Winter is upon us, and there’s a lot more to go! I bought these Xero Alpines back at launch with the anticipation of winter weather and have not been disappointed. They are zero drop, warm-lined, with a wide toe box that will keep your feet happy in rough winter conditions. They’re not the most flexible shoes, but the lugs grip the snow well and keep you enjoying cold, wet winter weather with a great pair of minimalist shoes.
This post contains affiliate links to Xero’s site, which means that if you make a planned purchase using them, a small portion will be returned to me. But as always, using affiliate links do not add to your cost.
Yes, it was 20 outside with snow on the ground and I wore THOSE leggings. 🤷♀️😅
Sections
Technical Specifications
- 5.5mm FeelTrue® rubber sole
- Luggy tread for extra traction
- Removable 2mm heat-reflective insole
- 200g insulation, rated to -25°/-32°C
- Fully seam-sealed inner bootie and a water-resistant membrane
- 100% vegan-friendly materials
The boot comes in both Men’s and Women’s options on Xero’s site.
You’ll see I went with the men’s for myself, and I’ll explain why below.
Appearance
The 4 options give you a variety of colorways. I’m not personally a fan of the green and brown, but I’m sure it’s been quite popular for a strong outdoor look. The other 3 are more universally useful, with 2 blacks (the women’s has a white lining and combination black and white sole) and the lighter women’s grey Frost.
They are a purpose-built shoe for winter weather, and they look like it. The material is puffy like a snow suit/snow bib or down coat, and isn’t really for around-town wear. I’ve put it with a skirt, but it’s not really the ideal. Pair them well with pants or snowy clothing, and be ready to tackle whatever you need to in the cold.
The first is not flattering, but with the need to go out and the potential for snowfall, dress boots were quickly changed out for these Xeros and off I went, happily. Flexibility, people! We all need it. The speed hooks made quick work while I had 1 small child not wanting me to leave and 2 others waiting on me to get out the door.
In the second, I was freezing everywhere but my feet! Such a cold wind, even back in the fall.
And lastly, a follower (and my) favorite. Go drama whenever you can! 😏
Sizing and Fit
If you’ve seen Xero ads, and be honest, if you’re looking at barefoot shoes and use social media, you probably have, then you’ve heard Steven Sachen say that crossing over between male and female shoe lines is really about width. If you have wider feet, you go Men’s. If you have more narrow feet, go Women’s. It really doesn’t matter what your gender is, but rather what your feet need.
I always go Men’s with Xero and that generally works out pretty well for me. I’m a 10 men’s in their shoes, but in these Alpine boots, I sized up to an 11 to allow me to go with thick or double socks if we got really cold. I haven’t needed to do that yet, so I have some extra room (the toe box is naturally very generous in height, as well), but I’ve been able to keep the laces secure so there are no issues sliding or toe grip.
Xero does not release lengths officially, but they’re right there on the sizing chart in the JP sizes and the actual internal length is close – measured as 29.2 cm vs the listed JP length of 29 cm (for the record, I’ve not seen anywhere that Xero promises those are the lengths, I’m just using it as a reference point for you). The 10 Men’s would leave me with the extra 12 mm I need in a medium-weight sock. I probably could have gotten away with 1/2 a size up, but find even the men’s Xero’s run a tad narrow for me personally with my wide foot and linings in winter shoes are often not accounted for in sizing, so I went with the full size-up to make sure I had plenty of room and I’m not disappointed.
Xero does not release widths, which frustrates some people but I’m okay with because insole width does not tell the whole story of a flexible shoe’s usable width and could easily deter people with nothing to worry about. This shoe in particular has more volume available than shown by the insole width due to the generously high cut of the upper around the toe box. Which circles right back to the thought that 1/2 a size up would have worked fine.
Breaking In
Straight out of the box the sole does not bend much beyond a crease where your toes naturally bend, and that does not change noticeably over wears. However, the upper does soften. At first, you may find that the area of the upper that folds over your toes may feel hard and push in, but that lessens with use and I stopped noticing the upper at all after a few wears.
