Saturday, December 16, 2017

DAY LITE HIKER FROM XERO SHOES-REVIEW

I held off much longer than usual to review this offering from Xero Shoes.  My apologies to Steven, Lena and the staff who sent these to me to check out, and thanks for their patience.  

     This is such a unique offering, however, I wanted to do even more than the usual wear testing on this product.  I have put this through its' paces, and have hiked and hiked, done some running, and a fair amount of around town wear on these.  They are that versatile, and I'm excited to be doing this review, as these have become a real favorite.

     Let's get started, as I have a lot to say........

     Fresh out of the box, I could see and feel that this product was different.  Xero ALWAYS produces a quality shoe/sandal, but these are exceptional.  Built on the same running sandal sole, they have a really comfortable upper that snugs up around your ankle for serious hiking, while maintaining that "Roll up in a ball" flexibility for which Xeros have become so well-known.  You can see that the toe box is nice and wide, and the tread pattern is capable of serious grip on any terrain that I encountered (and I encountered quite a lot in these!).
 The laces are set up in a "speed lace" style for quick tying, and they have a unique texture which really helps them stay tied in every situation.  They come with a thin insole that is removable. I actually did remove the insoles in mine for most of the time, as I love every bit of ground feel that I can get.  The insoles are thin enough, though that it really isn't necessary to remove them, and leaving them in will likely be better for the interior bottom of the shoe.
      Shortly after receiving these, I had the opportunity to do some camping and hiking at Big Bear Lake, CA.  I took these and another pair of Xeros that I have previously reviewed, their Prios.  I had a history with Prios, hiking in heavy snow, and I knew they could be my go-to if for any reason the Day Lites caused any foot issues, being just out of the box.  I didn't wear anything except the Day Lites, and they were extremely comfortable, whether it was around camp or hiking at the lake or the woods, as seen below.  Brand new hikers that caused no foot issues.  That is a phenomenon in and of itself!
 Not too long after the Big Bear Campout, I had a chance to test these in a lot of different terrain during a trip across Northern Arizona.  They were great during about a 3 hour hike at the Grand Canyon.  Didn't get to take them down in, due to time constraints, but they carried me nicely along several miles of the South Rim.
 We also spent time at Meteor Crater, as shown in the next photograph.  This was more walking and stairs than hiking, but they performed nicely, nonetheless.
      A great test of the soles was the day of hiking through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, near Holbrook, AZ.   If you have been there, you will recall that the trails are covered with really sharp remnants of petrified wood, interspersed with heavy gravel.  We went off trail a bit, and encountered more of the same, only rougher.  I could feel the rocks under my feet, but the soles on these were more than adequate protection from the jagged edges.
 As we crossed the northern part of the state, along I-40, there was an obligatory stop.  I had been getting my 12 year old hooked on oldies, and he has become a big fan of the Eagles.  We pulled off in Winslow, and happened to hit there during a huge Native American festival.  The little town was packed, and there was a big parade, with all the streets lined with food and jewelry vendors.  Parking was nowhere to be had near our destination, so we had to trek a mile or so to "THE CORNER", so had no choice but to "Take it Easy".  Day Lites are good not only for camping, hiking, exploring, but are perfect for "Standin' on the corner in Winslow Arizona"!  Here we are below.  Aren't we "such a fine sight to see?"  There was no girl in a flatbed Ford. We had a great Wife/Mom there to take our picture, though!
The bottom line on these hikers, is that they are the most comfortable, versatile shoes I've ever had.  Next summer we head for summer camp with the Scouts, and these will, for sure, be along, ready for the next set of adventures.  If you haven't yet bought a pair of these, just follow the link to the top right of this page, and treat yourself.  You won't be sorry!!