MBT Panda

The MBT Panda combines cutting-edge technology with a summery sandal silhouette to create a casual-yet-functional sandal. Not only will this women’s sandal have a positive effect on your whole body, it will also complement any casual outfit. Walk to better wellness in the MBT Panda.
· Materials: Strappy leather upper, TPU and glass fiber shank, Masai Sensor, Secure rubber outsole
· Lining: Microfiber sock lining
· Weight: 13 oz.

MBT Habari Women

MBT activates the whole body: Activates Neglected muscles; Improves posture and gait; Tones and shapes the body; Can help with back, hip, leg and foot problems; Can help with joint, muscle, ligament and tendon injuries; Reduces stress on knees and hip joints.

Skechers Shape-ups Sleek Fit 11807

Strap in for fitness with the SKECHERS Shape Ups. Nubuck leather, synthetic and mesh fabric upper in a sport casual mary jane exercise shoe.
*Featured in Health Magazine as Editor Hot Pick for July/ August*
NOTE: Shape Ups shoes all share the same great fitness technology
· Shape Ups design promotes weight loss and tones and firms muscles
· Simulates walking barefoot on a yielding surface such as sand
· Contrast stitching detail
· Mesh fabric side panels for a cooling effect
· Smooth leather edging detail
· SKECHERS S and Shape Ups logo
· Instep single strap with adjustable Velcro(R) side closure for a perfect fit
· Padded collar
· Pull on tab on heel
· Fabric shoe lining
· Cushioned insole
· Firm polyurethane frame supports and stabilizes the foot
· Kinetic Wedge super soft foam mid sole designed to absorb shock and provide exercising effect
· 1 1/2 inch mid sole height at highest point in center
· Specially sculpted rubber outsole for natural propulsion
· For best results, use a heel to toe, rolling gait
· Comes with a detailed exercise guide to get the most out of your Shape-Ups!
· Increases muscle activity level
· Relieves pressure on joints and tendons
· Boosts your metabolism level resulting in increased calorie burn

We’ve written about greening leather tanning practices in the past on the blog. The good news is that this treatment is getting better press across the green world and the best news is that a bunch of our favorite footwear brands are being recognized for making the responsible choice of using greener leather.

There was a recent article on Treehugger.com, referencing an article in Footwear News, about the three ways that tanneries are greening up their processes, and the companies that are supporting these more sustainable and responsible factories.

First off, leather tanneries are some of the worst water polluters in the world. There are so many chemicals used, and there is so much water used, that they not only flush bad chemicals into water sources, but also USE a massive amount of water, which is also wasteful. Simona Tanning, which provides leathers for some of our favorite brands, including Keen, Clarks, Camper, MBT Shoes, Sperry Top-Sider and Timberland is reducing their water usage and their discharge by 40% using reverse osmosis technology.

Second, Treehugger highlighted companies that are incorporating solar power into their energy production. The leather tanning company, PrimeAsia Leather Corp, who supplies New Balance, Clarks, Reebok, The North Face and Merrell cites that it’s highest bill and highest energy consumption comes from heating the water in large boilers for their process and by installing a sizable solar panel installation, they expect their up front solar investment will not only pay for itself in less than 18 months, it will also significantly reduce their carbon footprint!

Finally, and this is what every manufacturing company should do, the ISA Tan Tec leather tannery, who supplies Keen, New Balance, The North Face, Reef, Timberland, Merrell and Chaco is focusing on looking at every step of their process and optimizing and improving their practices. They have invested in a hydraulic cooling system, which uses water at specific temperatures to cool a space. As the water warms from ambient temperature, it is moved from the hydraulic cooling system into the boilers for the tanning process. The pre-warmed water needs less energy to heat, and the hydraulic cooling system has reduced the need for electric powered fans. This smart improvement has reduced energy consumption by 35% and water usage by 50%!

MBT Shoes has a wide variety of styles for men and women, but we’re going to do a quick spotlight on some of our innovative and healthy MBT sandals for spring and summer. While you’re walking about in the beautiful weather, or trekking near and far on walks for fitness, MBT sandals can offer the perfect combination of technology and cool comfort for your feet. We have several folks in the office here who swear by MBT shoes and sandals for walking short or long distance or just for their day in the office.

The MBT Panda is a casual sandal, chock full of healthy technology and capped off by supreme adjust-ability.

