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The Xero Shoes Dillon is designed to be a simplistic, no-frills, casual barefoot shoe. I like to wear barefoot shoes casually for most occasions but finding good-looking pairs is always a struggle.
After trying out the business casual Glenn and enjoying their performance and appearance, I was stoked to put the Dillon to the test. This shoe is a little more casual than the Glenn so it fits into my lifestyle a little better.
Quick Take: If you want a lightweight and fairly versatile barefoot shoe for daily wear in dry climates that’s where the Dillon will excel. The Xero Shoes Dillon is comfortable, wide, and breathable.
Xero Shoes Dillon
$99.99
Best For
- Casual Wear
- Walking and Standing
- Dry Climates
- Warmer Seasons
- Minimalism Lovers
Falls Short
- For Insole Quality
- For Wet Surfaces
Table of Contents+
Who Should Buy the Xero Shoes Dillon?
Across my testing with the Xero Shoes Dillon, I’ve found a few contexts where I think this shoe makes a lot of sense and where they’ll be worth the investment.
1. You Want Something Casual for Walking and Standing
The first context where the Xero Shoes Dillon can make a lot of sense is for the individual that has been looking for a simple barefoot shoe for walking, standing, and wearing casually.
When it comes to day-to-day wear, I know I’m not alone when I say that it can be rough finding barefoot shoes that look both casual and not too out of place. In my opinion, the Dillon delivers regarding appearance.
This shoe’s toe box doesn’t look overly wide or “clown-like” by any means and whenever I’ve worn these out in public I tend to get compliments on their refined and clean look.
For both walking and standing, this shoe has been nice and comfortable, and again, I think their appearance along with these features are all star players in this barefoot shoe ask that many like myself have.
2. You Want a Barefoot Shoe With a Good Amount of Width
Another area where I think the Xero Shoes Dillon will deliver is with their width. This shoe’s midfoot and toe box will run plenty wide for most foot anatomies, in my opinion.
I can wear this shoe barefoot and not slide around a ton or with socks and not feel overly restricted. These actually feel a little wider than other Xero Shoes models like the 360 and Prio.
The lack of toe box taper is also nice as this shoe should do a pretty good job for blockier feet as well. So if you routinely feel like the toe box of some barefoot shoes like the Tolos Archetype 2.0 feel a little snug then the Dillon may be a good option for you.
3. You Want a Daily Wear Shoe With Good Breathability
If you’re after a barefoot shoe for daily wear that has a good level of breathability then the Dillon should deliver for that ask. More specifically, if you want a commute shoe for warmer weather I think you’ll like this model.
The mesh upper feels lightweight and promotes good ventilation even on steamy days. I walked 4 miles in these on a day when it was around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and they did a really good job.
Don’t get me wrong, you could definitely wear these in colder months, too, if you select the right socks. However, I think they’ll truly excel as warm weather-friendly commuting shoes.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Xero Shoes Dillon?
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed the Xero Shoes Dillon, but there are a couple of areas where I think you’ll want to pass using this shoe.
1. You Need Shoes for Frequent Wet Climates
One area where I was surprised the Xero Shoes Dillon fell short was for rainy days. I’ve used these now on three different occasions when it’s been wet outside and every time these shoes have let me down.
Even on concrete sidewalks in New York City, I found myself sliding at times and if you walk on anything metal like a grate or a sewer lid then you’ll want to be careful with these shoes.
I always expect some slippage with barefoot shoes since their soles don’t typically have the most aggressive non-slip treads, but I feel like the FeelTrue rubber in this shoe just doesn’t hit for rainy days.
This is also why I don’t think this shoe will be the best option in colder months, especially the winter when you’re more likely to run into damp surfaces from snow and colder weather.
2. You Know for Sure You to Use the Insole
Something that I also found really interesting with the Xero Shoes Dillon is that the insole has a weird cut and feel to it. This may not bother everyone so I tread lightly here making this point.
However, in my pair of Dillons along with my best friend’s, we’ve noticed that the insole slides a bit when walking long distances and this then results in some lower heel blistering.
If you take the insole out this completely mitigates the issue which is great, but if you’re someone just getting into barefoot shoes and you want that extra 3mm foam insole then this could be problematic for your needs.
That said, if you’ve also experienced this issue in the Xero Shoes Dillon drop a comment down below and share why you think the blistering is happening. Am I on the money in thinking it’s solely related to the insole cut?
Xero Shoes Dillon Pros and Cons
Over the course of my testing with the Xero Shoes Dillon, I’ve found a few pros and cons with this shoe. A few of these cons didn’t emerge until I used this in more niche contexts and settings.
Report Card: Get the Quick FactsXero Shoes Dillon
Who Should Buy This?
- The FeelTrue sole in this model gives you a nice level of articulation and ground feel for walking and standing.
- These colorways are simple and the shoes look great with different outfits due to their minimalist branding and no-frills construction.
- The removable insole is a nice touch for giving you variability regarding cushion and ground feel based on your preferences.
Who Shouldn't Buy This?
- On wet surfaces in New York City, this shoe had a bunch of slippage even on concrete so keep an eye on this if you wear them in the rain.
- The insole is weirdly cut and it caused my heel to blister so I’ve taken it out and plan to leave it out. This will likely be the case for others, too.
- The white colorway gets dirty easily and it can kind of be a pain to clean depending on the grime you got on the upper.
