You’ve noticed them on television and even on dedicated speed walkers. They’re the shoes that have the rounded sole that makes them appear a little like rocking horses. They are known as MBT Shoes, which stands for Masai Barefoot Technology, though that appears rather odd whenever you bear in mind that those shoes are currently the preferred footwear of well-heeled suburbanites from Tacoma to Tampa. Another nice option is the Garmin Oregon 550T Handheld GPS.

The main advertized advantage of these shoes is their ability to induce the wearer’s body to work on muscle groups which usually aren’t employed while walking, especially if you are used to walking on gym floors or compacted ground. You can find anecdotal evidence about MBT shoes reducing chronic lower back pain, though you will never observe that in the commercials. The curved sole of MBT shoes is meant to simulate stepping on sand, which is the typical walking environment of the Masai people of Kenya.

The question which ought to be settled, before you put down $130 for a pair of  these shoes, is if, in fact they live up to their promises. The short answer is yes, and the more lengthy answer is yes under the appropriate conditions. Another great alternative is the Garmin Oregon 550T Handheld GPS.

The first thing to remember is that MBT shoes are meant for fitness walking. When you merely  wear MBT shoes as you are puttering around the house, you might discover some moderate improvement in muscle tone and posture, but not sufficiently to drop a pants size. Wearing these shoes for lengthy stretches of walking, especially speed walking, will help them to re-sculpt your calves, thighs and backside, and strengthen your stabilizing muscles.

The next thing to remember is that MBT shoes are meant for fitness walking. Certainly, a person is able to run using these kinds of shoes, and a few Kenyans have won races wearing them, however a lot of of us did not spend our childhoods running in those shoes.

This is why, for walkers living in well-paved areas, MBT shoes are simply suggested for walking, not running. It may take a lot of practice and tolerance to run correctly in these shoes, and you could be risking some fascinating ankle and knee injuries in the course of your training period.

Purchasing your MBT shoes is actually easiest to do on the internet. At the moment, because MBT shoes are still quite new, many stores don’t have a big selection of sizes or styles. Do not pay lower than $100 for your new MBT shoes unless they happen to be on clearance. Knockoffs are everywhere, particularly online, so it is recommended that you obtain them from a respectable supply. The sole frequent criticism from buyers who have acquired genuine MBT shoes online has been inadequate customer service, which is an additional reason to limit yourself to reliable retailers. Another good product to consider is the Garmin Oregon 550T Handheld GPS.