Like so many other times, the latest fitness craze isn’t living up to it’s promises… surprise, surprise.
Toning shoes have exploded over the past year and women all over the country are jumping on board. Just to put a
No Offense... But Fugly Shoes
number to it, last year sales where good… this year excellent. Sales are expected to jump up 5 fold to make the profit over $1.5 billion! With the average toning shoe selling for around $100, that means selling upward of 15,000,000 pairs of shoes. Damn!
So what is the problem? Well… recent research just came out from the American Council on Exercise, that may prove these shoes aren’t doing any more than just walking, running and exercising in regular athletic shoes.
That isn’t all though (of course), it appears that women love their shoes from the start but after time are complaining of tightened achilles tendons, foot pain and leg issues. And I have to admit there was a good point that came up… if you have to read a book of directions before wearing your shoes is that really a good shoe?
One brand, Sketchers, recommends starting off wearing their magical toning shoes for just 25 minutes… so what? You are a busy woman walking on your feet all day and you have to stop to put on a new pair of shoes? Ummm, after I just spent $100 on a pair of fitness shoes, I think not.
But it hasn’t stopped the big brands from making new toning shoes to get on the bandwagon… NewBalance is on board
The Newest Tone Shoe... Just as ugly as the others
getting ready to release a pair that they “promise” to burn more calories with each step, tone your legs and butt and help you look better without a gym…
YOU CAN’T TONE YOUR ENTIRE BODY BY WALKING!
Sorry for the caps, but it’s true… sure you can work the muscles in your legs, and burn off calories, but what about your arms, your core, etc? It would be silly to have tight legs and then wings flying around as you walk because your arms are flabby. You need a total body workout to get total body results. I guess that puts my stance on the situation out there.
And I have to say… I have never been a Nike fan before. Their shoes just aren’t a good fit for my feet and I always end up with shin splints or stress fractures when I wear them… BUT they are the one company that is standing up and saying that for the better of their company they are refraining from the toning fad. It’s just a fad and it doesn’t fit with Nike’s “Just Do It”… that promotes increased fitness health and activities… Nike, I love you!
Do you have a pair? What are you thoughts?
Read the study details here: Toning Shoes May Not Be So Great
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
these are great shoes!.. i love it..
Good job Nike on not jumping on board with a worthless fad! They may work some muscles in your legs (wouldn’t know, never used them), but they can’t be good for posture and the kinetic chain. Whoever figured out how to make a profit by making uncomfortable shoes is pretty clever however.
My aunt has a pair of Sketcher Shape Ups – the really ugly ones! She said that her legs were a little sore for a day or two after wearing them all day but that was it. (she’s already in decent shape) She doesn’t think they are really helping her tone but that it HAS helped her posture. Because of the sole of the shoe you have to have better balance of your body weight – no slouching! These shoes aren’t something I’d ever wear but I think people just have way to high expectations for them. You’d think after so many years the American people would have figured out there is no magic shortcut to help you lose weight or tone up.