Sketchers Shape Up Shoes - Anyone tried them?
 

I just saw a quick commercial on Sketchers Shape Up Shoes. They look like a regular walking shoe, only with a thicker (bouncy or springy?) sole. They cost over $100 so I thought I'd check to see what others thought before buying.

You can check them out at sketchers.com (I can't post links yet).

Here's an Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_94a1ivwu4w_b

The whole premise behind these is that they make your walking inefficient, thus making your body burn more calories. It seems like they're gearing them more for walking shoes, and if so, they may help, but maybe not.

Out of curiosity, I clicked the link as I wanted to see what they look like.
I don't know - I would really hesitate to spend the $$ on them. I think I would prefer to keep my less efficient regular running shoes and some jogging instead (that is, if I didn't have plantar fasciitis). AND keep my money.

I also scrolled down and found ANTI-CELLULITE insoles.
http://www.amazon.com/SmartSole-5510...499849&sr=1-17
That sounds like a true snake oil to me. LOL

I'm so glad you posted about this. I saw an ad in People mag yesterday and meant to post later but forgot. I saw other companies with similar shoes at the expo before the Country Music Marathon (my sister ran the half). It's a neat concept but too much money and they just look silly to me

Curves makes a shoe alot like this sold through Avon for ALOT less. I bet they would work but probably cause muscle pain until your body adjusted to them.

...yeah they look silly! but i have been wondering the same things about them. I'm not convinced so I will be keeping my $$ for the time being!

I have to agree with everyone else, it's too pricey to try out. Especially sketchers, those used to be the cheaper shoes at the store. Did they go upscale when I wasn't looking?
A good pair of walking/running shoes will run you about that price and you know what your getting with them.
Sarah in MD

They ain't so bad! :)
 

I was visiting Somni in the states last month, when I stumbled upon the Sketchers Shape Ups. I was rather hesitant at first, wondering if they were just a weird gimmick/fad, but after seeing them, we went home and looked up a bunch of reviews on them, and found that all of the reviews seemed pretty glowing. So, before I left, I went ahead and bought a pair.

I have to say that so far, I'm enjoying them a lot. They are very cushy to wear, comfy and give LOTS of padding when you walk. You do have to walk in a certain way in order to get the work out side of them, but I can walk naturally in them as well without any sort of problem, if I'm not looking for the muscle workout.

In fact, I spent 2.5 hours walking around in them yesterday as a friend and I went shopping and walking, and though I did quite often forget to walk in a manner that would work the muscles, when I did remember, I got a very nice calf workout. I didn't feel it so much in the butt, which they say in the ads the shoes are also supposed to work, but, I definitely felt it in my calves.

They don't make you walk funny or anything, or even inefficiently, its just a different motion with your foot, you kinda roll from the heel to the toe when you walk, which actually feels quite nice once you are used to it.

So, I am enjoying them so far! :)

(And as a side note, they are perfect when you want to bounce a baby on your knee. hehehe. Makes it kinda fun and much easier on the muscles. lol )

One thing I will say though, if you are thinking about buying them, you need to know that they run small. I normally where an 8.5 shoe, and my Sketcher Shape Ups are 9.5 and a tiny bit snug.

I'd love to hear about other people's experiences with these shoes!!

I wonder how this will affect your knee and hip joints in the long run, if your gait/stride is being affected...

Kira

Kinda like heels ;)

But I wonder how much time the average person would actually spend in them anyway.

These are similar to MBT. MBT were designed from how a tribe in Africa walks barefoot. The way they walk works your core and that is what these shoes are supposed to do, work your core. I work with women who own MBT shoes and swear by them. One girls mom has 6 pair and at almost $200 a pair, that says something about them.

I've never worn heels, except going out to dinner when DH and I were dating 17 years ago. Never wore them as a teen. Never wore them in the workplace because I worked in sneakers (job requirement) or boots (job requirement) from the age of 18 onwards, and as a result, have nice straight feet and toes with no orthopedic issues whatsoever. I don't even own a pair of heels today -- only wear flats with dressy clothes, and since there's no $$ to go anywheres special, they'll do!!!

I'm glad for that, cause I have friends who spent years jamming their feet into heels and today are paying the price, orthopedically...

Kira

They had a shoe like this on the Rachel Ray show. It was a lot more expensive than the Skechers shoe. They had a regular person try it out for a couple of weeks and they said it worked. It really helped them tone up their legs. My chiropractor even wear them so it must not mess with your back or hips.

I just got the MBTs. I am wearing them today after a week debating on whether to return them because of the cost. I got some silicone spray to protect them and put them on. I can feel the workout. I can also say my back feels better!

Im telling you- this is going to make it onto a VH1 show one day - " I love the 00'S"

I went to Kmart and bought Therashoes. They are 34.99. I think the address is http://www.therashoes.com I bought them last week and wore them for my 7 mile walk and o my were my legs SORE the next day. Right now they are buy one get one half off. They are VERY comfortable the most comfortable shoe I have EVER worn BUT you WILL have muscle soreness if you don't allow yourself time to adjust. Therashoes also have a knockoff of the Fitflops at the Big K and they are currently 9.99 and they are also buy one get one half off. Make sure you try them on as they the sneakers tend to run small.

Corrected link http://www.therashoe.com

I shoulda known there'd be knockoffs!

