SOLE Platinum Sandals Review
This could be an interesting week: the product review train that is Running and Rambling will veer in some unusual directions over the next several days. We'll go from warm-weather footwear (today) to cold-weather necessities (later this week), with one or two random stops along the way (wherever I can fit them in).
The most unusual aspect of today’s post, however, is that I haven’t actually reviewed the product in question. Instead, as often happens when I get myself in a jam, I’m turning to my wife to bail me out.
Actually, the timing was fairly fortuitous; throughout the summer, she had been looking to replace her favorite flip-flop sandals that were discontinued last year. So when SOLE offered to let me test a pair of Platinum Orthopedic Sandals, I pretended that I was really a girl with size 9 feet, and tricked them into sending me a women’s version.
(OK … that’s not really the way it happened; I explained our situation to the company rep, and he was very cool to let me do a writeup based on my wife’s testing and feedback. So with that, we’ll get right to it.)
SOLE (always written in all caps; I have no idea why) is the brainchild of Canadian Mike Baker, the founder and president who first made his mark with do-it-yourself custom insoles, and more recently expanded to the arena of orthopedic sandals.
The orthopedic angle is an important one, as Baker’s product idea was inspired by his own history of injury. SOLE footbeds are designed to create a custom fit for improved comfort, alignment, balance and injury-prevention. The company has sold millions of insoles to NFL and NBA teams, military personnel, and medical professionals. Both the insoles and sandals are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
(However, it will certainly be a point of contention with barefoot practitioners that the company’s website proclaims that without proper cushioning and support, the human foot is inclined to “collapse” and cause pain all the way up the body. Maybe it’s a good thing that my wife was the one doing this review.)
Baker also has a strong social and environmental conscious, supporting several outreach programs promoting youth fitness and targeting the childhood obesity epidemic. SOLE is committed to environmental sustainability, using recycled packaging components, and converting product scraps from its factories into reusable product material. Just this month, they announced a partnership with ReCORK America to produce footwear from recycled wine corks – so next time you drain a bottle, think of it as doing your part to help create a sandal for somebody.
The distinguishing feature of SOLE sandals is how the footbed becomes personalized for each person’s unique foot properties. The wear-moldable footbed conforms to the shape of your foot after repeated uses: the arch height adjusts to your required level, the forefoot takes the shape of the balls of your feet and toes, and the aligning heel cup is contoured to your individual shape. The result is a continuous contact surface across the underside of your feet, leaving no area unsupported. You get the benefit of an orthopedic sandal with the convenience and cool looks of a stylish flip-flop.
At this year's Outdoor Trade Show, SOLE Platinum Sport Flips were awarded the Novel Innovations award for footwear, which recognizes products based on innovative design, ergonomics, environmentally friendly construction, and overall utility value. They have a loyal following among athletes and everyday occupational users, and my wife found them comfortable as well. She also liked their sleek profile in comparison to other brands, and noted a nice selection of colors available from the SOLE webpage.
SOLE Platinum Sport Flips typically retail for $70, with both men's and women’s versions available in several sizes and colors from Endless.com and from the SOLE website. It's a higher price tag than a basic pair of flips, but if you need the orthopedic support to accompany your carefree fashion, these sandals make an attractive option for warm-weather footwear.
See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
The most unusual aspect of today’s post, however, is that I haven’t actually reviewed the product in question. Instead, as often happens when I get myself in a jam, I’m turning to my wife to bail me out.
Actually, the timing was fairly fortuitous; throughout the summer, she had been looking to replace her favorite flip-flop sandals that were discontinued last year. So when SOLE offered to let me test a pair of Platinum Orthopedic Sandals, I pretended that I was really a girl with size 9 feet, and tricked them into sending me a women’s version.
(OK … that’s not really the way it happened; I explained our situation to the company rep, and he was very cool to let me do a writeup based on my wife’s testing and feedback. So with that, we’ll get right to it.)
SOLE (always written in all caps; I have no idea why) is the brainchild of Canadian Mike Baker, the founder and president who first made his mark with do-it-yourself custom insoles, and more recently expanded to the arena of orthopedic sandals.
The orthopedic angle is an important one, as Baker’s product idea was inspired by his own history of injury. SOLE footbeds are designed to create a custom fit for improved comfort, alignment, balance and injury-prevention. The company has sold millions of insoles to NFL and NBA teams, military personnel, and medical professionals. Both the insoles and sandals are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
(However, it will certainly be a point of contention with barefoot practitioners that the company’s website proclaims that without proper cushioning and support, the human foot is inclined to “collapse” and cause pain all the way up the body. Maybe it’s a good thing that my wife was the one doing this review.)
Baker also has a strong social and environmental conscious, supporting several outreach programs promoting youth fitness and targeting the childhood obesity epidemic. SOLE is committed to environmental sustainability, using recycled packaging components, and converting product scraps from its factories into reusable product material. Just this month, they announced a partnership with ReCORK America to produce footwear from recycled wine corks – so next time you drain a bottle, think of it as doing your part to help create a sandal for somebody.
The distinguishing feature of SOLE sandals is how the footbed becomes personalized for each person’s unique foot properties. The wear-moldable footbed conforms to the shape of your foot after repeated uses: the arch height adjusts to your required level, the forefoot takes the shape of the balls of your feet and toes, and the aligning heel cup is contoured to your individual shape. The result is a continuous contact surface across the underside of your feet, leaving no area unsupported. You get the benefit of an orthopedic sandal with the convenience and cool looks of a stylish flip-flop.
At this year's Outdoor Trade Show, SOLE Platinum Sport Flips were awarded the Novel Innovations award for footwear, which recognizes products based on innovative design, ergonomics, environmentally friendly construction, and overall utility value. They have a loyal following among athletes and everyday occupational users, and my wife found them comfortable as well. She also liked their sleek profile in comparison to other brands, and noted a nice selection of colors available from the SOLE webpage.
SOLE Platinum Sport Flips typically retail for $70, with both men's and women’s versions available in several sizes and colors from Endless.com and from the SOLE website. It's a higher price tag than a basic pair of flips, but if you need the orthopedic support to accompany your carefree fashion, these sandals make an attractive option for warm-weather footwear.
See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.
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2 comments:
Oh, I was so hoping that you had a discount code for us on this one. I use the Sole heat moldable shoe inserts and love them.
Matt from SOLE here, thanks for the great review!
Juls, from time to time we offer discount codes to our mailing list. Feel free to sign up at yoursole.com or you can also find us on facebook at facebook.com/itsyoursole
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