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| Xeroshoes Ipari Hana |
Because life isn't all running, as fun as that would be, it's great that there are minimalist options out there for casual shoes. I've reviewed a few in the past, but it's been a while, so it's a great time to catch up! And, to kick it off, I have a quick review of the just released Ipari Hana from Xeroshoes.
Wait... what? Yep.. a shoe from the company famous for minimalist sandals. The just went on sale today! Normally $79.99, but now $64.99 through the end of the month.. but I digress.. let's check out the shoe!
So... Xeroshoes first venture into an actual shoe, is really kind of a sandal in disguise. The sole of the Hana is patterned after the 5.5mm FeelTrue® sole from the Z-Trek Sandal. On top of that is a 2mm insole that can easily be removed as well.
The upper is a vegan constructed canvas, with a microfiber liner.. however I have eaten bacon while wearing these, so probably nullifies that.. ;-) What is cool is that the strap slot along the ankle is still part of the sole, like the sandal, but integrated now into the lacing.
As you can see, the upper lace pulls through the side strap for a nice fit. Also, along side of the laces is an expanding elastic, so once you lace up to the tension you like, they are pretty easy to slip on and off without re-lacing... nice feature for casual shoes.
The toe includes some nice reinforcement to prevent any wear through on the canvas upper..
The 2mm insole can be removed. The interior is built pretty well, and the microfiber makes for a comfy interior if you go without socks. I normally don't, but you certainly can in these.
Almost forgot the obligatory fruit roll up flexibility pic!
Finally... not a bad weight for a size 11. It's funny how shoes can often feel heavy or light, and it doesn't always correlate to the exact weight. These certainly feel lighter than 9 oz, but the bulk of the weight comes from the 5.5mm sole (which includes a 5,000 mile warranty).
Ok.. so what do I think of them? For a first go at a shoe, I think Steven and Xeroshoes have nailed it. These are super comfortable to wear... not quite as much ground feel as the Z-Trek sandal, but I attribute that to the 2 mm insole. The upper is soft, and from what I understand, will stretch a bit. Not too worried about it as I'm not running in these, so loose and comfortable is fine by me.
I've done a few long walks/hikes in these, and so far they are holding up really well... can't ask for much more from a casual shoe... and they look great too!
The only kind of funky thing is that there is kind of a gap alongside my ankle the collar doesn't really snug up. It doesn't present an issue, however, just seems like stuff could get in there, but again, not trail running in these so not a big deal. Curious to see how these stretch and shape to my foot over time.
So.. there you have it. If you are looking for a well built, comfortable, and well made casual minimalist shoe, take a look at the Xeroshoes Ipari Hana... and ladies, stay tuned this spring for a women's version called the "Lena". But for now, grab a pair of the Hana's while they are on sale.. great shoe from a great company with a great warranty :-)
As always let me know if you have questions by leaving a comment here, on the Facebook page.
Happy Trails!
Jeff
barefootinclined@gmail.com
http://barefootinclined.com
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