XERO SHOES Z-TRAIL REVIEW: Truly versatile barefoot sandals

XERO SHOES Z-TRAIL REVIEW: Truly versatile barefoot sandals XERO SHOES Z-TRAIL REVIEW: Truly versatile barefoot sandals

Reviews Stories and Brands Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes

Looking for barefoot sandals that tick every box? We tested the Xero Shoes Z-Trail and loved their versatility, lightness and quality.

Tested model XERO SHOES Z-TRAIL Santa Fe size 42
Best for light trekking, leisure activities, city wear
Upper material nylon straps
Sole 10 mm triple-layer FeelLite™ sole
Fit suitable for average to wider feet, adjustable thanks to the straps
Colour options blue, black, brown, purple, coral
Available sizes  36–47
Price 2 250 Kč
Testing conditions approx. 350 km (roads, city, hills, meadows, festivals), May to June 2022
Manufacturer American brand XERO SHOES

The Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV differs only in the outsole tread pattern, and besides the usual black and brown you can also get it in pink, red, purple and blue.

Even though I’m often up north, I’m a summer person – and summer simply means sandals. In spring 2022, I got my hands on the Z-TRAIL and couldn’t wait to take them for a proper spin.

Throughout the whole testing period – apart from a few exceptionally rainy and cold days – I barely took them off. They came with me through everyday life in Pardubice and Prague, to two travel festivals, several climbing trips to the rocks, to Šumava, on a few small local outings, and even to one rather specific wedding.

Main pros:

  • they’re comfortable both in the city and out on the trails
  • they follow the ground well while still protecting your feet
  • easy to slip on
  • they fit well and don’t slide around
  • no blisters – not even on the first wear
  • they dry quickly
  • they’re lightweight and packable
  • they look great in town and in nature

Main cons:

  • on a long day, the connected upper straps can loosen, and it’s not that easy to tighten them again – especially if your feet are sweaty

Key features and technical assessment

The barefoot Z-TRAIL sandals are a brilliant option for travellers who love being outdoors but also pop into town now and then. The 10 mm triple-layer FeelLite™ sole offers plenty of protection while keeping good ground feel and the trekking tread pattern delivers stability and grip.

The textile straps hold your foot perfectly in place. When you’re resting, you can loosen them so your foot feels free and the sandals wear more like slides. In tougher terrain, you can tighten the straps and your foot won’t shift on the footbed. A snug fit also reduces the number of little stones that might otherwise get between your foot and the sole.

Putting them on and taking them off is pretty simple and comfortable – you just tighten or loosen the strap that holds the heel. I really appreciate the material the straps are made from. With some sandals I’ve had before, the straps often dug into my skin, especially after longer wear. With the Z-Trail I’m not seeing anything like that – my feet and toes don’t rub anywhere.

The colour combination of blue, black and brown is right up my street, and on the foot it looks fantastic. After heavy use, you can simply rinse them in water – at most with a brush for mud and other dirt. Then they look like new again.

When I’m wandering around the world, I usually wear heavier ankle boots, because on trips to countries like Mauritania or Iraq, a sprained ankle is the last thing you want. Right now I’m testing a barefoot hiking-boot alternative – the XERO SHOES XCURSION – and I’m hoping that on future trips my feet (and my backpack) will be a few dozen grams lighter, without sacrificing comfort.

I always carry sandals in my backpack for the evening, for lighter outings, or for walking around town. What’s great here is that the Z-Trail are versatile minimalist sandals that pack down small and weigh just 300 grams. Your feet will definitely notice the weight difference between classic hiking boots and ultra-light sandals.

Testing out in the real world

In cities

The sandals arrived at my place on 5 May, and since then I’ve barely taken them off. On average, I walk around 10,000 steps a day (not counting running, other sports, etc.), mostly on the streets of Prague or Pardubice. Over the whole period I didn’t get a single blister or pressure spot. It did take a little while for my feet to get used to the sandals, but once everything ‘settled’, I practically stopped noticing them on my feet.

When I first saw the Santa Fe, I was a bit worried about the little ‘lip’ at the heel – it looked like it might bother me. It didn’t, and actually it helps keep the foot nicely in place. Because I use them so often, I wash them regularly and let them dry out. After two months of use, there was no major wear to speak of – not on the upper straps or on the soles.

In Šumava with the camper van

A photoshoot at Kašperk Castle and around it (886 m above sea level), hikes up Svatobor (845 m above sea level) and Poledník (1,315 m above sea level) – basically a normal short photography weekend in Šumava while trying out a new VW T5 camper conversion. I set myself the goal of spending the whole weekend in sandals only, because I wanted to see what they’d do to my feet. Honestly, there were moments when my choice didn’t feel very sensible – for example during sunset photos from the Pustý Hrádek ruins, where I would have appreciated sturdier footwear – but everything survived: me, the sandals and the camera.

Over a weekend of absolutely brutal heat and thunderstorms I walked around 40 kilometres, drove 200 kilometres in the van, 300 by coach and 250 kilometres by train. By the end my feet were a bit sunburnt and scraped, but considering what they’d been through, it was nothing dramatic.

On festival stages

This year was packed with summer travel festivals. One took place in South Bohemia in a forest by a local pond, and the other in the Karlovy Vary Region in a botanical garden. Both terrains were made for these sandals – soft, forgiving… just genuinely pleasant underfoot.

Especially by the pond, I appreciated how quickly the sandals dried after walking through water. As a speaker who’s in the spotlight on stage, I also really value that they look great – you simply feel good wearing them.

Final verdict

The minimalist barefoot Z-TRAIL sandals are simply brilliant – lightweight, packable and they stay put on your feet. For me, they’re the ideal second pair to throw in your backpack when travelling, when you fancy giving your feet a break from hiking boots or other closed shoes. I can’t wait to take them to Norway and Estonia this year. We’ll see how they get on this far north.

Bottom line? In these sandals I feel great in the Šumava forest, on a festival stage, and on an evening stroll through Pardubice.

The Z-Trail sandals were tested by Jiří Kalát. A travelling scribbler who gives talks for people who like to listen. He loves the Middle East and North Africa, but is happy to roam anywhere you can find adventure or discover something new. He’s the author of the books Všichni tady lžou and Černobyl na kolečkách, collaborates with several magazines and travel websites, and speaks at festivals and venues across the Czech Republic. He also tries to help, which is why he supports projects such as 1000 statečných, Nadace Leontinka or Domov sv. Josefa in Žireč.

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