I LOVE MY SWISS MASAI MBT SHOES !!

UPDATE:  There are COUNTEFEIT (fake, replica) MBTs now on Ebay and other internet sites so you MUST ask plenty of questions before making a purchase to assure that they are AUTHENTIC!  Compare the label, tread, quality etc. to the real thing to help avoid a fake purchase! These fakes are quite often "guaranteed authentic" so you must be very careful or you could end up with a cheap imitation that will fall apart in no time!

ABOUT MY EXPEIENCE WITH MBTs

After reading about these shoes for almost two years, I finally decided to break down and buy a pair.  I was not expecting miracles, afterall, how can a pair of shoes cure cellulite?  But I was hoping for something that might help to motivate me to walk more..and I hit the jackpot with these!

I actually look forward to putting these on in the morning just because they are so much fun to walk in!  And I can actually feel that they are working, even by only wearing them during my normal day.  I do not even set aside time to walk in them, I just wear them while doing my usual activities (working, running errands, etc.).  Immediately, I noticed some "relief" in my knees when walking.  After only a couple of days, I could feel my legs starting to tone up a bit.  Again, this was only by wearing them during my normal day.

NO, I'm not selling these, I've never sold a single pair of these. I'm just writing this guide for those who may be interested in them and wondering if they are worth the price.  In my book, they are well worth the price and this is one fitness related purchase I do not regret. 

I'm someone who usually ends up using any exercise equipment that I purchase as a clothes hanger.  When I ordered my MBTs, I figured they might end up with the same fate (although they wouldn't make a good clothes hanger, I figured I could pot a plant in them or something).

But to my surprise, I fell in love with them immediately!  From what I had read, I was afraid I would have to practice around the house for a week or so before I could venture out of the house without breaking my neck.  I read one review where the buyer said she couldn't stand up in them and had fallen down repeatedly.  Now, I have unstable ankles (born with them) so this unnerved me.   But to my surprise, they actually HELP my ankles and they don't wobble nearly as much!  Its the strangest thing.  I did not have any trouble walking in them. These shoes promote "natural instability" yet create better stability once you get accustomed to them.  I also have back problems and was worried about the things I had read but my back problems got BETTER after wearing these shoes.  Maybe these shoes were just made for someone like me, I don't know but I can't say enough good things about them!

THEY'RE FUN!  The best part about MBTs is that they are FUN to wear!  And this makes you want to walk more! Even STANDING is more fun.  I have a job where I am in and out of my car all day and I actually get all excited to be getting out to walk even a few feet when I'm wearing my MBTs.  And I find a reason to walk more.....I park further away, I take the long route, etc.

FAKES?  I have read some negative reviews about MBTs on the internet regarding the shoes "falling apart" in no time.  I have owned 5 pair of MBTs and wear them almost daily and have had NONE of this happen with the ones I purchased from an authorized retailer.  The only pair I EVER had an issue with was a pair I bought off of Ebay before I knew they made fake MBTs.  I now believe this pair was fake and that is the reason I had the problem.  All the others are in PERFECTLY sound condition.

TERRIFIC FOR THE BUSY PROFESSIONAL or STAY AT HOME MOM

I work a lot of hours each week (sometimes over 100) so I'm not left with much energy for exercise. And getting to a gym is out of the question.  But I don't have to make time for exercise, all I have to do is wear by MBTs during my normal day and I get my work out built in!  Its incredible...when you first start wearing them, you will feel a little sore like you do from exercise....but without feeling like you exercised at all.  You do not have to make a special time to exercise...you can just wear them to work or while running errands and your work out is built right into the grocery buying! 

THESE SHOES ARE ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR LAZY FOLKS WHO STILL WANT TO TRY TO KEEP FIT!  Just wear them around the house while you are cleaning (or going to the fridge, ha ha!) or when you are running errands and it will make a difference in your total overall fitness.

These are also great for those who walk regularly to stay in shape.  They will increase the benefit you get and will relieve the stress on your joints.   They will also improve your posture - naturally.  You may feel a little sore at first, even have a slight backache, but this is because you are using muscles you don't normally use when walking.  The MBTs force you to use all these muscles that have been neglected for so long.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE NEED FOR MBTs

Humans were not meant to walk in shoes and on hard surfaces.  We were meant to walk on soft ground, barefoot.  Because we have covered a huge majority of the earth with hard surfaces (that weren't supposed to be there) we've had to learn to walk with shoes to protect out feet.  Because of the unnaturalness of this, our joints have suffered due to the jarring of our joints on the hard surface and from the muscles that were intended to be used not actually being used or needed due to "shoes".  So, the muscles that should be supporting the joints have become lazy and no longer protect our joints.  Makes sense doesn't it?  The creator of these shoes discovered his joint pain went away while visiting an area where there was no asphault or hard surfaces.  He began to walk barefoot, just like the Masai tribe who inhabited the area and realized his joint pain was starting to go away.  He then started developing these shoes to "mimmick" this same effect.

MBTs can work MIRACLES!

I know someone who bought a pair upon the advice of her doctor because she had constant muscle and joint pain and got very little exercise (basically just walking into her office and back to her car at the end of the day) because she was in too much pain.  Well, not only did the MBTs help her joint pain, they allowed her to begin a walking program which later turned into a running program!  She went from barely moving at all to running!  Just a notch away from a miracle!

MBTs are just plain old FUN!

They feel really neat when you are walking. It makes walking fun!  You feel the shoe "give" with each step, then your foot rolls toward the toes. It really does feel like walking on sand!  You really will look forward to walking in these.

As an added bonus, who doesn't want to be a couple of inches taller?? The soles are so thick, they add an inch or two to your height!  Instant slimming right there! ha ha  AND they force you to stand straighter because of the design.  Slimming affects are built right in in addition to the health benefits.  I wear the sport highs which have the really thick sole.  I recently purchased some sandals and really love them also!

HOW THEY FIT

I do want to mention that these shoes run just a tad bit short.  I normally wear a 9 and I purchased the 41, which is 9-9-1/2.  I would recommend getting a half size larger than you normally wear as your toes are not supposed to touch the end.  You can get online at the MBT website and print out a sizing chart.  I would recommend doing this before making an online purchase to be sure of the fit.  You can also look for an authorized retailer in your area and try them on first to make sure you will be getting the correct size.

I am in no way affililiated with the Swiss Masai company and I've never sold a pair of these on Ebay, I'm just a very happy buyer and want to get the word out to others like me who just don't have the time or energy for much exercise but who still wants to do what they can to try to stay fit.  And those who want to ward off any future joint problems is possible.  Don't be scared of these shoes!  They are fantastic!

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RECOMMENDED MBT SELLER:

AUGUST 2008 UPDATE:  Sadly, the seller I recommend below had to leave Ebay because of unfair feedback being received due to Ebay's new feedback system.

I purchased THREE pairs of MBTs from Ebay seller the_walkers_outlet (or walker's warehouse) and ALL were AUTHENTIC, BRAND NEW in PERFECT condition and were shipped quickly!  (I am not affiliated with this seller in any way.)  I have been VERY happy with my purchases from this seller so I want to help others by letting them know this is a seller they can trust. The service is TOP NOTCH and so are the shoes.  And the prices are incredible! I will not buy my MBTs anywhere else.  Be careful with Ebay and online purchases as some MBTs are counterfeit. Ask plenty of questions and buy from a seller you trust!

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Christi