The Xero Press

New FeelTrue® MAX sole, X-Lock security and a women's-specific last  Xero Shoes launches the X2, the brand's second basketball shoe, built on the barefoot, natural movement philosophy of the X1, one of the first barefoot basketball shoes worn in the NBA and WNBA. While the category keeps stacking foam higher and locking the ankle down tighter, the X2 goes the other direction. Instead of adding bulk, it strips performance down to what the foot actually needs: ground connection, natural flex and a secure hold that moves with the player instead of against them. When the X1 launched in March 2025, core sizes sold out quickly as athletes, coaches and trainers responded to a shoe that was lightweight and connected to the court. Independent reviewers agreed: WearTesters scored the X1 8.5 out of 10 and wrote that it "proves that it absolutely can" work as a basketball shoe. The X2 keeps what players loved, including the foot-shaped toe box for balance and stability and the zero-drop platform that keeps the heel and forefoot level for a powerful push-off, but also features new upgrades. Upgraded Sole Engineered for Power The X2 debuts the brand's new FeelTrue® MAX sole. Its ultralight SPU outsole is thinner, lighter and grippier than rubber, engineered to maximize power transfer on every jump, cut, plant and hard drive down the court, game after game. A classic herringbone pattern, reimagined for hardwood, provides the grip for quick multi-directional movement. Court Connection Beneath the foot, a performance foam layer and a Poron® strobel layer add protection against impact. At 12.5mm, the X2 sits roughly half as high off the hardwood as the lowest-profile mainstream performance basketball shoes. Secure Lockdown Xero Shoes' X-Lock system, functional tensioning straps combined with a tongue gusset, locks the foot in place without limiting the natural range of motion needed to generate on-court power play after play. An engineered upper with 3D-printed overlays gives the X2 an evolved look in a single hybrid-height silhouette, replacing the X1's separate Mid and Low. One of the Lightest Performance Basketball Shoes The X2 weighs 10.6 oz (women's size 8) and 12.4 oz (men's size 10), putting it among the lightest true performance basketball shoes available. Independent lab testing by RunRepeat puts the average basketball shoe at 13.3 oz.  Women’s Specific Design Most women's basketball shoes, including many signature models, are built on unisex or men's lasts and offered in smaller sizes and different colors. The women's X2 is a rarity: it is built on a women's-specific performance last that keeps the same wide toe box as the men's shoe with a lower volume and a narrower heel to fit her foot.  NBA athlete Isaiah Stewart returns as a Xero Shoes partner for the X2 launch. He's worn the X1 in professional play and training since 2025. "I bring a lot of power to the court, in games and training. Most shoes get in the way of that, but not this one. With the X2 I feel low-to-the-court, fast and locked in." The X2 is available now at xeroshoes.com for $169.99.  

Lightweight Trail Shoes Built for Trail Running, Hiking, and Natural Movement Xero Shoes Mesa Summit and Mesa Summit WP lightweight trail shoes arrive August 2026, designed for runners and hikers who want ground feedback and protection without the stiffness, weight, or overbuilt feel common in many trail shoes.  Barefoot trail shoes offer real advantages to let feet move naturally: lighter weight, zero-drop design, and a wide toe box for better comfort. But the most common tradeoff is too little protection: feeling every rock and root underfoot. That’s where Mesa Summit provides protection where it matters and freedom where it counts. A new ESS rock guard, the first in Xero Shoes, is embedded in high-impact zones and helps shield feet from rocks and roots without stiffening the ride. The updated abrasion- and debris-resistant polyester mesh upper, reinforced with a 3D-printed overlay, adds durability without compromising flexibility or lightweight comfort. For wet conditions, the Mesa Summit WP retains breathability with waterproof protection. These upgrades improve Xero Shoes’ popular Mesa Trail franchise. “Mesa Summit is about helping people move on the trails the way their bodies were designed to move,” said Michael Pao, Chief Product Officer at Xero Shoes. “It combines the protection you need on technical terrain with the natural feel, flexibility, and ground connection that define our barefoot experience." Mesa Summit Stack Height: 12mm (9.5mm + 3.5mm removable insole) Lug Height: 3.5mm Drop: 0mm Strategically-placed ESS rock guard embedded into a layer of performance foam that protects high-impact zones Updated abrasion and debris-resistant polyester mesh upper reinforced with a 3D-printed overlay Grippy outsole with EVA cutthroughs reduces weight and maintains traction Secure fit and lockdown through the heel and midfoot and a foot-shaped toe box  Flexible construction preserves natural foot movement as the shoe bends and flexes throughout running/hiking stride Weight (each pair): Men’s 9: 9.8oz Women’s 8: 8.4oz Mesa Summit WP Stack Height: 12mm (9.5mm + 3.5mm removable insole) Lug Height: 3.5mm Drop: 0mm Weight (each pair):  Men’s 9: 10.4oz  Women’s 8: 9.6oz XeroTex® Waterproof Membrane combined with a debris collar Strategically-placed ESS rock guard embedded into a layer of performance foam that protects high-impact zones Updated abrasion and debris-resistant polyester mesh upper reinforced with a 3D-printed overlay Grippy outsole with EVA cutthroughs reduces weight and maintains traction Secure fit and lockdown through the heel and midfoot and a foot-shaped toe box  Flexible construction preserves natural foot movement as the shoe bends and flexes throughout running/hiking stride

