The sole of the experimental prototype baresole™ is built specifically for testing a completely different basic structure designed to replace the unstable sole in all current footwear. It is the first real structural change in footwear soles in at least two thousand years, and a major one, with drastically better lateral stability, as well as uniquely better comfort.

You should fully understand that the structural design of the new baresole™ sole used in the experimental test prototype FRAMPTON ELLIS™ slide is like no other in current use in footwear.

Initial testing indicates that the new design finally solves a dangerous lateral instability problem that exists in all conventional shoe soles. That sole instability defect has existed since at least ancient Rome, but in initial tests clearly does not exist in the new barefoot-based sole, which has far superior natural stability.

As you can see plainly in these pictures, A SHOE SOLE IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE when tilted to the outside into the typical lateral ankle spraining position, which is as far as the subtalar joint allows it to go naturally. Like a seesaw, the entire ankle joint and the bodyweight force transmitted through it pivots on the tiny sliver (the white streak) of a knife-edge of the shoe sole that contacts the ground. The opposing forces on the joint are far out of alignment, creating a powerful destabilizing torque on the tilted ankle, which unnaturally is supported only by the wearer’s ligaments and muscle tendons.

In contrast, A BAREFOOT IS NATURALLY STABLE when tilted into the same ankle spraining position, with opposing joint forces perfectly inline and directly supported by leg, ankle, and heel bones in a naturally interlocked position. The bare sole enjoys a wide base of support, especially under the calcaneus or heel bone, as well as under the base and head of the fifth metatarsal bone (all three bones indicated by the large white areas of support where they contact the ground, which is clear plexiglass).

THE FRAMPTON ELLIS™ BARESOLE™ SLIDE IS NATURALLY STABLE. The experimental test prototype baresole™ slide has been designed with an anatomically correct structure to provide the same safe natural stability of a barefoot sole. No teeter-tottering. Plus, the slides give you the protection, traction, and uniquely good cushioning necessary for a bare foot sole to cope with artificially harsh environments that are often underfoot in the modern world.

The structural design of the sole of the experimental test prototype baresole™ of the FRAMPTON ELLIS™ slide closely matches the barefoot sole. The surprising result is the first true performance slide. It has far better lateral stability than existing athletic shoes, even the well-known athletic shoes endorsed and worn by professional superstars. But be forewarned: any new design can potentially have unknown risks, especially a design as fundamentally new and different as this one. As the first of its kind, it probably is not perfect and could have a safety defect of its own.

I firmly believe the test slide has a far more stable sole, but you to fully understand that you are among the very first to use these first experimental prototype baresole™ edition of FRAMPTON ELLIS™ slides in the real world. In this pre-public test, weaknesses may be revealed that were not anticipated during their design. The real world always has surprises. So we want to know if we missed anything that turns out to be a significant issue in the real world.

And, of course, even a safe product can be used in an unsafe way. So you should be very careful and only use this new product with an appropriate level of caution. Be aware that your prior use of conventional shoe soles has likely weakened your ankles, and has done so very significantly so for those of you who have developed chronic ankle instability. Be particularly aware that the slides have not been tested with the very young or old yet, so be exceptionally careful if you allow their use of the test prototype slides.

Please try to stay safe. Always remember that by wearing the experimental test prototype FRAMPTON ELLIS™ slides you are one of the very first users to test an entirely new and different baresole™ sole design before it reaches public use. You are literally on what is called the leading edge of an entirely different technology*, since that technology is being extensively tested now for the first time. You are now a true experimental test pilot in sole research.

The Soler Test Pilot™ experimental testing program therefore wants to fully inform you in advance that you are in a pre public test of a new consumer product with inherent potential risks. That said, based on our testing, we think our footwear is far more stable than the industry’s existing footwear (which of course carry no warning about its heretofore hidden instability compared to the barefoot).

But we don’t think our early warning alone is enough. We really want your feedback. Particularly if you have any stability problems with the test prototype FRAMPTON ELLIS™ slides, and most particularly, if you have a serious fall while wearing them that results in the need for medical care of any kind. Even a near miss from a slip or trip that you can recover from, please report it to us.

Whether you are playing in sports or just walking around. Especially if you are elderly or have impaired mobility. Please help us identify any sole stability issue in the test slide that you might literally stumble across!

Help us prevent any problem you have from being the same problem with future wearers of this basic new design model. Its goal is to serve an open industry-wide template for use in developing safer soles for all footwear categories in the future.

Please contact us here.