Scrambler Trail Low WP

I was going to try the Topo Traverse, I have a pair of Xero but it's not really reccomended to hike in barefoot shoes unless your bag is crazy light.

Xero Scrambler Lo and now Mesa Trail

I tried Xero and didn't have any luck unfortunately. I tried the HFS II and the Scrambler Lows and both were not only nearly a full inch shorter than other shoes, but they were also narrower than both foot shaped and traditional shoes. I did measurements and they were the narrowest of everything I had at the time including: Altra, Topo, Puma, Asics, Saucony, and Hoka.

I've found you'll get a lot of reflexive hostility to any mention of ankle support, well-meaning folks telling you to just build up ankle strength; they don't seem equipped to relate to what our bodies need, earnestly giving the best advice- for themselves. I put my foot in a hidden hole a few month back, and that ankle appreciates a bit of support as I recover. A \~3" wide wrap over the sock has helped quite a bit- three times around the ankle, once under the foot, then a few more times around the ankle, with the velcro end placed where the shoe will help hold it in place. I have flat feet, and am highly intolerant of any significant arch, as such very quickly become a big stone in the middle of the shoe. Looking for a low to no arch shoe that was light enough for trail running while still providing some ankle support, I was drawn to the Altra Lone Peak 2 All-Weather Mid at REI, spent a half hour running around the store. Problem is, the sole at the toe tappers significantly, and the sole itself is rather flexible; these features can be good things independently, but not together for me with this shoe; placing the toe when running, the ground feel is great at the moment of contact- but because of the sole flexibility, as the stride brings the forward mid sole into contact, the toe portion is also still in contact with the earth, and, because of the tapper, the shoe is bent into a defacto arch! I really liked the shoe- the toe box was wide, the heal and mid section hugged my foot just right -but my toes quickly cramped as they were constantly reaching over this lump that appeared on every stride! If you aren't so afflicted, I'd give the shoe a try, if you can find it; the fit and weight (lighter) differs from the A LP 9 waterproof Mid commonly stocked (you might try that shoe too, but I didn't find it as amenable for running). For me, the answer came from Xero shoes. My REI doesn't carry variations of the mid trail "Scrambler" that would offer the level of ankle support I'm seeking -but they do carry some other Xero trail running shoes so that you can get an impression of fit. Xeros are minimalist/barefoot shoes, flat soled with zero drop; as others have noted, zero drop shoes and minimalist shoes may require adaptation for healthy use; for me, they are just better for the way my body works. Regarding the ankle, there is some correlation between the thickness of the platform and a propensity for rolling. Folks commonly remark on Xeros having a narrow fit, so I was concerned this would be a deal killer with my relatively wide size 11US feet; slipping on the Prio running shoe my REI had in stock, I was instantly delighted and put at ease- flexible enough that laces made for a close fit without being overly constrained. Re-assured, I ordered a pair of Xero Scrambler II's from the REI outlet, discounted for the holiday, then dropped the membership 20% off on top of the Black Friday price. Just got 'em in the mail yesterday, pleased by the fit. If you do some research on this shoe, you'll find there are several variations in sole, with differences in stiffness and resistance to wear; the model I selected isn't suitable for roads, which will eat it up. If you don't plan on completely submerging your shoe, the waterproof model has a fantastic price right now, has been well regarded, and reported to really keep feet dry; I periodically run in flooding with water above the ankle, so opted for breathability instead. Incredibly, my scale puts these boots at \~1.5 lbs- for the pair; by contrast, the Asics Gel Venture 10 trail running shoes I've been wearing weigh in at \~1.6 lbs! Let us know what you end up with, and how you arrive at that destination.

u/TheAlpackaaa, I've had a few runs with the Xero Scrambler II's- some feedback. So far, they are most everything I hoped for. As previously indicated, despite being mid-boots, they are a bit lighter than my Asics trail running shoes. The toe box is wide, while the heal and mid are snug in a way I have seldom had the opportunity to experience; there is something about the light, semi-conforming sole that allows the laced shoe to hug tight without suffering hot spots. Combined with the very, very low stack height, my foot neither rotates in the shoe, nor has opportunity to pronate or supinate. The mid height provides much appreciated support at the ankle without unduly restricting movement, reducing the chance of rolling the foot due to fatigue, and providing some protection when catching or dragging a toe. The sole provides for great ground feel and sufficient protection for my use; while I've yet to suffer any bruising from anything stepped on, my usual run features a lot of branches and roots, and only limited gravel- how they might perform on large, sharp stones, I can't say. The lugs are relatively small and spaced far enough apart that any trapped muck dislodges when the shoes are slapped together. All that said, they run nothing like my Asics, or any other shoe I'm familiar with, demanding a different form. It's already clear they are training me to be a better runner, demanding that I place tow and forward ball first, never heal. Until adapting my gait, the experience jarred my back as I attempted to just throw my foot forward and plant a heal; without the comparatively gigantic pad common to most running shoes, any heavy footedness is felt by the spine. My foot speed increased, stride slightly shortened with knee lifted a bit higher. It feels a bit closer to dancing than my running was before; the concentration required and associated fatigue of the first outing was greatly reduced by the second. With an easy to remove insole, the shoes dry relatively quickly; I had planned on alternating the Xeros with my Asics when wet, but the rate of drying hasn't required it. The bad news: there is already just the beginnings of some delamination between the fabric and welded elements at the toe. Some others (not all) have remarked on this defect- I don't know if this is associated with production at a particular location and time, or what. I'll see what Xero has to say about it- I don't look forward to applying Shoe-Goo to a new pair of shoes with ony 12 miles on them.

Are you sure this isn’t a case of 'Don't blame the Ferrari cause your ass can't drive'? If you have been doing road running and just switched back to trails and are trying to do the same distance and intensity, that's a recipe for a rolled ankle. Your stabilizer muscles aren't used to that workload anymore, you need to ease into it, give them time to build back up. The heel stack may not be the issue. Buy if you don't want a higher stack shoe, their are plenty of other options. Merrell Trail Glove, Xero Scrambler, New Balance Mt10, ect. For slightly less minimal, Topo Pursuit and La Sportiva Prodigio provide lots of trail feel.

I have Xero Scrambler (the men’s version as I liked the colors better). They have a Goodyear sole). I have been running with them on the snow and ice last weekend and they worked great. The grip was fantastic.

I had the og (1st gen) Trail Gloves and then Vapor Glove 4 and 6s. I've liked them all. Not the newer ones so much. My main comment on the HFS II so far is that the foot volume seems lower than anything else I've bought so far. They aren't as low as Vivos, but definitely lower than eg. Xero Scrambler or indeed the Merrell Vapor Glove 6s. They do seem well made, and I'm glad to hear they're holding up at the 200 mile mark. Here's to another 200!