Earth shoe

Earth shoes were an unconventional style of shoe invented in the 1970s in Scandinavia: unlike other shoes, the soles were thick and the heels were thin (Negative Heel Technology), so wearing them one walked heel-downward. The advertisements said that it was like walking on the beach, where one's footprints are this way.

The firm is still in existence, and has recently re-introduced shoes with negative heels in a variety of styles ranging from sandals to running shoes.

Earth® Footwear (sometimes referred to as "Earth Shoes") are unique fitness-oriented shoes that feature a slight incline from heel-to-toe of 3.7 degrees. Unlike many conventional shoes that pitch the body forward, with Earth®, wearers' toes are actually positioned slightly higher than their heels, simulating the effect of walking on an inclined treadmill.

The footwear has become popularized by many health nuts and athletes for its reputation to effectively re-assign body weight and recruit key muscle groups. A commissioned study in 2008 tested 31 women between the ages of 25-45 using the "10,000 Steps" daily recommended walking program as a baseline. Observations that emerged from the study spoke to the footwear's ability to build lean body mass and help wearers burn additional calories relative to walking in ordinary shoes.

A Senior Advisory Staff made up of a biomechanist, fitness expert, and yoga instructor advises Earth on forward-looking designs of its healthy product.

Current global distribution includes the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia, Italy and Taiwan.

External links

• [http://www.earthfootwear.com) USA