SQAIRZ XRZ™ - pickleball shoes review

SQAIRZ has long been one of my favorite pickleball shoe brands because their shoes stick to the court like glue and withstand a beating. After months of play, they haven't worn out a bit.

That combination of grip and durability makes a difference for somebody who plays pickleball as often as I do.

Unfortunately, I couldn't name the SQAIRZ XRZ™ as the best pickleball shoe when they first came out. A company that made its name in golf and baseball shoes didn't seem to have pickleball quite figured out.

Now there's a new version of the XRZ, and this time SQAIRZ truly nailed it.

If you value durability and on‑court security, this shoe hits the sweet spot. The grip is silly good – I can slide into a kitchen dink and stop on a dime without that sketchy foot slip. The ankle support feels legit too; the sidewalls and heel counter keep me from tipping over on hard lateral moves.

Back in February, I tested the shoe for the first time and didn't love the fit – it felt a bit open and the insole could bunch. SQAIRZ went back to the lab and came back with a full refresh. My two gripes from February are basically gone.

The fit is the big win. You still get SQAIRZ’s roomier toe box for natural toe splay, but the midfoot is more contoured, so my foot no longer swims on lateral moves and I don’t need to strangle the laces.

The switch to a microfiber upper adds strength while actually breathing better than the mesh I tested in February, so long sets don’t feel swampy.

A stability frame helps the upper hold its shape under load, and the shoe’s weight and balance feel cleaner – quicker off the line without giving up that locked‑in stability. The stock insole also behaved this time; no folding under hard stops.

One more note: the XRZ™ isn’t just “stable” by feel. It’s been clinically tested with independent motion analysis showing real gains in balance and support for injury prevention. So the confidence you feel at the kitchen has numbers behind it.

Put it all together and the SQAIRZ XRZ™ has become the pair of pickleball shoes I reach for first.

Here's our updated video review of the SQAIRZ XRZ.

Players from beginner to advanced levels will like the support they give, preventing injuries to your ankle. They're worth $160 as you won't need to replace them anytime soon.

I chatted with the SQAIRZ team, and they didn’t just guess on this one – they built the XRZ™ over three years on court with pros like Zane Navratil, then paid for independent testing to prove it out.

In a first-of-its-kind study using motion capture, 53 pickleball players were tested in three setups: their own shoes, barefoot, and the XRZ.

Per the results, the XRZ™ delivered a 15.15% average balance boost over players’ regular shoes and 18.58% over barefoot.

In head-to-heads, balance scores were up to 33% better than ASICS and 26.5% better than HOKA.

Researchers pointed to the roomier toe box and wider base – your foot can splay naturally and stay fully connected to the court, which cuts lateral wobble and lowers the chance of ankle rolls or joint stress.

“When athletes switched to SQAIRZ, their movement patterns stabilized instantly,” study lead Dr. Paul Klutts told me. That matches what I felt on court: better balance meant cleaner footwork and a stronger base to drive from – and that’s a big deal for staying healthy through long seasons.

The strong silicone toe cap helps to prevent the shoe from tearing. I tend to slide my foot on the court when I'm dinking at the kitchen, so my shoes always get torn up. That isn't the case with these.

These laces are cool and something I haven't seen before. They have little ridges on them to stop them from coming undone. It works really well – my laces always stay in place.

These are soft shoes with good cushioning out of the box. The sides have a nice layer of cushion that feels comfortable as you move laterally.

Breathability is pretty darn good this time. The new microfiber upper adds structure without sacrificing airflow, so my feet stayed cooler through long matches.

The XRZ™ offers multiple features to provide high-quality stability, and I feel that when I'm playing. Pickleball requires a lot of starting and stopping and side-to-side movement. So with some shoes, you feel like you're rolling over the shoe since the support isn't there. I never feel that way with these.

They cradle your feet as you move from side to side and forward and back. The heel supports your foot when you jump and land and doesn't add extra pressure to your joints.

The new XRZ model is slightly lighter than before, and they don't slow me down while I'm playing. They're quick for shoes that are built to focus on support and durability.

These are very durable shoes. I'm shocked at the lack of wear and tear they have after nearly three months of use.

Since I tend to lean toward the outside of my foot, the sides of my shoes often wear down and get uneven, and I start seeing burn marks after a few months. That isn't the case with the XRZ™ shoes. They still aren't showing any signs of breaking down and are as sturdy as ever.

At $160, you’re paying for stability that actually shows up on the court. If you play a lot, it pencils out – the shoe lasts, the grip stays sharp, and the lockdown is finally there. I’m planning to keep this pair in rotation well past a year.

These shoes are great for players of any pickleball skill level. Whether you're a beginner or advanced player, you'll appreciate the comfort and support these provide, and the added protection against injury with the increased support. Advanced players will like the stability these provide in long dink rallies and when having to move forward and backward quickly.