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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very comfortable, a little strange looking, April 27, 2009
This review is from: Terra Plana Men's Aqua Lace Up Shoe (Apparel)
I've owned a pair of Aqua's now for about 3 weeks and I have to say they are fantastically comfortable. It feels like I'm wearing a moccasin -- only with a little bit of style. I should add however that I am used to walking around in a bit less of a shoe than most. I run and lift in Vibram's FiveFingers and try to wear as minimal of a shoe as I can get away with. So for those who aren't used to "feeling the ground" when you walk they might be a bit of a shock to your system.
On the design side, the picture is a little deceiving. The toe box is really wide, which is great for comfort but gives them an unconventional look (I'll leave it to the individual whether that is a good thing or not but it does not look like a typical sneaker/shoe). Also, there is padding around the heel. You can see it in the picture if you look, which makes them look fat at the heel. Lastly, they squeak when I walk across a hardwood floor.
However, given the odd look and squeaking they appear very well built and are far-and-away the most comfortable shoe I've ever owned. An additional plus, if you believe in the benefits of having strong feet, they are good for you. I'm of the mind that strong feet lead to better health all the way up the kinetic chain -- strong feet = healthy ankles, healthy ankles = healthy knees, healthy knees = health back, etc.
Bottom line: worth the price especially since there are almost no alternatives out there.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you're looking for a serious change in how you walk..., October 27, 2009
This review is from: Terra Plana Men's Aqua Lace Up Shoe (Apparel)
After reading a lot of literature on barefoot walking, I decided to get myself a pair of shoes from Terra Plana's Vivo Barefoot line.. I hesitated on buying a pair, but after finding out from the salesperson at their flagship store about Terra Plana's "pop up store" (on thompson btwn spring and prince NYC) I wore a pair straight out of the store. The prices at the pop up store are 50% off so I got mine for relatively cheap, hurry!
About the shoes... It took only a night of walking to get the hang of walking in these shoes. At first you'll walk as usual... either from heel to toe or heel and toe at the same time. After a bit of time you will start landing with the ball of your foot first and then the heel second (it helps if you actually walk barefoot for some time to understand the mechanics). It does not feel awkward, it feels much more stable. At the end of the night, your toes and the arch of your foot will -ache- not hurt from using muscles that haven't been used for such a long time.
The fit is suppose to be snug around the middle of your foot with room in the toe box, and about a thumbs width from your toe to the end of the shoe. Terra Plana recommends buying one shoe size larger than your normal pair and I can confirm that it was the right thing to do in my case (I'm normally a 7(40) and I got an 8(41). I tried a 9(42) and they were too big).
I wear loose fitting jeans and the "clown" look that you might hear/read from other reviewers is not noticeable at all with a loose fitting pair of pants. Buy a pair of these shoes!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great shoe, weird look, July 13, 2009
This review is from: Terra Plana Men's Aqua Lace Up Shoe (Apparel)
I bought the blue and yellow colored aqua shoes. Go to the terra plana site to get help on which size to buy because they are sized too short. The feel is strange at first because the toe box is quite wide, which contributes to them looking a little like clown shoes, especially in the colors I purchased. Once you get used to the lack of any type of arch support or heel padding, they feel incredibly comfortable. I can feel cracks in the sidewalk and even differentiate the texture of the asphalt from the painted lines on the street! You need to change the way you walk or run, however, because of the lack of padding. My stride lands on my forefoot instead of my heel, so take it slow if you're running in them, or you will injure yourself. Once you get used to them and your muscles in your calves and feet have built up, there is no going back to regular shoes.
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