MBT

What MBT does

MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) is a Swiss-founded footwear company established in 1996, specializing in physiological walking and running shoes built around a patented rocker-bottom sole system. The company's core technology creates an intentional instability that activates muscles throughout the gait cycle, reduces joint impact, and encourages a smoother rolling stride. MBT organizes its product line around seven proprietary sole platforms (Simba, MBT 2000, Huracan, MTR 1500, M-3000, MBT 1997, and Modena II) calibrated to three rocker intensity levels, with additional features such as heel sensors, MIDS (MBT Intermediate Dual Density) load distribution, pivot axes, and rigid midfoot shanks. The 406-SKU catalog spans walking shoes, athletic/running shoes, outdoor/trail shoes, dress shoes, boots, sandals, and occupational safety footwear (e.g., the Guardza Steel Toe), with products retailing from under $100 to over $300.

MBT generates revenue primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce via us.mbt.com serving the US and Canada, supplemented by a physical retail store locator network. Pricing is unit-based across entry, mid-range ($148-$199), premium ($200-$289), and specialty (over $290) tiers, with active promotional campaigns such as 25% off code SAVE25 and free shipping on orders over $99. Payment processing relies on PayPal. MBT USA Inc., headquartered in Fenton, Missouri, operates as the North American subsidiary of Singapore-based parent Masai International Pte Ltd, with no public equity listing, external funding rounds, or M&A activity disclosed in the source materials. The company has positioned itself within health and recovery use cases, securing APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) acceptance and earning recent media placements in Newsweek, TODAY, MindBodyGreen, Eating Well, and Fodor's Travel.

Customer segments span active walkers and standing professionals (primary), health and recovery-focused consumers addressing foot, knee, or plantar fasciitis discomfort, fitness and running enthusiasts, and occupational footwear users. With 11-50 employees and no disclosed financial metrics, MBT operates as a niche specialty footwear brand with 25+ years of category presence and 40+ million pairs sold globally.

Name

MBT

Legal name

MBT USA Inc.

Website

https://us.mbt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) is a Swiss-founded footwear company selling patented rocker-bottom shoes directly to US and Canadian consumers via us.mbt.com, spanning walking, running, dress, outdoor, and safety categories across seven proprietary sole platforms priced $100-$300.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performance Walking Footwear

NAICS

Shoe Retailers (45821), Shoe Retailers (4582), Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Footwear Manufacturing (316210)

SIC

Retail-Shoe Stores (5661), Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Comfort, Orthopedic & Medical Footwear Retail (CRAAADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Performance Footwear & Apparel Retail (Trail/Hike) (CRAMACAI), Outdoor & Hiking Footwear (CRAAACAD)

Keywords

• Rocker-bottom footwear
• Performance walking shoes
• Athletic running shoes
• Orthopedic walking shoes
• Casual comfort footwear

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Footwear Product Sales: MBT generates revenue through the direct sale of its rocker-bottom footwear products to consumers via e-commerce (us.mbt.com) and retail stores. Products are sold at various price points ranging from under $100 to over $300, with regular promotional discounts (e.g., 25% off with code SAVE25). Free shipping is offered on orders over $99.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MBT designs, manufactures, and sells rocker-bottom physiological footwear built around its patented sole technology for walking, running, fitness, recovery, and standing-intensive activities. The product catalog of 406 styles is organized across multiple proprietary sole platforms (Simba, MBT 2000, Huracan, MTR 1500, M-3000, MBT 1997, Modena II) at three rocker intensity levels (Low, Moderate, High), serving individual consumers and select occupational users through DTC e-commerce and retail partners.

