Each person is different. If you like the idea of barefoot shoes and haven’t got any foot conditions or injuries, it’s worth giving them a go. I’m not a dedicated CrossFit junky. I do strength train regularly and wander over to the CrossFit gym when it fits nicely in my schedule. That being said, I’ve done Olympic lifts, rope climbs, and everything in between wearing these shoes over the course of the year, and they’ve held up well. The Prio Neo minimalist shoe from Xero Shoes takes the original Prio to the next level. And that’s high praise, because the original is pretty legendary in itself and is Xero’s best-selling shoe. This is a pretty standard sizing feature in barefoot shoes, but in the context of cross-training shoes, the 360 could be a good option to explore if you have wider and flatter feet and want a more minimalist-style shoe. For general cross-training, this shoe’s upper also does a fairly good job from a durability standpoint. The one area where it does fall a little short is for high-volume rope climbs so definitely keep an eye on this if you’re investing in this shoe specifically for CrossFit.

The versatility of barefoot shoes is one of the best things. For active people, you can go to the gym, walk the dog and do your shopping in barefoot shoes. As your feet get used to them, there isn’t a real need to keep changing your footwear.Across the board, if you’re training with a versatile focus, then I’d suggest going with the Xero Shoes 360. The other models will work for this style of training, however, they’re not optimized for it. The Prio can feel a bit chunky at times and the HFS’s lighter upper will not last as long as the 360’s re-worked upper. The Primus Lite All Weather comes with a 2mm rubber sole base with a 2mm tread depth. The tread uses Vivobarefoot’s signature hexagonal shape for grip and flexibility. The sole carefully overlaps at the toe to give protection when travelling across hard surfaces in urban environments. Barefoot shoes are really versatile and suitable for all sorts of activities. Each barefoot shoe differs and may have incorporated technology and features to make them specialised for an activity, but in general you can wear barefoot shoes for:

I like the appearance of Xero’s Zelen shoes, but they’re not the best-looking on the list. Also, if you’re running outside when the weather isn’t too good, your feet will probably get wet and potentially cold.Second, it’s great for deadlifts, squats, and other lower body movements when gripping the floor is essential and you want a super minimalist feel with your shoes. Outside of the HFS, I also like the Xero Shoes 360 for more casual shorter runs. Basically, runs that you would see in CrossFit-style workouts. This model also breathes really well and has a slightly more responsive insole. The Prio is a bit chunky for me when it comes to running especially when comparing it between the other two models. The last Xero Shoes 360 pro is the wider toe box. If you love having room to splay the toes and feel the ground, then you’ll like how wide this shoe’s toe box is. However, I’d argue that the Xero 360s are good for using powerlifting barbells, especially deadlifts, because they’re as close to barefoot as you can get without taking your shoes off. I loved wearing them for deadlifts and squats. For bench press, it doesn’t matter so much since your feet aren’t directly involved in the lift. All this whilst still being a true barefoot shoe. The Prio Neo has a low profile – it’s super light at around 247g and comes with a zero-drop, non-elevated heel design. It has an extra-wide top box to allow your feet to move naturally, and is super flexible– you can twist and turn this shoe in just about any direction.

The Xero Shoes HFS has a blend of synthetic materials and breathable mesh to help keep it light and airy for running-focused athletes. All of these models feature a huarache-inspired design and skeleton as well in their uppers. Laces and Tongue I’ve deadlifted well over 500 lbs in this model on multiple occasions and every time it does an exceptional job with stability. For lower body training, the sole articulates well and provides adequate traction on a variety of surfaces. The 360 sole wrap is a nice touch for adding to this shoe’s traction. This lipping of the rubber inlay came after using these shoes for a few months and being pretty rough on them. While I don’t think this will be an immediate issue for most athletes it’s certainly something to keep an eye on if you’re using this shoe for a lot of rope climbing. Pay attention to form: Ensure you maintain proper form while walking or running. Focus on landing gently on the balls of your feet and avoid striking your heel with each step. It will feel different at first, but you will adjust.

RIDGEWAY

For training and daily wear, I’ve found a handful of pros that I really like about the Xero Shoes 360. Inside the shoe, there’s an Active BloomFoam insole. Contrasting to petrochemical-based EVA foam, the Active BloomFoam is made using algae biomass. It’s the first true sustainable alternative to EVA foam on the market. This insole will help you stay more comfortable mile after mile, but it can be removed too. Next try: Got the Xero 360's in and I'ma ball in these for the next few weeks and update here with my findings. I know a few people have commented asking about em so hopefully you see this shit. Also copped the Puma Triple, which look promising as a minimal basketball shoe, so I'll be testing those after I get some mileage in the 360's. Plus, the removable insole is a nice feature for giving you a little more cushion. Personally, I think this model will perform best for athletes that plan to use these shoes for lifting and for runs that are around 3-miles or less. Barefoot shoes are covering much ground in the fitness arena, with companies upping their game to bring the very best, most comfortable and aesthetically pleasing shoes to meet demand. Here, our very own Ben Hardman puts the spotlight on the best barefoot shoes in the UK today, and why you may – or may not – need them.

As well as road running, these shoes are suitable for HIIT and cross-training style workouts thanks to the sturdier manufacturing, good breathability and deeper tread.

Onto the upper, the Bare-XF V3 has a seamless 3D air mesh design to get plenty of circulation for your feet to keep them dry and cool during a workout. It also has welded overlays on the upper for added structure and Rope-Tec protection. They’re plenty stable for heavy lifting and didn’t compress whatsoever when I deadlifted over 500 lbs in them and power cleaned 275 lbs. The removable insole is also a perk for athletes that want a little variety in regard to how this feels.