Kizik parent company, HandsFree Labs, has announced a licensing deal with New Balance to incorporate its step-in shoe technology into the brand's sneakers. The collaboration comes amid increasing consumer demand for sneakers that can be easily slipped on and off without bending over or untying the laces. The partnership took over a year to come together and requires close engineering collaboration, product testing, and alignment on how the technology fits within a brand's product roadmap. The first shoes are expected to launch in the spring of 2027.