Fitness Shoes

Sometimes you feel like running for no reason (or at least I do). No one is chasing you, you don’t have to be somewhere five minutes ago…you just want to run. Muscles burning, hair blowing in the wind, glistening sweat on your brow, the world a blur. But what if you don’t have the right shoes? Your old Converse high tops are ratty, and your gym shoes have a hole in the sole. You need something comfortable and lightweight with great support and stability. You need a shoe that has a Star Trek-sounding name. The Ecco XT 1010 is your shoe.

At first I rolled my eyes when people talked about “hi-tech” shoes. What could that possibly be? Is there a built in navigation system so you don’t get lost in the mall? A radar detector so you don’t get busted for running too fast in the park? Magic fingers that manipulate pressure points to lull you into a walking meditation? No…none of that (at least not yet). So what does it mean? Well, when I saw a pair of Sano by Mephisto Tattoo, I began to understand.

For all of us true MBT fans (pretty much anyone who has ever worn them), the new spring collection for 2010 is a real treat.  Combining all of the best of the MBT design for comfort, support, and fit, MBT has answered the call of the consumer – and made the shoes even more visually appealing.

If you know what MBT shoes are, you know that they have a very distinct look.  The thick curved sole makes them one of a kind, even with all the imitators out there.  In the past, the look of the MBT has appealed to the cool, funky, hip personalities among us (me, of course), but it has also been off-putting to those who cannot get past it.

I really do love it when two different shoe companies create similar products.  It gives me a chance to see not only which shoe I (and others) think is better, but it also clearly outlines the real reasons to buy the better shoe.  I especially enjoy when the two companies are both established and reputable – with a long history of designing and manufacturing great products.  This is exactly the case between MBT shoes and the Avon Curves.  Both shoes come from companies with stellar reputations and a real commitment to exceptional products.  So, sole to sole, who steps out ahead?

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There has actually been quite a lot of controversy surrounding whether or not MBT shoes actually can affect weight loss and a reduction of cellulite.  Seriously.  Look it up.  People get really heated about if wearing MBT shoes actually helps you lose weight.  MBT has a lot of supporters, but there are also those who suggest that there is no way a shoe can deliver on so many health promises. That’s where I come in.  I am going to try to end the controversy now and give you the facts.

The MBT Company and the Earth Company are both pretty amazing companies that are intensely committed to the philosophies, their technologies, and their products.  That said, they are two very different companies who make very different shoes – in design, style, fit, technology, and mechanics.

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MBT shoes seem to offer a lot of health benefits.  From muscle strengthening and toning to tension relief and back support, MBT shoes are known in just about every footwear circle as a strange-looking shoe that truly does help your entire body.  But can an MBT shoe address a particular problem?   Whole body benefits are great, but what about those of us who have very specific foot problems like plantar fasciitis?  As someone who suffered the daily pain of plantar fasciitis, I was determined to find out.

When I was a kid, I ran everywhere. Down the street, through fields, to the store, across the yard. And this wasn’t a casual trot - I ran like someone was chasing me. As an adult, I have slowed down a lot, but am still fascinated by runners, especially marathon and distance runners. Luckily there is an annual 15k marathon nearby so I can watch runners from around the world. The first time I watched this race, it was the Kenyans who grabbed my attention. They didn’t just run (and win), they would glide by me as if carried by the wind itself.