Magicarpet from FreeWaters: Great Flip-Flops or Greatest Flip-Flops?

If you’re like me, you probably like to indulge your inner nerd every once in a while and give objective ranking assignments to art that can only be subjectively measured. Greatest symphony of all time? Beethoven’s Ninth. Greatest painting of all time? The Mona Lisa. Greatest flip-flops of all time? The FreeWaters Magic Carpet.

Image used by permission from freewaters.com

Of course, in order to be called the greatest of all time, you usually have to do a bit of genre-defying. Beethoven did it by bringing in a choir to sing on his symphony. The Magic Carpet accomplishes its own respective feat by making a flip-flop that looks like a flip-flop but is capable of the kind of performance you’ve never even thought of attempting in similar-looking shoes. In other words, this might be the rare instance that a pair of flip-flops is actually “running-ready.” Or, as FreeWaters puts it, “a running shoe disguised as a sandal.”

While the overall design might appear to be that of an ordinary flip-flop, there are some subtle things here that make this the kind of flip-flop that Bruce Wayne would keep around in the Bat Cave. Consider the reduced pinching of the neoprene flex panel, or an underbelly that not only splashes out water like a car tire, but keeps the foot cool for the summer excursions you’ll no doubt be enjoying in these things.

But the overall result of all the effort placed into the Magic Carpet is not only a great flip-flop, but a flip-flop that essentially transforms when you run: it fits well with your foot and even provides some nice spring-action for your steps, similar to the way a running shoe would. You know how they say don’t run around the pool? Well, you still shouldn’t, so be wary of the temptation to do it when you snap these sandals on.

How highly can we recommend these? Well, if the comparisons to the Mona Lisa and Beethoven’s Ninth were too subtle for you, we’ll just say that the Magic Carpet is probably as close to a perfect sandal as you’ll find in a generation – when, we’re assuming, they’ll actually be able to lift you out of Earth’s orbit and serve you lunch. Until that technology arrives, this flip-flop is the pair to own.

Fit Perfect.  Special Build.  Don’t Stink.  Quick Dry. Clean water for people who need it (for 1 year).  ‘Nuff said.

Magic Carpet on Moonlight Beach, Encinitias, CA

This sandal is called: Magic Carpet by Freewaters.
Color tested: “BKB” (Black, Blue, Grey)
Buy them if: you want to  provide clean drinking water for one individual for one entire year.  Or, you just want to own the most comfortable flip-flop on the planet – or in orbit.  We like to call this a “win-win.”
Forget them if: ….well, we say don’t forget ‘em – that would be a sad vacation.
Tested on: sand, dirt, asphalt, beach sidewalks, city sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Highest and best use: Wherever, whenever.  (Well, in the winter you might consider a sweet pair of toe socks.)

Tip: Perfect recovery footwear after your long trail run.

http://www.freewaters.com

*Disclosure: Sandals provided by Freewaters (MSRP $60).  If you have a pair of shoes that need to be featured on shoesoftheday.com, contact us at reviews (at) shoesoftheday.com

Happy Earth Day!  Well, we made it!  You felt okay walking up to that tree and giving it a long deserved hug, didn’t you?  Tomorrow you won’t have to feel guilty driving to work watching all of those earth-conscious bike riders pedaling alongside you, thinking you should be doing the same. Or continue to worry about all of the plastic-wear you used in the break room to make that single cup of whatever that stuff was – as long as it was thrown in the recycling bin.  You know, we are all for saving the earth and we are trying to do our part.  In fact, today we kept the office lights off all day!  Now we want to help you to do your part and feel good about your next shoe purchase, buying a shoe that keeps on giving, giving back to you and to our mother earth.  We decided to review a pair of eco-friendly and earth friendly shoes.  Because we care about you, your feet and the one and only planet that we share, Earth.  The organic, natural, farm-fresh, vegan, and fungal in color, shoes of the day: The Macbeth* – Eliot Vegan (Fungi/Black) – Footwear

•    Vegan friendly textile uppers
•    Original pennant logo
•    Contrast cable stitching
•    Vegan icon art on heel pennant
•    Vulcanized construction
•    Synthetic outsole for traction
*We have no historical proof that Macbeth was vegan  – what we do know is that the famous play written by Shakespeare has been adapted to several entertainment mediums including: television, opera, comic books and now shoes!

Twas  the night after shoe Christmas, by shoesoftheday.com.

Twas the night after shoe Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a person was standing, not even a mouse.
The stinky stockings were hung by the heater with care,
Because a soggy foot and a smelly shoe were filled there.

The children were all passed out from the ghastly smell,
While success stories of Dr. Scholls odor eaters some did tell.
And mamma with her mask, and me clasping my nose,
Had spotted the shoes from whence the smell arose.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The spotlights on our house really made it glow,
outlined each shadow of the people below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But all from inside, with febreze and seeking fresh air.

