The Jessie barefoot sandals from Xero Shoes are genuine minimalist sandals in both looks and function. With a tiny 5.5 mm stack height and flexible, zero drop sole, they provide superb ground feel.
Whether you’re after a cute, minimalist beach sandal or want something more than passable to wear with a dress, the Jessie could be what you’re looking for! Read on to find out some of the reasons I love them!
I waited a while to answer this question and review the Jessie sandal from Xero Shoes. I wanted to be sure my pair could pass the test of time. Functionality and versatility are two of the most important features I believe you need from barefoot freedom sandals.
In this post, I’ll explain how the Jessie barefoot sandals have passed those tests for me.
Okay, and also to keep it real, I had my second baby around the time I received my Jessie sandals, so I was kind of busy during the first year of wearing them!
[The photo below shows me wearing Jessie’s in one of my first post-baby outings!].
The video at the top of this page was the first part of my review because I did it not long after I started wearing the Jessies.
Almost one year later, I put together the whole post, knowing they could stand the test of time.
(This post includes affiliate links for which I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase)
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
Xero Shoes review | Jessie minimalist sandals
Before I get into my Xero Shoes review, I want to highlight a couple of things.
First of all, full disclosure: I’m a Xero Shoes Ambassador and affiliate. I became an ambassador after I did my first review. By then, I had decided I loved this company and its range of barefoot shoes and sandals designed for natural movement.
As a former experienced health and fitness trainer and coach, I only promote products or services on this site that I believe are relevant for living your fittest, healthiest life.
Secondly, if you want to, you can jump straight to my other Xero Shoes reviews:
- Xero Shoes Z Trail review – fantastic barefoot hiking sandals. They are also great for trail running and as all-around modern adventure sandals. If you’re after women’s or men’s minimalist running sandals, check them out.
- Cassie Mary-Jane-style barefoot shoes—I wore these minimalist shoes immediately after the birth of my daughter. Like the Jessie, they’re more of a lifestyle shoe rather than a performance-based one.
- Terraflex review – Trail running shoes for off-road runners and hikers seeking maximum ground connection. Here’s my review of the upgraded version, the Terraflex II barefoot shoes.
- Kids Prio from Xero Shoes – fantastic minimalist shoes for healthy and happy little feet!
- Zelen sustainable minimalist running shoe – perfect for road running
- Aqua Cloud review – a great-looking and functional barefoot water sandal
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
Maybe you clicked on this blog post after asking the question “How can I be minimalist with clothes and shoes?” And now you’re wondering whether minimalist footwear is the same as barefoot footwear.
The terms ‘minimalist sandal’ and ‘barefoot sandal’ are often used interchangeably. They can mean the same thing, or something a bit different, depending on your search intent.
The barefoot movement exploded after Christopher McDougall’s bestselling book “Born to Run” was released. McDougall set out to discover the secrets of the Tarahumara Indians and learn why they could run for miles and miles while avoiding injuries and maintaining excellent foot health.
The simple (barefoot!) nature of their footwear was highlighted as a very important factor. The epitome of simplicity, the soles of their footwear (known as “Huaraches”) were made from a tire tread. A leather strap completed the look.
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
Minimalist sandals and shoe designs for a modern world
These simple, minimalist designs have inspired barefoot shoe companies such as Xero Shoes. Barefoot sandals and shoes have zero heel-to-toe drop (i.e., the heel is not raised). The goal here is to allow for natural movement and good posture.
Shoes and sandals designed for barefoot running, hiking, or everyday wear don’t have “arch support” as such. The goal is to offer the minimum support and protection required so your feet can bend, flex, and function effectively.
When you wear barefoot shoes and sandals, you focus on your foot strength rather than asking your footwear to provide features like lateral stability.
The soles of barefoot sandals and shoes are also thin for maximum ground feel and ground feedback. A thin sole/minimal stack height allows the little sensory receptors on your feet to tell the rest of your body how to move. Together, these features reflect the basic design of traditional Tarahumara footwear.
If you haven’t read “Born to Run” yet, grab it from Walmart in your favorite format. I listened to the audio version several years ago, before I became a fan of barefoot shoes and sandals.
Minimalist sandals versus barefoot sandals
So now you know a bit about barefoot sandals. I mentioned that the term “barefoot’ is often used interchangeably with the word “minimalist” when it comes to footwear.
You might also be looking for sandals based on the concepts of a minimalist lifestyle. In a quest for simple living, you may be looking to minimize the number of material possessions you have, including clothes and footwear.
If that is your goal, then consider the Jessie sandal as a great item for your “capsule wardrobe”. Read on to discover my five top reasons to consider the Jessie sandals your best choice in minimalist sandals. From reading my list, you’ll understand why the Jessie’s make the cut with my personal minimalist wardrobe!
