Xero Shoes Scrambler Low Review – The aggressive, protective, minimal trail shoe

Another trail shoe from Xero Shoes! Yes, that’s right, the Scrambler Low is the third trail shoe in the Xero Shoe lineup, so how does it differ from the Terraflex II and the Mesa Trail II?

I’ve been testing the Scrambler low for a few weeks now, running, hiking, and generally out in the mountains, and I’m impressed with the direction Xero Shoes are going with their trail lineup.

• The Michelin rubber outsole works amazingly.
• The larger stack height means you can choose it for any trail run/hike.
• Comfort straight out of the box.

But that doesn’t mean it’s all fine and dandy. There are drawbacks to the Scrambler Low, which I’ll investigate in this review.

Lastly, if you were a fan of old-school trail shoes from Altra, the Scrambler Low has just stolen your heart! I can’t believe I’m saying that!

*These shoes were gifted to me by Xero Shoes, but I was not obligated to say anything positive or negative about the shoes. I’m just telling it how it is! *

But is it a shoe for you?

Let’s find out.

How does the Xero Shoes Scrambler Low Fit?

I’ve worn a lot of Xero Shoes models, and to be honest, the Scrambler Low feels very reminiscent of many of the shoes in their lineup.

As a barefoot brand, it’s not the widest out there, but for 80-90% of us, it’s wide enough, but what sets them apart from the rest is the depth.

Xero Shoes are high-volume shoes in the midfoot and toe box . Meaning you’ll never scrape your toes on the top of the toe box, and you’ll have to tie them down tight to get a good lockdown. If you know you have shallow feet or you’ve had a bunching of material over the top of shoes in the past, the Scrambler Low’s may not be for you. But if you often find shoes way too tight over the top of your foot, try Xero shoes!

I said they’re not too wide, but they’ll suit average-width toe splays or less. Look down at your bare feet. Do your toes naturally splay wider than your midfoot, maybe resembling a fan shape? If that’s you, try a different brand. But most of us find the area just behind our toes to be slightly wider, which means the Scrambler Low will be fine for you.

The material used in the upper is soft and very forgiving. If you’ve ever tried some original Altra Lone Peak models, you’ll know what I mean when I say the Scrambler Low has a skater shoe feel. Soft, flexible, and forgiving. I do not doubt that it’ll be comfortable for everyone out there! That has implications, but I’ll discuss that in the Feel section.

There’s plenty of room in the heel too. With no supportive heel cup (a good thing), and the flexible material, the heel and ankle are very accommodating. Great for those who find conventional shoes tight around the ankles or have an issue with sitting too high in a shoe.

Ensure you use all the lacing eyelets and a lace lock to get a good lockdown. Because the upper is flexible, you’ll want to lock your foot in place.

How does the Xero Shoes Scrambler Low Feel?

Here’s where things get interesting.

If I’m being 100% honest, the Scrambler Low isn’t entirely barefoot. But at the same time, that’s not a bad thing for an aggressive shoe like this.

There is forefoot flexibility, and it’s possible to twist the shoe torsionally, but the heel is stiff. It may be a little strong saying this isn’t a barefoot shoe. It’s way more flexible than most shoes on the market, and the ground feel is still there. But when compared with the Mesa Trail II, it’s a bit beefy. I found the sole to be particularly stiff towards the heel.

For an aggressive trail shoe, the thicker stack height comes in handy. The stack height is said to be around 10mm, but when you add that to the more rigid outsole that the Michelin rubber provides, you’ll never have bruised feet again! I’ve done my fair share of trail running in super thin barefoot shoes, and when you hit that rock slightly, boy, it hurts! That’s why we sometimes need some stack height. And the Scrambler Low does that without getting ridiculous.

The grippy outsole works wonders in many conditions. One thing I thought when I first tried these shoes was, finally, a minimal trail shoe I’d use in the UK! I.e., wet, muddy conditions. With 4mm lugs in a pattern resembling a bike tire, I found the ups and downs a breeze. This outsole is much better than any other Xero Shoes, and dare I say, even Altra!

A flexible upper and grippy outsole is an odd combination. When separated, the two features make sense. Flexible uppers allow for comfortable fits, and a grippy outsole is great for the trail. The issue is that when you’re flying downhill, your foot can move inside the shoe because there’s very little locking you down. I cranked the laces down tight, and it was ok but not perfect. I wish the overlays were a little more secure to stop the foot sliding.

If you’re not going to hit the trail with significant gradients or going out for a hike rather than a run, you’ll be fine, but it’s something to remember for the mountains.

The website mentions cushion, but I wouldn’t let that put you off. In fact, the insole has more cushion than the midsole. Most of the stack height comes from the rubber. The shoe is very responsive, and any cushion underfoot does not feel unnatural. Remember, if you want to take the insoles out, the shoes will be very deep, and you could struggle to get a lockdown.

The toecap is soft, but the rubber rounds up in front of the toes. How often have you kicked a rock on the trail when running in minimal shoes? It hurts, doesn’t it? The Scrambler Low solves this, not with a toe cap, but by extending the sole a few mm further out from the front of the shoe. When you kick a rock, the tough rubber hits first, not your toes!

Is the Xero Shoes Scrambler Low Durable?

This is where I usually talk about Xero Shoes 5000-mile outsole guarantee.

But this time, I don’t even think it’s worth talking about.

The thick chunk of Michelin rubber underfoot is going to last a lifetime. I’d love to know how thick it is. It feels solid! The lugs may wear down over time, but that is the nature of an aggressive shoe. No one will test the 5000-mile outsole guarantee; maybe they’ll even graft the sole onto a different shoe! 🙂

I do worry about the upper. It’s a soft material for a trail shoe; multiple scuffs could lead to holes. When you think of trail shoes, you think of tough materials. For some reason, the Scrambler Low is lacking some of these. Much like the Terraflex II, which I managed to break through the upper, the material seems too soft. I’d almost say you want more of a plastic feel than the fabric used. Only time will tell.

The welded overlays are there, but they’re not convincing. On the good side, the overlay runs around the shoe, so the upper will unlikely split away from the sole, but they’ll do little to protect the shoe and fabric. Nor do they provide much structure.

The laces are thick and old school, and the eyelets are simple. I said you’d have to crank these laces tight, so it’s good to know there’s a whole lot of material used in these laces! The construction seems solid, so it’s unlikely that you’ll have a lacing malfunction in these.

In the past, the Xero Shoes insoles have worn through quicker than I would have liked. If that happens to you, there are multiple options. I switch many of mine out for Altra insoles because they’re thicker and fill out the Xero Shoes depth nicely. Use Vivobarefoot insoles (which you can buy online) which last 1000’s of miles. Or contact support; they’re usually happy to help.

Conclusion

I’m thrilled to see Xero Shoes going in this direction with their trail shoes.

The original Mesa Trail was thin, and although I loved them, they were often too thin for the mountain running I was going. That meant I had to reach for Altra Superiors more often than I’d like or get bruised heels.

With the Scrambler Low now in my rotation, along with the Mesa Trail II, I don’t need any Altra’s at all. And I can’t quite believe I’m saying that.

The only point that could change my mind right now is the durability. I have no doubt the outsole is sold, but will the upper hold up? Time will tell. 

So, try the Scrambler Low if you want a trail shoe for rocky or muddy conditions and are willing to give up a little ground feel for better protection.

I was pleasantly surprised, and I think you will be too!