MBT Footwear with Special Spring 2008 Shoe Sneak Peek
Posted on September 27th, 2007 by Shomore under Focus on the Shoe Brand, MBT ShoesShoe-wise, I know it is difficult to concentrate on anything but the gorgeous footwear featured on the Milan runway this week, but why don’t we do just that for a few minutes.
MBT (short for Masai Barefoot Technology) is a fitness shoe brand that I’ve been eying for a while now (they’ve been on the market since the 90s and has really taken the fitness shoe market by storm). The shoes were created after studying the Masai tribe from East Africa. Karl Muller, the inventor of MBT, observed that because the Masai walked on soft, instable ground, they were forced to use their body to maintain balance. This balancing act, apparently, is good for strengthening core muscles and promotes good posture. To simulate walking on a soft surface such as sand or soft moss, Karl created the MBT shoe line with a rounded, curved sole to force the wearer to balance themselves like the members of Masai.
Now, regular readers of this shoe blog will know that we love the comfortable AND stylish shoe. Sadly, although Zappos MBT reviews, Epinions ratings, and even MBT shoe reviews on our Shoe Forum (thanks VanMiracle!) have been nothing short of excellent with reports of improved back problems, toning of the body, etc, early versions of the MBT shoe line left much to be desired in the looks department.
See what I mean? In the past, I’ve allowed concessions for shoes that aren’t visually appealing if they were comfortable or healthy, but the early styles were so ugly they were real deal breakers for me.
Fast forward to 2007, I’m happy to report that MBT footwear is evolving. Now, while they still aren’t as stylish as say Nike, Adidas, or Puma, these photos certainly prove that they are catching up.
MBT M. Walk at Shoes.com for $245
MBT Chapa
MBT Kaya
MBT Kaya - cute mary-janes, no?
Now that the style quotient has been upped, combined with the numerous health benefits, I am definitely sold on giving MBT shoes a try.
And if you are wondering why you haven’t seen most of the above MBT models in your local comfort shoe store, that’s because the shoes are from the Spring 2008 shoe line. They simply aren’t available for purchase just yet (darn, I know!). Just to taunt us further, I leave you with even more detailed sneak peaks of MBT’s spring line.
MBT Staka (left), MBT Staka (right)
MBT Staka
MBT Kaya
MBT Chapa
Many thanks to the great PR folks at MBT for the photos.
- More stocking stuffers for shoe lovers: Part…um…
- Safety shoe for sex workers
- This Week in Shoes
- DSW Shoes to sell shoes online
- Great Shoe Repair Advertisements
- Beverly Mitchell upcoming shoe line
Piperlime
September 27th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
My dad had a stroke a few years back that affected the whole left side of his body. When he was learning to walk again, the therapist recommended these shoes to help him walk better. Unfortunately instead of helping him walk, they caused him to fall a few times. I guess the balancing act on this shoe needs a little getting-used-to. But he doesn’t wear the shoes anymore
September 30th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Marien,
Oh dear. I’m sorry to hear it the MBTs didn’t work out for your dad.
I read there are a few other brands introducing less intensive rocker shoes. I’m not sure how good they are but I think the brands were Spring Boost and Finnamic. They aren’t as popular as MBT but maybe they have less of a learning curve. It would be great if the shoes could be adjusted based on intensity of the workout, similiar to adjusting the resistance in the elliptical machines.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:32 am
Get Spring 2008 MBTs at www.FeetFirstFitness.com first!
Very early delivery in limited numbers. Please stay tuned to www.FeetFirstFitness.com for more information.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Shomore, having a “tolerance” adjuster is an excellent idea! Any shoe which alters lower extremity mechanics will usually take getting used to. Add a handicap, plus increased age, and you may have intolerance as noted. I just wanted to offer some other observations which are quite similar to an article by Jim Daltons, a writer for ezinearticles.com.
Sorry for the late comments but I just joined the shoe forum/blog. I am a podiatrist with a keen interest in shoe development and design.
A rocker sole or shoe has historically been prescribed for those with limited ankle flexion whether it is from injury, arthritis or from being in a cast. Also, to help distribute forces on the bottom of the foot more evenly. By utilizing the rocker sole, forces transmitted from the ground are “buffered gradually” thru an arc and displace much of the need for primary ankle joint flexion. It does indeed decrease stresses through the plantar foot, legs, hip and back with not only the rocking arc motion but by decreasing the amount of shock one typically sees at heel strike.
