The FitFlop footwear line has built its reputation on comfort, style and with health as a baseline focus. FitFlops are made to provide comfort and a good workout by using an innovative sole construction. Fitness, made simple, is the claim of the company, and they are used to tone and strengthen muscles in your legs as you walk.
The idea of the FitFlop is to promote instability as you walk. The engineers of FitFlops spent years to research and devise a way to train the bottom of the foot to do all the work that it would do if you were walking barefoot. The Result: They created a sole with multiple densities called micro-wobbleboards. This technology has a uniquely built mid-step and forces the legs to work harder when walking.
The concept provides not only extra work for the legs, but are also constructed to have a cushioning effect for comfort. The advantage of the FitFlop sole construction is that it reduces the amount of shock on the joints. As you walk, the sole absorbs more shock, which alleviates strain on the feet, the knees and the ankles.
When you walk with the FitFlops, you hit the ground as normally as possible. The shoe physically helps you move, so you progress through this 1st phase quite quickly. Thenyou move into a softer area and as you move over this softer area, the FitFlops produce instability so it activates your muscles to hold your posture. As you take more and more steps, the body is being stimulated more and more and working more. When you come off this soft area, it tapers up back again to a firm area. With each step, you feel like it’s a reward. It’s done its soft work, you’ve done your hard work. Now you’ve hit a nice area you can push off and move to your next step.
As part of the negative-heel revolution, this category of shoe is becoming very popular. Once all the rage in England, negative-heel technology is certainly gaining some traction in the states. Companies including MBT, Chung Shi and Earth offer this shoe technology at a fairly steep price. FitFlops have managed to introduce lines with some serious panache, at almost half the price.
FitFlops challenge hard to reach muscles, helps tone and trim the legs, tones the thighs, calves and glutes, helps to burn more calories…. and don’t compromise your look. FitFlops come in a wide variety of styles and colors for both men and women- from sandals, clogs, and a new boot styles. Pricing varies. ($50- $200, www.fitflop.com)
