{Back to School Guide} MBT (the Anti-Shoe) Review

ABOUT:

MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology. The company was started in 1996 when it was discovered that natural instability has amazing health benefits.  This was discovered by watching the Masai people walking barefoot on natural, uneven ground that led to the realization that the human body is not designed to walk or stand on the hard, flat surfaces of modern society.  The MBTs mimic walking on soft, uneven ground.

Benefits:

• All-Around Success:  By rolling your foot as you walk you help solve knee and back problems, reliever tension in your neck, ease joint pains, and more or less in passing help tone and shape firm buttocks and thighs.  You will also burn more calories when standing and slow running compared to ordinary shoes.
• Maintains Natural Movement:  While wearing MBTs the body is forced to maintain its natural balance thereby stimulating and exercising the body’s supporting muscle system which results in many pro-body benefits.
• Strengthening:  Due to the soft Masai Sensor found in the heel, walking in MBTs is simulated as walking and standing on uneven ground.  This increases a natural instability to which the body’s entire musculoskeletal system is activated and exercised, muscles in the buttocks, stomach and back are strengthened, posture and gait are kept relaxed and upright and stress on joints and back  is relieved.

MY THOUGHTS:

I admit I was skeptical at how a shoe could really help my muscles and make walking more beneficial for me, but I am now a believer!  I have worn my MBTs for everyday errands and as I walked around two amusement parks, and I definitely could feel a difference than if I was walking in regular shoes.

Basically the since the MBTs have a rounded sole, you rock back and forth when you walk.  Since you are walking somewhat uneven, your body adjusts to walking properly and upright, more muscles are used and stretched.  I can definitely vouch too for the muscles being used because after walking around an amusement park the whole day in my MBTs my calf’s and thighs were hurting!  Now it does say that you do need to walk in the shoes for a while to break them in since your muscles are not used to being used that way.  I can’t say that I have noticed calorie loss yet, but I have noticed I am walking more upright and not slouching.

(My son really likes them!)

Okay so now onto the comfort of these shoes – they are like walking on clouds!  They are very light shoes and very soft to walk in.  It does take a few times to get used to walking in them, but now when I wear other shoes I feel weird walking in them!  I like the feeling of rocking back and forth and honestly after walking in them all day my feet felt fine.  So for the comfort, style, and benefits you can’t go wrong!  I also recently wore them to the BlogHer conference, which was a lot of walking, and I felt great and received many compliments.  They are an expensive pair of shoes (around $200), which is definitely something to consider, but they are a durable pair of shoes that will definitely get their use out of.  You can also resole your MBTs once they get worn out.  Oh and if you are someone who works on their feet all day, these shoes would be awesome and since you can rock back and forth you are not straining your feet standing in one spot.

These shoes are great too if you are a college student who does a lot of walking between classes or at the after school job where you are on your feet!

BUY IT: Visit the MBT website to see where they are sold in your area or where you can buy them online!

You can also follow MBT on Twitter and Facebook!

Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure:  I was sent a pair of shoes to review.  Please see my Disclosure Policy.