The most recent innovation in the fitness footwear market is toning shoes – and they seem to be attracting a good deal of publicity. Toning shoes promise their wearers a free toning and trimming lower body workout when they walk – thanks to a specially shaped sole. Toning shoes must seem like the answer to their prayers for a lot of busy, modern women.
It should be noted that there are those who query the whole toning shoes concept. The American Council for Exercise (ACE) commissioned a study which, in their opinion at least, demonstrated that the claims made for toning shoes were spurious. The footwear manufacturers hit back by pointing out that the ACE study had an extremely small sample size and an age range which wasn’t representative of the target market.
The major footwear manufacturers have had tests and trials of their own carried out – and these tend to support the benefits claimed for toning shoes. However, the fact that the money for these tests was put up by the manufacturers themselves is enough to make many query the validity of the results.
Considering the inconclusive nature of the scientific findings at the moment, taking a quick look at some user feedback would seem to make sense. This seems to be extremely positive – and a lot of toning shoe wearers seem to perceive benefits that aren’t claimed by the footwear manufacturers.
Cellulite reduction as a result of wearing toning shoes is reported by some users. Some people, especially those who have experienced ongoing problems with joint pain or foot spurs, report that walking in toning shoes has reduced impacts and jarring and has alleviated various problems. Maybe that should be no big surprise. After all, MBT shoes – one of the oldest toning shoes available on the market – were originally developed to improve posture and provide relief from lower back pain.
According to some user feedback, FitFlops toning shoes are very comfortable to walk in – more so than other types of exercise shoe. FitFlops also serve to demonstrate the latest toning shoe trend of not looking like fitness footwear. The FitFlop range incorporates sandals, clogs, sneakers, slippers and winter boots. Some of these are very fashionable – and other toning shoe manufacturers, like Skechers and MBT shoes for instance, are beginning to make shoes which look less like athletic shoes and more like conventional shoes.
When all’s said and done, for a great many toning shoes buyers, these will be just another pair of cool looking shoes. A lot of people will enjoy the comfortable fit of some toning shoes and find them better to walk in than normal exercise shoes. It’s possible that they may even be encouraged to walk a little further than normal. For many people, any “toning” benefits received may well be viewed as a welcome additional bonus.
Find out why walking for weight loss is so effective. And if rain is on the way you can still be cool and trendy in a pair of Hunter boots – as worn by royalty!