Hi there, Tarek (and Tina) here! Today we’re back with another barefoot shoe review, but this time it’s one that both Tina and I adore, the Xero Shoes Prio.
This running and fitness shoe was one of the first performance shoes Xero manufactured and started a long line of excellent barefoot shoes to come. To this day, the Prio shoes remain one of Xero’s best-selling shoes for both men and women.
No wonder these shoes have been featured on ABC, NBC, National Geographic, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Shark Tank, and The Running Clinic.
If you’ve contemplated owning a pair of Prio shoes yourself, you’ve definitely come to the right place. Today’s guide will take you through all the features these shoes boast.
I’ll also share my own personal experiences wearing the Prio shoes and Tina’s experience too, so don’t miss it!
What Are the Xero Shoes Prio Running and Fitness Shoes?
Xero Shoes remain the cream of the crop in the barefoot shoe world. The brand’s mantra, “Live life feet first!” is more than merely a catchy slogan. Xero’s shoes offer a more natural feel thanks to the flexible soles for foot movement.
When you slip into a pair of Xero Shoes footwear, you’ll appreciate the spacious toe box and FeelTrue sole for a better sense of motion.
Xero Shoes has more than 53,000 five-star reviews as of this writing. The brand also protects its footwear, including the Prio running and fitness shoe, under its 5,000-Mile Sole Warranty.
Let’s take a closer look at the Prio running and fitness shoe now, shall we? I know I’m excited to dive into an overview of its awesome features!
Men’s and Women’s Shoe
So many times on the blog, I’ll review barefoot shoes that are only available in men’s or women’s styles. A few are unisex, which is nice too.
The Prio running and fitness shoe comes in separate men’s and women’s versions. They’re not unisex shoes but designed to match the foot shape of men and women, respectively.
100 Percent Vegan
Many barefoot shoes in the Xero Shoes collection feature 100 percent vegan construction, and that’s true as well of the Prio shoes. You can feel good about wearing these shoes as often as you wish knowing that no animals were harmed during the production process.
Great Foot Security
What inspired the design of the Prio running and fitness shoe? Xero says it’s huarache sandals.
Although the Prio shoes themselves feature a closed-toe design, the huarache style still comes through in other inventive ways.
For example, the shoes feature adjustable instep and heel straps designed to keep your ankle and heel in place when you put the Prio shoes on.
To set the strap tightness just the way you like it, tug the strap through the sole’s ankle holes and then attach them to the laces. Voila!
With your instep secure, Xero says your forefoot and toes will feel more relaxed.
You can use the adjustable straps with socks or without them and still enjoy a secure feeling no matter what you end up doing when wearing the Prio shoes.
Oh, and did I mention these straps are reflective? You’ll feel safer jogging or exercising at dusk when wearing these barefoot shoes.
Ultra-Lightweight
You’ll adore the lightweight quality of these barefoot shoes, as I know I do. A men’s Prio in size nine weighs 7.6 ounces, while a women’s size seven weighs 7.4 ounces.
FeelTrue Outsole
I touched on this before, but I have to talk further about Xero’s FeelTrue outsole, a unique sole exclusive to this brand.
Made of rubber, the FeelTrue sole is a streamlined 5.5 millimeters. If you’ve ever worn Xero’s Z-Trek sandals, they feature the same outsole.
The protective qualities of the FeelTrue outsole never sacrifice the thinness of these shoes so you’ll always have an excellent groundfeel.
The insole, which measures an additional 2 millimeters, comes out so you’re even closer to the ground with every step you take.
Breathable
Although the Prio fitness and running shoes don’t have a waterproof membrane, Xero says the shoes breathe incredibly well.
That’s due to the mesh upper. Whether you sweat or splash through a puddle when jogging in these barefoot shoes, they won’t stay wet for long. You won’t have to worry about squishing around in soaking shoes for the rest of the day.
Designed for Active Lives
You could always wear the Prio shoes for everyday strolls, but Xero designed them with athletes in mind.
The versatility of these shoes makes them appropriate for nearly any type of activity imaginable, from slack-lining to biking, CrossFit, gym exercise, hiking, trail running, and road jogging.
Those activities are only the tip of the iceberg!
Excellent Barefoot Feel
The barefoot qualities you need in a shoe all come through loud and clear in the Prio running and fitness shoes.
Besides the aforementioned thin outsole, the shoes also bend and flex with your feet so you can move however you need without feeling constricted.
The generously-sized toe box and foot-shaped design augment your walking experience.
Fun Color Variety
Barefoot shoes never have to look boring, that’s for sure! The Prio shoes come in a boatload of fun colors for men and women alike.
Some of my favorite color combos for the men’s shoes include black and Samba Red, the two-toned Mykonos Blue, and the triple-colored Lunar color scheme, which is primarily white with melon red and bright blue adjustable straps.