I am not sure what Swiss Masai means when it says ‘it creates a natural instability underfoot’. It may create instability - but natural - not so much. One more thing a rocker sole accomplishes is a repositioning in the body’s center of mass. This may explain the retraining required in the lower musculature and hence the increase in tone of certain muscles previously not over activated.
My only real beef with these shoes is their marketing which nebulously indicates that wearing these shoes will do everything in the world for you such as increasing ‘muscle activity’ while decreasing ‘muscle tension’. Obviously these are different muscles and not all muscles get worked as well as they should.
Besides the obvious discrepancy of the reason for the existence of the rocker sole, another thing concerns me. There is a Q&A section that references burning, numbness and pins and needles. Swiss Masai say that it comes from an increase in circulation from using the shoes. I say that it may indicate that there is nerve related condition manifesting itself in the foot and should be consulted for if persistent.
MBT overall is a great shoe and a very good training adjunct. It is suited particularly well for those that would benefit medically from a rocker sole. Why can’t they just go on their obvious good merits as a means of increasing market share? Just the uniqueness of style would pull people off the couch………
Article reference: http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/209/20/3953
The advantages of a rolling foot in human walking
January 26th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I am a faithful believer and user of the MBT kismu sandal. Unfortunately - I have been unable to find a closed toe MBT shoe that fits because of my wide foot. I understand that the 2008 line will have styles better suited for a wide foot. If this is true can you identify which shoe in the new 2008 MBT line are better suited for wide feet?
Thanks
February 11th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Greetings to Marilyn:
Other than the Kisumu sandals, MBT’s widest models are the Sport Low and Casual. Unfortunately, they may not be wide enough for poor soles with the truly wide feet.
I’m heading to the WSA shoe convention in a few weeks and I will stop by the MBT booth. If there are any other models (new or old) that would fit your feet better, I will be sure to let you know.
Good luck!
February 19th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I had total ankle fusion about 4 months ago, and finally getting to wear shoes. Because I lost forward step mobility, I chose some MBT’s to help me adjust. So far, so good. The nubucks seem to feel better than the tennis shoes; but overall I am very pleased with them. These are the only shoes I can wear without limping. The stability took a little getting used to; but have been able to use my cane to stabilize in crowds, etc. Now if I could just get the doc to write me a prescrpition, I can deduct from my taxes!
February 28th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Last year our personal friend and inventor of the MBT, Karl Mueller, departed from his MBT kingdom in order to pursue other inventions and creations. At first we felt that this would not at all have an impact on the MBT product, which seemed to be at such a high quality and outstanding level. Nor did we feel it would impact the company’s business units as Karl had partnered his brand with many excellent people worldwide.
On the business side we were wrong: immediately MBT’s US subsidiary in Idaho (our direct business partner for the brand) was completely reorganized and new managers were hired, most of whom had made their previous careers in the low end and discount shoe businesses.
Their first move was to completely change the MBT product line: out with the old and in with the new. And as a consequence at the end of 2007 we ran an amazing sale on the dropped MBTs and we thank many of our customers for their enthusiastic participation and business in this sale of our existing inventory.
Even more significantly, on the product side we were unfortunately also wrong: having recommended, fitted and sold over 5,000 pairs of the entire MBT product line since 2004 from both our brick & mortar and our online virtual stores, it quickly became apparent to ourselves and to our customers that most of the MBTs produced after Karl’s departure were not even close to what we had become accustom to…
In particular, starting in November 2007 we began receiving a plethora of complaints from customers that their MBTs were wearing out — of the outsoles and collapsing Masai sensors — already after only three weeks of usage (attached is a picture study of the outsole of the MBT Sport comparing the older and the newer product executions).
Since then we have also wear-tested many of the new Spring 2008 MBTs and, also unfortunately, the results have been extremely poor: POOR FIT, COLLAPSING MASAI SENSOR, PREMATURE & COMPLETE OUTSOLE WEAR, LACK OF STABILITY, EXTREMELY HEAVY… And as a result somewhat reluctantly, we have now decided to no longer sell the MBT in our store until (hopefully) the former quality of this once-great-product has one day been completely restored.
