[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, shoes that give the feeling of being barefoot, are making a comeback, partly due to health-conscious trends, so as someone who runs around 200km a month these days, I became very interested and decided to try out the XEROSHOES "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HFS 2" shoes, and actually lived with these two barefoot shoes for about a month. What were the results?
table of contents
What is XEROSHOES anyway?
The "M's Z-Trek 2" arrived at my house. The packaging, too, shows a strong interest in recycling, and it has a stylish look
A manufacturer that pursues barefoot running, founded in 2009
The shoes I used this time are from XEROSHOES, but what kind of brand and manufacturer is XEROSHOES? In Japan, Kenko Co., Ltd. , and was founded in Colorado in 2009.
The company's founder, Stephen, was a track and field sprinter who was suffering from an injury when a friend introduced him to the book "Born to Run." This led him to discover barefoot running, and he devoted all his energy to making the simple sandals that were featured in the book. In a sense, he is a die-hard barefoot running fan
The translated version of "Born to Run" was published in Japan in 2010 as "BORN TO RUN: Born to Run - Ultra Runners vs. Humanity's Strongest Running Tribe," so this barefoot shoe brand was founded in the United States before that. Founded with the cooperation of former Nike and Reebok designers, the company now offers a lineup of shoes not only for sandals, but also for running, trail running, hiking, walking, trekking, fitness, kayaking, SUP, and more
The three main features of XEROSHOES are "Natural Fit," "Natural Feel," and "Natural Motion." The roomy toe box provides a natural fit, allowing for free movement of the toes from the big toe to the little toe. Furthermore, the zero-drop design with no difference in height between the toes and heels allows for the same posture as standing barefoot, and the extremely thin sole, just 5-10mm, is designed to bring you closer to the ground and allow you to feel the ground more directly. And because there are virtually no supportive features, you can enjoy the sense of freedom and natural movement of your feet
From among the barefoot shoes from XEROSHOES, I selected two pairs, "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HFS 2," and tried them out. The reason was that I wanted to try out barefoot shoes both at home and outside
The sandal series "M's Z-Trek 2" is the origin of XEROSHOES
"M's Z-Trek 2" sandals feature a three-dimensional design in the soles that fits snugly to the soles of your feet, making them comfortable to wear all year round, regardless of the situation
The reason I tried out XEROSHOES' "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HFS 2" at the same time is that I don't feel comfortable with bare feet without sandals even at home, a habit I picked up while living abroad
In fact, I feel uneasy at home unless I wear Crocs Classic Clogs almost all the time. I often walk into Japanese-style rooms wearing sandals, and my wife, who is a foreigner, scolds me
For this reason, I first selected sandals to wear at home, where I spend most of my time. An important requirement was that they could be worn with socks as well as bare feet. They also needed to be lightweight so I could carry them with me when I travel. Meeting these requirements, I chose the simplest sandals, the M's Z-Trek 2, which comes in a size 27.0cm and weighs just 205g per pair
Another big attraction is that they are relatively reasonably priced at 8,400 yen excluding tax. When considering the size of XEROSHOES sandals, we recommend using the "Size Check Template" available on the "About XEROSHOES Sandal Fitting"
In my case, when I actually measured using the template, I found that my toes were just wide, but not as big as the shoes I usually wear, and a pair of XEROSHOES sandals that were about one size smaller than usual fit perfectly. This is a typical feature of XEROSHOES, which believes in a natural fit, so it's something you should definitely check
The latest model for barefoot running, "M's HFS2"
The M's HFS2 looks like a relatively ordinary sneaker, but when you actually pick it up, you'll be surprised at how light it is
I chose the M's Z-Trek 2 sandals as my everyday sandals for indoor wear at home, but I had a problem with what to do about jogging, which I do about 200km a month. Until then, I had been running in SALOMON's THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX sandals, which have a fairly high level of cushioning ( see my previous article ), so even though I was getting used to running in them, I was still worried about whether it would be okay to suddenly switch to barefoot shoes with almost no cushioning.
So I chose the latest natural running shoes from XEROSHOES, the "M's HFS2." They cost 15,000 yen excluding tax. They're said to be versatile enough for barefoot running, as well as gym training, fitness, and even walks. They're also perfect for everyday use, not just running
The shoes are available in three colors: black/asphalt (BKAP), asphalt/alloy (APAY), and white (WHTE), and each shoe weighs just 209.8g in size 27cm. For someone used to thick-soled running shoes, this is a shocking lightness. When choosing your size, XEROSHOES differs in many ways from shoes from other manufacturers, so we recommend using the "size measurement sheet" as a reference for "Zero Shoes Shoe Type Size Fitting."
