Reebok EasyTones, for example, use air pods instead of a rocker sole to generate the imbalance which produces the toning effect. As a matter of fact, the Reebok air pod sole was designed by an ex-NASA scientist – so you have to have a little faith in the technology based upon that alone.

EasyTones look very much like traditional training shoes – and there’s a wide range of different styles and colors available for you to choose from. They have also recently introduced some sandals into their range – perfect for spring and summer.

They also have RunTones now which are, unlike many toning shoes, safe to jog and run in.

And, when it comes to sandals, you should probably also have a look at the FitFlops range of toning shoes. These have a slightly thicker sole than a normal flip flop – but nothing like the thickness of either Skechers or MBT shoes. They started life in the UK as a range of flip flop types sandals – but the range has expanded to include clogs, slippers, sneakers and winter boots.

They are very colorful, bright and chic – and they look absolutely nothing like exercise shoes, which is good as it means that you can wear them in situations where you wouldn’t normally be able to get away with exercise type footwear.

FitFlops have a wide range of sandals, boots, sneakers and clogs – as you can see above.

They are also well known for being extremely comfortable to wear, in fact one of the additions to the FitFlop range earlier this year was their Gogh Pro clog – which is specially designed for hospital workers and others who spend a long time on their feet at work and therefore need shoes that will be comfortable to wear for a long shift.

So – if you don’t fancy thick and chunky rocker bottomed soles, there’s no need to despair. Just have a look at either Roobok or FitFlops and you can still tone and trim as you walk throughout the course of your normal daily routine.

Skechers Shape Ups are very recognizable due to their thick, curved sole. Plenty of people think they look great (and they do), but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there are some who think that the thick sole looks a little clumsy.

Some of the latest Shape Ups have a slightly disguised sole and look considerably sleeker than the original Shape Ups. The Kinetix Respons SRT for example, as shown on the left, is considerably slimmer than many of the earlier Skechers styles.

It comes in black/hot pink – as shown and as worn by Kim Kardashian in her recent Superbowl commercial – and no fewer than 5 different color schemes. they all look great and there’s bound to be one that you will suit you.

Check out Skechers Kinetix Response at Amazon …

Ms. Kardashian was spotted tucking into a generous portion of burger and fries – followed up by a muffin in a New York eatery. Within a matter of hours, pictures of the reality TV star were all over the internet and also appeared in various newspapers and magazines the next day.

The general opinion seemed to be that, when it’s more common to see actresses and movie stars shuffling a few salad leaves around their plate, it’s good to see such a well known celebrity displaying a healthy appetite.

However, even shapely celebs have to pay a price for their burger indulgences and, the very next day, Kim was spotted heading to the gym for a quick workout – presumably to work off some of her burger related calories. Guess what she was wearing on her feet? That’s right – her Skechers Shape Ups! And of course, those images made it all over the net as well.

It’s great publicity for Skechers and it must surely resonate with the Shape Ups target audience – busy women who struggle to find time to exercise, but who still like to enjoy a normal meal from time to time rather than starving themselves.

Anyway, just in case you missed it, check out gorgeous Kimmy’s Skechers Superbowl commercial below:

It’s hardly surprising. The prospect of getting a free lower body workout, toning your legs, trimming down your bottom, banishing cellulite and generally getting in better shape, just by wearing a different pair of shoes is a tantalising one. However, recent events may be giving some potential customers pause for thought, and possibly even making them wonder if wearing toning shoes is safe.

An Ohio woman is suing Skechers, claiming that wearing their Shape Up Shoes caused her injury. It’s far from a cut and dried case – it seems that extended use was involved. Nevertheless, there has been a lot of publicity and there is even a special website by injury lawyers ready to “assist” anyone who wants to raise a claim against certain shoe companies.

The facts of the matter are very simple: Toning shoes should be treated like any other item of fitness equipment and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If they are used incorrectly, or if they are overused, then – as with any other form of exercise – injury is possible. For example, whether you wear toning shoes or not, jogging or running to excess, especially on hard surfaces, can lead to repetitive types of strains and injuries.

