Xero Shoes Scrambler Low

Extremely comfortable, but not so capable. Great for walking and light flat terrain hiking, not so much for running.

XERO Scrambler

Stats:

• Weight: 263 grams (M42)
• Drop: 0 mm

Intro

XERO is not a new brand and most of you will also recognise the name 'Invisible Shoes', what was the original branding of the now known Zero shoes. They are sold in the US of course, but has an HQ in Europe in Czech Rep. too, so finally we can get their models in France without extra cost of shipping.
I couple of years ago, I bought a pair of HFS for 15 bucks and used it for two years straight on. Every single day. Working as a sports sales person and bike mechanic, but also riding my scooter around as I used to be personal training too. If I did put like a pair of Nike Frees, Altras, or other brands through the abuse I gave to the HFS, they would have been destroyed after a couple of months. This is when I felt in love with the brand. Since then, I lined up a pair of Aquas, Zelens, and Alpine too.

Fit & Form

Comparing to these models, the toebox is little more precise in the Scrambler, similar to the Aqua. Less round, but also kind of less "shaped". The shoe is extremely straight. There are no curbs following the line of the feet. This is not such a great design element, unless you have a bear like feet, that fills up the shoe snugly.

Let me talk to you about shoe design. Imagine a shoe like a figure 8. In an 8 you got 4 curbs or 8 half curbs.

Curb1 is behind and around the back of the ankles and the heel. Protecting this area, determining the height and the rigidity, helps with the stability of the shoe while walking and running with a heel strike. If it was too wide, too sloppy, too high or low, it can create interesting happenings. Chafing, achilles issues, blistering, sliding left and right, ankle twisting, heel pinch and so on. The more precise and snug the heel cup is, the more chance you have for over-sizing in a shoe for ultra-marathons and long distance hiking. As an example, this was the flow in the Altra LP 3 and 3.5 leading to a ton of ankle twisting. The Scrambler is sort of okay in case of the surrounding area, but the sole itself, the platform where you are standing is too large.

Curb2 is the closing of the first circle. This is what locks the feet, preventing forward sliding. XERo CEO Steven Sashen often talks about the Merrell Trail Glove, that how narrow it is in the middle. Of course it is not for everyone. However, it holds on to your heel from the back extremely solidly!!! The Scrambler is straight as a ruler, inside and outside, making you slide down to the front of the shoe on every steep descent.

The middle of Curb 3 and 4, inside and outside, is what holding on to the widest part of your feet. The line across your first meta tarsal joints. This also adds a solution for preventing forward and backward sliding. In barefoot shoes, this point is very delicate, as this is the real starting point of the toebox. It is hard to make an anchor point, while not closing, but going wide. Except, that if you missed the first block-gate and now you are missing the second one too, you simply just let the feet get jammed in the front of the shoe.

Sorry about the long analytics, but this is what happening in the XERO Scrambler.

On the other hand, if you chose the right size, due to the thick tongue and thick laces, this is one of the most comfortable flat walking shoes. Only your laces that hold down your feet. One single pressure point. Thick tongue. Ultimate comfort. City sight seeing. Canal toe paths. Forest Walks.

Running and Walking

First of all, there is the Michelin outsole. Fiberlite. Just like Kenda tyres on your motorbike. No grip, max resistance. I mean after a couple of hundred miles on technical terrain, there is zero use on the knobs, nor punctures on the full length rubber. More likely plastic though, not butyl. I did not really get it at the beginning, as I was slipping and sliding all over the place. I said, it needs break-in time. After 100km, I was still ice skating on wet roads. Slipping and sliding down on slick rock. In the meantime I was breaking in the Ultrafly from Nike and the G300 from Inov8. Both shoes starting gripping very well after 30km. Not the Michelin on Xero. It is a very harsh material. That is one thing.

The cushioning of course is non existent. We talk about a Xero shoe ! However it has the most. More than the HFS or the Mesa Trail. I feel that it is very adequate.

However, together with the hard outsole, for me personally, it creates a very weird running sensation. I am not sure how to describe it. I run well in their other models. Not in this one. I don't like to run in them at all. Something is off. I have seen Xero enthusiasts going the 100 miles ultra with these. I'd rather go in the Aqua or the Mesa. I don't feel great, not even jogging around. On the other hand, when went for a flatish walk or hike, like our 16 lake loop, what a great shoe.

Final Verdict

I feel, that it has its place, but their line up is skewed. This is announced as a hiking shoe. But then they came out with the Ridgeway, with no Michelin. That is a city cruiser looking hiking shoe, getting away, in case of style from the sporty design. Most of the users prefer the boot version, as the shoe gives a lot of ankle chafing concern. Then there is the Scrambler Mid boot too. I mean all of these are sort of purposeless shoes, like they all have a flow in their direction.

Look at the Forza Runner, The HFS, or the Mesa Trail. It is so clear, what they are intended for. These four, the Scrambler low and mid and the Ridgeway low and mid, for me are purposeless. I would say, casual comfortable wear for all day comfort and you can go for easy hiking in them.

I have not tried the Ridgeway yet. I know that the Alpin boot has an ultra sloppy fit. Very bad. For me it has only one single purpose: keep my feet very hot ! Unfortunately with zero breath-ability.

If you loved the Mesa Trail and you wanted an upgraded version of that to handle more technical terrain, I feel that the Scrambler won't be that. I'd rather upgrade the midsole and add a removable rockplate into the Mesa, to run something more technical.

If you had very voluminous feet, this might still be a great options for you. You want to hike a long trail like the Canal du Midi in France, all flat mixed dirt roads, no hills. Great option!!!

Background

I hiked and run in this Scrambler around 35 times. Probably covered each time around 6 to 10km. I had two outings of 30 and 35km on very rugged terrain with 1500m+ elevation gain and loss.