The M's HFS2 is the latest running shoe from XEROSHOES, which is designed to pursue barefoot running. The sole thickness is relatively thick for the company's shoes, with a stack height (distance from the sole of the foot to the ground) of 12.5mm (sole: 9.0mm (lug: 2.5mm) insole: 3.5mm strut: 1.5mm), making it an easy shoe to try even if you're just starting out with barefoot shoes
I started my barefoot shoe lifestyle with these two pairs of shoes: the M's Z-Trek 2 and the M's HFS 2
Recommended points
- An overwhelming sense of being connected to the earth
- The amount of information transmitted from the soles of your feet has increased dramatically
- A high sense of freedom that doesn't restrict any of your toes
- Lightweight running shoes weighing approximately 200g per shoe
- Footwork changes even in basic movements like walking and standing
- Feel the movement of small muscles in your legs that you don't normally use
Points that interest me
- When I use it for running, it hurts my lower back
- It is best to avoid using it on hard surfaces at first
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | M's Z-Trek 2 | M's HFS2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) in 1cm increments | M6.5 (24.5cm) to M12 (30.0cm) in 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 strut: 1.5mm) | |
| Outdoor Gearzine Rating | |||
| Foot information volume | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | |
| sense of openness | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
| design | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | |
| Lightness | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | |
| Ease of use | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
| Cost Performance | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
Detailed review
Just by wearing them and standing, you can feel the overwhelming amount of information coming from the ground
I've introduced the "M's Z-Trek 2" as indoor shoes at home. The amount of information it provides from the soles of my feet is amazing. I'm actually wearing them as I write this
Barefoot = bare feet. Roughly speaking, shoes or sandals that emphasize the feeling of being barefoot can be called barefoot shoes
Pointed-toe shoes often don't have enough room for the toes, leaving little room for each of your five toes to move freely, and regular shoes have different cushioning thicknesses at the toe and heel, so they're designed to lean slightly forward. Naturally, this doesn't happen with bare feet, so most barefoot shoes are designed with a zero-drop design
Naturally, most shoes have various cushioning mechanisms in place to reduce impact and protect the feet when walking or running, but barefoot shoes have almost no cushioning in the soles, which transmits the sensation of the ground directly to the feet and enhances the feet's natural ability to absorb shock. In the case of XEROSHOES, the soles are only about 5mm to 10mm thick. And because they interfere with the natural movement of the feet, they have almost no supportive function
The moment I put on the XEROSHOES and stood up, I was surprised. I felt the sensation of the ground, something I'd forgotten with my previous highly cushioned shoes. When working from home, I was able to notice things I hadn't noticed before, like the difference between hardwood and carpeted floors, or the movement of my feet when going down stairs, all by simply switching to the M's Z-Trek 2
Compared to the Crocs Classic Clogs that I had been wearing indoors, the M's Z-Trek 2 has extremely low cushioning for the soles of my feet
That's how it felt with my indoor shoes, the M's Z-Trek 2, so I was quite impressed when I put on the M's HFS 2 outdoors. The amount of information transmitted through the soles of my feet when walking on grass or unpaved forest paths was much greater than when walking on concrete or asphalt. It almost made me feel a connection to the earth that I'd previously been cut off from
The thin sole allows you to feel the softness of the grass on the ground, the feel of twigs, and the unevenness of pebbles, so your walking and running style will naturally change. What surprised me the most was when going up and down stairs. Until then, when I was wearing shoes with high cushioning, I would unconsciously use my heels, but after wearing the "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HFS 2," I realized that I was unconsciously using my toes to absorb the shock as I walked
This change in the way I walked also changed the way I used my leg muscles, even just walking around the house, and I noticed that my legs felt more tired when I was wearing the M's Z-Trek 2, probably because I was using smaller muscles. This seemed to be linked to the idea that muscle strength can be improved just by spending time barefoot
I tried running with "M's HFS2"
The sole of the "M's HFS2" is surprisingly thin, if I may say so myself, as someone who has always worn thick-soled running shoes
When I tried on barefoot shoes like the M's Z-Trek 2 and M's HFS 2, I was impressed by the difference in feel and felt a little tired, which was probably largely due to the fact that I had always been wearing shoes with high cushioning
I've worked in a job that doesn't require me to wear leather shoes, so ever since the high-tech sneaker boom in the late '90s, I've only worn shoes with high-performance soles like air or gel, which provide excellent cushioning. For the past 10 years or so, I've been wearing Crocs Classic Clogs even indoors, so I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to feel the ground through the soles of my feet
I've been jogging a fair amount of distance lately, so I decided to start by running about 10-20% of the distance I normally run in barefoot shoes, the M's HFS2
