to the ground, allowing you to feel the feel more directly. Furthermore, since there are almost no functions to support your feet, you can enjoy the open feeling of freedom and natural movement of your feet.
Among the barefoot shoes from XEROSHOES, I have selected two pairs of shoes, the M's Z-Trek 2 and the M's HF 2, and have actually introduced them. The reason was that I wanted to try barefoot shoes at home and outside.
"M's Z-Trek 2" sandal series, which can be said to be the origin of XEROSHOES
"M's Z-Trek 2." The design has a three-dimensional look even in the small parts of the sole, and fits the soles of your feet, making these sandals comfortable to wear all year round, regardless of the situation.
The reason I tried out XEROSHOES' M's Z-Trek 2 and M's HF 2 at the same time is actually a habit I gained when I was living abroad, and even at home, I sometimes find it difficult to relax when I'm not wearing sandals.
In fact, it's almost always at home, but I can't stay calm unless I wear Crocs Classic Clogs. I often get in my Japanese-style room wearing sandals and get warned by my foreign wife.
That's why I first selected the sandals for my home, where I spend the most time. The important condition is that you can wear it not only bare feet, but also wearing socks. It was even lighter and could be carried around when on business trips. To meet these requirements, I chose the simplest M's Z-Trek 2, which weighs only 205g, with the simplicity of 27.0cm in size and weighs only 205g per shoe.
Another major attraction is that it is relatively affordable at 8,400 yen excluding tax. When considering the size of XEROSHOES sandals, we recommend using the "Size Checking Template" available on the "About Zero Shoes and Sandal Fitting"
In my case, when I actually measured using a template, I realized that the toes were just wider, and the size wasn't as big as the shoes I usually wear, so XEROSHOES sandals, which were about a size smaller than usual, were perfect for a perfect fit. This is a characteristic of XEROSHOES, which believes in natural fit, so you should definitely check it out.
The latest model for barefoot running, "M's HF2"
The M's HF2 gives the impression of being a plain sneaker that seems to be relatively commonplace. When you actually lift it, you'll be a little surprised at how light it is.
I chose the M's Z-Trek 2 as my usual sandals indoors at home, but I had the question of what to do with jogging, which runs around 200km a month. Until then, I had been running with SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" which was quite cushioned ( see previous article for ), so although I'm getting used to running, I'm worried about whether I'll be able to use barefoot shoes that don't have much cushioning right away.
So I chose XEROSHOES' latest natural running shoes, "M's HF 2." The price is 15,000 yen excluding tax. It is said to be versatile for not only running barefoot but also for training at the gym, fitness, walking and walking. This pair is perfect for everyday life besides running.
Available in three colors: black/asphalt (BKAP), asphalt/alloy (APAY), and white (WHTE), the size is 27cm and weighs 209.8g per shoe. As I've become used to thick-soled running shoes, it's so light. When choosing a size for XEROSHOES, there are many differences from shoes from other manufacturers, so we recommend using a "size measurement sheet" to decide on the size fitting for zero shoes and shoe types In fact, I was also one size smaller than my usual jogging shoes.
The M's HF2 is XEROSHOES' latest running shoe, which pursues barefoot running, and the sole thickness is 12.5mm (sole: 9.0mm (lug: 2.5mm) insole: 3.5mm Stroll: 1.5mm), and the sole is relatively thick for the company's shoes, making it easy to try it as a first-time barefoot shoe.
I started my life as a barefoot shoe with these two pairs, the M's Z-Trek 2 and the M's HF 2.
Recommended points
- An overwhelming feeling of "connecting with the earth"
- The amount of information transmitted from the soles of the feet has increased dramatically
- A high sense of openness that does not constrain everything in your toes
- Running shoes are light at around 200g per shoe
- The foot movement changes even with basic movements such as walking and tatsu
- Feel the movement of the small muscles in your legs that you don't normally use
Points that interest me
- I use it for running and it gets on my lower back
- It is best to avoid using in hard areas at first
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | M's Z-Trek 2 | M's HF2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (one foot) | 205g (27.0cm) | 209.8g (27.0cm) | |
| color | Black (BLK), Forest (FGN), Brown (BRN), Nugget (NGT) | Black/Asphalt (BKAP), Asphalt/Alloy (APAY), White (WHTE) | |
| Size (Men's) | M6 (24cm) to M11 (29cm) 1cm increments | M6.5 (24.5cm) to M12 (30.0cm) 0.5cm increments | |
| Sole thickness | Stack height: 6.0mm (sole base: 4.0mm, sole lug: 2.0mm) | Stack height: 12.5mm (sole: 9.0mm (lug: 2.5mm) Insole: 3.5mm Stroll: 1.5mm) | |
| Outdoor Gearzine Rating | |||
| Foot information | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |
| A sense of openness | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
| design | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | |
| Lightness | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | |
| Ease of use | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
| Cost Performance | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
Detailed review
The overwhelming amount of information from the ground that you can feel just by wearing it and standing on it
The M's Z-Trek 2 was introduced as indoor wear at home. There's a huge amount of information coming from the soles of your feet. I actually wear this one when I'm writing this manuscript.
