Outdoors

Sazzi sandals extend the individual-toed footwear trend to sandals

Sazzi sandals extend the individual-toed footwear trend to sandals
The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
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The Sazzi Decimal includes a full support footbed and bio-mechanical upper
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The Sazzi Decimal includes a full support footbed and bio-mechanical upper
The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
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The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
They may look funky, but they supposedly give you a more natural, agile step
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They may look funky, but they supposedly give you a more natural, agile step
They may look funky, but they supposedly give you a more natural, agile step
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They may look funky, but they supposedly give you a more natural, agile step
The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
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The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
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The Decimal comes in some rather bright colors
The Sazzi Decimal includes a full support footbed and bio-mechanical upper
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The Sazzi Decimal includes a full support footbed and bio-mechanical upper
The Sazzi Digit is a higher performance model
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The Sazzi Digit is a higher performance model
The Digit includes a heel strap as well as the "quad post lateral stability system"
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The Digit includes a heel strap as well as the "quad post lateral stability system"
View gallery - 9 images

Today, we think of the Four Corners region of the American southwest as one of the most desolate, foreboding, mysterious regions in North America. The Anasazi civilization, on the other hand, knew it simply as home. These ancient people adapted to living and moving across the dry, rugged land. They provide the inspiration for Sazzi Toe Motion Footwear extends the individual-toed footwear trend seen on the likes of the Vibram Five Fingers to sandals.

"The Anasazi, ancestors to the Hopi people, were truly ahead of their time ..." Sazi explains on its website. "Their sandals utilized two toe posts to stabilize their feet for the hardcore terrain of the 'Four Corners Canyon Lands' region in which they lived. Like the Anasazi, we understand the advantages of multiple toe posts including unmatched lateral stability and comfort. Sazzi has merged the ancient with the modern in its new four toe posted footwear line."

Sazzi was founded by Mark Thatcher, who also founded Teva. While extending the individual-toed footwear trend to sandals may at first seem rather odd, since any pair of sandals or flip flops lets all five of your toes loose, Sazzi claims there are advantages in what it calls "Toe Motion Footwear."

The company says the Toe Motion Footwear system, which consists of five independent toe planks and four prongs separating the toes, provides better lateral and forward-leaning control for athletes. Unlike a solid-soled sandal, Sazzi sandals give you some individual toe movement, which provides for more precise control.

The Sazzi Digit is a higher performance model
The Sazzi Digit is a higher performance model

For those that have trouble visualizing the purported benefits of five-toed movement, just think of the difference in wearing gloves versus mittens. You have much more manual dexterity with gloves because you get to use all five fingers. While the benefits of toe movement aren't as pronounced, they increase your agility and dexterity. This is particularly helpful on uneven terrain, where your foot can better conform and grip thanks to the added movement - if you were a monkey, you wouldn't want to wear shoes while climbing trees.

Sazzi's "quad post lateral stability system" also connects your foot more securely with the sandal. You get more points of connection to give you a surer fit.

Sazzi offers its Toe Motion Footwear system in two different sandals good for activities like hiking, water sports and casual wear. The US$100 Digit is the more advanced of the two and features a puncture-resistant "Dura-Shank " and heel strap. The $80 Decimal is a simpler pair that uses the same five-toed, four-pronged layout but without the heel strap. The latter appears to have much more flamboyant color options. Both will hit the market in May.

Sazzis may be a little chilly in any season not called summer, but maybe you could manage to stuff a pair of Swiss Protection Socks into them for added warmth.

Source: Sazzi via The GearCaster

View gallery - 9 images
6 comments
6 comments
Slowburn
When the Anasazi culture thrived the region was cooler and less dry.
Ozuzi
"just think of the difference in wearing gloves versus mittens" You don't have a sole in the palm of your mittens. It would be interesting to see how they deal with my broad feet from a life of 'sandals'
Dakoroman, Sydney
Dakoroman, Sydney :'Four Corners Canyon Lands'/ the Great Canion are a spread, due to the expanding Earth continuous process, not due to rivers/ like Colorado river. "Unlike a solid-soled sandal, Sazzi sandals give you some individual toe movement, which provides for more precise control"- that is right, but only when the ground is touched by the front/ toe are. What about the rest? It looks that the four prongs separating the toes have more influence to the dynamic stability than the five independent toe planks. In short, Sazzi Toe Motion Footwear, based on the ancient Anasazi civilization/ people DOES NOT bring the big solution for IDEAL BODY DYNAMIC STABILITY, for the same reason Nike, Adidas, Puma, Asics, ..., can not do either: their products DO NOT HAVE THE FUNCTION to achieve the "final/ ideal" result. As selling-marketing exercise, ""Toe Motion Footwear" can be a success, but let's be fair: another example of attacking the effects, not the causes of DYNAMIC STABILITY.
Paul Anthony
These look cool, my only concern is that i dont like how even a single toe post feels on the webbing between my toes, so am I going to be okay with three more?
waltinseattle
still just one pad for five toes. This is merely more thongs topside- nothing to get orgasmic over. Try barefootin. Works failry well in sandy deserts and beaches and forest trtails. Low cost, builds foot calus and character...
Andreja Sinadinovic Vijatovic
I have an inter-digital toe nail fungal infection. This product seems perfect for me. Though it's a bit pricey.