Don’t Let Reebok Fool You – Shoes Won’t Tone Your Butt!
December 14th, 2009
Reebok claims to have a simple answer to the elusive toned body that so many people want. They’ve created a line of shoes called EasyTone that will supposedly tone your lower body simply by walking in them.
According to Reebok, “EasyTone is designed to help give definition to your legs and butt. Simply walk and let the balance pods under your shoe do the rest. The slight instability created by the pods forces your muscles to work a little harder, toning you up as you strut.” Before you invest $100 or more in these sneakers thinking that they’ll actually improve your muscle tone, here are a few things to consider.
Is Appearance More Important than Function?
The foot is one of the most anatomically complex structures of the body, and unfortunately, we spend most of our lives wearing stiff shoes that restrict its natural function. This can promote weakness and increase susceptibility to injury in the foot and ankle, and because each joint of the body influences adjacent joints, it can also cause problems in other areas of the body that might seem unrelated.
The Reebok EasyTone shoes are just as likely as any other typical sneaker to alter natural foot function, and walking with “balanced pods” fixed to the bottom of your feet may even be worse. Although unstable surfaces can be beneficial for rehabilitation and injury prevention, this doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea to be regularly walking on “balance pods” that are embedded in rigid soles. Furthermore, the toes provide support and neuromuscular feedback which is important for balance and is likely to play a role in promoting proper walking mechanics. It seems that the “balance pods” in Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers would reduce toe function even more so than a normal sneaker.
Another concern is that the slight instability created by the EasyTone sneakers likely makes them inappropriate for certain activities, especially sports. Any activity that demands additional strength, balance, and agility, which can be something as simple as running on a bumpy sidewalk to catch a bus, will increase the need for stability. Because Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers are intentionally designed create slight instability, they oppose this need and can potentially increase the risk of injury in such situations. Although most people might consider this to be a matter of common sense, I’m sure there are some who would assume that the EasyTone sneakers are safe to use for any activity that regular sneakers could be used for.
While a toned body may give you some personal satisfaction and bring you additional attention, such benefits aren’t worth very much if you’re in pain and prone to injury. I’m not suggesting that Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers will directly cause you pain, but rather that the concept behind them is very questionable and prioritizes appearance over optimal function. In addition, it’s quite a stretch in my opinion to expect a pair of sneakers to have a noticable effect on your physical appearance.
Sneakers are Not the Answer to an Attractive Figure
Reebok claims that walking in their EasyTone sneakers results in your calf and hamstring muscles being activated up to 11% more than they would be with ordinary sneakers and that your gluteal muscles will be activated up to 28% more. Regardless of the percentages that Reebok quotes, walking isn’t enough of a stimulus to transform legs that are skinny or fat into legs that are toned with muscular definition. This would still be the case even if the EasyTone sneakers resulted in 100% more muscle activation. Despite this, I’m sure Reebok will make millions from their EasyTone line because most people are too attached to the prospect of a quick and easy solution and will be eager to believe that they really can “tone up as they strut.”
Being toned is really nothing more than having a reasonable amount of muscle without a lot of excess body fat. Although this is a simple concept, many people make the mistake of thinking that they need to do special types of exercises and do an excessive amount of exercise to burn calories. By doing so, they’re sacrificing their health for a slim figure when they really don’t need to. All that’s typically necessary to achieve an attractive figure is a moderate amount of exercise and a truly healthy diet, both of which will promote optimal health instead of detracting from it.
If you’re truly committed to improving your figure and don’t want to waste $100 on a pair of sneakers that are unlikely to deliver the results you’re hoping for, I suggest that you focus more on your lifestyle than what you’re wearing on your feet. With optimal health as your top priority and motivating force, stop eating processed foods, especially those containing sugar and refined carbohydrates, and eat more natural whole foods. This is the most reasonable way to lose weight, and you can accelerate the process in a health promoting way by doing low intensity aerobic exercise on a regular basis along with occasional interval training.
To improve your muscle definition, do some moderate strength training with an emphasis on functional and compound movements such as presses, pulls, lunges, squats, and deadlifts. These exercises will improve your physical function as well as improving muscle definition, and the fact that Olympic powerlifters do these exercises doesn’t mean that they’ll make you bulky or that you’ll need to lift heavy weights to benefit from them.
More on Improving Your Figure the Healthy Way
If you’re looking to improve your figure, one of the best things you can do for yourself is realize that most of your success will result from living a generally healthier lifestyle. Attempting to improve your appearance without this foundation will likely be a compensatory effort that will compromise your quality of life in other areas. If you need more guidance getting started with a well rounded exercise program, I recommend reading Core Performance by Mark Verstegen. For more information on the healthy lifestyle habits that will help you live a better life and make it easier to improve your figure, I suggest that you sign up for my free course, 7 Simple Steps to a Leaner, Happier, and Healthier You.
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I am glad I did not run out and buy some of these. Your article also explains why I probably prefer walking round barefoot most of the time.