Barefoot = barefoot. To put it roughly, these bare-foot shoes are shoes and sandals that emphasize the feeling of bare feet.
Thin-tip shoes often do not have room in the toes, and there is often no room for each of the five toes to move freely, and in general shoes, the thickness of the cushions is different at the toes and heels, and the design is so that they lean slightly forward. Of course, this is not the case with bare feet, so many barefoot shoes are designed with zero drops that do not have this drop.
Naturally, most shoes come with a variety of cushions designed to reduce the impact when walking or running and protect your feet, but barefoot shoes do not have much cushion in the sole to directly convey the sense of the ground to your feet and to enhance the inherent shock absorption capabilities of the foot itself. In the case of XEROSHOES, the sole is only about 5mm to 10mm thick. And it prevents the natural movement of the foot, so there is very little function to support the foot.
The moment I stood wearing XEROSHOES I was surprised. This is the feeling of the ground that I'd forgotten with previous high cushioning shoes. When working from home, simply changing to the "M's Z-Trek 2" will make the difference between flooring and carpet flooring, which I hadn't been particularly aware of in previous Crocs classic clogs, and how my feet move when I go down stairs, and the amount of information will increase dramatically from the feet I hadn't been aware of before.
The M's Z-Trek 2 has extremely low cushioning on the soles of the feet compared to the classic indoor crocs clogs I've been wearing up until now.
This is the situation in the "M's Z-Trek 2" that I wear indoors, so it was a bit moving when I wore the "M's HF2" outdoors. There is a greater amount of information that can be conveyed through the soles of your feet when walking on grass or unpaved forest paths than on concrete or asphalt. It makes me even more aware of the connection to the earth that had been blocked until now.
The thin sole also conveys the softness of the grass on the ground, the feel of twigs, and the bumpy feel of pebbles, so the way you walk and run naturally changes. The most surprising thing was when I went up and down the stairs. Until then, when I was wearing highly cushioned shoes, I unconsciously used my heels, but after I started wearing "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HF 2", I realized that I was unconsciously using my toes to absorb the impact.
This change in walking style has led to a change in how I use my leg muscles, and perhaps because I use the smallest muscles, I have seen a change in how my legs feel more tired when I wear the M's Z-Trek 2 than before. I felt that this was linked to the idea that just spending time with barefoot will increase your muscle strength.
I tried running with "M's HF 2."
The sole part of "M's HF2". As for the author, who has been wearing thick-soled running shoes until now, I'm not saying this, but it's surprisingly fluent.
I was impressed by the difference in feel of barefoot shoes such as the M's Z-Trek 2 and M's HF 2, and felt a bit tired, which is also a big reason why I was wearing highly cushioned shoes for a long time.
I've been working without the need to wear leather shoes, and since the high-tech sneaker boom of the late 1990s, I've been wearing highly cushioned shoes with high-performance soles such as air and gel. Moreover, for the past decade or so I've been wearing Crocs Classic Clogs indoors, so I almost forgot about the feel of the ground that can be conveyed through the soles of my feet.
As I am the author, I have been jogging a reasonable distance lately, so I started running with the idea that it's best to start by running with the barefoot shoes, M's HF2, for about 10 to 20% of the distance I usually run.
I suddenly started running, but there is a warning that if you have been used to shoes with high cushioning for many years, like me, and have become a habit of relying on cushioning, switching to bare-foot shoes will stimulate muscles that you don't normally use, and you may feel strong muscle pain from muscle fatigue, impacts from landing, unevenness such as pebbles, and unevenness such as pebbles. Also, although there are individual differences in how people get used to such barefoot shoes, it can take six months to a year for a long time.
I usually run about 10km every time, so I run about 2km on "M's HF2" and for the remaining 8km on SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" which I used up until then. Unfortunately, this operation failed.
The author has been using SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" for the past few months. These are solely thick trail running shoes.