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
5 reasons “Jessie” could be the best minimalist sandals
1. They’re super versatile minimalist sandals
For me, versatility was an extremely important factor in my choice of minimalist sandals. If you consider yourself to lead a minimalist lifestyle, or have aspirations to do so, then versatility will be important for you too.
I love the Jessie minimalist sandal because I feel like I can wear it with anything in my wardrobe. And that is super important for me since I’m slow-traveling full-time with my family. I only own two pairs of footwear at any given time – usually a pair of barefoot sandals and a pair of barefoot shoes.
So yep, I wear these as dressy minimalist sandals. Depending on your lifestyle, you might not think that the Jessie’s pass as a dressy minimalist sandal, but I’m just sharing how I wear them.
[In the pic below, I’m heavily pregnant and heading off to my dad’s 60th birthday party with my sister and daughter. At the time, I still had tan lines from my old Z-trails!]
I think they look great with pants/trousers, shorts, skirts, and dresses.
I also do a wide range of activities in the Jessie’s. These include light hikes, playing in playgrounds with my kids, and walking along the beach or crossing streams.
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
2. Could also be purchased as mens minimalist sandals (i.e. they’re DOUBLE versatile)
Xero shoes offer a wide range of footwear. Sandals like the Jessie were originally designed for women. However, some men have chosen to wear them as well. If you’re a man who wants to try out the Jessie sandal, check that you can get them in an appropriate size.
By the way, Xero Shoes stocks several different styles of minimalist sandals. Women’s and men’s sizes are available in styles such as the Z-trail, Z-trek, Naboso, Genesis, and Cloud.
Click here to check out the latest in their minimal sandals and shoes range (no flip-flops in sight)!
3. Minimalist sandals designed for feet!
The third important reason I recommend Jessie as my top pick for minimalist sandals is that they are designed with health in mind. If you’ve been reading posts from my website for a while, you’ll know that all the information I share is created to help you lead your fittest, healthiest lifestyle.
Your footwear is a factor in that equation. Healthy feet need to be able to bend and flex naturally. A rigid shoe or sandal doesn’t allow this to happen easily. The Jessies are incredibly flexible zero drop sandals, allowing for natural movement.
Remember that not all minimalist sandals will be designed with this in mind. From a minimalist perspective, they might be designed with versatility and/or a small amount of material. But the sole could still be firm and rigid.
See the earlier section titled “What are barefoot sandals?”. This will refresh your memory about the barefoot philosophy.
4. They’re a very travel-friendly minimalist sandal
As I mentioned earlier, I slow-travel with my family full time (find out all about this over at our digital nomad family blog).
In addition to the versatility factor, the Jessie’s are clearly super thin, and such a lightweight sandal. A woman’s size 7 weighs only 4.5 ounces! They roll up or lie flat to take up very little space in my pack.
And when you’re a full-time traveler, every item in your pack has to earn its place. Because the Jessies take up so little room, I opt to pack them and wear the Terraflex on our travel days.
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
5. High-quality AND cheap minimalist sandals
Reason five to consider the Jessie as your best choice for minimalist sandals is that they are built to last. That durability is offered at such affordable prices by a company with strong values.
They even offer a 5000-mile sole warranty, as they’re pretty convinced you won’t wear them out!
As I mentioned, I wanted to be sure that my Jessies had lasted before I published this post in full.
The Jessies looked almost as good as new after I had worn them nearly every day for an entire year. There was only a slight bit of tread wear under each sandal around the ball of my foot.
The velcro straps lost their stickiness a little, and I think the straps also stretched a little (or my feet shrank!). I took them to a local shoe repair place for some new velcro strapping and to trim down the back strap a little.
Where to buy minimalist sandals
If you’ve decided that the Jessie is a great minimalist sandal choice, you can click here to jump straight to this particular sandal in the Xero Shoes store.
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
If you’re after the best running sandals then the Jessie’s might not be your first choice. However, the Xero sandals range includes barefoot running sandals such as the Genesis, Cloud, Naboso, Z-trail, Z-trek, or their DIY minimalist sandals kit.
Their zero drop shoes include barefoot running shoes like the Xero Shoes HFS, Xero Shoes Prio, Xero Scrambler Low and Mid, the Speed Force, Terraflex, and casual minimalist shoes such as the Hana and Pacifica.
Have you tried these zero drop, minimalist sandals? Feel free to join the conversation and leave any questions or comments below!
[Click here to check the latest prices on the Jessie sandal at Xero Shoes].
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these recommended service provider links, like an insurance broker, or a travel agent, I may earn a commission – at no extra cost to you. [For my full disclosure, please see my DISCLAIMER page].