The barefoot sandal that started as a cult-favorite for runners predates the "quiet luxury" rope sandal trend by more than a decade — and its momentum is only building Xero Shoes launched its latest collaboration on July 8: a refined edition of its iconic Genesis sandal with Literary Sport. The partnership marks the second major collaboration of the year for the Genesis, following a collaboration with J.Crew, and comes as the fifteen-year-old sandal design experiences a cultural moment few footwear silhouettes ever reach. A Design Born from Necessity, Not Trend The Genesis traces back to 2009, when Boulder runner and Masters All-American sprinter Steven Sashen cut a piece of rubber, laced it with cord, and strapped it to his feet. Sashen, plagued by chronic running injuries, had taken up barefoot running and found his pain disappearing — a discovery inspired in part by the huaraches worn by Mexico's Tarahumara runners, popularized in the bestselling book Born to Run. What started as a personal experiment turned into the global footwear brand, Xero Shoes. Sashen and his wife, co-founder Lena Phoenix, began selling DIY Sandal Kits from their Boulder home, building a devoted following among barefoot runners, minimalist hikers, and early wellness converts. A 2013 appearance on Shark Tank introduced the brand to a mainstream audience for the first time, and customer demand for a ready-to-wear sandal followed. This sandal was refined based on customer feedback, with the official Genesis debut in 2018.  The simple design has remained unchanged since and focuses on Xero Shoes’ minimal to the  max philosophy: a sole just millimeters thick, and paracord lacing that moves with the foot rather than against it. The idea was never to add support, it was to let the foot do what it was built to do. From Cult Favorite to Fashion Moment The Genesis stayed under the radar until 2024, when Miu Miu released a strikingly similar rope sandal priced more than $800. The comparison sent the Genesis viral, not as an imitation of a trend, but as proof that health, wellness, and performance continue to shape fashion. Vogue has since called the Genesis an "unexpected fashion hero," GQ featured the sandal with linens and menswear summer style, and this summer Xero Shoes followed with a collaboration with J.Crew. The Literary Sport collaboration continues that trajectory. Guided by a shared appreciation for restraint and considered detail, the collaboration reimagines the Genesis's signature paracord with navy leather cording and a polished silver bead, arriving in a custom mesh drawstring bag with dedicated shoe compartments. "We're honored to work with brands like Literary Sport and J.Crew," said Kristina Funck, Design Director at Xero Shoes. "It's powerful when partners with that level of cultural influence recognize both our brand's authenticity and the strength of our iconic silhouette. Over the last two years, our team has focused on evolving the brand's aesthetic and product direction while staying true to the minimalist principles Xero Shoes was built on." Why the Genesis Endures More than fifteen years after its first prototype, the Genesis remains one of Xero Shoes' most recognized products because it delivers on a simple promise: Ultralight and packable — built to disappear into a bag, not weigh one down Easy to slip on and off — no fuss, no laces to fight with Adjustable for a customized fit — the lacing moves with the foot, not against it Versatile enough to style with anything — from trail to travel to everyday wear What's Next for Xero Shoes The Genesis's momentum reflects a broader shift underway at Xero Shoes, as consumer interest in health, wellness, and performance continues to reshape fashion. "Our goal is simple: get more people into minimalist footwear so they can experience those benefits," said Megan Elias, Director of Product Merchandising. "To do that, we need to meet consumers where they are and create products relevant to how they live today." While much of the barefoot footwear category has focused on lifestyle use, Xero Shoes is pushing further into performance, with adoption from elite athletes including a basketball shoe worn by NBA and WNBA players, and a pickleball and court-sport shoe that launched in spring 2026.