Just as we had been so enthusiastic in communicating and promoting the MBT brand when it was in its prime, we hope you understand our decision that we can not support any of our former efforts, convictions and recommendations based on the poor product quality issues present in almost all of the current MBT products. Quite frankly, there is no way we could recommend & sell the MBT in its current execution FOR OVER US$ 200!!! and expect our customers at all to continue to take our advice and recommendation seriously.
To conclude, it appears that even more significantly than driving the MBT creation and innovation, Karl Mueller, during his time at the company, was successful in maintaining the MBT shoe’s high execution standard of quality production. With him no longer involved, we are convinced that the MBT is no longer what it once was… and that anyone who has been as involved with the MBT as closely, as thoroughly and as long as ourselves is similarly in complete agreement with our position.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Last year our personal friend and inventor of the MBT, Karl Mueller, departed from his MBT kingdom in order to pursue other inventions and creations. At first we felt that this would not at all have an impact on the MBT product, which seemed to be at such a high quality and outstanding level. Nor did we feel it would impact the company’s business units as Karl had partnered his brand with many excellent people worldwide.
On the business side we were wrong: immediately MBT’s US subsidiary in Idaho (our direct business partner for the brand) was completely reorganized and new managers were hired, most of whom had made their previous careers in the low end and discount shoe businesses.
Their first move was to completely change the MBT product line: out with the old and in with the new. And as a consequence at the end of 2007 we ran an amazing sale on the dropped MBTs and we thank many of our customers for their enthusiastic participation and business in this sale of our existing inventory.
Even more significantly, on the product side we were unfortunately also wrong: having recommended, fitted and sold over 5,000 pairs of the entire MBT product line since 2004 from both our brick & mortar and our online virtual stores, it quickly became apparent to ourselves and to our customers that most of the MBTs produced after Karl’s departure were not even close to what we had become accustom to…
In particular, starting in November 2007 we began receiving a plethora of complaints from customers that their MBTs were wearing out — of the outsoles and collapsing Masai sensors — already after only three weeks of usage (attached is a picture study of the outsole of the MBT Sport comparing the older and the newer product executions).
Since then we have also wear-tested many of the new Spring 2008 MBTs and, also unfortunately, the results have been extremely poor: POOR FIT, COLLAPSING MASAI SENSOR, PREMATURE & COMPLETE OUTSOLE WEAR, LACK OF STABILITY, EXTREMELY HEAVY… And as a result somewhat reluctantly, we have now decided to no longer sell the MBT in our store until (hopefully) the former quality of this once-great-product has one day been completely restored.
Just as we had been so enthusiastic in communicating and promoting the MBT brand when it was in its prime, we hope you understand our decision that we can not support any of our former efforts, convictions and recommendations based on the poor product quality issues present in almost all of the current MBT products. Quite frankly, there is no way we could recommend & sell the MBT in its current execution FOR OVER US$ 200!!! and expect our customers at all to continue to take our advice and recommendation seriously.
To conclude, it appears that even more significantly than driving the MBT creation and innovation, Karl Mueller, during his time at the company, was successful in maintaining the MBT shoe’s high execution standard of quality production. With him no longer involved, we are convinced that the MBT is no longer what it once was… and that anyone who has been as involved with the MBT as closely, as thoroughly and as long as ourselves is similarly in complete agreement with our position.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I own a high quality Comfort Shoe Store which is located in Boise, Idaho. I have carried MBT’s for a year and a half now and was, like Feet First, enthusiastically selling MBT’s and putting them on every customer’s feet that walked in our door. MBT was a HUGE part of my business. In November of 2007, like Feet First, we too, saw a huge decline in the quality of the MBT’s. And from the internal business side of things, I was treated extremely poorly by my new reps and I had been, since I started carrying MBT, MBT’s third biggest account. Incidently, MBT just recently sold to my competitor, whom is 4 stores down from me and sells Euro Comfort Footwear as well!!!! I couldn’t believe it!!! No loyality whatsoever and I was one of their best accounts! We just this week received in the new Spring 2008 product and are so sorely disappointed in its construction and technology. There is obvious glue slopped on the shoe, the sensors are horrible with no resistence, the soles of the shoes are way too soft and it is all too clear that MBT is no longer a superior product. I currently carry them still, but am looking for an alternative product to replace MBT. The people now running the company have horrible customer service and the quality is evidently no longer existant. It is so sad because MBT was just starting to climax and everyone at my store was so excited about this product.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:29 am
Ouch, I really wish I had done more research like read through these comments on the new MBT before I went out and spent $260 on the Kaya that is shown above.