The vamp is adjustable with a Velcro enclosure, as is the strap over the top of your foot, and the heel strap is adjustable as well!

The strappy leather upper dresses up this somewhat athletic looking shoe but remains neutral and can easily be integrated into a casual office look, or out and about all weekend long.

The MBT Panda sandal is also offered in a fun silver metallic with colorful purple accents that is a great combination of trendy fun and casual function.

The MBT Habari is a more earthy style sandal from MBT, with a full grain leather upper in a beautiful brown tone or an on trend bright white. The criss cross straps offer a comfortable and firm fit but as with all leather sandals, ultimately stretch and mold to the foot.

The microfiber lining feels absolutely luxurious and because of the beautiful leathers used by MBT shoes, you’ll find these sandals to be both versatile and healthful.

As you wear the MBT Habari sandals, you’ll feel all sorts of muscles activate and strengthen, improving your posture and your core while wearing attractive and comfortable sandals.

Finally, check out the MBT Salama. This elegant sandal speaks to the trends of the day, simple black leather upper in a great, traditional silhouette with sharp silver buckle detailing.

This is just a great looking, classic but up to date sandal – and it helps you tone more muscles, burn more calories and get healthier just by walking around the office.

The rubber sole absorbs impact and offers excellent traction and there is no competitor to MBT’s rocker bottom sole that keeps you stable and upright while giving you that critical forward momentum!

Enjoy MBT sandals this spring and summer from PlanetShoes.com!

The rocker bottom and calorie burner market has exploded in the last year, with brands like Skechers, Avia, Ryka, Alegria – and more – integrating their own rocker sole technologies that help you burn calories and tone muscle while you engage in your normal daily life.

The originators of this technology, the shoe company that introduced the rocker bottom and developed their patented rocker bottom, MBT, continues to innovate and offer the luxury version of the rocker bottom shoe. MBT shoes this Spring and Summer are sleek, stylish, high quality and true to their roots as an anti shoe.

MBT is actually an acronym for Masai Barefoot Technology, the idea behind their self proclaimed Anti-Shoe. The idea is that MBT shoes make you feel like you’re walking on an uneven surface and that activates muscles that are left dormant in normal, flat soled shoes. MBT shoes also improve your posture and your gait and are fabulous for walking all day long.

MBT shoes aren’t just designed with that athletic shoe look, though. You’ll find women’s MBT shoes and men’s MBT shoes that are perfect for the workplace, including sleek sandals and Mary Jane styles. They have also introduced colorful and fun MBT shoes that are perfect for casual Friday and weekend walking.

The MBT Sirima is a great example of a classic Mary Jane in black leather.

If you’re going to buy a basic black shoe, that needs to be versatile and a great “go to” shoe in your wardrobe, why wouldn’t you invest in a shoe that also helps you gain muscle and burn calories while you do it?

The look is still funky and fun because of the shape of the shoe, and the Mary Jane strap is entirely customizable. The high quality leather upper will conform and adjust to your foot and you won’t believe the comfort of the perforated EVA insole. The MBT Sirima is a great shoe for almost all occasions.

If you like a funkier look, consider the MBT Ema Women. We love the two tone chocolate, with the orange strap over the top of the foot.

The contrast stitching and gorgeous leather give this sandal a great look on the foot while you still get all the comfort and benefits of the patented MBT rocker bottom sole. The back strap is adjustable for a snug fit.

This is a sandal that can take you all over the country, all over the city and back again.

MBT shoes aren’t just for the ladies! We have some terrific Men’s MBT shoe options as well. For instance, did you know MBT had introduced a men’s boot? Here is the MBT Kifundo Men!

The look says hiking, but the sole is all MBT, offering the physical benefits of toning your legs and core while simply walking around all day. This is a great transitional walking shoe for men, and a shoe that can easily be worn in a casual workspace or cranking on that honey-do list all weekend.

The leather upper is beautiful quality and the subtle masculine styling makes these a great choice for any guy.

We’re also loving the MBT Sini for guys this spring and summer. The styling is modern but retro and these sneakers just look cool – sleek, strong and still fun. Perfect for the guy who lives in sneakers but wants to add a little style, and a little technology to their wardrobe.

