RYN® vs. MBT® Comparison
By Cam White
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RYN and MBT footwear were both patented and launched in the 1990s in Pusan, South Korea. While both brands are similar in appearance and share many of the same health benefits, there are many differences between the two brands. Which is the better shoe? That depends entirely on the wearer. Since both shoes behave differently, wearers will naturally gravitate to the shoe that makes them feel the best. The purpose of this discussion is to highlight the similarities and differences between the shoes to help you make an informed decision.
Rocker sole shoes have long been recognized for their therapeutic value in the medical and pedorthic world. MBT popularized the concept when they arrived in the United States several years ago. In the process of establishing a brand, they created a new "Active Walking" category of footwear. Lately, several other manufacturers have entered the marketplace with shoes built on a rocker platform. This new category of footwear is predicted to explode in the years to come. But let's get started with our comparison between MBT and RYN:
Stability vs. Instability
MBT promotes it's brand as the "anti-shoe". Everything about an MBT shoe is unstable in every plane of motion, from front-to-back and side-to-side. According to MBT, the human body wasn't meant to walk on concrete and hard surfaces. Rather, we were designed to walk barefoot on soft, uneven surfaces, like grass and sand. We are adaptive creatures. The unstable design of MBT shoes forces our body to adapt as if we were walking on uneven terrain. To wear an MBT shoe properly, the wearer must be able to control their movements in the shoe and adapt to instability, which in turn, strengthens core muscles. The MBT concept works beautifully for people that can control the shoe. But some people have weak ankles or loose ligaments, which make it harder to control their feet. If the wearer can't control the instability of an MBT shoe, the manufacturer warns that the shoe could wear down prematurely. When customers "over-pronate" in MBT shoes in our store, we coach them to walk properly in the shoes. If this is too difficult to achieve, we advise against buying MBT shoes.
RYN shoes have exceptional medial/lateral stability, making it a better-suited shoe for wearers that over-pronate or have a loose ligament structure in their ankles. The heel strike is less "spongy" than the MBT, but customers remark that they feel more "control" when they walk in RYNs. The rocker sole is slightly more aggressive in the RYN shoes, and I notice that my calf muscles are challenged more in the RYNs. Veteran MBT wearers in our store have also remarked about the extra calf muscle workout they feel in the RYNs. After wearing my brand new RYNs for an hour, I decided to see how they felt with my favorite Lynco orthotics (with metatarsal support). The shoes felt even better. Next, I added the Cluffy Wedge and the RYN shoes felt completely customized for my feet. I felt the full exercise benefit of the shoe, combined with a secure feeling of stability and control.
So, which is the better shoe? The answer is entirely dependent on the wearer. In our experience, customers will distinctly choose the brand that makes them feel the best. My wife, Celia, can't wear MBT shoes at all, but she can wear RYNs all day long. Other customers prefer the "spongy" instability of MBTs over the firmer control of RYNs. For my part, I like them both for different reasons. If I want to feel my body adapting to "spongy" instability all day long, it's an MBT day. For additional control and support, coupled with an extra calf muscle workout, I choose RYNs. I actually like my body to experience multiple feelings, so I enjoy wearing both brands to vary my walking routine.
Posture and Circulation
Both brands perform equally well in this category. The body naturally aligns itself on the pivot of the rocker sole, challenging your core muscles to help you maintain good posture. Poor posture is not rewarded in rocker shoes, because your core muscles must be engaged to maintain balance. Rocker shoes are also excellent for circulation. When we stand still in a flat-bottomed shoe, nothing really happens. Our heart pumps blood to our feet, and our heart is solely responsible for returning blood back to itself. In a rocker sole shoe, you are rarely standing still. Your calf muscles are constantly firing, squeezing blood vessels and acting as an "auxiliary pump" to help return blood to the heart. This network of blood vessels and muscles in your lower extremities has often been referred to as the "2nd heart". We have noticed that customers with constant swelling in their feet often report that their swelling subsides when they wear rocker-sole shoes and Z-CoiL shoes.
