Comments on: Fitness Shoe Skepticism: FitFlops & MBTs Glorified Platform Sandals & Sneakers?

By: Lea

Lea — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:12:51 +0000

My orthopedic doctor recommended the FitFlop for an injury I had, and they saved me. I didn’t use them for fitness (nor would I use them now), but they do make long walks that much more comfortable.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:18:53 +0000

I have MBT’s and find them uncomfortable and ugly too, but I have been wearing FitFlops for about 5 years now, I dont know about the fitness aspect but as for comfort you cant beat them. I have walked miles in them where other “comfortable” shoes or trainers would have eventually made my feet ache or get blisters. If I get home with aching or sore feet from other shoes my FitFlops are more comfortable even than bare feet! I now have several pairs, wear them constantly, use tabbi toe socks in winter so my feet keep warm. I have the boots and I am getting the new trainers.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:12:26 +0000

I am not sure just wearing MBTs to the store will fix your Butt, BUT the 2 people that I know well said walking a block with knee pain was to much for them. Both can now walk a mile or more. The shoes reduced thier pain so much they felt they had thier life back.

COSTCO has them in here in Seattle as of 8/1/2010

By: anita

anita — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:12:57 +0000

I bought “fitflops”, not for the toning aspect but for the fantastic arch support. I have very flat feet and always have to wear runners with othotics or sandals for very short period of times.

I was in Seattle and tried a pair on at Nordstrom and have never felt such great support in a summer shoe. Since then I have bought every single colour and right when I get out of bed slip them on, (those instead of runners)

I did buy a few of the sketchers, and they seem just as good, but might wear out a little faster…

But I swear by them.

By: Jeannie

Jeannie — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:22:06 +0000

I have osteoarthritis in my feet and the doctor recommended “rocker” shoes. So I went and got some of the MBT’s and was amazed at how much better my feet felt! I was desperate and didn’t really care what they looked like because I was in terrible pain. I now wear the Sketchers Tone Ups and love them even more…because they are much cuter! Amazing what that “rocker” design does for aching feet!

By: fitflops

fitflops — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:10:11 +0000

The reason fitflops work is because they don’t make you look ‘special’, unlike shape ups which are just ugly and chunky.

By: fitflop sandals

fitflop sandals — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:40:23 +0000

good reviews , I love my fitflops but those bigger styles I am not to sure about , I think they are way to chunky and funny looking , I am short so I really think they make me look like a hobit

By: jez

jez — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:55:27 +0000

i would say that the fitflops are worth it considering the price diffence in MBTS. Fitflops are so comfortable and have helped my posture a massive amount i got mine from [edit] i would definatly recommend.

By: Leo

Leo — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:39:39 +0000

Hey guys, I am a certified pedorthist and medical massage therapist and I specialize in orthopedic conditions. I am constantly seeing and treating the same conditions over and over again such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, knee pain and of course back pain. I spend several hours a week looking for the best for my patients and found that only the MBT has the correct biomechanical movement to stop compensation from improper gait. The MBT is engineered to recreate walking on soft, natural ground like walking in sand. They are designed by a Swiss engineer who studied the gait of the African Masai tribe who walk barefoot on soft ground. He found that foot, knee, hip and low back pains are extremely rare to them. Additionally, he understood that the human body is not designed to walk on hard, flat & stable surfaces like concrete which forces us to walk unnaturally. I have been wearing MBT for almost 5 years and I make it a point to try the latest technology and so far nothing has come close. The Sketchers has simply copied the look but not the function…. that’s why they are half the price! The other knock offs don’t offer the natural 3 dimensional rolling movement with instability (heel, outside of foot, then roll back to the big toe). The easiest way to understand this movement is to think about your footprint in the sand. Finally, I’ve noticed that all the other brands are focused on muscle toning but MBT is used as a medical device in Europe and Canada to treat medical conditions. Hope this helps!

By: Elle

Elle — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:53:19 +0000

These shoes provide me with such wonderful support and the engineering is amazing.

By: Meilily

Meilily — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:33:40 +0000

rebecca – Thanks, glad you’ve enjoyed your Earth shoes and Shape Ups. Sounds like you could sell their shoes with anecdotes like those!

I’d love to try them if I didn’t have to shell out so much $ for them : ) As mentioned in the article, the skeptic in me gets a great workout already in the platform shoes I wear, so it would take a lot to get me to spend extra on special toning shoes right now.

Btw- You may want to try on some MBT’s again: MBT apparently has made their latest shoe models lighter. For example, the MBT Sport now has a lighter and slightly roomier version in the MBT Sport II. (Note: the MBT Sport II is also reported to fit higher around the ankles.)

By: rebecca

rebecca — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:09:14 +0000

Your blog made me laugh! Although i do have to say that i’m a big fan of toning shoes!!!

Not so much the MBT’s, i found them too heavy when i tried them. But i’ve been wearing Skechers Shape Ups for a couple of months and they are the comfiest shoes i’ve ever worn! And surprisingly light weight! They’ve really given me a huge helping hand in toning up my legs! I’m so busy at the moment with work and don’t have time for the gym, so i just wear my skechers on my lunch break and go for a walk! Great that i can incorporate a fitness plan into my every day routine!

In terms of Earth shoes, i’ve been wearing them for a couple of years. Originally to help with my back pain (which they were amazing for) but they do give your legs a great workout aswell!

Maybe you should try them out and then write about your thoughts!

By: Get Free Fit Flops and More with Purchase at Bliss! | Meilily

Get Free Fit Flops and More with Purchase at Bliss! | Meilily — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:40:36 +0000

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