MBT

MBT Women's Baridi Shoe

• leather
• Rubber sole
• Women's MBT, Baridi

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

MBT believes in footwear that makes you better from the ground up. MBT: The idea of Physiological Footwear MBT, Masai Barefoot Technology, was invented by Swiss engineer Karl Müller. During a visit to Korea he made the startling discovery that walking barefoot over paddy fields alleviated his back pain. Back in Switzerland, Müller began to develop a footwear technology that would make the natural instability of soft ground such as Korean paddy fields or the East African savannah accessible also to those, who have to walk on hard surfaces. In 1996, after years spent on research and development, Masai Barefoot Technology was mature enough to be launched on the market. MBTs are now available in over twenty countries, and approximately one million pairs of this revolutionary footwear technology are sold every year. How the anti-shoe is pro-body: Because of the specially designed sole, wearing MBTs significantly improves your gait and posture and relieves pressure on your joints and back. It also exercises a large number of muscles, whether you’re walking or standing. This, in turn, stimulates your metabolism, burns extra calories and speeds up muscle regeneration. In addition, MBTs can have a firming effect on abdominal, leg and buttock muscles. The key to MBT is its patented sole structure. The Shank, PU Midsole with Pivot and the Masai Sensor create a soft surface that is akin to walking barefoot on springy moss or on a sandy beach. This creates a natural instability underfoot, which activates the supporting muscle system and has positive effects on the entire body.

MBT technology mimicks walking in barefeet.

Wearing MBT mimicks walking on soft, natural ground. When the heel strikes, the heel sinks into the ground and the body has to stabilize. When the foot rolls forward, there is a controlled rolling over the balancing area towards the ball of the foot. The toe rolls off (without pressure).

MBT's ensure the foot’s natural rolling movement and optimizes pressure distribution over the whole sole.

The Anti-Shoe MBT would like to help people all over the world lead a healthier, more active and happier life. MBT is convinced that human fitness and health are significantly influenced by the way we walk – this conviction has already been substantiated objectively by many scientific studies. MBT therefore attempts to awaken and strengthen the awareness of physiologically correct walking among people world-wide by disseminating the idea and concept of MBT physiological footwear. The benefits of physiologically correct walking can thus be made available to as many people as possible all over the world, in a straightforward and uncomplicated way.

MBT's Masai Sensor creates natural instability, to which the body responds with increased muscle activity.

MBT's Patented Sole Technology The Lasting Board binds the upper and lower parts of MBTs together. The Shank provides firmness to the sole and also ensures the foot’s natural rolling movement and optimizes pressure distribution over the whole sole. The PU Midsole with Pivot triggers an active rolling movement and exercises a large number of stabilizing muscles throughout the entire body when walking or standing. The Masai Sensor creates natural instability, to which the body responds with increased muscle activity. The rubber Outsole protects the Midsole.

Product Description

Women's MBT® BARIDI :: Want a better workout shoe that actually looks great? The women's MBT® Baridi fitness shoe is your answer. On the surface it looks like a cute Mary Jane, but underneath it packs a great workout wherever you walk. You'll tone muscles, strengthen legs and improve your posture.

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002HK2AKY
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,409 in Shoes (See Top 100 in Shoes)
  • #19 in Shoes > Women's > Athletic & Outdoor > Walking

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A unique walking experience, April 25, 2010

By 

Renee Aubuchon "reneesarah" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MBT Women's Baridi Shoe (Apparel)

First off, this is a lot of money to pay for shoes. Each shoes comes out at over a hundred dollars, so they had better be damned good shoes. And they are. The construction and detailing is faultless. The neutral gray color that I purchased can be worn with a variety of outfits, and so in that sense serves me well. While I have not seen this particular model on sale, when snooping around the Internet looking for sales on these shoes, I have found significant discounts for some models on some sites. So taking the time to look around can potentially save you a pretty good chunk of change. In every case when I found a sale price Amazon was also meeting that sale price for the shoes I looked at, except for discontinued models Amazon did not list. There may be significant savings for discontinued models on some sites- but then since the model is discontinued it may or may not be available in your size.

I had never even tried on a pair of shoes like these before when I bought them, so they were an entirely new experience for me. The absence of heel that defines how you stand in the shoe took a little getting used to, but it did not take long to adjust. I did find that the way the shoes encourage you to stand and walk does result in in an upright posture, rather than perpetually leaning forward a bit when walking. I think the significant postural change into a more healthy stance is worth the price of the shoes for me. And we haven't even gotten into how it feels to walk in them yet!

If these shoes were a ride, I would have to say they are the smoothest, most comfortable ride ever. When wearing these shoes I never have the sense of making contact with hard ground. For those of you who like "road feel" and like to feel hard ground under your feet, this may not be an ideal sensation. But for those who like the idea of walking on wet, giving sand, or on a padding that feels like soft rubber balls, or like walking on a cushion of gel (which is what you are doing)- then you will like how it feels to walk in these shoes.

These shoes are comfortable to wear all day. It takes some getting used to wearing them because they are designed to somewhat destabilize your contact with the ground and make your muscles work for stabilization and balance. I was good with that, and quickly adjusted, even though anyone who knows me would tell you I am an uncoordinated person. This characteristic of the shoes may not work out so well for someone who has serious balance problems.

Overall I think the shoes are really excellent. They are the only shoes I have been wearing since I got them unless I am riding my bike, when a more conventionally heeled shoe has felt more comfortable. I highly recommend them. I just wish they weren't so expensive, so that many people who would enjoy them and benefit from them would not find them prohibitively expensive.

Reviews at other sites have noted that people who must work standing on their feet all day have found these shoes to be very comfortable and helpful.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comfort!, December 3, 2010

By 

D. Wright (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MBT Women's Baridi Shoe (Apparel)

Wore these shoes for 11 days on a walking tour through Europe. They are comfortable and minimize fatique. This is my 4th pair of MBTs. Much better quality and fit than the knock-offs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MBTs are all I wear, April 23, 2011

By 

Teacher's Pet - See all my reviews

This review is from: MBT Women's Baridi Shoe (Apparel)

You'll love MBTs! If you're on your feet all day, you need these shoes. They take all the pressure off your back and tone your body while you're at it. Really, the no-back-pain is what I need; the toning is just a nice bonus.

Buy half a size larger than you usually wear.

MBTs take some getting used to. Wear them for just a few hours a day until you get used to them.

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