The small print that they don't tell you (neither in contracts, nor on your shoes)

Last Monday, while I was having my afternoon coffee at the bar, a man approached me and said:

- "Sorry to interrupt, man,… are you from Marchena? "

Short in stature.

About 70 years old, well-aged.

A glass of liquor in hand and a smile as wide as it was sincere.

He looked at me as if he had known me his whole life, with those bright eyes of someone who’s a little too cheerful.

- "Yes, sure. " - I say.

- "I don’t know you, but I’m also from Marchena. And I love my town. I’ve given a lot of people jobs here. I used to be a builder. I built those apartments in the neighborhood, the ones that are…”

And he starts telling me his life story:

- "Everything was going fine… until Zapatero came. The 2008 crisis crushed me like a little bird, kid. The bank took everything I had. Of course, I didn’t understand, so I signed. But the fine print! No one tells you about that.

- "The fine print... What a pain the fine print is."

It’s everywhere, not just in contracts.

It’s in what you eat, what you buy, what you think you know… and, of course, in what you put on your feet.

The trap is in what they don’t tell you.

This reminded me of my early days when I first contacted the Merrell sales rep.

I still remember the scene. And it’s been almost 15 years.

We met at a bar in Seville. Excited, I told him I was opening a store to sell minimalist shoes.

And he looked at me like I was crazy.

Like I had asked him for cardboard shoes.

I spoke passionately, like someone who had discovered the elixir of eternal youth:

Talking about cushioning, width, drop…

He looked at me like someone watching a child say nonsense.

He picked up the phone, called his boss, and said:

- "I’ve got someone here who wants to buy this collection we don’t even know what it is. "

He was referring to Merrell’s barefoot collection. And by the way, back then, their barefoot catalog was outstanding:

Merrell Bare Access, Merrell Mix Master, Merrell Road Glove, and the undisputed queen: the Merrell Trail Glove.

But of course, he came from being a Nike sales rep. He also carried Under Armour. A big-league guy. And when I asked him:

- "Why do big brands sell shoes with cushioning if they know it does more harm than good? "

He gave me a quick answer to get out of the situation.

But my friend, looks don’t lie.

And his look said:

- "Look, kid, this isn’t about what’s best for you. It’s about selling."

Efectiwonder.

The fine print of footwear.

Over the years, I understood it.

Big brands don’t give a damn about your health.

They don’t care if their shoes destroy your feet. If they end up messing up your knees or your back.

What they care about is the box. Cash. Money. Dough.

And the cash is in the cushioning, the gel, the air chambers, the latest “techno-fancy” stuff.

Because if tomorrow everyone started walking barefoot or wearing flip-flops made from tires…

Their business would be over.

• No more corrective insoles.

• No more shoes with 27 technologies.

• No more messed-up knees.

That’s why they hide it under tons of marketing.

That’s their fine print:

• Narrow toeboxes that deform your toes.

• Thick soles that take away your sensitivity and balance.

• Raised heels that destroy your posture.

• Cushioning that turns your feet into invalids.

But don’t worry, the ad has epic music and a sweaty athlete running through the mountains.

That’s the way it is.

Alright.

Here’s the big print.

If you want to take care of your feet, you need:

• Wide shoes: So your toes can spread and do their job.

• Flat shoes: So your posture is natural.

• Flexible shoes: So your feet can move freely.

• Lightweight shoes: So you can feel the ground, not a block on each foot.

In other words: Minimalist footwear. Barefoot shoes.

Like the kind I defended when the Merrell sales rep looked at me like I was some kind of freak.

Back to the bar.

That man lost his house because he didn’t read the fine print.

At least you’ve read the fine print for your feet.

Now, the question is:

Are you going to sign with your eyes closed?

Or are you going to change once and for all and walk the way people have walked since the world began?

If it’s the second one, start with a classic.

Start with Merrell.

One of the pioneers in barefoot footwear.

All their collection: Women, men and kids.

Health starts with your feet

You decide.

Antonio Caballo.