The Best Barefoot Pickleball Shoe

The perfect barefoot pickleball shoe doesn’t exi—

Since transitioning to barefoot shoes a couple of years ago, I’ve found it surprisingly difficult to find actual sport-specific barefoot options. This problem was even more amplified after I started playing pickleball.

Pickleball particularly exposes footwear limitations due to hard courts, aggressive lateral movement, rapid acceleration and deceleration, jumping, and repeated toe drag. These demands are more than what most barefoot models are designed for.

This article isn’t about finding a “do-everything” barefoot shoe. It’s about finding the right barefoot shoe for pickleball, which didn’t exist
… until now.

Why I Focused Almost Exclusively on Xero Shoes

I’ve researched and worn barefoot shoes from many companies, but my favorite brand is Xero Shoes. They fit me well, look great, and are constantly innovating and developing new styles and activity-specific shoes at an affordable price. Every shoe mentioned in this article I purchased on my own at retail price. The only non-Xero shoe I seriously tested for pickleball came from Montis.

Read on to find out my top choice for a barefoot pickleball shoe!

Xero HFS II

This is my go-to daily barefoot shoe. However, the outsole tread and ridges isn’t the right type of traction for a pickleball court. It also lacks lateral reinforcement needed for athletic court movements.

Final Verdict
Great daily, all-terrain, or training shoe. Not great for pickleball.

Xero Forza Trainer

This is my Go-to Lifting Shoe. The Forza Trainer excels in the gym for powerlifting movements (squat, bench, deadlift) and basic cross-training exercises. On a pickleball court, however, it lacks sufficient support for dynamic athletic movement due to a very thin sole and high flexibility.

Final Verdict
Fantastic lifting shoe. Not great for pickleball.

Xero 360

I really enjoy wearing this shoe both in the gym and on the pickleball court. The sole design provides excellent durability on a pickleball court, as well as some lateral stability. But despite the durability, the sole is too thin for repeated high-impact play. In addition, the top material is fabric, and tears very easily on a hard pickleball court surface. That said, I was able to make the 360 wearable long-term by adding comfortable inserts that improved impact absorption on hard courts.

Since these are not barefoot-specific inserts, I sized up and trimmed them to fit a barefoot-shaped toe box. With that modification, the shoe became significantly more comfortable for extended play.

Final Verdict
ALMOST!

Xero X1 Basketball Shoe

I absolutely LOVE this shoe! From both a comfort and performance standpoint, this is the best barefoot athletic shoe I have worn up to this point. It is extremely stable in all directions and built for high-impact, explosive movements. The X1 is worn by NBA and WNBA players and is the ultimate athletic shoe… on the right surface. Unfortunately, this shoe can’t handle a pickleball court surface and I destroyed the outsole and upper shoe layers very quickly.

Final Verdict
Incredible athletic shoe, but, sadly ,must stay on a wood basketball court. It would be amazing for pickleball with a different outsole.

Montis Drop 1.0 Pickleball Shoe

This shoe has everything you could ask for in a pickleball shoe:
Athletic, snug fit, high-density outsole, toe-slide support patch and crash resistant toe cap, heel reinforcement and lateral movement stability. And a minimal heel drop and wide option?! Unfortunately the shoe is not a zero-drop or fully barefoot design. Compared to true barefoot footwear, the shoe felt noticeably more elevated and narrow. The heel lift was immediately apparent, and the toe box did not accommodate a fully splayed, barefoot-adapted foot. As someone adapted to barefoot footwear, I also noticed a clear difference in my running and movement mechanics in this shoe compared to true barefoot designs.

That said, this remains an excellent pickleball shoe. It is extremely stable, highly durable, and clearly designed for hard-court pickleball. Among shoes built specifically for pickleball, this was the closest compromise I could find that incorporated some barefoot-inspired elements and athletic stability. For a while it became my go-to pickleball shoe…
… until now

Final Verdict
Excellent pickleball shoe. For someone not looking for a true barefoot shoe, this is a fantastic choice. This would be my go-to pickleball shoe were it not for the innovation of Xero Shoes. That’s why The perfect barefoot pickleball shoe doesn’t exist…
… until now.

Xero 360 Rally

The long awaited Prodigal Barefoot Pickleball Shoe has arrived!
Xero Shoes combined the X1 basketball shoe with the 360 Original to create barefoot freedom with maximum support, lockdown, and protection. The shoe is built with the extremely durable 360 outsole, targeted reinforcement on the toecap, lateral and heel stability for athletic movements. The sole is thicker than the 360 Original, but slightly thinner than the X1 basketball shoe which can create slight discomfort after long events or tournaments, but can be reinforced with a more comfortable insole. But for short training sessions or games, it is the perfect balance for those who want to feel the connection between their foot and the ground without compromising stability.

Final Verdict
Hands down, this is THE BEST BAREFOOT PICKLEBALL SHOE ON THE MARKET! And it’s not even close. Xero Shoes nailed it with this shoe and I absolutely LOVE it!