Masai Barefoot Technology

I've had a past injury, followed by multi back surgeries, etc. Like many who've traveled this journey, anything natural which can help relieve a portion of the day to pain is a good thing. I did my homework, read all available research, then decided to take the plunge. I went full out, within a year I had 6 pairs of MBTs from the Gortex waterproof sneakers to a wide range of colors and styles. Within the first day, I realized there's an adjustment to wearing shoes which keep you "off balance", particularly going up and down stairways, etc. However, the body acclimates, soon they're second nature. What does NOT make sense at all, is that these shoes (regardless of style, "model") are NOT made to be near, in or through any moisture! Who ever heard of such a thing? Buying a "Gortex" shoe touted as "waterproof"? The glues, the foam rubber in the sole layers all disintegrate after exposure to moisture, and it happens very suddenly! Perhaps you were caught in the rain at lunch one day. By the time you return to work the rain has stopped. Beware, be very aware. At some future point, you'll be wearing your MBTs while with every step the sole will be "shedding", disintegrating under your foot, and you wont know it, until you go to take a step, stand up, or are walking and fall. I must be pretty dense. After the first episode which by the way landed me in a leg cast for 8 weeks as I stepped out of my car, not knowing the sole of my shoe was "empty air space" I should have thrown out all of the MBT's . Foolishly, I examined the other pairs, figuring they looked OK, I'd keep wearing them. DONT!, My advice is stay away from any footwear that's untrustworthy for your basic safety and health. Ive now had 4 pairs "fall apart". After the second injury/fall, I seriously considered these shouldnt be sold anywhere. I do think they're headed for legal nightmares, as others arent nearly as "zen" as myself. SO yes, they may slightly "help" with hip pain, back pain, however the risk is no where near the reward. Add to that , these arent cheap! In my area they retail well over $200, sometimes over $300. Waste of time, money, high hopes, and healthy footwear is too important.