Core77 - Blog • Feb. 10, 2026, 3:30 p.m.

A startup called Pines Footwear aims to produce a new type of sneaker: One that provides a "foot-healthy," minimalist kick that can deliver on-court performance without the excessive foam that can lead to injuries. "Basketball shoes in the 90s were these big honking foam blocks," says company co-founder Ryan McDermott.

If tripped up, the "high stack height…turned into a lever that would just twist your ankle over." Working with two industry veterans, designer Michael DiTullo and developer Drew Linth, the company came up with a "zero drop" design that keeps your heel at the same height off of the floor as the toes. (Modern sneakers raise the heel with cushioning, which in turn tilts the pelvis and requires the lower back to compensate.) And the "stack height"—the thickness of the sole—is lower, in order to lower the wearer's center of gravity and thus, stability.

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