Can you really run in the futuristic, 3D-printed Fizo Glider 001?

Introduction to the Fizo Glider 001

LINDSAY: “New Chapter Begins Soon” is what you see when you search for the Fizo Run website. Other than that, I found a two-minute video on Kickstarter and exactly nothing else about this mysterious company. So why are we writing this review? Well, about 4 months ago, we were asked to try its first shoe, the Glider 001.

To get the Fizo Glider 001, I had to take photos of my feet standing on a piece of 8×10 printer paper, a process I barely remember because we ordered the shoes in April 2026 and they didn’t arrive until August. From what I do recall, it was simple enough, but the whole 4D printing concept set my expectations high. So, imagine my surprise when the shoes arrived with a very standard size of US W6.5, which is just about my normal size, give or take a half-size depending on the shoe.

The futuristic scanning ritual seems to have served primarily as a confirmation that I still know my own shoe size. From the short video I watched, it seems they take weight into account by adjusting the “3rd dimension,” or width, of the midsole. I’d be lying if I said I remember providing my height or weight. Another specialization of specs is the crafted midsole, which accounts for micro-differences in size between your left and right foot. Even still, I was excited to try something different. The shoe’s clean, all-white, futuristic look gave me hope that maybe the tech would shine somewhere else.

CHAD: If there’s one thing I think should always be applauded in the running space, it’s innovation. So often brands just shuffle out the same stuff year after year after year, making only slight, incremental changes (not even always improvements). So when we were given the chance to review a shoe by the brand Fizo, a company in its infancy and backed by a Kickstarter campaign, I was all for it.

Fizo uses a 4D foot mapping system based on a cell phone’s camera, where it measures all aspects of your foot and recommends sizing. You then also customize the feel you’re looking for in the Glider 001, based largely upon your relative size as a runner. For me, as a bigger runner, I appreciate that a brand considers that a shoe works differently for me than for my fellow reviewers. In fact, according to its Kickstarter campaign page, Fizo’s lead designer is a fellow Clydesdale, a 220 lb daily runner named Koko.

The midsole is then 3D printed to your exact specifications and put onto a mesh upper with a “primal form” outsole rubber underneath. So, there’s no bones about it, the innovation is 100% there. But that’s only part of the equation, so how did it perform?

RYAN: Like my fellow reviewers, I was initially very excited by the idea of a 3D-printed shoe. I mean, Adidas had run through several generations of its 4D-printed program, but it never really manifested into a legitimate running option. Sure, I thought they looked good, but I wasn’t going to take them out for a long run.

I hoped Fizo and its debut Glider 001 would be different.

As Lindsay said, the crew at Fizo reached out to us back in April. At the time, they estimated roughly four to six weeks for us to get our shoes. We did as instructed, taking feet pics for our day job, and sent off the measurements to get our custom fits. As it turned out, my fit was a US M7, a slight drop from my usual US M7.5, and enough of a departure that I wasn’t sure just how well it would fit.

Either way, I gave my data, and then I waited. Four weeks turned into six, which turned into eight, which tuned into somewhere around 12 before I finally got a shipping notification. Unfortunately, that shipping notification seemed to come from the slowest boat out of China, so let’s call it an even (if unlucky) 13 weeks from ordering to arrival.

But, at long last, I had a pair of coconut-colored, 3D-printed shoes to slip on my feet. Now all that was left was to convince myself to run in the Glider 001. Let’s see if I could do it.

What we like about the Fizo Glider 001

LINDSAY: For starters, the fit is great. The Glider 001 is true to size with just a bit of extra toe room. I felt like the comfort was solid right out of the box, and after a few runs the upper softened up and the shoe even got a touch bouncier. Underfoot, it’s plush and soft, making easy runs feel comfortable even if they’re not particularly energetic.

Outside of running, the Glider 001 has become a strong work shoe for me. I work in a hospital, and the walking comfort is very reminiscent of Hoka. It seems like the kind of shoe advertised toward nurses who are on their feet for long shifts; true heroes. I don’t know if I’d credit this as much to the midsole architecture as I would the Ortholite insole, but who knows.

The all-white aesthetic also works perfectly in just about any environment. Traction is excellent, and while I haven’t run in a downpour, wet roads were no problem. On hot summer days, my feet stayed cool thanks to the upper’s breathability.

I also think the durability has been impressive. After a month of running and daily use, the outsole still looks almost new. Despite looking like it’s built from recycled plastic and alien technology, the shoe has held up far better than I expected. Even the interesting gummy matrix midsole, which occasionally makes a tiny clicking noise, hasn’t shown signs of weakening.

CHAD: I feel like this will be one of the most controversial parts of the Glider 001, but I’m actually sort of a fan of how this shoe looks. The way the midsole is 3D printed gives it a web-like structure, and the Panda colorway I went with (white upper, black midsole) looks clean and classic. My fellow reviewers both went with all-white, and while I considered that option, I’m glad I went the way I did.

Another pro for the Glider 001 is that whatever their 4D mapping system is, it works great. The overall fit and feel of this shoe on the foot is fantastic. I felt like I had the perfect amount of room in the upper to let my foot do its natural thing on the run while not feeling sloppy or baggy. I also felt the underfoot was surprisingly comfortable as well, as the midsole had the sort of bounce and resilience I enjoy in my daily run miles. Plus, the Ortholite insole was a nice touch.

I was a bit perplexed by the design of the outsole, which sort of mimics the layout of a human foot (pads under the toes, under the fat pad of the foot, and then the heel), but it was a really nice surprise. I felt connected to the ground, and I feel like the fact it wasn’t full coverage helped shed some much-needed weight (more on that later) and helped the ride feel nice and natural.