Otherwise, there are no rough areas or spots that hurt your skin or anything else that’s uncomfortable.
Special Features for Winter Weather
The Alpines are made specifically for wet winter weather. They are luggy, meaning they have good tread to grip in the snow, and they are waterproof. They are also quite light, which is important when dealing with heavy, wet snow. You don’t need something else weighing you down.
On the warmth, Xero has this to say: “Alpine has 200g insulation, rated to -25°/-32°C.” I can’t answer to temperatures that cold here in Tennessee, but I had them out at 20°F and was perfectly comfortable with only a very thin sock inside versus the double or thick socks I’ve allotted for. I would absolutely pick these in the face of really cold temperatures, but even then you will generally find that if you are standing still in the cold and not working your feet that you will get cold. Keep moving, stay warm, and let the insulation and heat-reflecting insole help you keep the heat you generate.
The only pause I’ve had in these is on ice. The sole has great tread, but it generally hold it’s shape and does not flex around the lumps and bumps of snow that’s turned to ice. I didn’t fall, but felt that the great snow grip doesn’t translate across to super slippery condition. That’s okay, but something to be aware of. Xero is clear right in the title of the shoes: these are Snow Boots.
Lastly, I find that the laces sometimes come undone in dry conditions. I don’t recall having the problem when they get wet – that helps ‘glue’ them together – but if you’re walking around in cold but dry weather, a double knot is your friend. Just don’t do that for snow or they’ll be very difficult to undo.
How do they feel?
Like exactly what you’d expect a snowboot to feel, only much lighter and with some degree of flexibility that would be missing entirely or barely available in non-minimalist options. They are warm and soft inside, and leave me feeling confident that snow won’t get in, my feet won’t get wet, and I can stay out in the cold as long as I need to.
Cleaning
Cleaning these is “Super easy – barely an inconvenience!” (If you get that reference, you have good taste in humor.) Wipe them down if needed, do not wash in a machine, and never put any shoes of any kind in the dryer unless a company expressly says you can.
I find I haven’t even had to go to that level yet. I just let them dry and whack them together a bit to knock off any debris, maybe brush them a bit, and we’re good to go.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns
In the USA, when they’re in stock, you can order them directly from Xero in the Men’s or Women’s styles. If they’re out of stock when you look, sign up for their newsletter to keep tabs directly. They also announce it on social media like Instagram.
Xero is very proactive at customer service and stands behind their products with both sole and manufacturer warranties. I have personally used this before on an early pair of shoes and had my shoes immediately replaced with no problem. Whatever the issue, calling their team is key.
For size exchanges, you will need to do the same and give them a call. Email works too, but more slowly. If you’re returning new shoes, there is a flat-rate restocking fee.
If you’re in Europe, there are several retailers that sell them with varying available stock, including Barefoot Bar and Go Free Concepts. You will need to check around in your country or region and ask directly about available stock. You can also now order them directly from the EU Xero Shoe site.
Company Information
Xero Shoes was born the same way many people got into Barefoot Shoes, thanks to the book Born to Run. They are based in the US and leveraged their professional backgrounds to develop, grow, and run a highly successful enterprise. Xero was my personal introduction to barefoot shoes, and the first for my kids and mother as well, and their accessibility and variety is a key to their success. In the past year, they’ve brought this boot, as well as new sandals, stylish flats, and more. You can read the About Us here and their story in the words of the owners, here.
Final Thoughts
Approach these as they are designed – for snow – and you will be happy with the results. They aren’t the most flexible, but they have great grip, are warm, and keep the moisture out. It’s hard to have everything be 100% barefoot when you’re dealing with special conditions of extreme cold. I think Xero has done an excellent job balancing foot health with warmth and snow protection and that if you need a good snow boot, you can’t go wrong here.
Want more reviews?
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