The fit is awful:
narrow toe area
wide heel
Honestly I think this is the opposite of how most people’s feet are shaped, especially women.
The quality is even worse:
I put some extras in the shoe so that the fit was manageable and was able to get by wearing them for the last month, but now they are completely worn out on the sole and the store I got them at will not take them back or exchange! They say it was “probably a bad batch”!
MBT: never again!
April 21st, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Thanks to everyone for their comments. I was just looking to possibly purchase a pair of MBT for a friend of mine that is taking a trip to Asia. I think I would be hard pressed to spend the high price tag for an inferior product. Let alone giving it to someone who needs a dependable shoe for a long trip.
Thanks again for the heads up.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
MBTs changed my life! I was out of work for a month because I hurt my back at the gym. Using MBTs rehabilitated my back so much that I was able to walk in a half marathon in 8 months! Please do not be discouraged buying these shoes. It does take a little while getting used to, but the benefits are worth the money. I assure you, just give it a chance- it can speed up your health for the better like it did mine!
May 14th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
“Sadly, although Zappos MBT reviews, Epinions ratings, and even MBT shoe reviews on our Shoe Forum (thanks VanMiracle!) have been nothing short of excellent with reports of improved back problems, toning of the body, etc, early versions of the MBT shoe line left much to be desired in the looks department.”
Sadly now they look OK but they don’t function anymore!
May 19th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Second Time around, after I initially tried the MBT I felt like a kangaroo. I’d walked for what felt like the millionth mile and finally caught on to the shoe. To my surprise they proved addictive. I want a pair that will fit, not fall apart and last at least 10 mnths to a complete year.
Facing fit fact was disappointing, slightly narrower,true to size apparently, strap in the rear is a bit tight, if you have a narrow heel it should be a great shoe. The new style, great look. A tad lighter than the that the second generation sandal with the bulky straps. Judging from the reviews posted this third or fourth generation to hit the us market looks snazzier and feels as though it will take some time to wear onto the foot. This mama will keep you posted.
I had exceptional customer services and highly recommend the shops in the NYC.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I am sorry, they may work wonders for your feet in a way that no workout regimen could, but these shoes are still ugly and so, so expensive. You cannot show me an outift they would compliment that would not include yoga pants and a sports bra (ok, for women). I am surprised that the Manolo has changed his mind - they still look hideous and are not for the girls with no monies.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I’ve been enjoying them for several years now, no problem.
I’m getting ready to buy a new pair (to add to the two pair I bought discounted) and am concerned with this talk of failing quality. Is it really so?
Could they have been ‘bent’ (manufacturer warns us about that) or is this kvetching for the fun of it? Bad buisness for a store to not take a falling apart before its time…tell us where Not to shop please.
I’ve heard these shoes are resoulable.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I have to admit, I hadn’t read all the other comments about fallen quality and just now did. How SAD. I’m bummed. I love those shoes and they will eventually wear out. Too bad.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
[…] The fitness craze shoes of yesteryear are certainly MBTs. […]
July 21st, 2008 at 11:11 am
Girls, have you seen the new MBTS for the fall?? I saw an ad and some online AND WOOW are they ugly again. They look like they weigh a ton or two!
July 28th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Jenny & Others– Our experience from time to time has been similar with the MBT. Its the nature of products and development. We hope & believe for the necessary customer satisfaction concerns to be addressed as they roll out future Shoes. I think to continue as a shoe evangelist or newbie to MBT and go directly to the manufacture and their CS Dept. whom I would hope yield the necessary outcomes. We carry the MBT as well as Chung Shi and understand having alternatives partnered with customer satisfaction is King. Our Balanced Walking program capitalizes on our Chung Shis’
As a professional in the field of Physiology, Coaching, and high level of Athletic Competition for over 30years in the areas of running, cycling swimming, skiing, and on… A side note — and funny, personally I have always set the pace as well as trends of fashion and functionality for years in the world of Fitness *& Sport. Why? It is a passion that makes what I do fun. I expect to see several things any products and programs that involve Feet. In this case as it relates to product — change and modifications. IN the case of human body — factors which all require an individualized adaption period.
At the end of the day social persuasion and a needed worthy result generally wins.
August 13th, 2008 at 6:31 am
A balance walker sounds like something for me, but where can I try on this Chung Shi shoe? I can’t find them in any stores near where I live?