Toning Shoes

That's a great question, I've been wondering about them myself!

Good question girls I wondered the same thing. I did have one friend that loved them. But have not asked anyone else since. I am thinking about purchasing a pair. If you learn anything I would like to know. And if I buy a pr I will give you my opinion.

I have the Skechers Shape-Ups, and I really like them. I don't notice them working my butt and thighs more than any other shoes, but they are very comfortable and help me maintain proper posture better than flat shoes. I would recommend trying them on before you buy though, because they're shaped a little differently and you may need a larger size than you normally wear.

I know one person who bought and wore these. She told me they were comfortable, but started having physical problems with them and had to stop wearing them for a while. Sorry I can't remember the exact injury she got, but after her legs healed, she still wore them occasionally but not as much. She still thinks they are comfortable, but they provided no toning that she could notice.

I have the New Balance Toning Shoes, and I have to agree with the others, very comfortable, good posture reminders, but I dont see any specific results better than any other shoe!

I bought the Runtones by Reebok. They're pretty awesome if you've been running a while I think. I went for my first run in a very long time in them and my calves were BURNING! Now, I wear them to work to get a boost as I'm walking everywhere. I've noticed an increase in my ankle stability, but I think that I should have gotten the Easytones since I haven't been running since then... *guilt* I have heard good things from a lot of people, including the physical therapists that I work with.

I've read a lot about these in running magazines and while I'll be sticking to my Asics for the forseeable future, my fitness trainer sister got the Sketchers and used them while she was pregnant and her back stopped hurting. Can't really argue with that.

I bought the Sketchers and noticed better posture. Six months later I got the Reebok Toning shoes. If I wear them all day on the weekends while running errands and doing housework, I notice a difference and have a little soreness on Monday. I don't think the benefits are huge, but they are the most comfortable shoes!

I heard the foot doctors are loving them, they are making them a bunch of $$$$$

I have the reebok ones and, not to be a Debbie downer but I don't like them. I didn't notice any difference except that they were uncomfortable after a while. The inside is very 'cushion-y' but after a while I felt like the tongue of the shoe was squishing my foot from the top. Also, now I guess there is a hole punctured in the bottom of one if them so now when I walk you can hear the air woosh out. I am flat footed though and seem to be in the minority.

i have the sketchers ones and love them. i have noticed the posture thing definitely , which is a problem for me. and they seem a bit extra between me and the concrete floors i stand on 10 hours a day, as far as toning yes i feel they are doing something.
when i first started wearing them my legs were more tired , like i had worked out when i hadnt.

I have three pair of the Avia Avi-motions and I absolutely love them but unfortunately my doctor just told me that since my one ankle has pronation due to an accident they are absolutely the worst shoes for someone with this problem. Who knew? I feel more motivated to walk in them and do feel like my body compensates to keep balanced.

I have the Reebok Run Tones. I don't notice any difference in shaping, but they are definitely THE most comfortable sneakers ever. You can get them at Marshall's for $50, which is a big chunk off the regular price elsewhere.

I have and LOVE my Runtones. They're SO comfortable. No clue if they shape (prob not) but they're comfortable enough that I don't care and would buy another pair anyway.

That being said: toning shoes, unless specifically designed for the activity, should never be worn for running or 'working out'--because the entire theory behind them is instability, creating instability while doing anything more strenuous than standing/walking, you're extremely liable to injure yourself (the most common being rolling an ankle). I know that several makers design 'toning shoes' specifically for these activities (Reebok, for example, has Walktones, Runtones, and Traintones. I"m sure you can figure out which is for which), but don't try to use, say, your Shapeups to go running in. You're just asking for an injury.