Do Shapeups Really Shape You Up?

Those of you who know me, know I don't keep my opinions of 'toning shoes' a secret. Sketchers Shapeups, Reebok Easytone, New Balance Rock and Tone, Avia Avi-motion, whatever brand you choose, they all work the same way: not at all. You might be inclined to disagree, especially if you are employed by a company that makes toning shoes (toning shoes sales grossed near 1 billion dollars last year alone), or if you've visited some of these companies' websites. Shapeups website for example, boasts their toning shoe 'firms buttock muscles', 'tones and firms thigh muscles', and 'firms calf muscles'. What you won't find on the site, however, is evidence of research to support these claims. Manufacturers, naturally, will say that there ARE such studies, but they'll be more reluctant to tell you that said studies were created and paid for by the companies themselves.

When doing research to write this, I was surprised to see just how many toning shoes are out there. Sketchers has their Shapeups, New Balance has a few different variations of toning shoes. So does Reebok, and they've even gone so far as to come out with a line 'toning clothing'.  One brand you don't see in the toning shoe world but is always a big name for anything fitness: Nike. Why is this? Well, I guess it depends on who you ask. Ask any of the major toning shoe manufacturers and they'll say Nike is sulking, upset the didn't come up with the idea first. Ask Nike, however, and they will probably reference a study done by the American Counsel on Exercise (ACE).  The study concluded that the shoes fail to live up to the outrageous claims made by the manufacturers. Exercising in toning shoes does not offer more benefits than exercising in regular shoes. Nike's position on the subject is that they don't believe in the claims and are not making a product for their customers that they don't have faith in. (per article on cnbc, Nike Fights Back Against Toning Shoe)

Even with this, and other studies, disproving the too good to be true claims, millions of people still buy toning shoes. How is this market so profitable? Advertising. Spend enough money in ads and you've got people eating out of the palm of your hand, or, in this case, buying junk and lacing it to their feet.

Differing opinions of toning shoes aside, all I can give you is my professional opinion, and it is this: the shoes are worthless. Losing weight and toning your muscles require hard work; it always has and it always will.