Orthaheel Sandals

The Orthaheel WAVE

Now that summer is in full swing we wanted to let you know about a footwear product that will make your head spin and your eyes bug out. Or...keep your feet cool and comfortable; post-race or just walking around town. They're Orthaheel Sandals! We're carrying a pretty full selection of styles and colors at Run For Your Life. Here's what our Orthaheel rep, Jordan Kinley had to say about them:

Our feet were designed to walk on soft, natural surfaces like soil and sand. Yet today we spend most of our time standing, walking and running on unnatural, hard surfaces.

This loss of our "footprint" has resulted in a variety of pain and injuries affecting not just the feet, but the entire body. These unyielding surfaces force our feet to pronate (roll over) to gain ground contact, which flattens the arches and can disrupt normal knee function and hip alignment and increase pressure on lower back muscles.

More about Orthaheel:

• Podiatrist-designed, clinically proven orthotic support
• Tri-Planar Motion Control system for essential support and stability
• Flexible and lightweight construction
• Supported by our Walk Pain Free Guarantee

Orthaheel products are ideal for:

• Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
• Moderate to excessive pronation
• Complementary orthotic treatment
• Shock-absorbing support and stability
• Low- and high-performance athletes

BEN:

I stopped wearing flip-flop-type sandals about a year and a half ago because I couldn't find one that really supported my foot the way I needed. I would spend hours walking around in them, but in the end my feet, knees, and back would be aching. Part of the problem was the lack of arch support and the fact that they were too soft.

Enter Orthaheel.

I put them to the test by wearing them for an entire day at work--on my feet all day. And they passed the test.

First of all, they're not too soft and squishy. They provide the right amount of cushion while still providing structure and support. Second, the arch is amazing in this sandal--almost like wearing a great fitting running shoe. I also liked the textured footbed to help keep my foot from slippin' around too much (I use them in the garden, too). The straps of the sandal also stay up and formed so that even when they get wet you can still slide your foot in easily.

If I had to find something I didn't like about them it would be that they are just a bit narrow. But with that being said, the width issue is not nearly enough for me to not like these things.

I've worn Reefs and Rainbows (in fact, I used to live down the street from the Rainbow Sandal factory) and neither of those brands were as comfortable as Orthaheel.

Stay tuned for reviews from Dexter and Beth.