The Xero Press

Designed for training, active recovery and natural movement, the Pacer Lite pairs barefoot design with an outsole built around the walking gait Xero Shoes launches the Pacer Lite, its first performance walking shoe. The Pacer Lite combines the brand’s barefoot fundamentals (zero drop, a wide foot-shaped toe box and a thin, flexible sole) with a walk-specific outsole designed around how people actually walk. Walking is already central to how Xero Shoes customers move. In a February 2026 survey of thexeroshoessale.com customers, 80 percent of respondents said they walk four to seven days a week, and 32 percent said they walk for fitness. Research suggests that walking in barefoot shoes can be effective for foot strength. The 2019 randomized study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that eight weeks of walking in minimalist shoes increased foot muscle size and strength comparable to a dedicated foot-strengthening exercise program. “Xero Shoes is a brand built on natural movement, and walking is one of the most natural forms of exercise,” said Megan Elias, Director of Product Merchandising at Xero Shoes. “The Pacer Lite gives walking a purpose, whether people use it for training, active recovery or as a foundation for lifelong strength.” Built for Walking To design the outsole, the Xero Shoes product team studied research on the walking gait and how pressure moves through the foot with each step. The team also mapped the four most common ways people use walking shoes: walking, fast walking, hilling (walking uphill) and rucking (walking with a weighted vest or pack). “When you walk, pressure spikes as your heel hits the ground, transitions through the arch, and then spikes again as you push off your toes,” said Ciera Schelling, Product Designer at Xero Shoes. “Those are the two most important moments, so that’s where we focused.” The result is an outsole that follows the natural S-curve of a walking stride, supporting a smooth heel strike, steady midstance and efficient push-off. The largest, most durable lugs sit at the heel and forefoot, where walking, hills and rucking put the most pressure and wear. Smaller lugs sit under the inner arch and outer toes, which act mainly as stabilizers. Tailored cutouts keep the shoe light and flexible. Your browser does not support video playback. Heel-Strike Support Without Losing Ground Feel Walking differs from running in one key way: most people land heel-first. To support that natural heel strike, the Pacer Lite adds heel-strike support: an embedded performance foam that sits exactly where the heel meets the ground. It absorbs impact without dulling the ground feel that makes the natural walking gait so efficient. Because the foam is only in the heel, the rest of the sole stays thin and flexible. Still Unmistakably Barefoot The Pacer Lite keeps Xero Shoes’ barefoot fundamentals, with a zero-drop platform, a wide toe box and a 10mm sole (13.5mm with the removable insole). A breathable engineered mesh upper keeps feet cool on long walks. A shortened eyerow, internal lockdown and molded heel hold the foot securely while leaving the toes free to spread. At 8.4 oz (women’s size 8) and 9.6 oz (men’s size [9]) per shoe, it’s built for every walk in a day: the commute, park paths, city sidewalks, walks with the dog, brisk fitness walks and rucking.

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 thexeroshoessale.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