This is a great casual sneaker and offers all the benefits of Masai Barefoot Technology. Remember, MBT shoes are also perfect if you’re an athlete and you want a great shoe to wear in your down time!

MBT M Walk Women

• The TPU and glass Fibre Shank provides the necessary firmness for the unique sole construction typical of Masai Barefoot Technology.  It also ensures a natural rolling movement of the foot with every step and optimizes pressure distribution over the whole sole.
• The balancing section integrated in the PU midsole underneath the metatarsus requires an active rolling movement with every step and activates a large number of stabilising muscles in the whole body both when walking and even standing. PU Midsole with Pivot.
• The Elliptical section underneath the heel – The “Masai Sensor” creates the pleasant feeling of walking on a sandy beach or a mossy surface.  And it produces the natural instability that causes the body to react with increased muscle activity.

• Uppers: PU Coated material is highly durable and resistant.
• Lining: MBT Dry and Cool lining that allows breathability and assists with moisture management, quick drying and antimicrobial.  Microfibre lining is a good alternative to leather for it holds form well and is exceptionally soft.  The 3D Mesh lining ensures cooler and drier feet.
• Outsole: The rubber outsole protects the midsole from wear and tear, increasing the overall durability of the shoe.
• Sizing: Runs 1/2 size small!

Effortlessly coast around town in this sport oxford with contrast color styling and an amazingly lightweight bottom.

Mesh upper treatments maximize airflow and circulation around the foot, while helping to wick away light moisture. Also available in wide. Made with vegan microfiber.

Product Features
Kalso® Negative Heel Technology®
The most defining feature of Earth footwear is Kalso® Negative Heel Technology® a unique inclined sole that positions the toes 3.7º higher than the heels. The slight angle shifts weight subtly back over the heels, and can help strengthen and tone the body while also burning calories.
Anatomic Arch Support
To complement Kalso® Negative Heel Technology®, all Earth footwear features reinforced support through the arch. The arch support maximizes the effectiveness of the heel design in promoting a natural walking motion.
BioFoam® Cushioning
Inside all Earth footwear, a form-fitting footbed provides exceptional comfort with Biofoam™ cushioning. The proprietary material molds to the shape of the foot, displacing and absorbing shock with each step, and is environmentally-considerate, using 70% recycled content.
Burn more calories with every step™
The more lean body mass you build, the more calories you burn. With Earth® footwear, the slight incline of our Kalso® Negative Heel Technology® lets you feel as if you’re walking on an inclined treadmill, and can contribute to fat-burning effects at a rate of up to 4x that of conventional footwear.

Skechers Shape Ups 11809

Make the most of your walking work out with the SKECHERS Shape Ups exercise fitness shoe. Smooth nubuck upper in an athletic trainer with stitching, overlay and perforation detail. Simulates walking barefoot on a yielding surface such as sand.

*Featured in Health Magazine as Editor Hot Pick for July/ August*

• Lace up front
• Padded collar and tongue
• Fabric shoe lining
• Cushioned insole
• Firm polyurethane frame supports and stabilizes the foot
  
• Kinetic Wedge super soft foam midsole designed to absorb shock and provide exercising effect
• 1 1/2 inch midsole height at highest point in center
• Specially sculpted rubber outsole for natural propulsion
  
• For best results, use a heel to toe, rolling gait
• Comes with a detailed exercise guide to get the most out of your Shape-Ups!
• Check out the informative Shape-Ups instructional video on our brand page! click here

Planet Shoes has launched a specialized Health and Wellness Shoe Shop including popular brands like Earth Footwear, Skechers Shape-Ups and MBT Shoes. The Health and Wellness shop includes shoes with technology designed to support the body; in fitness, in the workplace and in everyday activities.

“Health and Wellness footwear has really come a long way in terms of styling and technology,” explained Philippe Meynard, President of Planet, Inc. “People tend to associate Health and Wellness footwear with shoes that feel great but perhaps don’t keep up in terms of style. We’ve focused on finding brands that offer comfort, support and even calorie burning while being totally appropriate for everything from work to an evening out.”

Health and Wellness footwear, according to PlanetShoes.com, includes many styles from the traditional sneaker to cozy winter boots and even stylish pumps. The criteria for being included in the Health and Wellness Shop are based on the technology and health benefits of the shoes.