I originally had back pain that is a hernia, which can be considered an occupational disease, but when I was running on the thick-soled, highly cushioned "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX", I didn't get much lower back pain and I thought jogging was good for lower back pain. However, since M's HF2 has almost no cushioning properties, the impact that runs through is easily transmitted directly to your body. The legs and hips of a middle-aged man who has gained weight and relied on highly cushioned shoes for decades could not withstand the impact, and when he first started running, he developed lower back pain before he ran for 2km.
The feeling of running of "M's HF2" itself gives the impression of the ground and awakening the fine muscles in the legs that are not normally used with high cushioning shoes, and I really like it, so I tried jogging the same four or five times without being discouraged from lower back pain. However, even so, I still suffer from lower back pain, so I gave up on using it all of a sudden and started walking on my daily life. I haven't given up on my ambition to enjoy natural running with barefoot shoes yet, so I plan to spend some time getting used to my feet from walking-level daily life to barefoot shoes.
"M's HF2" is a great way to walk around the forest and everyday use
M's HF2 is a very pleasant place to walk on the grass or through the forests. The stimulation that reaches the soles of your feet is very enjoyable.
It seems that since the late 1990s, I have been protecting it with high-tech sneakers and other items, and have lost all the strength to my feet, so it seems that it was difficult to run in a sudden bare-foot shoes. However, wearing these XEROSHOES bare foot shoes, "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HF 2", increases the amount of information you can get through from the soles of your feet, and it feels like the small muscles in your toes and feet begin to move naturally.
For example, I have a 3-year-old son, and on my days off I go out walking around the forest with my son, and when I do this, my parents and children walk on the curb by the aisle, and when I fall, I enjoy playing around with crocodiles or sharks. When wearing "M's HF2", you can feel the feel of the tilted curb firmly on the sole of your feet, and you can use the muscles and toes on the sole of your feet to balance them with the image of grabbing a curb. It's nice that this feeling has a fresh feeling that reminds me of my childhood.
Unfortunately, I was unable to enjoy barefoot running right away after switching to "M's Z-Trek 2" or "M's HF 2", but I enjoyed various information from the soles of my feet, and the feeling of the muscles moving, which I usually don't use, is addictive. Therefore, I continue to live in my everyday home with "M's Z-Trek 2" and when I go out when I don't run, I continue to live with "M's HF 2". Once my foot muscles and other things have become accustomed to the barefoot shoes, I plan to try barefoot running again.
Summary: I decided to have my son wear barefoot shoes from a young age.
Don't overdo it, but want to awaken your feet's abilities while enjoying the feel of it.
I'd like to sprint on the grass with the M's Z-Trek 2, which I'll wear bare feet in the near future. I think it's more fun than speed, including various information that comes from the soles of your feet.
I live in a bare-foot shoe life, where some people find it painful to see zero drops in height between the toes and heels and the fact that the shoes are almost unsatisfied, but I really like it because I have a strong impression that the feeling of the feet is released. However, it is also true that if you wear it for a long time, you will feel a different kind of fatigue than before, perhaps because it stimulates muscles that you have not used before.
By using barefoot shoes, there is no impression that fatigue will be reduced or running faster. If I were to say that, since I'm not used to it, I'm more tired than before, and the impression I had of running is that the impact of running is directly transmitted to my feet and body, so in my case, I feel like I'm running slower because I'm afraid of breakdowns.
However, in my case, I no longer use it for jogging because I suffer from back pain, but there are several reasons why I want to use barefoot shoes such as the M's Z-Trek 2 and M's HF 2 in my daily life.
One is that the amount of stimulation and information you feel from your feet has increased dramatically, and it feels like your brain is being stimulated. As a result, on grass and mountain paths, you can feel a stronger sense of being connected to the earth and nature than regular shoes. Furthermore, wearing barefoot shoes stimulates muscles that have not been used before, even after I used them for about a month, which makes me even more tiring, but it gives me a great deal that will help me build up my fine muscles just by wearing them.
I had back pain while jogging, but I really liked the bare foot shoe life I had with M's Z-Trek 2 and M's HF 2.
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Saito Titoce
Former monthly camera magazine editor. While pursuing the spectacular views of Hokkaido and the wildlife, I was completely hooked on the outdoor life of camper vans and sleeping in my car. While traveling the entire country with his 2-year-old son and wife, he is a photographer writer who photographs and writes everything he has experienced, not only cameras and lenses, but also outdoor camping, child-rearing, PC gadgets, cooking, and dieting. OUTDOOR GEARZINE plans to write a variety of articles, focusing on the QOCL (Quality of Camping Life) Improvement Committee, which will improve the quality of life in camping and camper vans.
