FitFlops

Pennylane

jeannieblue wrote: »

Curious........

Re the not wearing socks idea. Yes, it is brilliant and have done that with Emu's etc. But how about if your foot gets sweaty? You pay alot for your gorgeous boots and then end up stinking them out......

I have a favourite pair of kangaroos that have worn through alot of the summer, occasionally chuck them in the machine for a wash, but they did get smelly... My sister suggested bicarbonate of soda - it gets rid of the smell of sick... anyway, I tried a sprinkle of it in the shoes and it did work, even on the hottest and longest days!! But I am not sure I want to put bicarb in my lovely boots... but how do you keep them fresh if you don't wear socks??

Jeannieblue - says this on my tag "Best worn barefoot, these Fitflop boots are made with Grade A sheepskin, which is extremely dense, durable, soft & warm. They breathe naturally and allow air to circulate inside. Fitflop boots are treated with AGION anti-bacterial technology to keep them fresh underfoot. Sheepskin is naturally thermostatic & keeps bare feet close to natural body temperature regardless of the temperature outside."

I have worn mine barefoot for several hours (lots of walking too) and there's not a whiff of anything. :j Rest assured that if their words are not correct and I've spent £125 and end up with smelly boots I will return them and be seeking a full refund.;)

jeannieblue

Pennylane wrote: »

Jeannieblue - says this on my tag "Best worn barefoot, these Fitflop boots are made with Grade A sheepskin, which is extremely dense, durable, soft & warm. They breathe naturally and allow air to circulate inside. Fitflop boots are treated with AGION anti-bacterial technology to keep them fresh underfoot. Sheepskin is naturally thermostatic & keeps bare feet close to natural body temperature regardless of the temperature outside."

I have worn mine barefoot for several hours (lots of walking too) and there's not a whiff of anything. :j Rest assured that if their words are not correct and I've spent £125 and end up with smelly boots I will return them and be seeking a full refund.;)

Noted!!!

If I get smelly boots I will send them back! I am hoping to wear them for work, so will be wearing them for at least ten hours at a time... :o:o

Meanwhile....

I 'road tested' mine today! Blimey............. took the dog out and the route I took was very gently uphill at first, the pull on the back of my thighs!! Yowza! Then went on the flat for a while and then a gentle incline down on the way home and I got up quite a good pace! Didn't notice it at first, but on way back I did realise that I was walking more upright!

Wish I had found fitflops for the summer when I did tons and tons of walking...

Pennylane

Sounds like you're off to a great start Jeannie!;) I think I'm in love with mine actually. :j I've been out this afternoon and bought some new black leggings and a pair of jeggings. They both look great with the boots and make brisk walking much easier too. I will save all my slightly wider trousers/jeans for my fave smart boots which I had last winter.

Long story but someone in the know examined my legs this week and said the muscles were very well toned. Now then, that could be due to all the cycling I do but it could also be down to the footwear I have had on 24/7 since about May.

I had not heard of Fitflops then but saw a pair of sequinned rubber toe-posts, tried them & bought them. They were around £20 I think. Every time I went out people said "I like your Fitflops" but they're not. They're lookie-likies.:rolleyes: I looked up f.fs and they are identical. Mine are superbly comfy. They could be responsible for my well toned legs and if these boots do the same job I'll be well pleased.

Whitewillow_2

Might be a stupid question, id never heard of fitflops before reading this thread (what can i say - im hardly fashion concious lol). I live in my doc martens and would never be swayed from them i dont think but do they do these fitflops for men (pref in a trainer/boot style)? My oh suffers from terrible foot, knee and leg pain due to his work. I really would like to try him with something like this to see if it helps? Thanks in advance for any advice!

jenniewb

Whitewillow wrote: »

Might be a stupid question, id never heard of fitflops before reading this thread (what can i say - im hardly fashion concious lol). I live in my doc martens and would never be swayed from them i dont think but do they do these fitflops for men (pref in a trainer/boot style)? My oh suffers from terrible foot, knee and leg pain due to his work. I really would like to try him with something like this to see if it helps? Thanks in advance for any advice!

