Shoes are always about more than simply protecting your feet. For decades, footwear lovers have been on the hunt for shoes that mold around the body instead of sitting pretty on the shelf.

Earth Shoes stepped into this arena in a big way – first during the 1970s and again as part of a modern revival – offering footwear based on a concept fundamentally different from what most footwear has to offer. The notion behind the design was that the way your foot was seated by the shoe made a difference for overall bodily health.

This article will review the history behind Earth Shoes, discuss the science of their negative heel design, and help you decide if they belong in your wardrobe and foot health regimen.

A Short History of Earth Shoes

Interestingly, Earth Shoes didn’t emerge from a faceless conglomerate deep in the style labs.

The birth of the brand can be credited, in most part, to Anne Kalso, a yoga devotee who observed the difference in gait that was evident when people walked barefoot over natural terrain in New Zealand and Denmark.

She noticed that walking shoes that weren’t Earth Shoes put the heel considerably higher than the toes, pushing the body rather than pulling it into a misaligned position.

Kalso devised a shoe that would mimic the natural way of walking on soft sand or soil in the late 60s, producing a line that launched in 1970 in the US, at the height of the natural living movement in America. It was a hit!

How the original lineup of Earth Shoes knew what went into them even further.

During a period when societal consciousness was rising about environment and a more back-to-basics approach to life, Earth shoes launched right into the eye of the storm.

Long lines gathered outside the flagship New York City store. Sold-out remains the order of business still today…until the company was forced to shutter its doors in 1977.

A second incarnation was born years later, 2001, that rejuvenated the original idea and released a new generation of Earth Shoes that boasts both trendy and comfortable shoes, which still boast their negative heel concept.

The concept proved resilient in spite of skepticism on its lasting power.

Why Earth Shoes Feature Negative Heel Design

Least familiar to the average shoe consumer is what Earth Shoes refer to as the Kalso heel, or the negative heel.

In a typical shoe, the heel is designed to sit at the same level of the shoe as the toes, or slightly higher up. Earth Shoes can flip that relationship, with the heel sitting at a 3.7-degree angle below the ball of the foot.

That may not seem like much of a change, but to foot and body health, that elevation difference makes all the difference.

How the Body Responds

When the heel sinks below the toes and the heel, the body modifies its position accordingly.

Pelvis tips forward by a hair, spine elongates subtly, and the muscles of the calves, thighs, core swing into action every step of the way. This is claimed to be representative of the way barefoot walking is experienced on a natural slope…since this is the way our bodies developed to manage.

Certain physiotherapists have noted that the inherent muscles strength building effects of this form of energy expenditure can have long-standing, positive effects on postural health, but everybody’s kind of a different story.

What the Literature States

Perfect research alludes to benefits for posture and back issues, while mediocre research reveals little of any kind of difference at all compared to running barefoot barefoot.

There is an obvious consensus that newly introduced users to negative heels should ease into them slowly…an hour or two per day is sufficient at first in order to avoid muscle soreness…instead, one day of negative heel in a footsie is not going to cut it.

The transition is crucial, so if you can’t get through that period, it doesn’t matter how many wonderful benefits you hear about through testimonials.

Earth Shoes are one of the most unique, fascinating brands in footwear today. Built on a highly specific physiological concept, these shoes have endured both decades of skepticism about their novelty and fashion cycles that inevitably change. If back pain, health-forward footwear, or the thought of an alternative to traditional shoes intrigues you, they should be considered.

Begin gently, listen to your body, and select a style that most resemble your true routine rather than the way you would like it to be.

The right pair, worn on a regular basis, will change your mind for good about shoes.