However, unless you have a pre-existing medical condition, if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and if you don’t overdo things or attempt something that your own body is incapable of achieving, then toning shoes, combined with walking, represent a low impact, low injury risk way to exercise and get in shape. Take some sensible precautions, do a little homework and toning shoes will be not only safe to wear and use, but beneficial to you.

Choose the right kind of toning footwear. There are a variety of different styles and brands. Most of these are intended for walking, although there are some toning shoes which may be used for running or jogging available now. Choose the type most suited to your intended form of use. Do not use toning shoes intended for walking to run, jog or play sports in.

Look for the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) seal of acceptance. There are a variety of different toning shoes which have been evaluated by the APMA – Reebok EasyTones and FitFlops for example – and which have received the APMA seal of acceptance to indicate that they are “foot friendly”.

You can view a full list of APMA approved toning footwear here …

When you’ve chosen the right pair of toning shoes, remember to break them in so that your body can get used to them. Wear them for short periods only until you become accustomed to them. Make sure that they are a good fit and, whilst they may feel a little odd at first, they shouldn’t alter your walking gait to the point where you feel unstable. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them.

Although walking is, as previously mentioned, a low impact, low injury risk form of exercise, you should still stretch before your walking workout. Take it easy at first and have a cool down period at the end.

Finally, if you suffer from any medical conditions (and even if you don’t), it’s always a good idea to seek medical advice before you embark upon any new exercise routine. Although there are a variety of different brands and styles of toning shoes, most of them work on the introduction of a small element of imbalance into the walking process. If you have balance problems then toning shoes may not be a good option for you.

However, for the vast majority of people, toning shoes, combined with a low impact walking exercise regime, will be something which is not only safe, but very beneficial. Don’t think of toning shoes as a magic pill – but rather a useful addition or enhancement to your exercise program. Apply a little common sense and you’ll be able to get into better shape as well as getting a whole host of other health benefits as well.

The idea behind toning shoes is that, by the use of a specially designed sole, they introduce an element of imbalance whilst walking. The lower body muscles naturally attempt to restore the body’s natural balance and this causes them to do additional work. This is how the “workout while you walk” effect is achieved.

The various manufacturers have all had a variety of trials and tests conducted which support the efficacy of their products and back up the claims being made. User feedback is also very positive. However, it almost goes without saying that there are those who doubt the validity of some of the test results and who query the entire concept of toning shoes.

Nevertheless, there is very definitely a market there for toning shoes. Reebok Easy Tones and Skechers Shape Ups have both seen the market share of their respective companies increase. Reebok’s share of the U.S. women’s athletic footwear market has doubled, to 6.7%. Skecher’s share has tripled, to 17% – which represents around $ 226 million worth of sales. Meanwhile, market leader Nike, which has steadfastly refused to develop and market toning shoes, has seen its market share fall by 7.2% to 31%.

It could be that Nike consider their footwear to be aimed more at “serious” athletes than toning shoes. Whatever the reason for their apparent reticence to get into the toning shoes market, it might prove to be a costly decision for them.

As recently as twelve months ago, the top ten athletic shoes didn’t include any toning shoes or women’s footwear. A survey in May of 2010 found that six of the top ten athletic shoes were toning shoes – two Easy Tones and four Shape Ups. To be fair to Nike, the remaining four were all Nike brands. During 2008, U.S. toning shoe sales amounted to $ 17 million. During the first four months of 2010, sales sky-rocketed to $ 252 million.

The fact of the matter is that toning shoes are probably more likely to be worn when walking around Wal-Mart than they are when pounding around a running track. The Reebok ads show women decorating their houses and walking their dogs. Skechers ads show women walking to work in their Shape Ups. There are now more and more toning shoes in the Skechers range which look like “normal” shoes rather than fitness footwear. Meanwhile, other manufacturers such as Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes and FitFlops continue to offer toning shoes which are styled more like everyday shoes than exercise shoes.