Product overview

MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) is a Swiss footwear company that manufactures and sells physiological walking and running shoes built around its patented rocker-bottom sole technology. The company offers 406 distinct shoe products across multiple series, organized around seven proprietary sole platforms: Simba Sole (Level 2), MBT 2000 (Level 2), Huracan (Level 3), MTR 1500 (Level 2), M-3000 (Level 3), MBT 1997 (Level 3), and Modena II (Level 2) — each with varying degrees of rocker intensity (Low/Level 1, Moderate/Level 2, High/Level 3). The core product lineup includes walking shoes (e.g., MBT-1000 Lace Up, Narita), athletic/runners (e.g., Sport 4, Gadi II, Speed 1000-3), outdoor/trail shoes (e.g., Colorado X), dress/formal shoes (e.g., Sirima 8, Boston Loafer), work safety shoes (e.g., Guardza Steel Toe), boots (e.g., Zita Boot), and sandals. Products range from $100 to $300 and are designed for walking, running, standing, fitness, recovery, and posture improvement. The portfolio also includes a Sole Finder interactive tool to help customers choose the appropriate sole technology. MBT shoes have been recognized by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and featured in media outlets including Newsweek, TODAY, MindBodyGreen, Eating Well, and Fodor's Travel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MBT-1000 Lace Up A lace-up walking shoe with a Level 2 (moderate) rocker sole designed for all-day wear, walking, and outdoor activities. It targets individual consumers seeking a smoother rolling, cushioned walking experience in the MBT performance-walking line.
• Sport 4 An athletic walking shoe with a Sport 4 Sole (Level 2, moderate rocker) available in black and white for men and women. It is positioned in the everyday and fitness-walking category of the MBT catalog.
• Sport 4 II Updated version of Sport 4 with a Level 2 moderate rocker sole and athletic styling intended for everyday wear and fitness walking. Targets individual consumers in the everyday/fitness-walking segment.
• Sport 3X A women's walking sneaker with a Level 2 Sport 4 sole using moderate rocker technology for a smooth walking experience, available in white and black colorways. Targeted at women in the everyday/fitness-walking category.
• Gadi II Lace Up A men's lace-up walking shoe with a Speed II Sole (Level 1, low rocker), designed for lightweight performance walking with efficient stride mechanics. Targeted at individual consumers seeking entry-level MBT motion.
• Speed 1000-3 A performance walking/running shoe with a Speed II Sole (Level 1, low rocker), breathable mesh construction, and a memory foam footbed for active use. Targets women consumers seeking lightweight performance footwear.
• Wave III Lace Up A men's lace-up athletic shoe with a Speed II Sole (Level 1, low rocker) using mesh and synthetic leather construction for breathability and durability. Targeted at men consumers seeking lightweight walking/active wear.
• Colorado X An APMA-accepted outdoor walking shoe with a Simba Sole (Level 2, moderate rocker), breathable mesh upper, memory foam footbed, and rubber outsole. Designed for trail and outdoor use; targets active walkers and health- and recovery-focused consumers.
• Zita Boot A women's boot with a Flua Sole (Level 3, high rocker), featuring a tall upper design for ankle support and MBT's maximum rocking motion technology. Targeted at women seeking posture and joint relief in a boot silhouette.
• Sirima 8 A women's dress shoe with a SIRIMA II Sole (Level 3, high rocker) combining formal styling with maximum rocking motion technology for posture and joint relief. Targets women seeking foot-health benefits in a formal silhouette.
• Boston Loafer A men's casual loafer with a Boston Sole (Level 2, moderate rocker), combining slip-on convenience with MBT's rocking sole technology for everyday wear. Targeted at men seeking comfort footwear in a slip-on silhouette.
• Narita A walking shoe with a Simba Sole (Level 2, moderate rocker) using a breathable mesh upper with jacquard-engineered knitting, available in multiple men's and women's colorways. Targeted at active walkers and standing professionals.
• Guardza Steel Toe Safety A safety work shoe with a Sport 4 Vibram Sole (Level 2, moderate rocker) and steel toe protection for industrial and work environments, maintaining MBT's rocking sole technology. Targeted at occupational buyers in industrial work settings.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature10 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alegria Footwear: Alegria is a direct peer in the comfort and occupational footwear category, with rocker-outsole professional shoes designed for healthcare, hospitality, and service workers. Alegria competes with MBT's Guardza and dress-occupational SKUs for the standing-professionals and occupational footwear segments.
• OOFOS: OOFOS is a direct peer in the recovery and joint-comfort footwear segment, marketing OOfoam technology for impact absorption and recovery. OOFOS targets the same Active Walkers and Health/Recovery segments MBT addresses, and competes in the post-activity and all-day wear use cases with a similarly biomechanically-positioned product.
• Dansko: Dansko is a direct peer in the comfort and occupational footwear category, famous for its rocker-bottom professional clogs worn by healthcare, hospitality, and service workers. Dansko competes with MBT directly in the Occupational segment MBT identifies (workers requiring all-day standing/walking), particularly via its signature pivoting rocker sole construction.
• Kuru Footwear: Kuru is a direct peer in the biomechanical comfort footwear space, marketing its KuruSole with dynamic heel support for plantar fasciitis and heel pain relief. Kuru competes directly with MBT for the Health/Recovery segment and Active Walkers, with a similar mid-sized DTC brand profile and foot-health positioning.
• Orthofeet: Orthofeet is a direct peer manufacturing orthopedic and diabetic-friendly footwear with biomechanical features targeting plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, and joint pain. Like MBT, Orthofeet emphasizes clinical validation, comfort technology, and the health-recovery buyer — overlapping on positioning if not on aesthetic.
• HOKA: HOKA (owned by Deckers Brands) is a direct peer in the max-cushion / smooth-roll running and walking footwear category. While HOKA's signature meta-rocker geometry differs from MBT's patented rocker-bottom, both brands compete for the same consumer seeking joint-friendly, biomechanically-informed footwear. HOKA represents the scaled, mainstream version of MBT's positioning.
• Birkenstock: Birkenstock is a direct peer in the footbed-driven comfort footwear category, with its contoured cork-latex footbed delivering orthopedic support for posture, joint alignment, and foot health. Like MBT, Birkenstock is a heritage brand (founded 1774) with deep podiatric credibility and a $100-$250+ price architecture targeting the same foot-health-driven buyer.
• Vionic: Vionic is a direct peer producing podiatrist-designed comfort footwear with built-in orthotic support for foot, knee, and back pain. Like MBT, Vionic leverages clinical endorsement (APMA-accepted styles) to position around foot health, plantar fasciitis relief, and biomechanical benefits, directly competing for the same health-and-recovery-focused consumer.

Broad incumbents

• Brooks Running: Brooks is a broad incumbent in biomechanical running and walking footwear, with its Glycerin, Adrenaline, and Addiction series emphasizing smooth transitions and joint-friendly cushioning. While Brooks's biomechanical approach is gait-cycle-based rather than rocker-based, both brands target joint-conscious runners and walkers and compete for the same Newsweek-validated "training and running" consideration set.
• Skechers: Skechers is a broad incumbent in the comfort and performance footwear category with its Arch Fit and Max Cushioning lines. While Skechers serves many segments beyond biomechanical comfort, its foot-health endorsed, cushioned walking and work footwear directly competes with MBT in mass-market channels where MBT does not have a presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MBTShopUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/MBTEurope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mbt-masai-barefoot-technology-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MBT