Weight
At 5.5 oz, it’s tough to get much lighter than the Terra while maintaining durability. ZEM footwear is generally lighter across the board than Vibram models, and even lighter than many huarache-style sandals currently on the market.

Fit and Comfort
The Terra only comes in whole sizes, and runs slightly long in the toe box, but not enough to necessitate a smaller size. The stretch Lycra stays fairly snug around most of the foot with the help of tension bands, but there is mild slipping in the heel area, especially in muddy conditions. Without any lacing or strap system, there’s no way to adjust the fit through the midfoot.

Comfort of the upper and insole against bare skin is very nice; the Terras were tested sockless for most runs, sometimes in the 2-3 hour duration range, without any hotspots or blisters.

Flexibility
Both the upper and outsole are completely flexible in all directions, with no restrictions of movement.

Ground Feel
Outsole thickness is a mere 4mm, with a thin fabric insole layer separating your foot from the platform. This is one of the lowest stack heights available – and combined with high flexibility, enables you to feel every little rock in the trail.

Traction
ZEM’s Green Grip outsole is more than sufficient for asphalt, and maintained traction well in most off-road conditions including steep gravel fire roads and rocky terrain. Traction did not feel compromised in wet conditions on road or trail.

Interestingly, the Terra isn’t ZEM’s dedicated running model—that would be the 360—but the outsole on the Terra is actually more appropriate for all-conditions running than the “official” running model which is primarily designed for road use.

Durability
The Terra marks a major improvement in the durability of ZEM’s previous offerings, which were more sock-like but fell apart with high-demand use. The Terra outsole shows minimal signs of wear after 100 miles, and upper construction hasn’t been compromised by frequent trail use.