The other manufacturers seem to have a very different vision of the market than Nike. Based upon the sales figures, it does look as if Nike may be the one who is out of step.

Toning shoes are the latest development in fitness footwear. They promise to either give wearers a lower body workout as they walk about during the course of their normal daily routine, or alternatively, to raise the efficiency of their exercise program.

There are a large number of different brands and designs available – and they all have different ways of achieving this. However, the common theme seems to be a specially designed sole which, by one means or another, encourages the muscles in your legs and butt to work a little harder than usual when you walk around.

The general theory seems to be that the soles introduce a small element of instability. Your lower body muscles – quite naturally – attempt to re-establish your body’s natural balance – and that’s what causes the extra work.

Let’s have a look at some of the best known brands available on the market today and see how they work:

Skechers Shape Ups come in a variety of styles - for both men and women.

Skechers Shape Ups Shoes

Skechers Shape Ups have a chunky, rocker type sole. This reduces jarring when your foot first makes contact with the ground and then promotes a gentle rolling motion as you continue forward. The idea is that it’s supposed to mimic the sensation of walking barefoot across soft sand and introduce imbalance – which generates the extra effort as mentioned earlier.

Obviously the extra work performed by the lower body muscles has a toning and trimming effect on the legs and butt. Additional to this – although it’s not something that the company makes any claims for – user testimonials suggest that there are benefits in terms of cellulite reduction, reduced joint aches and pains etc.

Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes have a characteristic thick, curved sole.

Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) Shoes

Masai Barefoot Technology shoes could, with some justification, claim to be the first toning shoes (albeit there are others who could make similar claims). They were originally designed not to be toning shoes, but to provide relief for back and joint pain.

Their originator, a Swiss engineer by the name of Karl Muller, was walking barefoot across a rice field in Korea when he noticed that his lower back pain – a perennial problem for him – was much improved. He did some research and found that the Masai tribesmen of Africa are known for their good posture and that they rarely suffer from lower back pain.

He designed MBT shoes to reproduce the mechanics of walking barefoot on soft ground and there are now thousands of satisfied users worldwide. As you can see, they have a similar, thick curved sole as Skechers Shape Ups shoes.

FitFlops
FitFlops started life in the UK as a range of brightly colored sandals. They were the brainchild of Marcia Kilgore – the founder of the Bliss Spa range. As a busy, professional woman, Ms. Kilgore found that she didn’t have time to visit the gym as often as she would have liked. Rather than simply accepting the situation, she worked with London South Bank University to come up with FitFlops which, according to the company’s publicity will give you a “workout while you walk”.

FitFlop's special microwobbleboard sole uses carefully selected materials.

FitFlops use a special sole – it’s thicker than normal flip flop type sandals, but not as thick and chunky as either Skechers Shape Ups or MBTs – which uses different densities of materials in different areas of the sole to produce a “microwobbleboard” effect. The microwobbleboard is the way that FitFlops introduce instability during normal walking.

The main difference between FitFlops and other toning shoes is the fact that FitFlops have never really looked anything like exercise shoes. They are very bright and fashionable and the range has expanded from the original flip flop style of sandals to include clogs, slippers, winter boots and even sneakers.

FitFlops have a wide range to choose from. Most look nothing like fitness footwear!

Reebok Easy Tones have specially designed air pods in their soles.

Reebok Easy Tones

Reebok EasyTones are a fairly recent addition to the toning shoes market. They are different to other toning shoes insofar as they use specially designed air pods (designed by an ex-NASA scientist no less) to generate the instability that generates the extra work and helps to tone your lower body.

Given the Reebok pedigree, it should be no great surprise to learn that, by and large, Easy Tones look like high tech fitness footwear. Reebok have brought all of their resources to bear on what is becoming a rapid growth area for them, and have conducted numerous trials to prove the effectiveness of their Easy Tone toning shoe design.