What's up with those sneakers that are supposed to get you into shape?

Zbridget

Zbridget

Cathlete
I think they're new- they have these tall platform rocker like bottoms on them, and they claim to tone your body while you walk. They look like something I can get myself killed in. Has anyone done this? Are the claims as hyped up as they sound?

Bridget
 
There are so many of these type of sneakers on the market, which ones are you talking about? There are several people here who really like the MBT type shoes. I tried the Shape Ups from Skechers. It made my feet look as if I was wearing shoes made for people with leg of foot issues (like kids who have to wear special shoes and leg braces). I like the look of the Reebok Easy Tone shoes but haven't tried them.

Carrie
 
I think Sketchers makes them, you're right, they look like orthopedic shoes for people with foot issues.
 
Zbridget said:
I think Sketchers makes them, you're right, they look like orthopedic shoes for people with foot issues.
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LOL! I have a pair. I never thought about it that way. They are like walking on air!
I wear them to walk my dog, and he doesn't seem to mind.:p They do work my calves more than my regular shoes.
 
rebok easy tone

I have the rebok easy tone, I don't know if they really work the legs but I do now use them for stepping. I have always used Ryka.
 
Ryka has one of those shoes now. It's called the "Reform" and costs $110. Someone should try it and report back!
 
I wear Earth shoes quite often, and the negative heal supposedly works the legs more and burns more calories. I haven't noticed, I just like them as walking shoes.
 
They remind me of astronaut shoes. I have a pair of MBT's, . . . . I don't really like them. I got them off of ebay so I didn't pay the $250 price tag. They deffinitely challenge the way you walk but I think that there is a whole lotta commercialization that tries to make people think that if you wear them you'll lose weight. Seriously clean eating, exercise = healthy, mind, body, soul, and a bikini ready body.
 
I think they are a gimick and they appeal to those who don't want to sweat or work hard to get their lower body in shape. To my mind, no Cathlete needs them. You can't get from these shoes what B&G can give you.

Clare
 
maddiesmum said:
I think they are a gimick and they appeal to those who don't want to sweat or work hard to get their lower body in shape. To my mind, no Cathlete needs them. You can't get from these shoes what B&G can give you.
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I am an advanced exerciser and I do not have a problem sweating my butt off. I adore high intensity workouts. I purchased them to get more from my walks with my older dog.
They do work my calves.;)
 
I recently "had" to purchase MBT's. I have a nueroma in one foot and was willing to try anything to avoid surgery. This season's MBT's are not as thick as ones in the past. The older ones truly look like orthopedic shoes, just ugly. They are incredibly comfortable but unfortunately incredibly expensive. I pair of black mary janes with a velcro strap... $265.00 :( however once the sole is worn they will resole them for a small fee. However if you are not used to them it requires some minor ab stabilization in the beginning so you don't loose your balance when standing still. I have two pairs and have worn them every day for two months, incredibly comfortable and in the long run worth the price. Be wary of Ebay, they do make counterfeit MBT's.
 
I have a pair of the sketchers shape ups that I wear for work only (12 hour shifts on my feet). They are SO comfortable, help with posture and my lower back/legs don't hurt at the end of the night like they used to with my other shoes. Love them! That said, I don't feel any "shaping" benefits and they certainly don't make anyone lose weight on their own.
 
I don't like the way they are advertised - wear our shoes, lose weight & look better with no effort. That's simply not true.
 
I have 2 pairs of the Sketchers shape ups and I love them. The soles are thick, but they are super soft and you just melt into them when you walk. It's like walking on a cloud. I highly doubt they do anything for my butt or legs, but I love the way they feel. For someone who has been suffering from some awful legs cramps, these shoes do really help me stretch out my legs. I can rock forward and back and get a good calf stretch in without anyone really noticing. ;)
 
Liann said:
. The soles are thick, but they are super soft and you just melt into them when you walk. It's like walking on a cloud. I highly doubt they do anything for my butt or legs, but I love the way they feel.
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ITA! I don't feel them in my legs and butt at all, but I do notice them in my calves when I take Maximus for our 2-3 mile walk. Maybe it's because they are so new to me, I do find them more challenging to walk in than my regular tennis shoes. I have to pay more attention to my stride or I feel off balance.
 
When we were in San Francisco for two weeks over Christmas, I had intended to get a pair of walking shoes. As I was trying shoes on, I found the Shape-ups were really comfortable and got them.

Though I used to live there, my DH had never been before, so we were walking EVERYWHERE, for hours a day. I was really happy that I'd gotten them, even if the style made me feel like I had Minnie Mouse shoes on.

Overall, I don't feel that there are great added toning benefits -- except if you walk up and down steep streets. The rocking motion, especially when I concentrated on putting my heel down first, definitely added difficulty!
 
I have a pair of the MBT sneakers that I wear every day all day (yea, I know you're not supposed d to wear the same pair of shoes all the time). I bought them before I had seen any of these commercials for wearing these shoes to get a better butt - the MBTs weren't marketed that way. They were marketed as a way to help people with knee and back problems - other things too probably but all I was testing them for was for relief from a knee problem I was having.

All I can say is I LOVE these shoes. They are the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn, Yea, they aren't pretty, but I don't care, I am all about comfort. They feel like they are propelling me when I walk, it is just lovely to walk in these shoes. I wear a pedometer and get in 10,000 to 15,000+ steps a day in these puppies.

I am a cathlete and as I said didn't purchase them to work on my butt (I agree, nothing works the butt like butts & guts) or my legs. Just wanted my knee to stop clicking and hurting when I took the stairs so I could get back to my beloved Cathe step workouts!

I took them out of the box and wore them all day, never felt sore from them. It never really occurred to me to think that they were giving me a "workout". Now I am a bit embarrassed to wear them though because people ask me if they are the sketchers and I think - NO!, I didn't buy these shoes because I actually think that they will make me have a better butt!
 
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I have Avia's branded shape ups. They are comfy. I wear them at work--- I work ten hour shifts on my feet so thought why not get a workout? No major transformations have been noticed...but they are comfy. :)
 
I bought a pair of the Sketchers Shape-ups and love them. I work 12 hour shifts as an RN and being on my feet most of those 12 hours is much more pleasant with these shoes. They are like walking on clouds of sand. I noticed that my posture is better and my feet ache less after work. I have done my light weight leg/butt workouts with them on and they do make u have to balance more and I can feel a difference in my hams/butt while working out with them on. I think they would be dangerous for any kind of lateral movements.

I also think they look a little odd but for work I'm too concerned about the look. Co-workers had been saying how much they liked them, so I tried a pair on and loved them immediately.
 
I love anything "rocker bottom" lol!

I have several pair: MBT's, Shape Ups, Dr Scholls, the Avia's---love each and every one and I don't think they are ugly in the least! I love the way they feel on my feet!! I have very low arches and these type of shoes are so comfy. I don't know if they "shape me", I just enjoy the way my feet feel in them.

Love my rockers!! ;)


Denise
 
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