The Ultimate Hiker? Xero Shoes Review Of The Retro Ridgeways
*This is not a paid review. I am an affiliate with Xero shoes, which means that I may earn a small commission if you click on some of the links and make a qualifying purchase. However, I earn nothing from Xero Shoes by writing this and everything in my review of these Ridgeways is my complete and honest opinion*
Xero Shoes was created in 2009 in Boulder, Co (my hometown!) by Steven Sashan and Lena Phoenix, who strove to create a barefoot shoe that was both environmentally sustainable & respectful, and that helped people move more naturally.
All their shoes use ethically-sourced and sustainable materials and provide your foot with a wider toe-box, minimal padding, and a zero-drop heel for natural, pain free movement.
Moreover, barefoot shoes promote natural foot function. Without the added support and cushioning, they allow you to feel where your feet are landing and adjust accordingly. Over time this leads to better gait mechanics, proper posture and balance and best of all, no more foot, knee or hip pain! Eventually you will be walking the way nature intended and your feet will become healthy & strong again!
What makes a shoe a ‘Barefoot’ shoe?
According do Xero Shoes and Dr. Irene Davis, a genuine “barefoot shoe” has:
- A wide, foot-shaped toe box
- No arch support (it’s a myth that you need this)
- Little or no cushioning (you don’t need this either!)
- A flexible sole to allow for proper foot motion
- A thin sole to provide proper feedback about what you’re stepping on or in (hence the no cushioning)
- Light weight
- “Zero-drop” non-elevated heel on
Never heard of barefoot shoes? Read up on some Barefoot Myths and TRUTH and why your “supportive” shoes are actually causing you more pain.
Let’s take a look at one of their newer designs – Retro Ridgeways – the barefoot hiker!
Ridgeways Quick Take (pros and cons)
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Breathable & temperature regulating
- Lightweight
- Excellent ankle support
- Sustainable
Cons:
- Only two color options
- If you’ve never worn barefoot shoes, these may take some time to adjust
- Sizing can be a bit tricky to figure out
Quality
-breathable- -temperature regulating- -waterproof- -sturdy yet flexible-
The Retro Ridgeways are made with rugged canvas & suede accents. They have a fully seam-sealed inner bootie, gusseted tongue and waterproof membrane that make the whole shoe waterproof.
So far these shoes have really held their own in terms of quality. I’ve trudged them through mud, slush, snow, and even rivers, and have always ended the day with dry, warm socks. As someone with Raynaud’s, keeping my toes warm is very important, so having shoes that keep them dry through all my adventuring is essential.
I found these shoes to be very temperature regulating. As in, when it was chilly out, they kept my feet nice and warm, and when it was hot out, they kept my feet cool and sweat-free.
Colorado recently experienced a cold streak of about -10 degree days, while the rest of my body was rather chilly during my walks, my feet never got cold!
Additionally, I found the material to be exactly what it claimed: flexible yet sturdy. My ankle felt supported but the shoe was still flexible enough for my foot/ankle to bend as needed with the terrain. (More on this in the comfort/size section of the review)
Comfort
I found these ridgeways to be some of the most comfortable hiking shoes I’ve tried, and thats coming from someone who is generally quite picky about foot comfort. The wide toe box offered by Xero shoes helps relieve the discomfort I usually feel from shoving my wide feet into normal shoes. Also, the upper part of the shoe around my ankle provides support without digging into my skin at all.
Even as an avid hiker, I always find my feet & calves in major pain towards the end of a hike. I used to think this was normal, and simply meant that I had worked super hard and challenged myself…Yay me! I’ve now come to realize how wrong I was about this. Don’t get me wrong, my legs will still be a little sore after a really long or challenging hike, but not nearly the way they did before.
Before I switched to Xero shoes, my legs would throb with so much pain I could barely wait to get to my car to take off my shoes (if I wasn’t wearing my nice wool socks, sometimes I would take my shoes off before finishing the hike)… in retrospect that really should have tipped me off sooner…
These shoes are light and comfortable enough that I’ve actually found myself reaching for these shoes to wear just around town.
A Note On barefoot shoes
On the other hand, if this is your first time trying a barefoot shoe…it is going to hurt the first few times you wear them! BUT! This is NOT due to the shoes itself, but rather due to your foot & ankle muscles being forced to actually do what they were meant to do. Basically, your feet are just sore from their workout, and like any other muscle in the body, they need proper training to get in shape.
Sizing – Ridgeways & all Xero Shoes
Xero shoes’ sizing can be a little tricky to nail down. However, they offer a shoe fit guide for finding the right fit and seeing if the shoe you want runs true to size, small, or large. If you don’t get it right the first time, U.S orders get a free exchange.
The Ridgeways recommend your usual size, however I ended up going up half a size since you want more toe room in hiking shoes to accommodate thick socks, swelling (like during multi-day hikes) and foot slide when going downhill. I was able to try my moms Ridgeways first (we usually wear the same size, she purchased a size 8, her usual size, and loves them) so I didn’t have to deal with exchanging for a new size, but I’ve heard the process is simple and direct.
Looks
Last but certainly not least…looks! I personally LOVE the style of these shoes. The other hiking shoes offered by Xero look more like a classic barefoot style shoe and I personally prefer the look of a classic hiking boot, which is why I was so excited to try the Ridgeways. I’ve got them in the Camel Brown style. The brown canvas & suede gives off that classic hiker look, and the pops of orange and blue add such a fun retro touch to the shoe.
However, the only downside here is that they only offer two color options: Camel Brown with orange and blue accents & Insignia Blue with yellow accents.
Ridgeways: Overall Take
The Retro Ridgeways have the look and style of super cute hiking shoes with all the flexibility and benefits of a barefoot shoe.
On their site, Xero Shoes makes the promise: If your feet don’t feel as good at the end of the day as they did in the beginning, you haven’t tried the Ridgeway. And so far, these shoes have delivered! Additionally, as an added bonus, I’ve gotten tons of compliments on my Ridgeways out on the trail.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever given barefoot shoes a try, or if you have any more questions about them! Want more hiking and travel recommendations? Head over to my gear recs page. Happy Hiking Y’all!