MBT shoes, fad or science?

[riverdeep]

I got this promotional offer from amazon in my email today, normally it's off to the trash bin, but I thought "what the hell are 'mbt' shoes?"

http://www.endless.com/s/ref=pe_35820_11212480_pe_end_em_012709/?brands=MBT&size=40&sort=-product_site_launch_date&boutique=1

Doesn't really say there, but searching elsewhere, they stand for "Massai Barefoot Technology".

("MBT Shoes - What to Know about MBT & Where to Buy MBT Shoes")
http://shoes.about.com/od/comfortable_shoes/a/mbt_shoes.htm

I'm getting very suspicious now. The high praise from supermodels is not helping. They're supposed to be purposely unstable to stimulate muscle development. And 200 plus dollars? Are you nuts? So, has anyone tried these?

[baldguy]

1. Is the salesman named "Jimmy" and does he refer to himself in the third person?

[riverdeep]

2. Jimmy's gonna make a bundle

off of his shoes, if Jimmy doesn't slip and fall on someone's drool first.

[MorningGlow]

3. They look like a new generation of earth shoes

And we all know what happened to the popularity of those.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I had some Earth Shoes with the negative heel back in the 70's.

I loved those things. They felt awkward at first and were ugly as hell, but they were probably the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.

[riverdeep]

5. I had a vague recollection of earth shoes.

So I looked them up. They're being sold again, apparently. Here's a timeline of earth shoes from their invention to now. It's quite interesting. Some tidbits:

* They were such a hit that demand couldn't keep up and the distributors sued, taking the entire earth shoe down with it. It wasn't, according to this source, a case of the public being fickle.

* They were called 'earth' shoes because they started selling them on the first earth day, and the store just simply tied into the event.

http://www.earthbeach.com/Library/info/back_from_past.htm

At least these are more reasonably priced. And they do incorporate what they call 'negative heel technology'. Everything old is new again.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

6. Earth Shoes is just a brand now

I haven't seen any with a negative heel in eons, just well-made, clunky, usually suede footwear with well-padded insoles that may or may not be slightly sculpted to fit your foot. I miss the real deal and suppose Dorcs. . . er Crocs are today's equivalent trendiness for comfort. Yes, they're ugly as hell--but they FEEL fantastic, especially if you have sore feet. Crocs have totally replaced Birkenstocks as the footwear of choice in hospitals, which I think is a significant endorsement.

The MBT crap is simply the latest way to convince people they need $300 sneakers that are so awkward you may break your neck teetering around on them. I believe we can blame celebrity suckers for the push to make them mainstream but to me, they look suspiciously like the CAM walker you get to rehab after a foot/lower leg fracture.