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Xero Z-Trail EV - Women's Review

If you'd prefer to walk everywhere barefoot but need a sandal to get you across pokey surfaces and into shops, this is the shoe for you
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Xero Z-Trail EV - Women's Review (The single z-strap doesn't allow for a super tight fit, and the footbed gets pretty slippery when wet giving the shoe...)
The single z-strap doesn't allow for a super tight fit, and the footbed gets pretty slippery when wet giving the shoe some instability.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
Price:  $80 List
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Manufacturer:   Xero Shoes
By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Aug 13, 2024
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 17
  • Comfort - 25% 7.5
  • Traction - 25% 7.5
  • Stability - 20% 7.5
  • Adjustability - 15% 8.5
  • Versatility - 15% 7.5

Our Verdict

The Xero Z-Trail EV sandals are a true barefoot shoe that allows for flexibility and movement of your foot while offering modest protection and traction over terrain. With impressively thin soles, these sandals still let us feel the ground while keeping us safe from poking thorns and sharp rocks. Some clever anchor points on the straps keep them secure without being tight or rubbing. They're incredibly flexible and lightweight too, making them easy to pack along on any trip. If you're a fan of not wearing shoes, these are the sandals for you. Our article on the top-ranked women's sandals will show you how it fares versus competing products.
REASONS TO BUY
Good traction
Secure without being tight
Very lightweight
Great for wide feet
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited colors
Can fatigue foot if not used to barefoot walking
Thin sole lets debris in easily
Loose fit isn't everyone's favorite
Editor's Note: We updated this article on August 13, 2024, to include new information and comparisons from our latest round of side-by-side testing.

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Bottom Line For the true barefoot enthusiast that just needs a little help crossing sharp surfaces and entering establishmentsThese adventure sandals are ready for even the most intense warm weather expeditions and are long time favorites for a reasonThe best adventure sandals we've worn, combining minimalist straps with maximum traction and stability for a stylish lookAn easier to adjust adventure sandal you can even wear socks with, though its less secure without the classic Chaco toe loopAn adventure ready, packable sandal for the casual traveler at a very nice price point
Rating Categories Xero Z-Trail EV - W... Chaco Z/Cloud 2 - W... Chaco Bodhi - Women's Chaco Z/1 Classic -... Teva Original Unive...
Comfort (25%)
7.5
8.5
9.0
7.0
6.0
Traction (25%)
7.5
9.5
9.0
9.0
6.5
Stability (20%)
7.5
9.5
8.5
9.0
7.0
Adjustability (15%)
8.5
9.0
9.5
8.0
6.0
Versatility (15%)
7.5
9.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
Specs Xero Z-Trail EV - W... Chaco Z/Cloud 2 - W... Chaco Bodhi - Women's Chaco Z/1 Classic -... Teva Original Unive...
Measured Weight (per pair) 8.0 oz 18.2 oz 14.1 oz 19.9 oz 11.1 oz
Sole Material FeelTrue rubber Non-marking ChacoGrip ChacoGrip rubber ChacoGrip rubber Rubber
Upper Material Polyester Polyester jacquard webbing Polyester jacquard webbing Polyester jacquard webbing REPREVE recycled polyester webbing
Footbed Material BareFoam LUVSEAT PU LUVSEAT PU LUVSEAT PU EVA
Midsole Material TrailFoam Women's specific LUVSEAT dual-density PU Women's specific LUVSEAT dual-density PU Women's specific LUVSEAT PU midsole Molded EVA
Width Options Medium Medium, Wide Medium Medium, Wide Medium

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Xero Z-Trail EV is an adventure sandal that maintains barefoot mobility and sensation. Packed into an ultrathin sole are a FeelTrue rubber bottom and tread, a BareFoam footbed, and a TrailFoam midsole. The straps are made of polyester, and the size 8 we tested weighed just 8.0 ounces. It comes in just one width with a wide toe box and a handful of colors.

Performance Comparison


xero z-trail ev for women - if you're a barefoot enthusiast, we think you'll love the xero...
If you're a barefoot enthusiast, we think you'll love the Xero Z-Trail.
Credit: Joanna Trieger


Comfort


If you love walking around barefoot, you'll love the feeling of wearing the Z-Trail EV. Though they have the appearance of a full-strap sandal, these impressively minimalist shoes preserve most of the barefoot experience. Their thin and lightweight soles allow you to feel some of the ground beneath your feet while protecting you from the sharpest objects. The anchors for the straps are angled outward and hold everything slightly away from your feet. This lets you pull the straps securely tight without causing any rubbing, even when the straps are wet.