And lastly, another thing I’ll always give props on: the tongue was thin (but padded) and gusseted. Very classy for a debut shoe.

RYAN: If I say nothing else nice about the Fizo Glider 001, I’ll at least say it’s a good-looking shoe. I really like the futuristic matrix of the 3D-printed midsole, and I think the outsole coverage is as funky as it gets. Mix in a clean Coconut colorway (it’s just all-white), and I’m a happy runner.

The thing is, though, I couldn’t bring myself to run in the Glider 001. I put it on, felt the weight, and said no, thank you. However, it’s a rockin’ walking shoe. I’ve put it on to go to the Believe office almost every day since it arrived, and I’ve had no complaints about the underfoot support whether I’m sitting or standing at my desk.

Fizo’s foot measuring system is neat, too, if a little basic. I wouldn’t expect it to get all that much data from a simple picture of my foot next to a piece of paper, but it did. When my pair arrived, the US M7 fit perfectly, which makes me think it runs a little large rather than Lindsay’s claim of true to size. The good news about that, though, is Fizo is so helpful in dictating your size that you probably won’t even mind the discrepancy. Trust the recommendation, and you should be just fine.

What we don’t like about the Fizo Glider 001

LINDSAY: My number one issue is heel slip, and it’s very noticeable. The shoe is designed to slip right on, but it unfortunately also feels like I’m about to slip right out of it when I start running. Tightening the laces doesn’t fix it either. In fact, the laces are already stubborn, hard to adjust, and tend to overtighten on the top of your foot if you’re not careful. Both sets of included laces fight back against the eyelets, so loosening them feels like an argument. I now just shove my foot in without untying the shoe, which is great except there’s no pull tab. So, putting on this shoe then becomes part daily workout, part daily struggle.

The ride, while comfortable, compresses heavily and doesn’t bounce back with any energy. It sort of flattens out rather than springing back, making the shoe feel a bit bulky in motion. It’s stable enough for easy runs and work shifts, but the heel slip detracts from that stability, and I wouldn’t choose these for any faster efforts.

Finally, the price: $200 to $240, depending on your configuration. That’s premium, borderline race day pricing. And for a shoe that feels more like a tech experiment than a fully refined product, it’s hard to justify.

CHAD: Similar to Lindsay, I had a bit of heel slip given the design of the heel counter. It wasn’t a huge deterrent, and as the run went on I noticed it less and less, but it’s worth noting. I also re-laced my shoes because I don’t love when shoes are laced over the top of the eyelet; I feel like it can make it difficult to really dial in the fit.

The price is also a big concern. Look, I understand there’s a lot that goes into these shoes and the innovative process they use to design and make them. But at more than $200 for a shoe that is, at best, a daily trainer? That’s just not going to fly in a market where that amount of money can get you a racing shoe, or even less can get you a top-of-the-line super trainer.

And now it’s time for the elephant in the room, with elephant being the operative word. This thing is HEAVY with a capital HEAVY. Each one of my Glider 001 weighed in at a whopping 16 oz… yes, that is an entire pound. Here I was calling other shoes in the 11-12 oz. weight range heavy, but the Glider 001 takes the cake in that category, and eats the whole thing like Bruce Bogtrotter. I did several 6-mile runs in this shoe, and I can’t imagine taking it much further.

RYAN: See, I think Chad nailed it here; this shoe is heavy. It’s unbelievable how dense it is. I pulled it out of the box while in the Believe office and almost expected there to be extra goodies in the box given the weight. There weren’t, only an extra pair of laces. It’s heavy enough that I couldn’t talk myself into running in the shoe, no matter how far I was willing to walk in it.

My other chief complaint is that although the partial outsole coverage saves weight, it also opens you up to literally anything you step in. If you trek through mud, or anything mud-like (dog poop), it’s coming with you. There’s no good way to rinse it out of the web-like matrix, either. I stepped on a lantern fly a week ago, and I’m still picking out little bits of wing.

Also, yeah, this shoe shouldn’t cost $200. I get that it’s probably because of the printing technique, but who are we kidding with that?

Final thoughts on the Fizo Glider 001

LINDSAY: The Fizo Glider 001 is a genuinely interesting concept and a fun glimpse into what tech-driven footwear could become. Its comfort, durability, breathability, and unique aesthetic make it surprisingly solid for walking and everyday use. But for running, especially if you value responsiveness, secure lockdown, or high performance, it lands more in the “novelty” category.

Tech-curious runners and people who enjoy distinctive, conversation-starter shoes may appreciate the Glider 001. But for most runners, and especially at $240 (or thereabouts), I’m not confident enough in the shoe or the brand to recommend it as a go-to trainer. Yet. Who knows where this company will take us!

CHAD: From an overall innovation and comfort perspective, the Fizo Glider 001 is a great shoe. I love the concept of having a shoe designed just for me in terms of sizing and fit as well as midsole composition, and that part was executed fairly well. But I cannot get over the $240 price tag for a shoe that adds an extra pound to each of my legs. I think, like Lindsay suggested, with the comfort level, this would be a solid option for either walking or someone who is on their feet for work a lot.

RYAN: Yeah, for as cool as I think the idea of the Glider 001 is, it remains a little too specialized for me to recommend. It’s too heavy, too stiff, and takes way too long to ship for it to be worth the $200 (or more) price of admission. I would love to see what Fizo can do if it can speed up its process or lighten its midsole material, though.

You can pick up the Fizo Glider 001 for $240 from Fizo by using the buttons below.