Although I started running straight away, the warning states that for people like me who have been accustomed to highly cushioned shoes for many years and have become accustomed to relying on that cushioning for their movements, switching to barefoot shoes can stimulate muscles that aren't normally used, causing muscle pain from fatigue, and increased pain from the impact of landings and uneven surfaces such as pebbles. It's said that getting used to barefoot shoes can take as long as six months to a year, although this varies from person to person
I usually run about 10km each time, so my plan was to run about 2km in the M's HFS2 and then run the remaining 8km in the SALOMON THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX that I had been using until then. Unfortunately, this plan ended in failure
I have been using SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" for the past few months. It is a thick-soled trail running shoe
I've always suffered from lower back pain, almost a hernia, which could be considered an occupational hazard, but when I ran in shoes with thick soles and high cushioning, like "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX," I didn't experience much lower back pain, and I thought jogging was good for lower back pain. However, the "M's HFS2" has almost no cushioning, so the impact of running is easily transmitted directly to the body. As a middle-aged man who is overweight and has relied on highly cushioned shoes for decades, his legs and hips could not withstand the impact, and when I first started running, I started to experience lower back pain within 2km
The feeling of running in the "M's HFS2" itself is that you can feel the ground, and it seems to awaken the fine muscles in your feet that aren't normally used in shoes with high cushioning. I really like them, so I tried jogging in the same way about 4-5 times, despite the back pain. However, I still ended up with back pain, so I gave up on jogging right away and decided to start with everyday walking. I haven't given up on my ambition to enjoy natural running in barefoot shoes yet, so I plan to take my time and get my feet used to barefoot shoes by walking in everyday life
"M's HFS2" for forest walks and everyday use
"M's HFS2" feels great when walking on the grass or through the woods. The stimulation it gives to the soles of your feet is very enjoyable
Since the late '90s, I've probably been using high-tech sneakers and other protective gear to protect my feet, which have completely lost their natural strength, so suddenly running in barefoot shoes was probably too much for me. However, when I wear XEROSHOES' barefoot shoes, the "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HFS 2," the amount of information transmitted from the soles of my feet increases, and it feels great to see my toes and small muscles begin to move as they should
For example, I have a three-year-old son, and on the weekends I often go for walks in the forest with him. We often walk on the curb beside the path, playing games like pretending we'd find a crocodile or a shark if we fell. When I'm wearing M's HFS2, I can feel the tangential curb firmly on the soles of my feet, and I can use the muscles in the soles of my feet and my toes to maintain my balance, imagining I'm grabbing the curb. There's something refreshing about this sensation that reminds me of childhood
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to enjoy barefoot running immediately after switching to the "M's Z-Trek 2" or "M's HFS 2," but there's something addictive about enjoying all kinds of information through the soles of my feet and feeling muscles I don't normally use moving. For this reason, I continue to use the "M's Z-Trek 2" at home and the "M's HFS 2" when I'm out and about and not running. Once my foot muscles have fully adapted to barefoot shoes, I plan to try barefoot running again
Summary: I decided to get my son to wear barefoot shoes from an early age
Don't push yourself too hard, just enjoy the sensation and awaken the capabilities of your feet
In the near future, I'd like to try sprinting barefoot on the grass in the M's Z-Trek 2. I think it's more about having fun than speed, because it conveys all the information I need through the soles of my feet
Some people find the zero-drop design, which means there's no difference in height between the toe and heel of the shoe, and the almost complete lack of cushioning in the shoe to be a pain, but I personally find the feeling of freedom in my feet and really like them. However, it's also true that wearing them for long periods of time can cause a different kind of fatigue, perhaps because they stimulate muscles that haven't been used before
I don't feel like switching to barefoot shoes reduces fatigue or makes me run faster. If I had to say, I'd say that because I'm not used to them, I get more tired than with my previous shoes, and from my experience running a bit, the impact of running is transmitted directly to my feet and body, so in my case, I feel like I run slower for fear of injury
Even so, in my case, I stopped using them for jogging because they caused back pain, but there are several reasons why I still prefer to wear barefoot shoes such as the "M's Z-Trek 2" and "M's HFS 2" in my everyday life
One is that the amount of stimulation and information received from the feet increases dramatically, and it feels as though even the brain is being stimulated. As a result, on grass or mountain trails, you feel a stronger sense of connection to the earth and nature than when wearing regular shoes. Furthermore, when wearing barefoot shoes, at first, or even after wearing them for about a month, muscles that you haven't used before are stimulated, so you get more tired, but there's a sense of reward in that you're working out those small muscles just by wearing them
Although I did experience back pain when jogging, I really enjoy barefoot shoes with the M's Z-Trek 2 and M's HFS 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.
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