To celebrate the release of PB5star’s newest Cosmic sport casual shoe, we sat down with Founder and CEO Chris Gallagher to discuss the bold apparel and footwear brand delivering fresh style for pickleball players. 

“PB5 stands out in the crowd. For us, it’s all about looking good and feeling confident. When you’re out there playing a sport, there’s a certain feeling that comes upon people. When they look good, they play better,” explained Gallagher. 

“We’re all about putting a whole look together, head to toe, and there’s not a lot of footwear specific brands out there that are doing the whole head-to-toe look. We’re designing apparel and footwear that coordinate well together. We emphasize a blend of high performance and modern fashion, and bring that to the court with classic colors, modern silhouettes, and high-quality pieces.”

PB5star has even landed on our Best Dressed List multiple times, thanks to pros like Hannah Blatt who showcase the brand’s standout style.

While PB5star apparel came first, footwear has always been a key focus.

With over 30 years of experience in the footwear industry, Gallagher quickly recognized a major problem with pickleball-specific footwear when he began playing the sport recreationally in 2021.

“I started playing pickleball socially at home in Palm Beach Gardens, and I noticed quickly the camaraderie and the fun people were having on and off the court. I also noticed that many people were wearing footwear that wasn’t designed for pickleball. They were grabbing their running shoes from their closet and wearing shoes that were designed for forward movement versus lateral movement,” he said. 

“With my background in footwear, I figured I could help out and design some shoes that were built for the sport. The insole we built into the shoe is probably one of the best out there. It gives you some anti-pronation benefits as well as cushioning.”

Designed for high-level play, the Court 2 is a premium pickleball shoe available in men’s and women’s sizes, ranging from sleek black and white to bold, eye-catching options with pops of color. It’s the kind of shoe trusted by pros who slide across the court and deliver highlight-reel points.

Gallagher also recognized strong demand from social players who spend time dinking with friends before heading out to lunch, creating a need for a versatile shoe that performs on the court and beyond.

“The PB5 Cosmic is really something new to the footwear industry, not even just pickleball. The idea came to me when I was playing pickleball with my son in Charlotte, and I noticed a lot of the younger crowd were playing pickleball in a typical old-school sneaker. I thought, ‘What if we come up with a shoe that has the look of a lifestyle performance sneaker, that looks great with a pair of jeans, and they can also wear them when they go play pickleball?’” he explained.

“The Cosmic is designed for the lifestyle and casual player. These are the types of shoes you could go out with and feel comfortable all day.”

Visit the PB5star website for a head-to-toe fabulous pickleball fit.

And to keep up to date on all things pickleball, follow us on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).