If you’ve found additional pros and cons with your Xero Shoes Dillon, let me know, and share your experiences in the comments below.
Performance Assessment
To break down the performance of the Xero Shoes Dillon I’ll discuss how these shoes perform for walking, standing, and daily wear, and share my thoughts on their multi-season usage.
Testing the Xero Shoes Dillon for Walking and Standing
In the context of daily wear, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Xero Shoes Dillon. To be honest, I like this pair of shoes a lot more than I thought I would which has been a nice surprise.
Their super simple upper construction and design have grown on me and I like how easy they are to match with different outfits. I feel like this shoe walks a fine line of looking casual enough for pairing with gym shorts but also formal enough to wear out.
For example, I’ve worn these out to dinner a few times and have actually received a few positive comments on them. I will say, if you go with the white colorway then you’ll definitely have to clean them fairly regularly.
For walking, this model is comfortable for the most part. The insole issue was definitely a bummer and it almost turned me off from this model entirely, but luckily, I was able to pinpoint that if I just remove the insole then this is comfortable.
Thus far, I’ve used this shoe for bouts where I’ve walked 3-5 miles and they’ve performed well. Granted, I was not a fan of these shoes for the rainy days I wore them, so once again, pass on them for damp settings.
For standing, this shoe’s width and breathability are both perks and I see this as a good commute and work shoe. If you’re on your feet all day, for example, I think this model can be a good pick.
Testing the Xero Shoes Dillon for Multi-Season Use
If you’re buying this shoe for commuting and general use then I think you’ll want to limit their wear to the spring, summer, and fall. This shoe’s lightweight mesh upper has a good degree of ventilation.
On hotter days, these give your feet a good climate and if you’re like me and you routinely sockless in your barefoot shoes I think the breathability of these should help limit their stink.
For colder weather, these shoes could technically work but their inability to give good grip on wet surfaces gives me pause. I would not want to be wearing these on a subway platform on a cold damp winter day.
Xero Shoes Dillon Sizing
For the Xero Shoes Dillon, most should be safe going true to size in this shoe. Xero Shoes also recommends going with your normal size in this model as well.
I feel like the Dillon fits most similarly to the Glenn’s width and Prio’s length so if you wear those models expect this shoe to feel similar regarding their length and width measurements.
Now, while I think most should size this shoe true to size, I think notably wide feet may want to go up a half-size. I hit the end of the toe box in this shoe here and there and I have slightly wider feet.
So I feel like a safe bet with this model would be to size up if you typically find shoes to feel too snug in the toe box area, especially Xero Shoes’ models.
- Xero Shoes Dillon Sizing Thoughts: True to size for most.
If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the Xero Shoes Dillon, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally and I can help you out.
Price Breakdown
For the Xero Shoes Glenn, you can expect to pay around $99.99 USD. This puts this shoe right in the middle of the road of prices for barefoot shoes that are designed for daily wear.
They’re more expensive than options like the WHITIN Barefoot Shoes and Splay Freestyle, but more cost-efficient than most Vivobarefoot shoes designed for casual use.
Personally, I feel like this price point is fair for what the Xero Shoes Dillon delivers. Is it a flawless shoe? Not necessarily, but for warm weather use this model excels.
Also, if you take the insole out and like to wear your barefoot shoes barefoot then I think you’ll really enjoy the performance this shoe delivers regarding their comfort and breathability for the price.
Xero Shoes Dillon
$99.99
Best For
- Casual Wear
- Walking and Standing
- Dry Climates
- Warmer Seasons
- Minimalism Lovers
Falls Short
- For Insole Quality
- For Wet Surfaces
Construction Details
There aren’t a ton of frills to the Xero Shoes Dillon and I think that’s one of the things that makes this shoe pretty awesome. Below are the construction details worth noting for this shoe.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
- Weight: 10.65 oz (for my size 10 model)
- Removable Insole: Yes
- Stack Height: ~8.5mm With Insole In
- FeelTrue Rubber Sole
- Lightweight Mesh Upper
- Arrow Tread Pattern
- Xero Shoes Branding On Heel/Tongue
- Non-Gusseted Tongue
If you have additional questions about the construction of the Xero Shoes Dillon, drop a comment below and I can provide further clarification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:How do you clean the Xero Shoes Dillon?
Q:Are the Xero Shoes Dillon good for wide feet?
Q:Can you wear the Xero Shoes Dillon in winter?
Takeaway Thoughts
There’s a lot to like with the Xero Shoes Dillon, especially in the context of casual wear. This shoe’s simplistic design makes them easy to pair with most outfits and they look casual yet formal which I like.
This will definitely be a more hot-weather-friendly barefoot shoe. However, it has a couple of weird quirks, like its weirdly cut insole.
If you have additional questions about the Xero Shoes Dillon before you invest in a pair, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).
Vicki
Hi! Thanks so much for the review! I’m semi new to barefoot shoes and I own Vivo barefoot. I have questions on sizing – get your normal size. Is normal size the actual foot length or should I add some room so my toes is not on the edge of the shoe? E.g my foot length is size 7.5. I typically get size 8 because I do not like directly touching the edge of the shoe. For vivo, I get size 7.5 because size 8 has too much room.
I’d go 8 in these. When I say mention to go with your normal size, I mean the size you go in your other shoes 🙂 Thank you for checking it out!