The Z-Trail is great for folks with wide feet, as they are designed with a wide toe box to allow natural toe splay as you walk, run, or hike. The flexible soles don't stop your feet from bending, either. The only hindrance to comfort while wearing these sandals is for folks who aren't used to walking barefoot. Because most modern shoes have a thick heel and a narrow fit, many of us have underdeveloped foot muscles, and walking around barefoot all day can be tiring. If you're after a supportive shoe or even just a little arch support, these are not for you. But for our testers who are avid barefoot enthusiasts, the Z-Trail is one of the most comfortable sandals we've tested.

xero z-trail ev for women - the z-trail have plenty of space for your feet, an impressively...
The Z-Trail have plenty of space for your feet, an impressively comfortable strap system, and room for socks as the sun goes down and the temperature drops.
Credit: Miya Tsudome


Traction


Though they're not as robust as some of the beefy adventure sandals that we tested, the Z-Trail EV still provides impressive traction, particularly on dry surfaces. The soles have large lugs that excel at climbing hills and clambering over rocks. Because they're so thin, the feet can still wrap around objects a bit, adding an extra layer of traction that no other sandal can match.


The interior footbed of the Z-Trail is rather smooth, with a slight matte texture. When dry, this is both comfortable and gives plenty of traction for your feet. However, it becomes less stable and more slippery once wet. These aren't the sandals we'd choose for a river trip or a muddy rainforest hike, but exploring dry forests and arid deserts is right up their alley.

xero z-trail ev for women - these sandals have decent traction for being such a minimalist shoe.
These sandals have decent traction for being such a minimalist shoe.
Credit: Miya Tsudome


Stability


The fit of the Z-Trail is highly versatile, providing stability on just about anyone's foot. With the strap fully tightened, they stay securely affixed to the feet without ever feeling too tight. While our testers loved this feeling, if you require a tight shoe or sandal to feel stable on uneven terrain, these probably won't do the trick. For us, they managed to feel secure and stable while remaining loose enough to maintain comfort and the feeling of being barefoot.


The Z-Trail EV is also exceptionally lightweight and almost feels like you're not wearing shoes at all. This gives them great balance and allows you to retain a natural, barefoot-inspired gait. The only arena in which the Z-Trail feels less stable is when they're wet. Because there's still so much room for the feet to move within the shoe, water can cause slippage between the foot and the footbed.

xero z-trail ev for women - with the strap anchor angled out away from our foot like this, we...
With the strap anchor angled out away from our foot like this, we could tighten the Z-Trail quite a bit to keep them securely attached without them feeling uncomfortably tight or rubbing.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Adjustability


The Z-Trail are exceedingly simple to adjust. They are fully adjustable, with a long velcro strip across the heel strap and a slider buckle that controls the full strap over the top of the foot. We've heard different strategies for daily wear of the Z-Trail, with some folks preferring to adjust the Z strap and use the velcro over the heel to slip easily in and out, while others do the opposite.


The wide toe box of the Z-Trail helps them to fit a wide range of foot shapes and sizes. Our only concern with the adjustability of these easy sandals is the rubber band for containing the strap's tail. The elasticity makes things simple, but we worry about durability over years of use and abuse in harsh UV rays, hot conditions, and changing temperatures.

xero z-trail ev for women - very simple adjustments make for an easy, yet adaptable fit.
Very simple adjustments make for an easy, yet adaptable fit.
Credit: Maggie Nichols


Versatility


The versatility of the Z-Trail depends more on your feet than the sandal. If you're accustomed to long days walking around with bare feet, you may enjoy hard hikes and trail runs in these shoes. Their lack of support isn't for everyone, though, and in that regard, they are less versatile than many others we tested. Regardless, these are great for casually wearing around town, even if you're not a barefoot aficionado, and they easily accommodate a thick pair of socks for cool evenings.


If you are rocking the socks and sandals look, these may not get you many style points — depending on your audience. But worn barefoot, as intended, they are actually rather stylistically versatile. Their available colors aren't as gaudy as some others and easily match many outfits. We happily wore the Z-Trail with sundresses and jeans and never felt mismatched.

xero z-trail ev for women - our barefoot-enthusiast testers love the versatility of these...
Our barefoot-enthusiast testers love the versatility of these lightweight sandals and even those on our team with a more traditional take on footwear enjoyed the fit and feel of the Z-Trail for casual wear around town or the campsite.
Credit: Joanna Trieger


Should You Buy the Xero Z-Trail EV?


If you're a barefoot enthusiast looking to tackle trails without sacrificing foot mobility, the Xero Z-Trail is an ideal sandal. It's also a great choice for anyone seeking a lightweight camp shoe after a long day of hiking or a casual zero-drop sandal to wear around town all summer. However, they're not a good choice for people who need foot and arch support or if you need serious durability for years of hardcore exploring.

xero z-trail ev for women - the comfortable z-trail have something to offer just about everyone.
The comfortable Z-Trail have something to offer just about everyone.
Credit: Joanna Trieger


What Other Sandals Should You Consider?


Love everything about this sandal but prefer a different strap configuration? Check out the Xero H-Trail. If you like the idea of a minimalist sandal but need a little more support for your adventure, check out the Bedrock Cairn Evo. If you also want arch support and excellent in-water traction, the Chaco Z/Cloud may be right up your alley. If you're just after a casual full-strap sandal for infrequent use, the budget-friendly Teva Original Universal is another decent choice.

xero z-trail ev for women - love spending summers barefoot but sick of getting splinters? us...
Love spending summers barefoot but sick of getting splinters? Us too, and the Z-Trail are the answer.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Maggie Nichols