Randy Kreill, January 6, 2021
Minimalist AVR Score 9.9
Editor Overall AVR Score 9.9
Price $99.99 For Ladies or Men’s
Available primarily online at www.XEROSHOES.com/go/randy_kreill #XeroAmbassador (affiliate)
Review Summary
All Xero Footwear is truly minimalist and the Speed Force is their lightest weight shoe, nearly as light as their Z-Trail sandals! Designed and built for racing, Speed Force is also an ideal minimalist general purpose shoe with an extra thin an outsole with just enough protection and connection. Speed Force was love at first sight for me after receiving a wear tester/review pair prior to the public product launch. I literally kissed them for my video review.
Pros
~ The most comfortable ultra lightweight minimalist shoe I’ve worn yet.
~ Crazy light with a super sensitive 4.5MM outsole combined with an easily removable 2MM insole.
~ 5000 Mile Sole Warranty
~ Reflective features for enhanced safety at night.
~ Functional “huarache” style laces on the sides that connect to the heels and regular lacing system for added custom fit options.
~ Breathable, moisture wicking, ultra light and stretchy upper for a super soft and flexible “sock like” fit. The upper is just as “flexy” as the outsole.
~ Fast drying if wet, easily removable insole speeds dry time.
~ Attractive color choices.
~ Men’s sizes are available in half size increments from 6.5 to 11.5, plus even sizes from 12 – 15. Ladies sizing include half size increments from 5 – 11.
Cons
Honestly there are no cons worth mentioning. A shoe lace that can not come undone would be nice. I like mine so much, I don’t like to get them dirty! The uppers are so supple and form fitting, that I do need to untie the laces to remove them and put them back on. With other models, I can often leave them tied once and let them be for months at at time, merely slipping them off and on. I prefer loose fitting shoes. But, speed work is safer with a more snug fitting shoe.
Minimalist AVR Score 9.9
Weight – 10 – “Impossibly” light weight.
Toe Box – 9.8 – The outsole is of typical Xero width, while the upper appears more tapered than other Xero models. However, the stretchy fabric wraps nicely around the forefoot, but not too snug.
Heel to Toe Drop – 10 – Zero drop from heel to toe for all Xero Footwear
Sole Flex- 10 – The outsole is thin enough and made from one weight of rubber, so it evenly flexes with the foot perfectly.
Foot Grip Support – 9.9 Great snug feel once laced for custom fit.
Cushion – 9.7 – By design there is very little cushion. The 2MM insole provides a bit of cushion for the skin. Yet, the Speed Force feels very nice on a hard surface. It’s a bit magical.
Flat Sole – 10 – All Xero Footwear features no drop from heel to toe and no arch support. Perfectly flat.
Other Parameters 9.9
~ Does the shoe deliver on intended use and benefits? Yes and it does much more. People with no interest in racing should love the look and more importantly, the feel of Speed Force.
~ Grip – Very good grip from a classic/proven Xero tread pattern.
~ Temperature Isolation – The thin, breathable uppers will help keep feet reasonably cool on a hot day. But, that same feature, may not be of benefit on an extremely cold day. If I were to run in super cold temps with these, I’d use the thickest socks I could get away with and slip a plastic bag over the socks before putting them on, to help keep feet warmer and dryer.
Specs
~ Use – Racing and general use too
~ Weight – 5.8 oz. per Men’s size 9 shoe.
~ Materials – “Vegan Friendly”, made of rubber and fabric.
~ Water – Not waterproof, but this shoe will not retain much water weight either. Dries relatively fast due to light weight, moisture wicking upper.
~ Width – Standard Xero shoe width to fit most people’s needs.
~ Season – All season use.
Detailed Review
The Speed Force is one of the very best minimalist shoes on the market and one of their better selling models. We have four pair in our house now, with my my wife and two daughters using them. So light and supple that in spite of only having 4.5MM of rubber outsole, plus 2MM of insole, I find the Speed Force to be very comfortable on hard surfaces. The upper fits snugly without squeezing the feet too much. I’d describe the feel as “sock like”, but with enough grip and protection to go nearly anywhere. Maybe when mine get older, I’ll beat them up on some trail runs. For now, I like them looking shiny and new.
Form follows function, so I have no problem wearing odd looking footwear, if it’s highly functional. Speed Force gives us the best in beautiful form, plus fantastic function.
Speed Force is lean, sleek and as sexy as a “running” shoe can be.
The furthest I’ve run in my Speed Force is 26.2 or better miles on paved blacktop bike trails. I could have gone further. The shoes felt great and my feet got a great workout! And I ran a bit faster than usual, trying to keep up with my wife!
The “extra” huarache style laces on the sides of each shoe add an ability to custom fit the heel, midfoot and forefoot areas. And, these straps are a nod to the fact that company was built of the most basic and primitive huarache design, centuries old “technology”. The branding and functional aesthetic compliment this product.
Running in Speed Force feels great. The lighter weight should make us run a bit faster or further, but I don’t mind if it’s more of a psychological edge. I just feel like it’s more fun to go faster with these on my feet. What we believe, we often achieve.
If I were to find a 100 mile race course that smooth enough, free of crushed gravel, roots, etcetera, I would consider going a full 100 miles in the Speed Force, even though the outsole is considerably thinner than the Z-Trail, sans socks, from Xero, which is the lightest footwear I’ve completed that distance wearing. Am I fit enough to do that? There’s only one way to find out!
Speed Force sets the standard for light weight, function, utility and style. You too might want to hug and kiss them.
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