“Brands like Naot, Geox and Gravity Defyer all offer elegant styling and attention to detail with specially designed footbeds and technology. You’ll find posture support, anatomical foot support, temperature control and shock absorption.” explained Meynard. “These are shoes that may not look like Health and Wellness footwear on the outside – which is why we wanted to make a special push on the website bring these brands to our customer’s attention.”

The Health and Wellness shop includes hundreds of shoes, boots and slippers for men, women and children and brands including:

• Alegria
• Aura
• Birkenstock
• Chaco
• Clarks
• Earth
• Geox
• Gravity Defyer
• MBT Shoes
• Naot
• Power Diet
• Reebok
• Skechers
• Spira
• SpringBoost
• Z7

“The goal of the Health and Wellness Shop is really to express the breadth and depth of footwear that fits into this category. Planet Shoes has been all about comfort for a long time and we’ve been working hard to focus on various lifestyles; whether you’re eco-friendly, active outdoors or looking for boutique fashion. For us, the Health and Wellness shop is a natural extension and a way to help fans of particular brand to find other options that are equally healthy and supportive.”

About Planet Inc.

Planet, Inc. is an innovative lifestyle shoe retailer dedicated to selling the most comfortable and stylish shoes possible at value prices. Our flagship site found on the web at PlanetShoes.com specializes in active, comfortable, healthy, earth friendly shoes and products with a flare of fashion. Our product lines are ever expanding to bring our customer new fun footwear to choose from. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or an eco-friendly fashionista, we strive to offer the selection you want.

We look at affordability and value in pricing our products. Customer service and unique products are our calling card. Contact us directly at 1-888-818-SHOE (7463).

We just got back from the BTSA show and one thing’s for sure – fitness is in! From Skechers Shape Ups to Earth Footwear and MBT Shoes and on over to Reebok EasyTone, we’re seeing a lot of new fitness brands and styles that help you burn more calories and tone your body, in theory, with less work.

Not everyone has heard about these amazing shoes that are popping up all over the place that actually help you tone and lose weight just by walking around. Just in case you haven’t heard of brands like Earth, MBT, Skechers and Reebok, all of whom are getting in the game in different ways, we’re here to offer you as much information as possible so you can consider whether or not you’re ready to shape up, burn calories and invest your dollars in this new generation of fitness shoes.

MBT Shoes, also known as Masai Barefoot Technology, are dedicated to making shoes that really help people. They improve posture, muscle tone and are known to relieve back pain. MBT Shoes are designed to mimic, as much as possible, walking bare foot in order to improve physiology and overall health. MBT Shoes don’t just come in sneaker form either – they offer casual and sandal styles so you can find the right shoe for your lifestyle.

Recently MBT is also partnering with various organizations to have a positive impact on the world. Tonight, in fact, March 5, 2009, MBT has joined with CARE, the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere and A Powerful Noise Live to honor International Women’s Day.

MBT offered a free pair of their shoes to the first 500 people who bought 10 or more tickets to the one night event taking place in over 450 movie theaters across the nation. Broadcast live from New York City, the event features the acclaimed documentary, A Powerful Noise, as well as a live discussion with celebrity panelists following the screening.

The panel includes

• Madeline K. Albright, former US Secretary of State and Principal of the Albright Group, LLC
• Christy Turlington Burns, CARE advocate for maternal health and contributing editor of Marie Claire Magazine
• Dr. Helene Gayle, CARE President and CEO
• Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist
• Natalie Portman, Actor and Activist

So if you’re interested – you can still get tickets. Check out FathomEvents.com and buy your ticket today!

About A Powerful Noise:
Hanh is an HIV-positive widow in Vietnam. Nada, a survivor of the Bosnian war. And Jacqueline works the slums of Bamako, Mali. Three very different lives. Three vastly different worlds. But they share something in common: Power. These women are each overcoming gender barriers to rise up and claim a voice in their societies. Through their empowerment and ability to empower others, Hanh, Nada and Jacqueline are sparking remarkable changes. Fighting AIDS. Rebuilding communities. Educating girls.

About MBT Shoes:
MBT, the anti-shoe, is on a crusade to help people live better, healthier, more active lives. And we believe that living better, healthier and more actively isn’t just about exercise and eating right. It’s about doing right.

About CARE:
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE’s community-based efforts to improve basic education, health and economic opportunity in 66 countries worldwide. To get involved, visit www.care.org.