Now that I’m more mobile, I’m planning on getting back to my previous walking form (hopefully by AHS12!). So, that means new shoes. And for me, it means new minimalist shoes.
I have this thing with barefoot or minimalist shoes, it’s like Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. Vibram Five Fingers are too uncomfortable (I do not find the individual toe thing works). My Merrell Barefoot shoes are a little stiffer than I’d like. And my softsole moccasins, while great for wearing to work or around home, are a little too loose and floppy for walking any distance.
I’m hoping the Altra Eve’s are just right!
Update, 3/25: Well rats. The Eve’s will be heading back to Altra later this week. The fit on these was not good for my feet at all. The pic at right shows the problems I had.
First, the sole of this shoe is designed for folks whose toes have not been messed up from decades of wearing traditional womens’ shoes. I.e., my big toe points towards the second toe, so it’s not fitting in the toe box as designed.
Second, there’s not as much give in the opening of the shoe as I would have liked. So if you have wide feet or high arches or your ankles aren’t sufficiently thin, these won’t be comfortable getting on or even wearing.
Update, 4/27: Wow. This order has turned south in a big way. I sent the shoes back to Altra on 4/3 and fortunately had the presence of mind to ask for a delivery confirmation. A couple of weeks later, I had heard nothing, so I checked the slip I got from the post office and found that the shoes were sitting in the post office because no one was there when they attempted to deliver them.
After a couple of calls to Altra’s customer service led me to being put on hold endlessly, I resorted to social media. I was advised to follow up with a specific person at Altra who told me she’d get back to me, hopefully by close of business. That was 10 days ago. No word.
I’m not sure if I’m too late to have MasterCard intervene, but will call today.
Anyways, caveat emptor! Altra’s shoes may be great (I still like the looks of the Eve), but attempting to return anything may well be fraught with peril, at least it has been for me.
Weight Maven is written by Beth Mazur. Beth believes that obesity is more symptom than cause and that the real problem is our Western diet -- especially sugar, refined grains, and industrial oils. Beth writes about nutrition, ancestral health & food policy. And cats!
It’s interesting that you found the Merrell barefoot shoes stiff-so did I. I bought a pair of their Lorelei zip-front shoes, though, and those have been heaven. They’re very light and there’s just enough sole that sharp gravel doesn’t hurt my feet. When I ordered them, I thought they’d be my “dress” shoes but they’re so comfortable I wore them all the time this winter.
Please post an update on how the Eves pan out; maybe I could try them too.
Those soles look much better than their barefoot soles! I may have to check them out … the Eve is certainly not a dress shoe. Thx for the pointer.