written like an advertisement . please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view . october 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message feel the world inc. 1 2 trading name xero shoes 1 type private company industry minimalist running shoes founded boulder colorado united states november 23 2009 2009 11 23 1 founder steven sashen and lena phoenix headquarters boulder co united states area served worldwide key people dennis driscoll chief development officer 2 products xero shoes website xeroshoes.com xero shoes are a type and brand of minimalist shoe manufactured by feel the world inc. in boulder colorado . 1 designed for walking and running with shoes on the footwear has thin flexible soles that are contoured to the shape of the human foot . 1 contents 1 history 2 design 3 see also 4 references 5 notes 6 external links history edit a huarache style sandal made from a xero shoes do it yourself kit inspired by the tarahumara tire sandals a high school sprinter steven sashen got back into the sport after a 30 year break . 1 however after two years of injury prone competition he joined a local barefoot running club in boulder co at the suggestion of a friend who gave him a copy of born to run by christopher mcdougall . 3 as a result of running barefoot his gait changed and injuries abated 4 sashen wanted to continue the barefoot experience in areas which required foot covering . so he developed his own modern huarache style sandal similar to those worn by the tarahumara indians in mexico s copper canyon 5 consisting of a thin rubber sole sourced from vibram in italy and nylon polypropylene laces this original style is now sold as the xero shoes cherry in the classic kit . 1 after making the first pair for his wife lena phoenix and a second for himself sashen got requests from friends for their own minimalist sandals . after organising a shoe making party outside the university of colorado sashen and phoenix formed feel the world inc. in november 2009 marketing a do it yourself barefoot sandal kit and custom made sandals under the invisible shoes brand . 1 6 the original shoes were developed further by the addition of a bead stringing style design . 1 with the input of lead designers who had previously worked with nike inc. and reebok the team specified and co developed a new high abrasion rubber trademarked as feeltrue which enabled the launch of new pre shaped and sized sandals in two sole thicknesses . 1 in august 2012 the company engaged dennis driscoll who has previously developed products for avia crocs dr. martens and wilson sporting goods as chief development officer and renamed the brand xero shoes in december 2012 . 2 selling just via online retailing and with a unique 5 000 miles 8 000 km warranty 7 the company has since sold over 95 000 pairs of shoes in various styles and designs to 94 countries . 1 8 on an episode airing in january 2013 sashen and phoenix pitched for an investment on abc s reality television series shark tank show 52 ; series 4 episode 14 bibitec . 2 8 after pitching for an investment of 400 000 for an 8 % stake the couple managed to only get one offer . it came from investor kevin o leary who offered the desired amount but for 50 % of the company . sashen and phoenix chose not to accept the proposed deal . 9 the company has since moved from online sales only to also channel marketing via select high street based north american retailers and amazon.com priced from 19.95 to 79.99 . 2 design edit a pair of sensori venture sandals from xero shoes a ready to wear huarache style sandal the first xero shoes cherry design consists of a thin rubber sole and nylon polypropylene laces . 1 9 the full retail range developed with the input of lead designers who had previously worked with nike inc. and reebok 1 enabling the launch of the new and unique high abrasion feeltrue rubber sole available in a patented pre shaped and sized sandal design in two sole thicknesses . 1 10 as chief development officer dennis driscoll analyzed over 4 000 foot tracings of existing customers and concluded that most sandal companies place the toe post in the wrong location . 2 this led to the launch in october 2013 of the amuri venture range 11 which has since become recognized for its design wearability and comfort . 12 the company s product line now includes sport sandal designs without the traditional toe post including z trek and z trail sandals 13 see also edit locomotor effects of shoes barefoot running minimalist shoe vibram fivefingers vivobarefoot references edit mukharji ashish 2011 . run barefoot run healthy less pain more gain for runners over 30 . heterodox press . p. 192 . isbn 0983035407 . richards craig ; hollowell thomas 2011 . the complete idiot s guide to barefoot running . penguin group usa . p. 352 . isbn 1 61564 062 2 . sandler michael ; lee jessica 2010 . barefoot running how to run light and free by getting in touch with the earth . runbare company . p. 298 . isbn 0 9843822 0 8 . notes edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n about us . xero shoes . retrieved december 30 2013 . a b c d e f alicia wallace january 31 2013 . boulder company xero shoes to appear on abc reality show shark tank . dailycamera.com . retrieved december 30 2013 . mcdougall christopher 2009 2011 . born to run a hidden tribe superathletes and the greatest race the world has never seen . new york city vintage books . pp. 168 172 . isbn 978 0 307 27918 7 . check date values in date help steven sashen july 24 2011 . the important barefoot running blister . xero shoes . retrieved december 30 2013 . running shoes gear guide . national geographic . retrieved december 30 2013 . dead link best barefoot sandals tarahumara huarache running shoes . invisibleshoe.com . retrieved may 27 2014 . 5 000 mile warranty . xero shoes . retrieved december 30 2013 . a b shark tank episode 414 . abc . january 31 2013 . retrieved december 30 2013 . a b joe rubino february 2 2013 . boulder s xero shoes turns down investment offer on shark tank reality show . denver post . retrieved december 30 2013 . the 2011 mgbg grovie awards . maple grove barefoot guy . december 12 2011 . retrieved january 6 2014 . xero shoes amuri venture review . minimalist running shoes . october 31 2013 . retrieved december 30 2013 . recommended shoes . the running clinic . retrieved january 6 2014 . introducing the ultra lightweight trail friendly xero shoes umara z trail sport sandal . weartested.org . retrieved march 11 2016 . external links edit company website biomechanics of foot strikes & applications to running barefoot or in minimal footwear have shoes changed the way we run v t e footwear men s dress shoes blucher brogues brothel creepers derby monks oxfords slip ons loafers spectator shoes co respondent shoes venetian style shoes winklepickers wholecuts women s dress shoes ballet flats court shoes high heeled footwear mary janes mojari mules peep toe shoes saddle shoes slingbacks slip ons loafers venetian style shoes winklepickers other shoes driving moccasins flip flops galoshes platform shoes sandals slides slippers veldskoens wooden footwear bakya british clogs cantabrian albarcas clogs getas klompen namaksin padukas pattens sabot tr skor military footwear ammunition boots bunny boots combat boots jackboots jump boots jungle boots ranger boots tanker boots trench boots sport related footwear athletic shoes ballet shoes boat shoes climbing shoes cross country running shoes cycling shoes football boots hiking boots ice skates inline skates jika tabi kung fu shoe minimalist shoes motorcycle boots mountaineering boots racing flats riding boots roller shoes roller skates safari boots skate shoes ski boots swimfins water shoes wrestling shoes fashion boots chelsea boots beatle boots chukka boots go go boots knee high boots over the knee boots platform boots thigh high boots ugg boots work boots australian work boots cowboy boots engineer boots hip boots rigger boots steel toe boots waders other boots jodhpur boots wellington boots traditional footwear abacas abarkas alpargatas avarcas balghas bast shoes clogs espadrilles galesh giveh haferlschuh hnyat phanats huarache shoe hwas jorabs moccasins mojaris mukluks opanaks peshawari chappals snowshoes valenkis warajis kolhapuri chappals historical footwear areni 1 shoes buskins caligae chopines crakow poulaine hessians pampooties pirate boots sabatons shoe construction bespoke shoes blake construction goodyear welt lists list of shoe styles retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title xero shoes & oldid 743366371 categories companies established in 2009companies based in boulder colorado2009 establishments in colorado2009 introductionsathletic shoesathletic shoe brandsshoe companies of the united statessporting goods manufacturers of the united statessportswear brandsrunninghidden categories cs1 errors 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