Xero Shoes Unveils the X1, the First Barefoot Basketball Shoe
NBA and WNBA Athletes and Performance Trainers Partner with the Brand
(Broomfield, CO) March 6, 2025 – Xero Shoes reveals the X1, the first barefoot basketball shoe worn in the NBA and WNBA. Designed with input from players and trainers and rooted in barefoot principles, the X1 will launch to consumers on March 26, 2025. The brand aims to redefine basketball footwear with an innovative “foot-forward” lightweight design to maximize performance and comfort.
Detroit Pistons power forward Isaiah Stewart is the latest NBA athlete to sign with Xero Shoes and wear the X1 on the court this season. “I feel like I’m gaining a lot by switching from a standard basketball shoe,” said Stewart. “I feel very grounded. I play with a lot of force, strength and power, and the Xero Shoes X1 allow me to function as the human body should.”
The groundbreaking X1 shoe debuted in the NBA Playoffs in May 2024 on Denver Nuggets shooting guard Justin Holiday. WNBA player Temi Fagbenle will continue to wear the X1 during her 2025 season with the Golden State Valkyries. Basketball trainers, Mike Guevara and Felix Flores, who train several NBA athletes with a focus on foot strength, have partnered with the brand to help players transition to, and get the most value from, the X1.
“I’ve been wearing Xero Shoes on and off the court. My feet and ankles feel indestructible!” says Fagbenle.
The X1 brings the brand’s iconic natural movement DNA to the court: a foot-shaped toe box for balance and stability, a low-to-the-court design for quick cuts and pivots, and a zero-drop heel for a powerful push-off. The X1’s minimal design is lightweight for more energy throughout the game. The women’s-specific version of the X1 used data from thousands of 3D foot scans to create a shoe that matches the anatomy of a woman’s foot.
“For years, athletes and trainers requested basketball shoes after seeing the benefits of barefoot training off the court,” says John Wadley, Xero Shoes VP of Product Development and a longtime basketball player. “Xero Shoes is not just stepping into the world of basketball, we are making a bold statement to evolve the sport by embracing footwear that enhances natural movement. Our goal is to give players more healthy games in a season and more seasons in a career.”
Xero Shoes X1 Mid and X1 Low Basketball Shoe
X1 Mid MSRP: $170
X1 Low MSRP: $160
Colorways: White, Black, Sunny Lime
Men Sizes: 7-13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Women Sizes: 5-12, 13, 14
Weight (each shoe): 11.2 oz (men’s size 9), 9.8 oz (women’s size 7)
Launch Date: March 26, 2025
Updates on Xero Shoes’ X1 release and more info is available at xeroshoes.com/basketball.
###
MEDIA CONTACT
Alexa Lampasona
Xero Shoes PR Director
