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I love my new Masai Barefoot Technology shoes — my other cute flip flops and summer shoes are getting dusty in my closet since the MBTs are the only ones I have been wearing!
The premise behind the Masai Barefoot Technology is a curved sole that creates instability, sort of like walking on the sandy beach. Your body feels the instability and compensates by using balancing muscles that rarely get a real workout.
At first, when I put the MBT sandals on, I did feel unsteady with the curved sole. I got used to them slowly, only wearing them around the house for an hour or two, but felt my legs working each time. I had to keep my core engaged so I would not fall backwards. It was a little awkward, but it worked and I liked it. Since my core was engaged, my shoulders fell into better alignment.
My first real test was a long day at a swim meet with my kids. I wore them from 7:00am to 2:00pm and was on my feet most of the time. They felt great! The next day my hamstrings, calves and butt were sore — I workout a lot and feel like I’m in really good shape, so I could not believe how sore I was! I’ve had foot pain for the past few years and while I still do after an aggressive game of tennis or a long hike or run, these shoes help me settle back in. I feel they are helping me build those small muscle groups that usually are taken over by my quads!
While the MBT shoes are expensive, they have been the only shoes I have worn all summer so they are getting a lot of use. I guess I would compare it to a good pair of jeans, I don’t mind spending a lot on a pair I love and then I wear them all the time. They aren’t going to stack up to a pair of Jimmy Choo’s in the looks department, but who cares when you’re building gorgeous legs?
MBT Staka Beluga Sandals msrp $240 www.swissmasaius.com
