If someone told you that you could tone up your legs and trim down your butt without having to go to the gym would you be interested? It sounds too good to be true – but there are now a whole range of shoes from a variety of different manufacturers which claim to be able to help you do exactly that. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors – a lot of them don’t look like exercise shoes at all and are extremely fashionable.

The common approach seems to be to replicate the sensation of walking barefoot on soft, yielding ground – like lush grass or sand for instance. Most of these new high technology fitness shoes feature specially designed soles in order to achieve this. Selection of the right density of materials used in the construction of the shoes also seems to be important.

Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes (MBTs)

These are probably the forerunner of the current range of shoes on the market. In fact, they aren’t fitness shoes at all, strictly speaking. They were developed by Karl Muller, a Swiss engineer. Walking barefoot across a rice field in Korea one day, he noticed that his back pain, an ongoing problem for him, was less troublesome than usual.

After performing some research he learned that the Masai tribesmen of Africa are well known for their excellent posture and have an extremely low incidence rate of lower back pain. He specifically designed the MBT range of shoes in such a way as to produce a rolling motion when your foot comes into contact with the ground. Users certainly seem enthusiastic about the benefits.

Fitflops Sandals, Boots And Shoes

The Fit flops range of fitness footwear was developed in the UK by ex-personal fitness trainer Marcia Kilgore. These also incorporate a specially shaped sole to simulate walking barefoot on soft ground and incorporate something which rejoices in the name of “microwobbleboard” technology. Testing at London South Bank University and Salford University in the UK has shown that the lower body muscles are engaged for longer when walking in Fitflops, in comparison with standard shoes. Fitflops will, according to the company website, give you a workout while you walk. They tone your lower body as you walk around during the course of your daily routine.

Of the different specially designed exercise shoes available, Fitflops are probably the least like fitness footwear. They have a wide selection of sandals available in a range of different styles and colors and have, in response to customer demand, introduced boots, slippers and clogs. Additional to the independent testing, anecdotal feedback from Fitflops wearers suggests that a wide variety of different benefits are available as a result of wearing these shoes. Improved posture, reduced cellulite and reduced heel spur pain are amongst the various benefits cited. Conventional flip flop type sandals can actually be a source of significant foot problems. However, Fitflops are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Skechers Shape Ups

Skechers Shape Ups shoes also incorporate a curved sole which uses specially selected materials in its construction. Again the aim is to replicate the effect of walking barefoot across soft sand. Clinical studies in both the USA and Japan have confirmed that walking in Shape Ups delivers a number of benefits to wearers.

Reeboks Easy Tones

Reeboks contribution to the latest trend in fitness shoes is the most recent addition to the market. Unlike the other shoes mentioned thus far, these do not incorporate a curved sole but use special balance pods filled with air which are built into the sole. These produce “natural instability” when you walk in them and this makes your muscles work a little harder as they try to compensate and regain balance.

Once again, various independent tests appear to back up the claims that lower body muscles do more work when wearing this type of shoe. There are also any number of rave reviews from actual users, both on the company website and in other locations.

On an intuitive level, it’s possible to imagine how the shoes that mimic walking in soft sand might stimulate your muscles to do some extra work. It’s probably also reasonable to assume that, if you’re trying to regain your balance on a constant basis, then that might make your muscles work a little bit harder. It’s certainly a very nice idea – getting a free lower body workout just by walking about as you would be doing anyway. It can’t hurt to try. There are now so many of these high tech wonder shoes available – and at prices pretty similar to standard fitness shoes – that you would probably be able to find a pair that you liked the next time you need new shoes anyway.

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Filed under: Health and Fitness