Xero Shoes 360 Review | Good Barefoot Cross-Training Shoe?

Another pro with the Xero Shoes 360 is the sole which features tread for multiple-directional activity. If you’re planning to do lateral movements or activities like plyometrics where tread is important, then this model’s sole does a good job at promoting overall traction.

Like most training-focused Xero Shoes, the insole in the 360 also comes out and the internal part of the shoe is finished. This is great for two key reasons. First, it gives you a little variety in the cushion you want.

Second, it’s great for deadlifts, squats, and other lower body movements when gripping the floor is essential and you want a super minimalist feel with your shoes.

The last Xero Shoes 360 pro is the wider toe box. If you love having room to splay the toes and feel the ground, then you’ll like how wide this shoe’s toe box is.

This is a pretty standard sizing feature in barefoot shoes, but in the context of cross-training shoes, the 360 could be a good option to explore if you have wider and flatter feet and want a more minimalist-style shoe.

Xero Shoes 360 Cons

In regard to training, I do think there are a couple of areas in which the Xero Shoes 360’s construction falls short.

1. Upper Durability Can Be Hit or Miss for Rope Climbs
2. Avoid Concrete On the Front Mesh
3. Toe Can Look Clunky for Daily Wear

The first potential drawback I could see others having with the 360 is that their upper durability can be a little problematic with a lot of rope climbing. For the most part, the rubber inlays do a good job at preventing abrasion, but I did start to notice one of them peeling off on my right shoe.

This lipping of the rubber inlay came after using these shoes for a few months and being pretty rough on them. While I don’t think this will be an immediate issue for most athletes it’s certainly something to keep an eye on if you’re using this shoe for a lot of rope climbing.

Another potential drawback that I could see others having with this model is that the front mesh can scuff pretty fast on concrete. I played a few hours of pickleball in these and drug my toes saving a few shots and the mesh scuffed pretty bad.

This isn’t a huge concern for many by any means because concrete friction is very rare unless you’re training hard outside and programming prone to get-up work or playing certain sports, but it’s still food for thought for anyone training outside.

In regard to lateral movement, this shoe has been solid and it’s only been the direct toe dragging that has caused the scuffing of the toe box’s toe guard mesh layer.

The final drawback that I have with the Xero Shoes 360 is the toe’s appearance. For daily wear, the toe box of this shoe can look thick and clunky which is a knock on how versatile this shoe can be in different settings.

Performance

To discuss the Xero Shoes 360’s performance, I’m going to break down how this model performs in a variety of settings including CrossFit, cross-training, lifting, HIIT, and short runs.

This way you can hopefully better contextualize if this shoe is a good fit for your training wants needs and wants before investing.

Testing the Xero Shoes 360 for Lifting and CrossFit

For lifting, I personally really like these shoes, and are among some of my barefoot workout shoes. They provide adequate width in the toe box so I think most will enjoy how easy it is to splay the toes in this shoe.

In the context of lower body training and deadlifting, I think the two main callouts to like about this model are its sole construction and the fact that you can take the insole out. When deadlifting, I take the insole out to get closer to the floor and increase the ground feel I get with this shoe.

I’ve deadlifted well over 500 lbs in this model on multiple occasions and every time it does an exceptional job with stability. For lower body training, the sole articulates well and provides adequate traction on a variety of surfaces. The 360 sole wrap is a nice touch for adding to this shoe’s traction.

In the context of CrossFit, this shoe does a pretty good job, especially when compared to other barefoot shoes. The toe guard does a pretty good job at protecting the toes from burpees and if you’re only training indoors, then it should do a pretty good job in regard to its durability.

When catching cleans, this shoe is pretty comfortable and the sole articulation is nice for things like box jumps, double-unders, and high-volume dumbbell and kettlebell work.

The upper is hit or miss once again for rope climbs. I think it could be better for the next updated iteration. It would be nice to have a little more material around the midfoot and potentially more material to promote how this shoe bites the rope.

Testing the Xero Shoes 360 for Plyometrics, Agility, and HIIT

With this style of training, I can’t stress enough that you will need to acclimate to barefoot shoes if you’ve never worn them. The higher ground impact forces with jumping and HIIT can feel comfortable when starting out, but once you acclimate I think you’ll like this shoe.

The insole and sole actually feel a bit more responsive than the HFS and Prio which somewhat surprised me and could just be mental, to be honest. I noticed this most when doing various plyometrics.

And maybe this is a placebo, but I think the reworked 360 sole construction actually gave this model a slightly more responsive and reactive feel when doing plyometric and athletic-focused training.

For track workouts and my athletic-focused sessions, the sole’s traction and upper’s breathability are among some of my favorite features of this model. You can wear this model outdoors and indoors for versatile training and get a lot out of its construction.

Testing the Xero Shoes 360 for Running and Daily Wear

For running, the Xero Shoes 360 feels pretty standard for most barefoot shoes, and they perform similar to the Zelen and HFS for short runs. Their multi-directional sole gives them a nice little extra feeling of traction on different surfaces.

Plus, the removable insole is a nice feature for giving you a little more cushion. Personally, I think this model will perform best for athletes that plan to use these shoes for lifting and for runs that are around 3-miles or less.

If you plan to run longer distances, then you may want to explore a more running-focused barefoot shoe. For daily wear, the Xero Shoes 360 works well, however, I’m not the biggest fan of this shoe’s appearance.

While some enjoy the look of the 360, I think it can look a little clunky and dated and isn’t the best for more formal daily wear. If you just plan to wear them to run errands, for walking, or around the house, then you’ll enjoy what the 360 has to offer.

Xero Shoes 360 Sizing

For most athletes and lifters, you should be safe going true-to-size in the Xero Shoes 360. Their toe box is plenty wide for those with flatter feet and their length fits very true and snug.

Do note, that barefoot shoes have less material for mid-foot support, but I do think that’s something most adapt to with acclimating to this style of footwear. This aspect is something to stay conscious of when you’re purchasing barefoot shoes for the first time.

• Xero Shoes Sizing Thoughts: Go true to size.

If you have additional questions on the Xero Shoes 360 sizing or how they compare to other barefoot shoes, drop a comment below and I can try to help you out accordingly.

Construction Details

If you’re interested in the construction details of the Xero Shoes 360, I’ve pulled what I think are the most important for this model.

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Weight: 10.2 oz (for a size 10 with the removable insole)
• Eyelets: 6 (one for lace-lock) 
• Huarache-Style Security
• External Rubber Upper Counters
• Wider Toe Box With Mesh Cover
• Multi-Directional Rubber Sole

If you have any additional questions about the Xero Shoes 360’s construction, drop a comment below.

Takeaway Thoughts

The Xero Shoes 360 are quickly becoming one of my favorite barefoot training shoes. They’re plenty stable for my powerlifting-focused workouts and can also tackle the versatile cross-training sessions I implement on a weekly basis.

My only gripe with this shoe is that you can run into long-term durability issues with them here and there if you’re doing a lot of rope climbing and outdoor training where there’s friction on the upper.

If you have any questions about this model, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly)!