Xero Shoes: Alpine Boot Review (an Update!)
I’ve been wearing these Alpine boots, made by Xero Shoes, for a year now. So I want to share an update—a full review of these (zero-drop) barefoot minimalist boots.
I should note that before I bought these Xero Alpine boots, I was traveling and living with an old pair of boots for nearly five years—wearing them six months of every year.
I loved those old boots so much that I hoped to get another year of use out of them. However, my old boots had worn thin for a while, with multiple holes in the interior heels.
Then it started snowing in the mountain town where I was staying—and the snow never seemed to stop falling. Plus, some of the snowfall was unusually wet.
Temperatures were closer to 0 degrees Fahrenheit nearly every day.
Needless to say, the first time wet snow soaked through my old boots, I had to accept that it was time to buy a new pair of boots (or maybe die from frostbite or hypothermia).
I also knew it would be a year or more before I’d start traveling overseas again, so I needed warm mountain boots more than I needed cute all-around traveling boots.
Xero’s Alpine boots came to my rescue.
Why Buy Alpine Boots Made by Xero Shoes?
I needed winter boots to keep my toes warm and dry in a frigid climate where it seemed to never stop snowing. I needed boots that could get me through the rest of my mountain adventure.
I needed to buy a pair of cold-weather boots that could meet the following criteria:
fully waterproof (seam-sealed bootie, waterproof upper boot)
warm (insulated lining, with a heat-reflective insole that’s removable on warmer days)
lightweight (flexible, foldable)
wide toe bed (so toes can move freely)
grippy soles (as grippy as possible)
vegan (cruelty-free, climate-friendly)
color that can blend into my wardrobe
Because I was already so happy with the Xero Shoes footwear brand (for giving me my minimalist sandals and shoes), I browsed their website to find my new boots.
My feet are a size 9.5 and I have long toes. I'm not sure if my long toes make a difference in how all shoes fit me, but I keep an eye on this.
In this shoe brand, Xero Shoes, my feet fit into their size 9 sandals perfectly and into their size10.5 closed-toe shoes.
But when it comes to boots, I tend to order at least a half-size larger than what I wear in shoes so that I can wear thick socks. I ordered a size 11 in the Alpine boots.
The size 11 is spacious on my spindly feet. I like having that room to spread my toes and grip, bumper-free.
Also, there’s just enough room to slip toe warmers inside these boots, to lie flat on top of my toes, if necessary (if I have to sit down outdoors for a prolonged period in extreme 0 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, let's say).
Alpine by Xero Are (Zero-Drop) Barefoot Minimalist Boots
My Alpine boots, made by Xero, are (zero-drop) barefoot minimalist boots—and here’s my definition of that, based on what I’ve researched and what I’ve personally experienced:
zero-drop boots place my toes level with my heel—my heels don’t rise higher than my toes; nothing is propping my heel up—so heels don't lurch my body forward
barefoot boots have just enough material in the soles to protect and warm the bottom of my feet, but no more, giving my toes more opportunity to grip naturally as I move
minimalist boots have enough material to keep my feet and ankles warm, but no more, allowing me to move my feet and body more naturally—plus easily fold/pack my boots into my luggage
This means (zero-drop) barefoot minimalist boots are lightweight, allowing my feet and body to move almost as if I don’t have boots on—closer to how I might walk if barefoot.
The Sustainability of Xero’s Alpine Boots
Due to nerve damage from celiac disease, my toes experience numbness, which means hard boots or tight boots can unknowingly injure my toes. I’ve had no injuries from my soft Alpine boots, so I consider these boots sustainable for the health of my feet.
I love that these Alpine minimalist boots eliminate a large amount of materials often used in boots. Made from vegan, recycled, and hemp materials, I think they’re more sustainable for our climate.
I’ve washed these boots, which still look beautiful afterward. When I can wash dirty boots, I can wear them more and keep them longer, which I consider more sustainable for my wardrobe.
Relatively new, Xero Shoes appears to be moving toward more sustainability goals as fast as it can. I look forward to when they can incorporate natural rubber and even more hemp.
I realize sustainability is a process, it isn’t easy, and I’m grateful for every sustainable step in this direction.
Receiving My Alpine Boots From Xero Shoes
Xero Shoes made sure that my Alpine boots arrived less than a week after I placed my boot order online.
I ordered the “rubber brown/eggshell” color because it was different plus light/neutral. I thought this color would blend well with my wardrobe for mountain use.
Upon delivery, I wasn’t sure how its color would appear. But to my eyes (and my computer screen), its color appears exactly as the photos depicted.
And I could not believe how light and weightless these boots felt. I still can’t.
Wearing My Xero Alpine Boots
When I bought my Xero sandals and my Xero shoes, I transitioned fairly quickly into wearing (zero-drop) barefoot minimalist footwear—these Alpine boots have been just as easy to wear.
I expected these boots to offer plenty of toe space and to feel as comfortable as my other Xero footwear. I’m so happy this has been the case.
I wear my warmest winter socks with my Alpine boots (both medium and thick socks), which keep my toes warm when temperatures are low, even near 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even in wet snow, my feet have remained dry. Snow has not even entered through the top entrance of the boot, where the fuzzy vegan fur seems to keep the snow out.
To get out of these boots easily, I always keep the laces tied (in a double knot) and simply unhook them from the top four hooks, which gives slack to loosen the lower laces a bit. This allows me to easily slip my feet out.
To get back in my boots, I slip my feet in, pull the (still tied, double-knotted) laces toward me, snug, and gently loop them around the top four hooks again.
And, of course, the (zero-drop) barefoot minimalist soles help me feel like I’m being pulled straight up. I don’t lurch forward or slump my back like when I wore other boots.
Even my boyfriend now wears a pair of the men’s Alpine boots all winter and calls them more comfortable than his old Sorel boots—which says a lot, considering he grew up on a mountain.
But what I didn’t know, initially, was that Xero’s Alpine boot would function as my:
winter snow boots
winter hiking boots
winter house slippers
spring boots
cold-weather beach hiking boots
autumn boots
Essentially, unless it’s hot outside, I’ve been putting these Alpine boots to use year-round, where they have served wonderfully. That, I did not expect.
