Mbt Trainer Shoes looked strange to me. Kinda bulky. And I was used to thinking a shoe with proper support would be molded around the curves and arches of my foot with plenty of give, flex and cushion. The footbed of this shoe is virtually flat. And the bottom of the sole is convex – curving outward from the main arch of the foot. That seemed like it would make the lack of an arch support even worse! And the shoe is built and designed to have NO flex. (In fact, if you force it to flex, you’ve broken the shoe.) It seems crazy – totally counter to every other shoe out there in every way. And it is crazy! Except it’s a real revolution that works.
Somehow, the design keeps the heel positioned at the back of the shoe so there’s no movement of the foot in the shoe or forward slip of the foot towards the toe of the shoe. Because of this, I ended up with a smaller size than I normally wear even though I like a lot of room for my toes. And as you walk, the convex curve of the shoe rolls you forward so the initial strike of foot against pavement is lessened – maybe it’s similar to the principal of rolling if you ever jump off a train? The sole is comprised of very thick, hard, dense rubber which has just enough spring to absorb any compression shock and at the same time, gives marvelous support to your arch. It feels like it creates a forward propulsion all on its own. When your foot comes down, it feels like the initial contact addresses the large muscles at the back of the leg as much or maybe even more than the front. No more shin splints? I soon discovered I could walk for miles without any fatigue or strain. I’m not exactly a fit person but now I start out every day with a 4 mile hike. That’s a huge change for me. I also have a friend who, after switching to the MBT sneaker “Sport” model, returned to jogging even though she has arthritis issues. I also noticed a nurse running around wearing the “Sport” model at a hospital the other day. It’s probably the best shoe in the world for a job that requires a lot of walking. There really is something to the science behind these shoes. I’m not sure how well these would work for a job that requires standing in one place, though. Your muscles would get a workout. But maybe that’s a good thing.
I do have a word of caution, however. The convex curve can take a little getting used to, particularly on stairs or uneven ground. Use care until you gain experience and have confidence in your being able to keep your balance. But nothing out there can compete with them when it comes to walking on sidewalks. Traditional shoes make you feel planted – these make you feel like getting out and moving. The downside is less stability until you’ve had some practice.
