The concept for these bright plastic shoes comes from native Amazonians, that did essentially graft soles to their feet. As explained by the manufacturer, the indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest painted their soles with latex derived from Hevea trees. These served as protection during the rainy season, eventually wearing off and degrading back into the earth. The soles were a local, natural solution.
... and so too are the One Moments designed to be as low impact as possible, both on your feet and on the environment. The shoes are made from 100 percent biodegradable plastics and materials, so that when their life cycle ends, they'll degrade back to the earth that bore them.
In terms of benefits, the shoes have an elastic quality that adheres to your foot. That, combined with their small, light build reportedly means that you'll enjoy more natural movements and reactions. With a 2mm anti-slip sole, you'll also get protection from slick surfaces. Despite the fact that they look like thick plastic bags, the shoes are supposedly breathable.
One Moments should also prove great for travel. The thin, pliable material appears capable of crunching, rolling and folding into whatever shape that you need. Stick 'em in a plastic bag; roll them up; and shove them in a tiny corner of your suitcase. Of course, you'll have to be comfortable wearing bright plastic clown shoes in a foreign land to cash in on that particular benefit.
You can argue about the benefits vs. weird looks of these things all day, but at least they're not way overpriced as new, trendy items tend to be. These will be some of the cheapest shoes that you ever buy. The retail price is 10 euros (US$13), and as of publishing, if you buy two pairs, you get a third for free. They're manufactured in Spain, so depending upon where you're looking to have them shipped, that price may quickly multiply with the addition of shipping costs.
Unfortunately for folks who prefer understated looks and earth tones, the One Moments only come in colors like "Lipstick Red" and "Shiny Yellow." Find more product and ordering information at the O1M website.
Source: The GearCaster
