My pair of Clarks Wave Cruise arrived in the nick of time! I have just begun training for a race, and I am definitely feeling it. Luckily for me, a special box arrived in the mail after two days, and Clarks Wave technology has proven to be the answer to my aching calves’ prayer (that and lots and lots of stretching!).

I opened my box to find a little booklet that said, “Walk farther. Feel better.” I was really hoping on the second part. As I took them out of the box I saw for myself that the Wave Cruise is a cute Mary Jane shoe set in a sporty soft leather and mesh upper. The pewter color is an unexpected metallic that I found adds a trendy pop of color to any outfit. Perforated and stitching details provide added athletic styling, making it a great everyday casual shoe. The Mary Jane strap features an adjustable hook and loop closure for a custom fit and the rocker sole is tricked out with all sorts of technologies to make walking a breeze.

Upon first putting them on, I noticed that they are extremely comfortable. The footbed is very padded and the toe box provided ample room for all my toes, and my pair fit true to my size. Honestly, they felt almost like slippers they were so comfy! The fit was snug in a way that cradled my foot, but wasn’t too tight. These Mary Janes needed no break-in period either, I had no rubbing at all the first day I wore them.

The truly great thing about these shoes is all the wellness technology they utilize. The Clarks Wave Cruise features a gentle, subtle rocker bottom that smoothly rocks the foot forward minimizing the impact of each step. According to Clarks, this puts less fatigue on the body. It’s true! The slight alteration to my stride made walking much more fluid and helped relieve my calf pain.

I’d never worn a rocker sole before and it was surprising to me how seamlessly the Cruise was able to ease my stride. It took no time to adjust to this new way of walking, and each step was very intuitive which is a change of pace from my usual slight heel routine (you can usually find me in Dan Post Fashion boots!). I also liked their subtly – they don’t look like they’re health and wellness shoes.

My only qualm with the pair was that they did not provide enough support for my flat feet, but, admittedly, that is true of most shoes. I’d recommend them for people with normal arches. The Clarks Wave Cruise features a removable dual-density Ortholite footbed, so they can accommodate custom orthotics, if you happen to be like me.

These shoes are a cute and trendy alternative to a walking shoe when you need to be wearing something that can keep up with you when you’re on the go. If you are looking for a shoe to help make walking more effortless, the Clarks Wave Cruise helps with just that. The Clarks Wave Cruise is just what I needed and cute to boot!

Groundhog is in the business of eco friendly shoes. Their overall goal as a company is reducing their global footprint and they do this not only through producing great looking eco friendly shoes from sustainable materials using responsible construction but also with all of their business practices. From shoes to shipping, they are conscious and careful. Sourcing local materials whenever possible, incorporating materials like cork, natural latex, semi vegetable tanned leathers and coconut shell buttons, Groundhog has become a leading eco-friendly shoe brand and we’re super proud to have them here at PlanetShoes.com!

One of our favorites this season is definitely the Groundhog Raymore. This is a funky and fun eco gladiator sandal, featured in one of our videos here on the blog.

Offered in three different colors, the super soft eco friendly leather feels great on your foot while you’re being cradled with a molded and supportive footbed.

The Velcro straps make offers fit flexibility and customization. The bamboo microfiber lining helps to keep your feet cool and your sandals smelling fresh no matter how often you wear them this summer. We love the Raymore because it offers a great take on today’s trends in a funky and eco conscious way!

Next up is the Groundhog Jenny. This sweet Mary Jane is a must have! Offered in two lovely and neutral shades, this shoe is incredibly comfortable and can easily be worn into the office or out and about all weekend long.

Constructed with a semi vegetable dyed leather upper, the Jenny is set apart with its fun contrast stitching and seaming details.

They are embellished with a lovely wooden button and the natural crepe rubber sole give these shoes a unique and earthy look.

The Groundhog Jenny really is a perfect transitional shoe that can take you through all seasons in style and eco consciousness.

Now for something a little different – the Groundhog Highland. This is a great cross between a sandal and a lace up shoe. You’ll get the stability and snug fit that you love from your lace up but in an open construction that leaves you with that happy sandal feeling.

The Highland is actually entirely lined with a bamboo charcoal coated fabric which will help control moisture and odors and the footbed is made from a natural coconut matting.

The upper is semi-vegetable tanned leather and the crepe rubber outsole will absorb shock. This is a great shoe offering comfort and style while being fabulously green in consciousness.

Where would we be without a Groundhog clog? Hot this season, the Groundhog Cedar is a great eco friendly clog option. Offered in brown and black semi vegetable tanned leathers, our favorite feature of this clog is the strappy styling.

Basically, Groundhog has created the structure of the clog using thin straps and has topped it off with an adjustable larger strap over the top.

This adds to the comfort of the shoe, making it customizable and snug but you get the benefit of the open construction at the top that adds a stylish twist. This is a great clog with all the benefits of Groundhog’s comfort construction and eco consciousness.

We love Groundhog shoes and we know you will too. They feel great, have a funky style all their own and best of all, they are using sustainable business practices and materials in the making of their shoes.