We hope everyone had a very merry Christmas/Kwanza/Festivus/Hanukkah! It's been a busy, but amazing year and we are so excited for what 2018 has to offer! We've been busy busy reviewing products and getting outside as much as possible. We are excited to share our review from one of our favorite companies! Xero Shoes has been a staple in our review line for a number of years and we not only love their products, but we love their people and what they stand for! They recently stepped into (no pun intended!) the close-toe shoe arena and what they offer has been wildly successful. We've reviewed their Prio model, as well as they more casual Hana/Lena shoes. We loved both and while their sizing seems to be a bit whacky (not unusual for new shoe companies) the shoes themselves are an A+ in our book. Their newest offering is the DayLite Hiker. The wide toe box, super flexible, tough as nails boot for everyday adventures as well as backcountry excursions comes in at only 10.2 oz for a men's 9, and packs down completely for easy travel and a comfortable fit. Here's what we like about the DayLite Hiker: -The fit is extremely comfortable, and your foot can rest in a natural position while exploring the streets or the woods. -These boots are nice and warm in the cold, but breathe quite well in the heat. We tend to shy away from boots simply due to how hot they run! Not the case with the DayLite Hiker! -The lacing system rules! Huarache inspired lacing system ensures a snug mid-foot hold and a great heel capture! I have narrow heels and tend to have slipping issues in a lot of shoes but these hold my heel VERY well. I feel confident on loose ground while wearing these boots. -The outer material is DURABLE. We were very impressed with the durability of the material used. Scrambling over sharp rocks and through briars and both the men's and women's boots held up surprisingly well. -Finally, these boots look great. This is a small point, but they don't look like ping pong paddles on mine or my wifes feet... Here's what we weren't crazy about... -While I found the fit perfect for my foot, my wife noted that her foot slides around a bit on steep descents. Maybe offer up a women's specific last since their feet *tend* to be narrower with a higher instep. -The water resistance is ok but not great. I actually ended up treating ours with some camp dry spray to encourage better water proofing because walking thorugh dew covered grass gave me soggy socks. Again, this comes down to personal preference, and we don't typically wear waterproof footwear because it doesn't breathe well at all. I hope they can offer a waterproof version of this boot in the future for those who'd prefer to use it in more snowy or wet conditions. -The final "pick" is that I would LOVE to see a removable rock plate option. I know there are other companies that offer this in their trail shoes and it works well. Living in the Ozarks has been tough on my feet in minimalist footwear because it's so dang rocky! A simply plastic (or similar) insert to take the edge off sharp rocks would make these the almost *perfect* boot! We tested these boots on several 5+ mile hikes, around town, doing yard work. We even carried our 18 month old daughter on our back in her carrier to see how our feet felt with weight on them. Despite having a few small improvements that we would love to see, the Xero Shoes DayLite Hiker is a fantastic option for the barefoot enthusiast and comfort seeker alike! A pair will cost you $109 and they come in some very nice colors. Grab a pair at the Xero Shoes website! *Xero shoes sent us a pair of DayLite at no cost. This, in no way, influenced our review. *
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