The SQAIRZ XRZ2 is the follow-up to a shoe I fell in love with, and it feels almost exactly like the original. It's comfortable, it's stable, and it has the same roomy toe box that made the XRZ stand out.
The previous SQAIRZ XRZ topped our list of the best pickleball shoe guide. The fit hasn't changed for version number 2. What you get is a much bigger range of colors, a few changes under the skin, including a reinforced upper and a footbed upgrade.
The $159 price tag is the same the original released at. If you already have a pair of the XRZ and they're still in good shape, think of this one as "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If you need a new court shoe, though, check this out for sure.
My verdict4.5
The XRZ2 is the same comfortable, stable shoe I tested before. It's also one of the most durable shoes I've tested, with just one pair, the K-Swiss Express Light, that I'd put ahead of it.
Today's best deals
Buy or pass?
Buy if:
You want comfort straight away:
I felt right at home in these roomy, breathable shoes – they're a dream on the court.
You need stability:
if you want your feet to stay put, these have great anti-tortion support and lateral control for quick movements.
You want some color choice:
there are six color choices so far – a big improvement on the two of the original shoe.
Pass if:
You're watching your budget:
take a look at our list of the best pickleball shoes for more choices with a range of prices.
You have narrow feet:
the wider toe box might feel too roomy for you, so find a pickleball shoe with a narrower fit.
You want the most durable shoe out there:
my K-Swiss Express Light pickleball shoes are the most durable I've played with, and they cost just $115.
SQAIRZ barely touched what was already working
After my sessions in the new XRZ2, I didn't feel much of a difference compared to the original XRZ shoe. That's not the worst thing, considering the XRZ has been one of the best pickleball shoes on the market for a while now.
The new version is still comfortable, stable, and durable. The roomy toe box, the Sta-Put laces and the supportive feel are all back.
SQAIRZ did change a few things, mainly reinforcement and cushioning, and I've covered them below. None of it changed how the shoe plays for me, which is why I'd consider it the same shoe.
Durability is the one place I'd point you somewhere else. The XRZ2 holds up better than almost anything I've tried, but the K-Swiss Express Light is the toughest shoe I've come across.
Upper Material
Open-cell mesh upper
Midsole Material
NRG™ foam
Footbed
Blumaka® non-slip
Outsole
SmartTraction™
Stability
Anti-torsion TPU stabilizer
Toe
Roomier toe box w/ abrasion-resistant CPU toe cap
Laces
Sta-Put laces with reinforced eyelets
Sole Warranty
6 months
XRZ vs XRZ2: what's different
The two shoes feel the same on court, but they aren't identical. SQAIRZ has changed a handful of things, mostly around reinforcement and cushioning. Everything in the table comes from SQAIRZ and its retailers, not from our own testing.
| Spec | XRZ | XRZ2 |
| Price at SQAIRZ | $139 | $159 |
| Upper | Closed-cell Lycra mesh | Open-cell mesh with a HexGuard hexagonal hot-melt overlay in high-stress zones |
| Toe | Silicone toe cap that wraps up the inside edge | Abrasion-resistant CPU toe cap |
| Footbed | Dual-density foam pods in the forefoot and heel | Blumaka footbed as standard |
| Outsole | Smart Traction rubber with herringbone tread and four lateral outriggers | Smart Traction rubber with herringbone tread, pivot points and lateral outriggers, described as updated |
| Anti-torsion support | TPU heel counter | TPU stability plate running from heel to forefoot, described as refined |
| Women's heel | Standard | Suede heel panel |
| Men's colors | 2 | 6 (Frost, Onyx, Ember, Electric Volt, Storm Gray, High Tide) |
| Women's colors | 2 | 4 (Desert Court, Ultra Bloom, Sage, Glacier) |
The two changes that matter most for long-term play are the overlay and the footbed. SQAIRZ says the HexGuard overlay reinforces the parts of the upper that take the most stress, which limits unwanted flex when you move side to side. The Blumaka footbed used to be a paid upgrade and now comes in every pair. SQAIRZ says it gives up to 14% more energy return and 17% more cushioning than standard insoles, though it doesn't say how that compares with the XRZ's own insole.
None of it changed how the shoe felt to me on court. Any payoff from the extra reinforcement and cushioning would show up over a long stretch of play, so treat those as SQAIRZ's claims for now.
Side by side, the XRZ2 looks like a different shoe. In SQAIRZ's photos, the XRZ has a smooth, solid-looking upper with a big grey line graphic across the side and a colored heel clip. The XRZ2 drops the graphic and puts an open honeycomb mesh across the whole upper, with solid color blocks around the toe and heel. Every men's colorway has it. Frost, Onyx and Storm Gray stay tonal, while Electric Volt, High Tide and Ember add bright or tinted soles. The women's XRZ2 models add a suede heel panel, and Desert Court and Sage come with gum-colored soles. If color was the thing holding you back from the XRZ, the XRZ2 sorts that out.
How the SQAIRZ XRZ2 plays
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Comfort | 9/10 | Soft, cushioned and roomy up front. It feels the same as the XRZ. |
| Breathability | 9/10 | Still breathes well, so my feet stay comfortable through long sessions. |
| Support | 10/10 | My ankles feel looked after, and this is still the shoe's best trait. |
| Speed | 8/10 | Quick for a support shoe, and it never felt slow. |
| Durability | 9.5/10 | Better than almost anything on the market. Only the K-Swiss Express Light lasts longer. |
✅ Pros
Comfortable straight away
These are soft shoes with good cushioning, and the roomy toe box gives your toes space to spread. Same story as the XRZ, and I'm glad SQAIRZ left it alone. The Blumaka footbed that used to be a paid upgrade is now standard in every pair.
Stable when you move side to side
Pickleball is a lot of quick shuffles and sudden stops, and the XRZ2 keeps my feet under control through all of it. The ankle support is the best thing about it. SQAIRZ has added a hexagonal overlay on the high-stress zones of the upper and refined the anti-torsion plate underfoot, and both are aimed at stopping the shoe from flexing where you don't want it to.
Grip you can rely on
My feet stay where I put them when I stop or change direction. The Sta-Put laces stay tied too.
❌ Considerations
One shoe beats it on durability
The XRZ2 lasts longer than almost anything else out there, but the K-Swiss Express Light lasts longer still. SQAIRZ added a HexGuard overlay and an abrasion-resistant CPU toe cap to the XRZ2, and it still sits just behind the K-Swiss. If durability is your top priority, look at that pair first.
It costs more than the XRZ
The XRZ2 is $159, which is $20 more than the original XRZ, now dropped to $139. Since they play so similarly, that extra money is buying you color choice, a footbed that used to be an upgrade, and extra reinforcement on the upper. It also costs more than the K-Swiss Express Light.
Narrow feet might feel lost
The shoe runs large, and the toe box is roomy on purpose. If your feet are narrow, that room could be too much.
Is the SQAIRZ XRZ2 worth $159?
If you want comfort and support, yes. It does both well. Since it plays so much like the XRZ, the real question is whether the extra $20 is worth it to you, and for most people that comes down to color, the new footbed and the extra reinforcement. If you care about durability above everything else, spend your money on the K-Swiss instead.
Today's best deals
Looking for a great paddle to go with your new pair of shoes? Try my 30-second quiz and I'll recommend the best paddles for your play style and budget.
Find the perfect paddle
I've personally tested over 200 paddles. Take the quiz to see which ones fit your game best.