With a serious shoe problem, I needed help quick,
I knew in a moment, shoes of the day would do the trick.
More rapid and rigorous reviews on shoes they came,
And typed in my browser, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Nike! now, DC! now, Ugg, New Balance and Kashi!
On, Converse! On, Keen! on, Cole-Hann and Salomon!
To the top of the search results they did fall!
Now shoes away! Shoes away! Shoes of the day away all!”

He spoke not a word, but went straight to the reviews,
Bookmarking this website, finding his new pair of shoes.
Now peeling his fingers off of his nose,
And giving a nod, up from the computer he rose!

He sprang to the porch, to his family gave a loud yelp,
And they came wondering how he received such rapid shoe help.
But I heard him exclaim, a new pair of shoes is in sight,
“Happy Shoe Christmas to all, and to all a ‘shoes of the day’ night!”

Next year save your family from smelly feet – find your
next pair of shoes at shoes of the day DOT com!

Excerpts  from ‘Twas the Night before Christmas Poem
By Clement Moore

These are the ShoesOfTheDay….probably for the entire month of April. Amazing.  Thanks Treehugger!

Photography by Thomas Brown

Time for some feel good shoes – shoes with a cause!

This is a story from Wilmington, DE.  Thanks for the great news story Lauren.

Enjoy the MLK shoes ‘story’ of the day:

“WILMINGTON, Del. – January 21, 2008 — Shoes filled a gymnasium in Wilmington today. Some were brand new, but most were gently used.

Members of the New Castle County chapter of Jack and Jill of America, the nation’s oldest and largest African-American family organization. On this day in honor of Dr. King, they kept the spirit of public service alive by conducting a shoe drive.

Bags filled with shoes came in, and then there were those shoes that the children collected on their own. Some hosted parties, while others called on local churches They prayed for them and there were shoes all over the altar. People were bringing in bags and boxes,” said Eboni Coger, 16.

“For my birthday, instead of presents, I asked if we could get shoes,” said 8-year-old Camryn Lane.

Children and parents worked side by side. Hundreds of shoes had to be matched up, tied together and sorted for a final count.

“The children of Jack and Jill are proud to say we have collected 2,436 shoes,” proclaimed 8-year-old Kennedy Crowder.

And the count kept rising. All of the donations will be given to an organization called Shoes to Share, which ships them to impoverished countries like Haiti.

“These shoes will help a lot of people. I think that they’ll do a lot of good,” said Mackenzie Snead.

The shoe drive drives home the point that it is up to people like these children to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream alive.

“I think Dr. King would be very proud of us,” said Dylan Granger.

“I think he’d like it because we’re all giving a piece of something to the community, giving back in a way,” said 17-year-old Dylan Granger.

Giving back and remembering Dr. King’s dream.”

Obama and Huckabee come out with a win in Iowa Caucuses. However, I found an article about two real
winners in Iowa — they are two second grade teachers and their classes from Walnut Hills Elementary School. Everyone talks about the desire to “change” or to do something about the war in Iraq, but these wonderful young people are really DOING something by helping other children in the war-torn country by sending them shoes. They collected more than 60 pairs of shoes, wrapped them up in Christmas wrapping and shipped them off to Iraq. The complete article can be found here. Nothing says “victory” like a new pair of shoes!

This the shoes of the day “shoe-caucus award” goes to Kami Clark and Robin Julseth!

I just found another great site, Soles4Souls.org.  In a nut-sole here is what they do: “We have a simple mission: to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. We are partnering with charities and governments around the world to provide a basic (yet indispensable) gift that most of us take for granted.You can help us in many ways: donating your own shoes, donating cash for freight, hosting a shoe drive, or even donating your time as a volunteer. As shoe industry professionals, we are working hard to use the resources at our disposal to make a difference — but we need your help (and your shoes) to reach out to the world.”

The shoes of the day is about saving your soles, and this is one simple way to begin.  Thanks Soles4Souls.

Don’t take your shoes for granted.

People in California! Remember tomorrow is the walk with Hanson and TomsShoes in West Hollywood. If you don’t feel like walking, at least go there and make a purchase. TOMS Shoes will be sold at the Tower Records parking lot, and for each pair sold, another pair will be given to children in South Africa as part of the upcoming TOMS Shoe drop set for November. HANSON will also perform a mini-concert at the Tower Records parking lot of songs from their recent album “The Walk.” For each pair of shoes you purchase, TomsShoes will give a pair to a “child in need”. Shoesoftheday.com is not affiliated with them in anyway, but we appreciate their commitment to help those in need. I am going to buy a pair from them, as they look pretty comfortable. If not for yourself, buy some for the “tiny” people in your life.

Blake Mycoskie and TomsShoes, thanks for striving to make life more comfortable for those who need it most!

Right, we like you are more excited about the shoes and the purpose than the concert.

Map and directions are here.