The KAISO Story

KAISO didn't start with a shoe.

It started with two pairs of tired feet.

For years, Josh and Dan worked the kind of jobs where sitting down isn't really part of the job description. One of us spent long shifts in hospitality, the other between retail and warehouse environments — hours spent standing, walking, lifting, moving and eventually wondering why our feet and legs seemed to hurt more than they used to.

When you're younger, you don't think much about the shoes you're wearing.

Then suddenly you do.

We started looking for something better. The problem was, most comfortable shoes looked like comfortable shoes. Bulky, overly practical and something neither of us particularly wanted to wear outside of work.

The shoes we actually liked wearing looked good — but after ten hours on our feet, we were reminded why they weren't designed for it.

Then we started looking at running shoes differently.

Running footwear had spent decades obsessing over cushioning, weight, movement, impact and the way the foot interacts with the ground.

And we had a pretty simple thought:

Why should runners get all the good stuff?

Most people aren't running marathons.

But they are walking to work. Standing behind a bar. Crossing warehouse floors. Working hospital shifts. Chasing kids around. Travelling. Commuting. Walking the dog. Spending eight, ten or twelve hours on their feet.

Those miles count too.

So we started KAISO.

We took inspiration from the things we loved about modern performance footwear and started working towards something designed for the miles people actually do — something cushioned, lightweight and supportive enough for long days, but good-looking enough that you don't feel like you're wearing an orthopaedic shoe.

That idea became STRYD.

Our first shoe.

Designed around one simple belief:

You shouldn't have to choose between shoes that feel good and shoes you actually want to wear.

We're not trying to turn everyone into an athlete.

We're building better shoes for people who move.

Because whether you're running 10 kilometres, working a 10-hour shift or just refusing to spend your day sitting still —

your feet don't know the difference.

KAISO

Made for the miles you actually do.