For the ladies, you get such appealing hues as Delphinium Blue (dusty pale blue), Violet, Robin’s Egg with gray, and Lunar but with teal and purple adjustable straps.
Simple Care
Keeping the Prio shoes in excellent condition needn’t be difficult. Xero Shoes recommends washing the shoes by hand with warm water and mild dish soap and then giving them ample time to air dry. Could it be any easier? I don’t think so!
Our Experiences Wearing the Xero Shoes Prio Running and Fitness Shoe
Both Tina and I own the Xero Shoes Prio running and fitness shoes, and we have for a while now. Allow me to share our experiences wearing these shoes!
Tina loves to wear the women’s Prio shoes without the insole. She likes these shoes with a pair of socks and tied up tight.
As for me, I keep the insole in the shoes, and I’ve been known to wear the Prio shoes with or without socks depending on the weather.
I don’t pull the adjustable straps all that tight because I have a higher instep than most people and the looser straps feel more comfortable to me. Other readers with a high instep might want to do the same.
We both love the respective Lunar color schemes. We’ve used these shoes as casual everyday shoes and sports shoes. If you’re more into the sports side of things, then maybe skip the Lunar color scheme since scuffs and dirt can show up very fast on white shoes.
One of the advantages of the Lunar color scheme for those who wear these shoes casually is that you’ll find the colors match so much of your wardrobe. At least, that was the case for me.
Tina and I are currently wintering in a camper in southern Italy. We traveled very lightly, including only packing so many barefoot shoes. The Prio shoes were definitely on our-must have list since the Prio toes the line so expertly between casual and sports shoes.
I do use these shoes for exercise and currently wear them when jumping rope and working out at the gym. I especially appreciate the FeelTrue outsole when jumping rope since I’m bouncing on my feet a lot. I always feel very stable when wearing these shoes.
Tina also wears the Prio shoes when exercising, typically for CrossFit and Body Pump classes.
Athletes will love the lightweight quality of these barefoot shoes. I also recommend the Prio shoes for those just transitioning into barefoot shoe life, as the Prio has a lot of natural motion and fit that makes the adjustment easier.
The minimalistic style feels good on your feet, the light cushioning is a good go-between from regular to barefoot shoes. Of course, shoes look great to boot. Okay, so maybe that doesn’t matter as much when starting out wearing barefoot shoes, but I had to say it anyway.
How Much Do the Xero Shoes Prio Running and Fitness Shoes Cost?
Has this review whet your appetite and gotten you interested in the Xero Shoes Prio barefoot shoe? If so, your next question will be this: how much does the shoe cost?
There’s no price difference between the men’s and women’s shoes, so you’ll pay $89.99 either way. That’s quite reasonable for an athletic shoe and even a casual everyday shoe!
Are the Xero Shoes Prio Running and Fitness Shoes Worth It?
Do you still have a few lingering doubts about the Prio barefoot shoes? Allow me to address them in this section!
If you were asking me personally whether I think these Xero shoes are worth it, I would say without a doubt, yes!
You get so much for under $100 that the value is off the charts. The Prio shoes are stylish whether you’re wearing them at the gym, at your exercise class, on the trail, or just for casual everyday wear at work or off the clock.
I love the fun color variety, which is different enough for men and women that you have a tough decision to make.
The pure vegan construction of these shoes wins major brownie points with me, and I know a lot of other readers will feel the same. Maybe they’re not quite waterproof, but the breathable outer dries fast enough that you won’t miss a waterproof membrane.
The FeelTrue rubber is designed for just the right level of protection. You won’t have to stress about hurting your feet when running on a dusty or rocky trail, and you don’t have to worry about sacrificing groundfeel either. You get that in spades in the Prio shoe!
Other traits of a barefoot shoe, such as a wide toe box, removable insole, light design, flexibility, and foot-shape design all promote optimal posture and comfort.
I also can’t get enough of the huarache-inspired adjustable straps. I love how you can wear these shoes in so many different ways, whether with the straps pulled tight or loosened and with socks or without.
Whether you have a high instep, a regular instep, or a lower instep, you can still enjoy these shoes. How great is that?
Conclusion
The Xero Shoes Prio running and fitness shoe was a must on my winter trip to Italy. I’ve been living in a camper, so I had to travel light, and I didn’t want to go without these barefoot shoes.
They transition effortlessly between exercise and everyday casual wear, and the color variety matches so many of my outfits. I also love the adjustable straps, the durable rubber outsole, the vegan construction, and the look and feel of these shoes.
If you’re an athlete looking for the perfect barefoot shoe to meet all your sports-related New Year’s resolutions this year, let it be the Prio. I also love these shoes for first-time barefoot wearers looking to adjust.