Xero Shoes Mesa Trail trail running shoe review: a well-designed shoe ideal for barefoot running

First thoughts

Since the zenith of the barefoot running movement, Xero Shoes has continued to evolve the category of minimally designed shoes for the dedicated core of enthusiasts. If you’ve ever opined that some of the bigger shoe companies spend too much on product styling you won’t be similarly aggrieved at XeroShoes Mesa Trail. They are aesthetically functional. It’s not really until they’re on your feet that the excitement levels rise.

The hyper-agile Mesa Trail is the most footloose and fancy free shoe for trail running the brand has ever made. They’ve chosen a subtly foot-shaped last to build these on that will please most runners. The upper is soft and comfortable and the eyelet chain, a mixture of punched holes and webbing, does a great job of securing the mid-foot. It has a low-to-the-ground construction that is essentially a 5mm flexible rubber outsole, an interior 3mm foam layer and a 2mm insole (made from a closed-cell foam, which won’t gain weight when soaked) that’s cushy, breathable and removable.

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The Mesa Trail is exquisitely comfortable for such a sparsely cushioned shoe, but the interior feel is bolstered by a thin breathable, moisture-wicking lining. This shoe provides exceptional feel for the trail, which, depending on your experience with barefoot shoes and the surface you’re running on, could be a good thing or a big of a challenge. The outsole is made from durable rubber with multi-directional 3.5mm lugs that serves up great traction and a tad bit more protection, while the reinforced toe bumper provides security against stubbed toes. The rubber compound is not tacky; this can cause grip issues on hard wet surfaces but, as a positive, should result in a long lasting outsole.

On the trails

We tested the Mesa Trail shoes on two continents. Our U.S. tester took them on a variety of smooth and technical trails all around Boulder, including the namesake trail that runs under the iconic Flatirons rock faces that give the city its identity. He also ran up and down Mt Sanitas and Bear Peak, two of the highest summits on the western horizon line, while wearing these shoes. Meanwhile our British test pilot took them for multiple spins on tough trails in the Peak District of Northern England.

Xero Shoes builds all of its shoes on the principles of natural running, allow the ability for a runner’s feet to uninhibitedly interact with the ground. The Mesa Trail has been designed for light, fast and agile running on a variety of trail surfaces, from smooth dirt to technical, rocky routes. It offers a good blend of comfort, cushion, agility and protection to create a modern barefoot running experience.

All of the materials used in the Mesa Trail are lightweight, but, more importantly, they’re super functional elements that work in concert to develop an optimal interaction with the ground. The midsole-outsole chassis is decidedly thin but it still offers sufficient or ‘just enough’ protection from rocks, roots, gravel and other obstacles on the trail.

The stretchy, mesh upper is comfortable and very breathable, yet sturdy enough to keep the foot from sloppy movements on the trail. The laces are integrated into midfoot overlay straps over the saddle that snug down each foot without hindering natural flex and movement patterns. Grip is good, but we did wonder if the compound could be stickier.

Keep in mind that running in minimally designed shoes takes some know-how and experience, and if you take most pairs of barefoot shoes out for the first time, you’re bound to endure some awkward landings and get some “stingers” from pointed rocks and roots. But the design and materials of the Mesa Trail smooth out the ride and allow a runner to focus on the intimate interaction between their feet and the trail.