After a good few days of wearing it, all I can say is I’m in love. It really brings me closer to the ground and I can wriggle my toes with comfort, but unfortunately, I think I’m pretty screwed. KP upon learning that I bought a pair told me a piece of bad news – I will have a hard time adjusting to other shoes given the comfort of the Vivo BareFoot Technology, a problem that he is currently encountering. Initially skeptical, I  slowly noticed that I have been neglecting the rest of my shoes since I bought the Aqua. Now, I have a slight problem with finding ease with putting on a pair of pimped out black shoes that goes well with my moderately reinvented dress sense. Uh-oh…

Left and right: My Aqua (Whites) with the Lomo camera effect

Instructions on how to reuse the shoe box…sweet!!

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1. Learning to run Barefoot
2. Time I start realigning
3. Of Michaels and LeBrons
4. Superb snake skin shoes
5. Nike One Concept: Not hitting the F1 tracks anytime soon

Earlier on, KP and KC spoke to me about how humans were meant to walk barefoot as it triggers and works on all the muscles as it was intended to. However, with the entry of shoes and the evolution of their designs which were initially meant for comfort, we began to see ourselves less sensitive to the ground and (if I get my facts right) end up messing up our posture and injuring our ankles and knees (and then some).

With that, they introduced me to a series of shoes known as Terra Plana. According to their website, the VivoBarefoot technology they adopted “stengthens the muscles in your feet, realigns your posture and stimulates sensory perception. They give you all the protection of normal shoes and health benefits of going barefoot.” I was rather intrigued with the brand but was unable to for a few weeks, find out more of it due to work commitments. It was only last Friday when I was at Mandarin Gallery did I chance upon the Terra Plana shop and given that I had just a little time on my hands, I popped in to find out more.

There is no better way to find out about the technology unless you experience it for yourself. With a pair of my existing shoe on one feet and one of their series on the other, I suddenly understood what the two brothers (KP and KC) meant when they said close to the ground. Hate to sound cheesy but this is perhaps the first time I feel somewhat grounded when wearing a pair of shoe. While I may have owned a pair of Nike Free once which boasts of the same feel as walking barefoot, I must admit that the Terra Plana series brings you closer.

As good shoes go, Terra Plana is not exactly cheap especially for a prudent (another of my term for cheapskate) person like me. However, consumers constantly looking out for Nikes and Aldos for their footwear can well afford a pair anytime. But given how this could be the first step in my plan to start realigning my back, I encouraged myself to at least give it a shot. Since I can’t pick up a pair of one of the VivoBarefoot series with the close to empty pocket moments I frequently find myself in, I figured the Dopie sandals will do for now. It basically gives you pretty much the same comfort but with minimal designs.

My new pair of Dopies

Honestly, I am no expert in backs or shoe technology and I hope I got my facts right. But what opened my eyes was the feel when I put on a pair that fateful day. If you are looking for a pair of footware that is real comfortable and healthy, I suggest you might want to give Terra Plana a try. Sure their limited designs will not win them any of Paris’ coveted fashion awards but that’s the least you can do for yourself especially with the hectic lifestyle we go through daily (or is it me?). And oh, did I mention that they use recycled materials and are into sustainable designs such as the absence of glue in their shoes? How sweet is that eh?

Related posts:

1. Terra Plana Aqua
2. Of Michaels and LeBrons
3. It will be a while before we start embracing organic food
4. Superb snake skin shoes
5. Nike One Concept: Not hitting the F1 tracks anytime soon