I have used the XA Pro for training and racing for a little over 6 months and enjoy the underfoot protection they provide. I generally cross directly through streams and like that these shoes allow water to escape rapidly and dry quickly. After having run in much lighter trail shoes with traditional lacing systems; these shoes were definitely an adjustment. They are heavier than my previous Adidas Trail Response and much less forgiving on the short (1 to 2 mile stints on the road). The lacing system is great because there are no laces to be caught on tree roots and other trail obstacles. The system does take some getting used to. I eventually learned that I had to pull them so tight they were less than comfortable at the start of runs. But as my run progressed (usually in the first mile) the lacing system would loosen to just the right fit. By far I liked the underfoot protection the best on this shoe. I run primarily on very rocky trails and am prone to rock bruises thus this feature's importance. And the XA-Pro prevented any problems with rock bruises for me.
Pros:
Protective plate between outsole and footbed helps with obstacle protection.
Quick Drying.
Good forefoot protection
Cons:
Very flat last and limited cushion make it difficult to run on roads.
