This time the theme is “Mountain Clog Style.”
I love the Mountain Clog and wear it all year round, whatever the season.
This is their third year, and they've softened up nicely.
It suddenly made me wonder: why do I like the Mountain Clog this much?
I've worn all sorts of sport sandals and clog-style sandals over the years, but nothing has ever been in such heavy rotation.
Today I'd like to talk about why I personally like the BEDROCK Mountain Clog, and show you how I wear it day to day.
“Zero drop” and “barefoot”: drawing out the foot's natural function
I have a child who is about to turn three.
Always running around, at home and outdoors alike, and jumping non-stop on the bed. Steadily growing into an adorable little monster.
There are still tumbles now and then, but watching the running and the landings after a jump, it all looks remarkably stable.
Firmly planted on the ground, somehow solid. Good posture, too.
I was curious, so I looked into it, and it turns out this stability has to do with the shape of the foot:
a child's foot is said to be the perfect foot humans are born with, in no need of any corrective device.
The toes are spread wide and the whole foot is used to grip the ground. That seems to be one reason behind the body's balance and stability.
The shoes we normally wear have plenty of features, such as cushioning and support, that make walking easier.
On the other hand, depending on a shoe's shape and construction, it can be hard to move your toes freely, and your soles get fewer chances to feel the ground.
What's more, wearing shoes that are badly mismatched to your foot shape squeezes toes that should be spread open, and the foot's natural function is gradually lost. It's said that most modern people, used to cramped shoes, can no longer use the whole sole of the foot.
Misalignment starts at the feet, posture worsens, and the lower back, neck and other parts of the body begin to hurt. Feet and bodies that have shrunk in on themselves just keep getting weaker.
Against that backdrop, what I feel when I put on the Mountain Clog is “the sense of my feet being set free.”
If you've worn the Mountain Clog you've probably felt it too: the moment you slipped your foot in, didn't it instinctively feel good?
That's because the zero-drop construction lets you feel the ground with your whole foot.
What is zero drop?
A construction in which the difference in sole thickness (height) between the heel and the toe of the shoe is “zero” (no height difference).
Unlike typical shoes, where only the heel is raised, it makes it easier to feel the ground with the whole sole and to be aware of the foot's natural movement.
Wearing sandals in this state, you naturally pick up a way of moving that puts less strain on your feet, which reduces the load on your body and can be expected to help prevent injury. (Strictly speaking, it may be better to say you're returning to the way humans naturally move.)
The other big factor is the roomy shape around the toes.
Because your toes aren't cramped and can move freely, you can feel yourself really using them as you walk.
Walking in the Mountain Clog, you become newly aware of your soles and toes, which you rarely notice in everyday shoes.
Of course, wearing them won't instantly solve your physical troubles or prevent injuries.
But “walking while being aware of how your feet are naturally meant to move” is really interesting, and fun as well.
Walking itself becomes fun
The Mountain Clog is not a running shoe made for going fast. Its appeal is that it lets you experience the body's natural movement and enjoy it in greater comfort.
Yanase and friends climbed a mountain in their Mountain Clogs the other day, and I also wear the Mountain Clog when hiking low mountains.
What I find especially interesting about walking in the mountains in the Mountain Clog is the amount of information that comes through the soles of my feet.
Rocks, tree roots, the firmness of the soil. There's a sole in between, of course, but you can feel all of them directly underfoot.
This sensation coming straight through the soles feels really good; on rocky descents in particular, you feel the earth so much you could almost think you were getting a foot reflexology massage.
Of course, some places and surfaces call for proper shoes, but walking like this, feeling the ground through your soles, is both pleasant and fun.
And since I started wearing the Mountain Clog, I find myself “wanting to walk” more often than before.
I get off one station early and walk to my destination, deliberately making time to “walk” as part of getting around each day, and I've come to enjoy it.
That may be another reason I keep the Mountain Clog in such heavy rotation.
The Mountain Clog has the tremendous advantage of bringing your body into balance while also being usable for active pursuits, but another part of its appeal is its design.
I really like the way it blends in not just out in the field but in town as well.
Mountain Clog Style
Vest：RAL Reversible Vest
Pants：TORAYA OVAL WIDE PANTS Circles Tokyo Exclusive
Shoes：BEDROCK SANDALS Mountain Clog
Sox：RAL Tabby Socks
Cap：Too Tired
It's nice when the season for layering comes around.
At this time of year, when the seasons are turning and the temperature varies through the day, a vest is ideal.
What I paired it with this time is the RAL Reversible Vest, a reversible piece that combines two different materials: nylon fabric and TEIJIN Octa®︎.
Its balance of warmth, moisture-wicking quick-dry performance and light weight is spot on, making it just right for the season ahead.
It's also packable, so another attraction is that you can slip it into your bag and throw it on when the temperature drops sharply in the morning and evening.
The pants I paired with it are the TORAYA OVAL WIDE PANTS Circles Tokyo Exclusive, which went on sale at the recent POPUP.
The fabric on these really stretches, and they're so comfortable.
When you actually wear them, that stretch makes them wonderfully easy to move in, and they feel great on.
As someone who loves wide pants, I'm very fond of the silhouette, too.
They're wide, yet a drawcord lets you cinch the hems, which keeps them from getting caught in the chain when you ride.
I can't help being drawn to clothing like this, which lets me enjoy a style of my own while still offering properly practical specs.
Since I started wearing the Mountain Clog, I've come to enjoy the time spent walking in my everyday life, whether I'm riding my bike, shopping in the neighborhood, or out on a short mountain walk.
It has the functionality for active use, yet slips easily into a city look.
The Mountain Clog is sure to see plenty of action again this autumn and winter.
