Are These Walking Shoes Legit?

The Anti-Shoe
That’s the tagline for these MBT Lami Shoes ($150 at Zappos.com). Aesthetics aside, the footwear promises a positive effect—it supposedly stimulates your muscles and strengthens your body with its Mesai Sensor technology. You can even walk with these glorified mary janes on the beach, they say. Just one question: If they’re the anti-shoe, what are they then?

Dr. Hillary Brenner, a podiatric surgeon practicing in New York City, can say good things and bad things about these shoes. “I like these shoes because they allow for good shock absorpotion, improves gait (walking), helps people with mild foot deformities, relieves back problems and joint pain,” she points out.

As for what Dr. Brenner doesn’t like about these shoes: “These shoes are not good for people with underlying orthopedic conditions and geriatric patients,” she says. “Before buying these shoes, I recommend a visit to your podiatrist.”