Hang a crystal on a string around your neck. Grab a lucky charm. And put on your sandals?
Earth Runners, a San Jose, Calif., company sells sandals with touted metaphysical effects. Conductive metal inserts in the footbed “ground” a wearer electronically with the Earth, allowing “access to the Earth’s harmonizing effects,” the brand cites.
Add to this a minimalist design that mimics the hurachas worn by the renowned runners of the Tarahumara tribe in northern Mexico and, well, you have yourself a $69 pair of something special.
We got a pair to test. My first impression was that the Earth Runners could use a little more refinement. The sandals come with instructions and need some tinkering with the laces out of the box to get the right fit. While simplistic in design, the sandals have a definite home made aesthetic that required a fair amount of adjusting and puzzled looks. After re-lacing the sandals a few times I finally got a comfortable fit with minimal chafing on the ankles.
A “conductive” front strap passes between the big and second toes. Copper inserts that ostensibly balance out the charge between your body and the planet are visible under the toes.