BTW, the link is actually therashoe.com

this sorta reminds me of the slim slippers thing, lol. i think its based on the fact that walking on your toes strengthens legs over a long period. my son had surgery last year for heel cord problems. while walking almost completely on his toes for 5 straight years did indeed make his legs SOLID muscle, i doubt wearing these shoes for a few hours a day would do much.

....along with the snuggie blanket!

My daughter is also a toe walker. Has very strong legs toned like a dancers and just turned 11 yesterday. I am very concerned as my sister in law has a friend that's child also had to have surgery because of this. I wonder if this type of shoe would prevent this problem as it has a rocker sole.
BTW,I got Fitflops last summer and wore them all the time. My legs went from 27 inches 24 just during the summer I wore them. Note that I walk ALOT and at a fast pace. I was suprised at the extreme soreness in my legs and stomach after wearing the Therashoes as I am used to walking alot. My upper legs now measure 22 inches but I feel that is due to all the racewalking I do. I do feel that the shoes give me an extra kick as do another shoe I wear sometimes called Metatreks.

maybe in mild cases something like this could help, but with my son it was quite pronounced. we tried physical therapy and also having him walk in braces, his heel cords were simply too tight! he eventually had the surgery to correct the problem and ever since then he's off his toes. your friends child should be just fine, mine doesnt even have a scar.

Did your child's doctor explain why children toe walk? Is it simply a bad habit they fall into?

Mygirlfriday,
They are alot like the Avon curve,and MBT shoes. Everyone has been telling me how much they like my new shoes. BTW,I bought a size 7 men which would mean they would be a 9 women's there is no way I wear a 9 womens. Try them on in the store and walk around in them. That is what I did. I liked them so much I wore them to the register they were THAT comfortable. I did not want to take them off. If you click on the link you can see the ones I bought. I got the suede ones. They look really sharp. I then went back and bought the navy blue striped shoe. These are leather shoes and nicely made I might add and way less then the cost of other shoes that are similar. If you walk as much as I do it might be worth it to snatch up to pair while they are on sale buy one get one half off. My sneaks last a long time because I always alternate pairs.BTW,you can also get these at Sears.

I have had my Sketchers for about a month. Don't know if they actuaaly do anything but I love them and think they look cool. but I am 51 ,so what do I know about cool?

with him it was actually that the heel cord (which runs from the bottom of your foot all the way up the back of your leg) was simply too tight. it pulled, so he would go up on his toes to compensate. the surgery they do for that is to go in and cut a notch out to give it a little more elasticity. it was an outpatient procedure and then he wore casts for 6 weeks. for us, it was the last solution and it worked WONDERFULLY!

I've heard of these, I never wear tennis shoes so I wouldn't buy them but I do own a similar product, Fit Flops sandals, that I LOVE. I originally bought them because they are crazy comfy, but the claims of cellulite reduction and more toned legs was actually true! I wear them almost all the time (unless I'm going somewhere formal) and within 2 weeks, I actually did see a reduction in cellulite on the back of my legs. Of course, I exercise and eat right also (these are not magic weight loss shoes!) but I didn't change anything else in my program at the time I started wearing these, so I can only assume that it's the shoes that made the difference.

I've had my TheraShoes for almost a week & I loooove them :)

What color therashoe did you buy? Are you exercising in them?I just went and bought black.

Mine are white with pink trim.

I haven't done my workouts in them.... kinda nervous. Although I do mine barefoot now. I don't think I'd to aerobic type in them because of the injury potential however I do see them being beneficial for toning/weights.

I would not do aerobics in them either. Esp step aerobics however racewalking in them is great.

Does anyone know anything about Plantar Fasciitis? And if so, would any of the shoes mentioned in the previous posts work to reduce foot/heel pain caused by PF???

This article from CNN might be of help

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/12...ref=newssearch

They basically say the shoes don't work. :shrug:

I've had a lot of problems with this myself, and bought a pair of Crocs Cloud, which are from their "medical" line of crocs, designed by podiatrists. My feet have never felt better! I also bought the Crocs Relief which are recommended for PF but I prefer the Cloud.

I used Shape Ups, not for weight loss but because they correct your posture and ensure that when I walk I am walking correctly.

I have major back issues and they are fantactic for this, I was recommended to get MBTs but Shape Ups are so much more affordable

The trail that I use for my walks is a "gravel" trail. It is made of crushed asphalt pieces and they are very sharp. Can someone who has the therashoes or the skechers tell me if they think the soles would be able to handle this please? I've already destroyed a couple pairs of shoes on this trail, so right now I am using cheap ($20) walking shoes from wal-mart because I don't want to tear up anything that cost much.

The soles on the Therashoes hold up VERY well. I bought 2 pair and alternate them as is a good thing to do with all workout shoes. They are also only 34.99 and when Kmart has the special sale buy 1 get one half off is an excellent time to get them. My legs have really toned up since wearing them. I have lose an extra inch in a month and a half of wearing them but note I also walk ALOT.

I think the therashoes would hold up great. They soles are very thick.

This past month I've lost two inches around my thighs, 1/2 inch around my knees and another 1/2 inch on my calves. I think it's the shoes. I've lost a little bit everywhere else too, but TWO inches on my thighs is far & above my expectations.

Liz,

I also believe its the shoes as last year wearing fitflops and NOT changing my diet I lost THREE inches on my upper legs and this year wearing Therashoes I lost an inch over the past month and a half. I have also dropped an entire pants size. Despite what some news sources may say I KNOW they work for ME.