Women’s Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV Hiking Sandal Review

Bottom Line

These hiking sandals are for you if you want to wear shoes without the sensation of actually wearing them. Our tester was amazed the moment she slipped her feet into the Xero Shoes Z-Trail EVs: It felt like getting out of a sweaty sports bra after a long, hot hike. These sandals provide complete foot freedom while protecting the soles of your feet from rough trail surfaces. 

The Z-Trail EVs are barefoot-inspired shoes, so we don’t recommend them for anyone who requires ankle or arch support or any assistance with stability. You may want to look for something else in our best hiking sandals guide. However, if grounding is what you seek, we’re not sure you can beat these. Additionally, they’re very reasonably priced and come with an impressive two-year, 5,000-mile sole warranty.

How We Tested

Besides wearing the Z-Trail EVs for many days at camp, which included a lot of walking on different unpaved surfaces, we took them on several national forest hikes, ranging from well-kept to overgrown. Over several weeks, we assessed them for comfort, stability, durability, and more.

Comfort

Putting on the Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV sandals after wearing boots or sneakers feels like unbuttoning your jeans after Thanksgiving dinner. With the wide footbed, impressively flexible midsole, and soft woven straps, wearing these barely feels like wearing shoes at all. Our tester experienced a minor issue with her heels not quite reaching the heel counter, but it didn’t end up bothering her while hiking. 

Additionally, our tester found the rubber wing on the forefoot (where the strap is held in place) to be slightly awkward due to its large size; however, it doesn’t cause any discomfort. The footbed material is soft and absorbent, preventing your feet from slipping around while possibly leading to perma-stink over time. 

Her medium-width feet fit well in the Z-Trail EVs, and thanks to the adjustment system, these sandals can accommodate most foot widths. However, individuals with very narrow feet might find the footbed slightly clunky due to its width.

Stability

The Z-Trail EVs, while extremely comfortable, are not stable hiking sandals. It feels unjust to criticize them for that, however, when the whole point is to liberate your feet from the confines of typical shoes. There’s no doubt about it: these are not meant for hikers who require support and stability. 

The midsole is extremely thin and very flexible, and the slender straps secure your feet just enough to keep them in place. The minimal heel counter provides a slight element of security, but it shouldn’t be relied upon in challenging trail conditions. Your muscles and joints must do the work in these sandals—there are no crutches built into the design. 

We express all of this in the most favorable way possible. We adore the Z-Trail EVs; of all the hiking sandals we’ve tested, these make our feet feel the freest. 

However, those who struggle with ankle stability, require arch support, or simply want a super-secure fit should avoid these shoes. Even for individuals looking to transition to barefoot shoes, we suggest beginning that journey with something more supportive.

Traction

Xero had a great idea when designing the lug pattern on the Z-Trail EVs. The outsole incorporates five distinct zones with textured chevron lugs of varying sizes. The larger lugs effectively dig into the trail surface, while the smaller ones excel at providing traction on bare rock faces. 

However, those same small lugs tend to collect tiny bits of trail debris between them, which reduces overall traction when those gaps are filled. Despite this, we haven’t encountered any major issues hiking in the EVs across packed dirt, small and large gravel, bare rock (wet and dry), and pine straw-covered ground. 

On some steeper grades, our tester has had to use her hands for assistance; the traction alone wasn’t good enough to prevent slipping. However, she didn’t actually experience any slips or falls in these sandals.

Durability

Notably, Xero Shoes provides an impressive 5,000-mile sole warranty on the Trail EV sandals (and other models). The company also offers an industry-leading manufacturer’s warranty of two years.

Yes, you can wear your Xero sandals for a full two years, and if something breaks that isn’t due to misuse (such as leaving your sandals exposed to direct sunlight, which can warp the foam soles), Xero will repair or replace them. 

The sole warranty specifically covers Xero’s patented FeelTrue sole if your soles wear down to less than 1 millimeter thick at the ball or heel of the foot (not the edge) before you reach 5,000 miles. If that occurs, they’ll replace the shoes with the same style you originally purchased, for free. After learning that, you probably won’t be surprised that we see no signs of wear on our Z-Trail EVs after thorough testing.

Weight & Packability

Weighing just 8.3 ounces for the pair, the Z-Trail EVs are among the lightest sandals we’ve ever worn. Seriously: They almost feel non-existent, especially since Xero eliminated the toe thong design, meaning there’s no fabric wedged between your toes. 

They are also slender, boasting an 11-millimeter stack height and zero-millimeter heel-to-toe drop. This makes them ideal for packing as camp or creek-crossing shoes on long day hikes and multi-night backpacking trips. Additionally, they’re light enough to be clipped to the exterior of your pack without swinging around or being very noticeable at all.

Ease of Use

Like many hiking sandals, you’ll need a few minutes for the initial adjustment to get the sandals suited to your feet. After that, everything’s easy-peasy.

The heel strap adjusts independently, while the ankle, midfoot, and forefoot straps are continuous and do not adjust independently. Changing one strap will affect another, but with a little experimentation, you’ll discover your perfect fit.

Should You Buy the Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV?

If you seek a barefoot-like experience and want to feel the ground beneath your feet: Yes, yes, and yes again.

If you need ankle support, arch support, or any other stability from your shoes: Pass and opt for something with a sturdier design. Even if you’re looking to transition from bulky, traditional shoes to barefoot-inspired options, it may be best to start with something more supportive, like the Teva Original Universal or Luna Mono Winged.

What Other Women’s Hiking Sandals Should You Consider?

While we think the Xero Shoes Z-Trail EVs are some of the best hiking sandals available, there are plenty of other good options to choose from.

Earth Runner Alpha Review: These are similar in that they are also minimalistic. They feature a zero-drop sole and a total stack height of less than 11 millimeters, and they also weigh under 8 ounces for the pair. If you’re looking for a barefoot shoe with a toe thong strap, you might really like these.

Luna Mono Winged Review: The Mono Winged sandals smoothly transition from traditional, chunky sandals to minimalist options. Although they feature a zero-drop sole, the total stack height between the sole and lugs measures 15 millimeters. This design makes them sturdier and more supportive than the Z-Trail EVs. 

Astral Webber Review: Another zero-drop option, the Astral Webbers provide better support for our feet than the Z-Trail EVs, thanks to their contoured footbed. However, the traction isn’t the best, so reserve these for light hikes, strolls around town, and water activities.