Opinions on "Shape-up" type shoes?

I just got them for Christmas from my mother-in-law. I really like them because they are comfortable and they make me feel like I am walking in sand. And (please do not make fun of me) it gives me the illusion that I have to go for more walks with my dog. Of course I still workout regularly at home and at the gym, it just gives me the opportunity to do something else.

My *extremely* out of shape friend has a pair that she just wears all day, and she said that she could feel her muscles working. Whether she still feels the burn a few months later I don't know. I myself tried on a pair at the store and felt like I might twist my ankle in them because of their unstability! Twisting my ankle wouldn't let me do my regular running and exercise! Plus (and this is purely my aesthetic) I think Shape-ups ugly and wouldn't be caught dead in them. Maybe if elevator shoes come back in fashion... But hey, different strokes for different folks! The Reebok ones look a little more like normal tennis shoes.

I am not sure about the "Shape-Up" brand, but I have owned a pair of the Reebok EasyTones for about 10 months. I don't think they really do much for toning, but they are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. The result? I walk more because my feet don't hurt!

Michelle

I am not sure about the "Shape-Up" brand, but I have owned a pair of the Reebok EasyTones for about 10 months. I don't think they really do much for toning, but they are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. The result? I walk more because my feet don't hurt!

Michelle

Seriously, the ugliest shoes ever!!!

I have a pair of easy tones and a pair of shape ups and they do work, but you have to be doing actual walking. Just plain old wearing them like the ads tell you is a myth. I personally find that the easy tones were better, but since i go them second it's hard to say if the shape ups paved the way for the toning or not. Do not get me wrong however, It has only changed the lift of my butt... I do not hae 6 foot long, tan legs now like the pictures promised. I have a friend who swears by the new balance version though. Might be somethign to look at. I know personally I am a little biased when it comes to foot wear as I worked in a sporting goods store for 12 years and know how many pairs of Sketcher shoes came back due to poor craftsman ship (didn't stop me from buying a pair tho...) and since they are considered a "fashion" athletic shoe, with all the other options now I would stick with an athletic company. But that's just my 2 cents.... Really if the shoe fits... wear it :laugh:

I have the New Balance kind. I don't wear them for regular activities (to me, they're so obvious, it invites people to look at my butt and judge whether or not they think the shoes are working! No thank you!). I wear them when I'm walking the dog, and I definitely feel my hamstrings and glutes more acutely, both during the walk and afterwards.

They are super dorky, though.

I have had the Shape-ups for about a year now. My 8-yr old daughter calls them my hideous shoes, but they made a world of difference for me. I don't think they do any shaping up as they claim, but they are the sole reason my plantar fasciitus went away. I struggled for a year with extreme foot pain until I started wearing them. My pain is now completely gone and I have gone back to working out in regular tennis shoes now.

I just saw a commercial for New Balance ones that look like regular tennis shoes! I'm curious as to if they are worth it... I never wear tennis shoes though unless I'm out exercising. The shape ups are crazy ugly, lol!

I have a pair of the Shape Ups, I thought I would just give them a try. Like the others not sure they really do much but they did help me with balance. When I first got them I walked slower than the group of walkers at work and I felt like I was working harder. I wear them all the time now for shopping and just general use because they are so comfortable. They do make me stand up straighter and walk differently but I use good gym shoes for working out.

I think it depends on what your feet need and how you walk. They can be bad for you if you are a pronator or have tendon problems. I will never wear them because I have a problem with my achilles due to a deformity on my heelbone. My cousin is a renowned pediatrist and discourages her patients from wearing them and my aunt recently had to have surgery because they aggravated an existing condition and she had to be off her feet for months.... if you're going to walk around the house and yard it might be ok but if you're going to do any extended walking/running I would recommend being fit for a proper shoe at a trusted sports store in your area where they watch you walk/run and see how the shoe supports your foot.

I have two pairs of the reebok run tones ( love them) and one pair of the easy tone ( those I just like).

When I first got mine I thought what have I got myself into. Shoes that not only come with instructions but a dvd(workout-it's okay), these might be too complicated for me. At first my feet did hurt but you are only suppose to wear them for so long until your feet get used to them. Then after that they are wonderful. The problem with them is they lose their bouncy too fast and if you continue to wear them after it's gone you can start to walk funny. You have to replace them faster than normal tennis shoes. At first you feel like you will twist an ankle but you get used to them and then you stop thinking about that. You definitely shouldn't do anything active in them. I ran and played tennis in mine, very bad idea, thought for sure I was gonna twist an ankle. I really liked them while they lasted.

Now I'm wearing Reebok DMX Max, they are kinda like the Reebok Easytone. You can't play tennis in these either. The pads underneath are too grippy and make it hard to move fast. But for everyday, they are great shoes.

I don't recommend the generic Shape-ups you buy at stores discount-everything in one stores. Some ladies at work bought them and were very unhappy. The soles didn't even feel the same as Shape-ups.

Overall I liked my Shape-ups best but my Reeebok's have lasted way longer.

I have a pair for work, and they are the most comfortable pair of work shoes I've ever had. They really make standing/walking for 8-20 hours on a concrete/tile floor much easier. But for chasing a toddler, well it depends on the toddler. If your toddler is fast and can turn a corner on a grain of sand without loosing speed, forget the shape ups, cause you need a way more solid foot plant that you're going to get with shape ups. You'll end up sliding off the platform and rolling your ankle. If your toddlers more mellow and you can keep up just walking and occasionally jogging, they shouldn't give you a problem.

I bought me a pr of Skechers Shape Ups, & i loved them so much that i bought me another pr for work, the white slip resistant ones for the school cafeteria job. I never noticed if they ever toned up my legs or not, i don't think so, but the reason i got them is the thick comfortable padded bottoms, because i have Plantar Fasciitis and the shape up shoes are comfortable for the bottoms of my feet. Also, since i drive a school bus as well, the thick rounded padded bottoms made it difficult to work the school bus gas & brake pedals properly, so i got a pr. of the Skechers Tone Ups shoes to drive the bus in. So i like the Skechers Shape Ups & the Tone Ups. So worth the money especially if you have Plantar Fasciitis.