Yes they do! (:D- you don't get out of it that easily!):
http://www.fitflop.com/products/freeway-mens/#product_039_grizzly

RE: Your partner- be very careful with shoes- if the problem is an underlying issue like plantar fasciitis (http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/heel-pain.htm) or arthritis (http://www.arthritis.org/) then these shoes/boots/fitflops may not be OK- its likely he'd need to see a doctor and get the underlying issues resolved- and work on exercises to prevent them coming back.
Support of the arch of your foot is so important- especially when your putting more pressure on your feet and ankles by walking alot or using shoes such as these.
Whilst there is a slightly raised arch on the fitflops, if they are not enough for your partner, they wont be any help at all- and may even make things much worse by causing an injury that will take time rest (and even money) to repair.

The best thing to do is to go to a store (after getting checked out by the GP first!) and testing out a pair- see how the arch fits his foot- is the arch/instep enough, does it sit comfortably or is there a gap you can fit your fingers through.

I would also suggest if anyone does experience foot pain, to alternate the shoes/boots/fitflops with trainers or different shoes so the muscles under the foot can become trained to take the new shoes/boots/fitflops rather then having them overloaded and then causing injury's.

Whitewillow_2

TYVM jenniewb, his problems are down to a corn he will not get seen to, an ingrowing toenail, again wont get seen to, and after his car accident last year, hes has probs with his legs/knees, doc has checked him for this and said could take another 6 months or so to clear up. Trying to make it as comfortable as possible in the meantime for him as he stands all day in work! Ill have a look now

ETA - ooohh these help restless leg syndrome too? never knew that, maybe a pair of these for me is on the cards too! Doesnt bother me but id be helping OH in 2 ways if it would help my shakey legs resting on him while hes trying to watch the tv! LOL

judyjetson

BigMummaF wrote: »

I've got a very wide foot so shoes are always a pain for me..pun intended too!
Someone else suggested the MBT but the only ones we found were upwards of £160 :eek: so I've some earnest web-hunting ahead of me.
Could anyone suggest a brand comparable to Earth, Fitflop etc that also does mens up to size 13 ..we breed 'em big in our family with several of the Offspring's cousins around that shoe size. Makes shopping for socks a pain too....

BigMumma, have you tried John Lewis? I know they're still expensive, but they have some women's MBTs for £105 and sometimes they have discontinued lines cheaper.

Sketchers also do a range called Shape Ups which look very similar to MBTs, which are around £80-90. I can only find them in men's up to a 12 though.
www.shapeups.eu

I think because I'm used to the more intense effect of the MBTs I don't find the Fitflops very effective, toning-wise, but they are very comfortable for walking in.

Do the boots have sheepskin insoles? I wear my Billows without socks and they're fine, no smell there, but they just have a plain rubber or whatever it is insole.

jeannieblue

I'm in pain...........

Ok, slight exaggeration.. Just been out for a walk with dog wearing my mukluks.. (who invents these names? Fitflop Mukluks - trying saying that after a glass or two of wine..) anyway, just got back and the muscles going up the backs of my legs and thighs were really straining! I am rather impressed.

I only potter a bit here and there during the day at work so not sure I will get much benefit wearing them there.

On the down side.. trod in something at some point and have a Mukluk to clean up later ..

Also, I have ezcema on one foot (normal, always have it on right foot never left?) and the sheepskin has made it itch like hell and brought me up in a rash... i may have to wear socks next time I wear them. Puzzled tho, as my Bailey buttons didn't make it itch, nor did my Emu's which I have been wearing for work this past week.

Re the sheepskin. On the Mukluk it is only around the ankle/leg part, the foot part is material of some sort.

wagglessmells

if any of you have problems with your feet, you need to request a referral by your gp to a podiatrist either in the nhs or privately (make sure they have a bscin podiatry). i am a podiatrist and therefore would advise anyone starting to wear shoes that are going to change the way you generally walk that you need to build up use of them: ie wear them for an hour the first time and wear for two hours the next day and continue to build up until you are used to them. otherwise you will get sore muscles and poss even cause yourself some damage within the feet. the intrinsic muscles of the foot and leg need to gradually stretch and work differently.
the person who ended up with the rash may have a slight allergy or sensitivity to lanolin the natural oils found in sheep skin. try a thin pair of cotton socks and see if that helps. smelly shoes are usually due to bacteria and fungi breaking down the sweat in your shoes, so an antifungal such as daktarin dry powder spray or bicarb can reduce that

jeannieblue

I found bicarb to be excellent in a pair of my favourite work shoes - and it is cheap too!

Can't work out why I'm ok with the Emu's and Uggs but the Mukluks aggravated the ezcema - will have to wear socks as they are definitely to be worn and tone up my legs and bum!