Fit and Feel
With rocker-sole shoes, your foot moves naturally with the rocking motion of the shoe, so you want a good, secure fit, with minimal heel slipping. When it comes to MBT, we recommend the MBT Sport, MWalk and Chapa models for walking and exercise. Most of MBT's new styles are available only in their new, "low-profile" series. While MBT insists that the "low profile" shoes actually increase muscle stimulation, many of our customers prefer the feeling of the older generation models. In short, they like the look of the low-profile shoes, but prefer the feeling of the MBT Sport and MWalk models.
MBT MWalk
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MBT Sport
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MBT Tataga
Low Profile
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MBT Tembea
Low Profile
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RYN shoes are noticeably lighter than MBT shoes, and have more heel and tongue padding than a comparable MBT shoe. The fit feels slightly more secure. The RYN has a slightly arched footbed, which pleasantly "massages" your arches as your foot rolls forward. With a wide variety of styles of exercise, casual and dress styles to choose from, you get the same feeling out of any RYN shoe, regardless of the style you select or activity you choose.
RYN X-Run
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RYN Trail
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RYN Babylon
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RYN Cindy
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Walking on Uneven Terrain
The stable nature of RYN footwear makes it a better choice when you walk on uneven terrain. When I walk in my MBT Chapas, I need to be more aware of my footing and my form as I walk. The MBT masai sensor is a soft memory foam pad that is designed to induce instability. When I walk on a slope, a driveway or in my backyard, the MBT shoe can be much more difficult to control. The stable nature of the RYN shoe allows me to walk on uneven surfaces with better security and control. I tend to wear MBT shoes when I know I am going to spend the bulk of my time on flat, level surfaces. The RYN shoes feel great on flat surfaces, but perform better on uneven surfaces. This is strictly my experience, but several other MBT wearers have also commented that they are more cautious when the walk on grass or uneven surfaces.
Wet Weather
RYN has the clear advantage in this category. The soft, MBT masai sensor is vulnerable to prolonged exposure under wet conditions. MBT recommends that wet shoes be removed as soon as possible and placed on their side to completely dry out. The RYN Air Tunnel System has no soft foam sensor to break down, making it a better all-weather shoe. If it's raining outside, I do not wear my MBT shoes. We have heard similar comments loyal MBT customers that won't wear their MBT shoes in wet weather. If you live in areas of the country that get regular rainfall, like the Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic states or Florida, the RYN may be a better all-weather choice.
Durability
When you invest upwards of $250 for a good pair of "Active Walking" shoes you expect a high quality product. Both MBT and RYN shoes feature a durable, 7-layer construction process. Of course, shoe wear depends entirely on the activity of the wearer. Some people are very tough on shoes, like UPS drivers, baggage handlers, and extreme exercise enthusiasts. For the rest of us, it's reasonable to assume that you should expect excellent durability out of this type of shoe if you are wearing them properly.
RYN shoes are manufactured in Pusan, South Korea, where many of the world's best-quality shoes are made. South Korea has a highly-skilled, well paid work force and is home to the best shoe-making technologies available. They are known for making highly durable shoes. Z-CoiL shoes, for example, are manufactured in Pusan and have a reputation for lasting years and years. MBT shoes were also originally manufactured in South Korea, but are now manufactured in China and Vietnam.
When evaluating footwear, you may wish to check for user reviews and online ratings for both brands.
Conclusion
This discussion is intended to provide objective information about both RYN and MBT footwear, based on manufacturer's claims and our experience as a retailer selling both brands in our store. This information is not intended to influence the reader toward any particular brand. Since we carry both MBT and RYN shoes in our store, our goal is to guide people to the shoe that ultimately makes them feel the best. Of course, the best way to evaluate these shoes is to try them both on, and find out which brand works the best for you.
Questions or Comments?
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