Down To Earth Rhapsody Bat Multi Review

Must Have Mondays

When it comes to picking out totally comfortable shoes you mustn’t ignore Earth Shoes. Inspired by a master yoga instructor, Earth shoes are aim to properly align the spine and offer excellent foot comfort. BUT!!! Just because Earth shoes are comfortable does NOT mean they are right for everyone. They are an absolute case of “it depends”.

What does it depend upon you ask?

The answer to that question is based entirely on my experience with owning and selling Earth shoes and have had tons of customer feedback. There are folks that will tell you that Earth shoes saved their life while others will tell you they can't stand wearing Earth shoes. I have found that from the “foot perspective” Earth shoes have awesome comfort features like fantastic arch support and delicious cushioning but there is that whole “negative heel bit” that throws the curve ball into whether you are likely to sing their praises or hate them. The negative heel is intended to promote improved posture by setting your heels lower than your toes thereby elongating and straightening your spine. This seems to be well and good for folks who have too much curve in their spine but spells disaster for those who do not have enough curve to their spine. Also, if you have a tendency to lock your knees when you stand straight you may find that the Earth shoes make this bad habit worse.

I found that my feet loved my Earth shoes but my spine lacks the optimum amount of curve and my back gave me grief whenever I wore my Earth sandals. Thus, I no longer wear them but gave them to a friend who adores them.,

There are also times when people make the transition into Earth shoes too quickly. It is wise to wear them a little bit at a time to allow your body to adjust as you will be engaging muscles you have likely not been using regularly. I find that the folks who take to the Earth shoes most quickly are those who already practice yoga regularly. These folks have been working their posture muscles thus making the Earth shoe feel “perfectly natural” to them.

As a side note I have had many happy reviews from pregnant gals who love the counter balance of the negative heel and have found relief from lower back pain. My friend Miss V—pictured here, got her Earth sandals during her first pregnancy and just wore them through her third and loves them.

If you happen to suffer from pain at the forefoot and/or have a Morton's Nueroma you may find that the Earth shoes really relieve pressure and pain since there is very little forward pressure. My co-worker, Miss E suffered from the pain of her neuroma often until she began wearing her beloved Earth shoes.

When trying Earth shoes on it is most important to notice how they feel to your back because most of the time they are going to feel good to your feet. Make sure that if you do get a pair--to ease into wearing them regularly by just wearing them a few hours a day at first. Also, I would recommend wearing them around on the carpet at home for a few hours before committing to them.

The current slide model from Earth is called the Rhapsody (also shown in this post) and has a comfy feel and carefree styling that beckons springtime sunshine. Cross your toes for an early spring!

Because of their unique negative heel, I strongly recommend that you try on several styles on at your favorite local shoe store for the best fit, knowledge and service.

If you do not live near an Earth shoe retailer—make sure you only buy them from online resources that have a clear and fair return policy including free shipping like zappos.com, planetshoes.com and onlineshoes.com.

Fitting Notes:

U.S. Sizing. More often then not they are offered in half sizes and fit fairly true though the closed-toe models seem to run a half size short and the sandals run generous in width. Most models do not have removable footbeds and only accommodate the mildest of orthotics. If you have severe foot or back problems it is wise to consult your health practitioner before wearing Earth shoes extensively.