Xero ShoesMen's Genesis Barefoot Sandal

I first bought these Genesis shoes back in 2020. They were very comfortable, but I could never get the strap around the back of the heals adjusted correctly so that they would stay in place. They kept sliding down off of the heal which leaves nothing to keep the shoes on your feet. I gave up and didn't wear them for a couple of years. In 2022, I found a video on the Xero shoes website on how to properly adjust the straps. I decided to give them another try. With a bit of trial and error, I was finally able to get the heal straps to stay in place.Once they were adjusted correctly, I found that they were the most comfortable shoe I'd ever worn. I wear them everywhere. The soles are thin, which is a big part of their appeal. They're extremely comfortable on flat or soft surfaces. Walking around a store, on pavement or in the dirt or grass is almost like being barefoot, only better. The pavement gets HOT where I live and these things do a great job of protecting my feet from the heat. Most of the time, I barely know they're on my feet. The thin soles aren't so great when walking on gravel, stone or other rough or jagged surfaces. If I know I'll be walking on those types of surfaces, I'll wear my Xero Z-Trek IIs which have a thicker sole and provide more protection.After about a year of wearing the Genesis' full time, the rubber tag on the back of both heals came unglued which allowed the thread holding the ends of the straps together to come apart. Sad, but they lived a productive life. For a while, I promoted the Z-Trek IIs to my full time shoe. They're good, comfortable shoes, in their own right, and I wouldn't want to be without them, but they can't compare to the barefoot feel of the Genesis. I wanted my Genesis back so I bought another pair. Armed with the knowledge this time of how to adjust the straps, I was able to get them adjusted for my feet in no time. My feet are happy again.I would like the shoes to last for more than a year, but if I need to spend $40-$50 a year on new pairs, I can live with that.

I've had these 6 months, used them almost daily (yes even in December, this is Florida). They're holding up nicely, although I don't run races in them, so not sure how they would take that kind of beating. But you can comfortably run in them, that's for sure.They're very minimal, which is exactly what I wanted. Just enough to keep my feet from getting cut or bruised or punctured while walking/running.Super comfortable.Super flexy.Super light.They do take some getting used to, and adjusting them to the ideal fit… I'm not gonna lie, that's a tiny bit finicky.I normally wear a size 11 or 11-1/2. This time I got an 11, and they work, but they're just a little bit smaller than I would like. Next time I'll get a size 12 and trim them down. And there will be a next time. I will purchase these again, unless I just use the pattern (which you can download from their site, last I checked) to make my own. But make them or buy them, this will not be my last pair. They're great.One last point: fellas, if you're insecure… well, some people do assume these are lady's sandals. You might want to opt for something more reassuring. If you DGAF, cool. These are great sandals.

I bought these because I generally get Knee pain wearing sneakers and learned that my right ankle is weak is a result of this. I enjoy going for walks and sometimes a run but hesitate out of fear that my knee will swell up. I also don’t do many leg workouts because I don’t feel my knee supports me doing squats, etc. After learning about wide toe box shows, barefoot shoes and sandals, I did some research.The reviews ultimately suggested developing stronger and healthier feet and an increase in size of the calf muscles so I bought a pair.They arrived Friday night, one review recommended watching a YouTube video to show you how to adjust the straps on the sandals to increase their functionality and comfort. So glad that video was short! After adjusting the straps I walked around my bedroom to test them out. The next day I had major plans to commute by subway train to the city, meet a friend at a museum and head to Central Park thereafter. I took a risk by deciding that I would wear these sandals (with a backup pair of sneakers in my bag). I walked 15,000 steps that day and didn’t experience any knee pain while standing on the train from Brooklyn to upper east side, walking around the Met Museum, walking 20 blocks to Central Park over pavement, rocks, grass, sand and hills! My calf muscles eventually started to burn (I kept giggling inside because I was enjoying the feeling of them being worked out). I also loved feeling the ground beneath my feet and could immediately tell when I was walking on a different terrain unlike the feeling of wearing sneakers. It felt like muscles I’ve never engaged before were being activated in various parts of my feet to a point where I did not want to take these off and didn’t mind the walks.After just one day in these I started debating buying a second pair to wear around the house while using the other pair for outdoor activities. I plan on going on many more walks this week, perhaps a bike ride and a light jog to see how well these hold up and how my body responds to them. Also a friend invited me hiking outside of the city, if I go I’ll take these for a spin. Thank you for making these affordable and functional!I will update my review later on detailing some of the future experiences I mentioned above as well as how my ankle and knee holds up in hopes of helping people gain better insights on the pros and cons of these shows.

I am very happy with the sandals right out of the box as I just received them now. My long term opinion is still pending.My first impression however is that they are fitting true to the size chart provided. Thy are very comfortable and lightweight. Compared to other more expensive barefoot sandals I think these are worth it. Overall happy with the product and if it lasts a long time I will give it 5 stars.