Hi Patty, thanks for your comment! As you continue to enjoy walking barefoot, now you can appreciate the fact that you’re doing yourself a favor by promoting full and natural foot function.
I have the champion version from pay less. althought they wore out faster than any other sneaker ive owned. I walk over 10000 steps a day at my job as a cna. They do work in my case! But most people prolly dont walk that much in a week.
I know what you mean! I cant get enough of walking barefoot & I’m certainly glad I didn’t buy these XD
Vin – This is a great article. I have to tell you, as a fitness enthusiast, I have several pairs of athletic shoes. My go-to favorite for resistance training is my Nike Free’s. They are easy to slip on, comfortable and perfect for no-impact training. I also have a pair of Nike’s that have a cushion ball for kickboxing and other dance type training that requires me to twist and pivot. My favorite pair of athletic shoes for comfort while running errands, shopping and travel is my Reebok EasyTone’s. I fully understand shoes cannot firm your body, but they are the most comfortable athletic shoes I have ever owned. My daughter bought a pair and my Mom asked for a pair for Christmas. The Nike EasyTone may not meet it’s fitness claims, but they are comfortable all the same!
Hi Angie, thanks for your comment!
I too have pair of Nike Frees and like them, but I only wear them for casual use and prefer wearing Virbam Five Fingers when working out. I think there’s a pretty big difference between the two, and I think working out is an important time to take advantage of that difference. However, I understand that most people won’t want to wear them at a gym.
I can appreciate that the Reebok EasyTones might be comfortable, but comfort is usually the result of cushioning which can impair the foot’s ability to sense the ground, and in turn, can alter foot function as a result. If you only wear them when you know you’ll be on your feet for a long time and will need the comfort, perhaps this won’t make much of a difference.
I unfortunately bought into the claim these shoes made and bought a pair. Ever since I have been receiving shin splints whenever I walk or jog in them….can anyone tell of a good shoe to buy that will give me better support. I have not been able to find a pair!
Hi Stacey, thanks for sharing your experience.
In regard to finding shoes with more support, it may be worth while to determine why you need the added support, and if possible, trying to resolve the problem by strengthening your foot and/or ankle so that you don’t need to rely on added shoe support.
I recently bought a pair of the Simply Tone shoes. I figure the “toning” part is a gimmick. But I have arthritis in my knee and actually experience no knee pain when running in the Simply Tones. The extra cushion in the pods makes a big positive difference for me. I also have very high arches.
Time will tell on whether this holds true in the long run, but for now I am really liking mine! And I paid $80 at a Reebok outlet, not $100+.
Hi Amber, thanks for sharing your experience!
I’m glad to hear that the EasyTones have enabled you to run without pain, and this is one of the few supporting arguments that I find convincing. However, the fact that you can run pain free in these shoes compared to others may indicate that you land on your heels when you run rather than your forefoot, and this may be something worth considering when you run in other shoes. In addition, depending on how much you run, it may be worth while to consider a mode of exercise such as cycling that doesn’t involve as much impact force.
VIn, I’ve had my gate assessed by a professional running coach and I’m good. When you have arthritis in the knee, ANY impact can cause pain. However, as I am an Air Force officer, I don’t have much of a choice. I run as a requirement for my job. And these shoes help me.
Hi Amber,
It’s unfortunate that you’re forced to run despite your arthritis, but the EasyTones seem like a reasonable solution in your case. Good luck with your knees.
I agree with you. The Reebok SimplyTones are the most comfortable athletic shoe I’ve owned. I love them!!
Working in marketing and advertising, I had to laugh when I saw that Reebok commercial. Glad I’m not the only one who sees how stupid that concept is!
Hi Jon, thanks for your comment!
I watched one of the commercials on the Reebok website but have yet to see one on television (I don’t watch much TV). Fortunately, my wife saw the commercial and told me about it.
It seems that several other shoe companies are promoting similar ideas, and Reebok seems to be investing a lot of money into commercials. All of this is an unfortunate indication of how lazy many of us really are.
I had to laugh when I read this, if you are foolish enough to believe that shoes will tone your body, you get what you deserve.
I am another who prefers to be barefoot as much as possible.
As always, great info. Vin!
Hi meatlessmama, thanks for your comment! I find it amusing too but am hoping I can help a few people rise above the foolishness.
Ha. I’m going to buy up old sneakers, staple tennis balls to the soles, and sell them with the same marketing language. Except I’ll just double my percentages relative to the Reebok figures. I’ll make millions!
Thanks for the laugh, Phil!
If you can put together a shameless commercial like Reebok’s, you just might be on to something!
Thanks for this article! I basically live under a rock (no TV) so I didn’t know about shoes like Sketchers Shape Ups and Reebok Easy Tone until today, literally. So I’m in the mall and I see the advertisements for it. The Reebok Easy Tones were very comfortable, but I do agree that walking around with “balance pods” under your feet is probably more unnatural than regular shoes.
I have some body alignment issues I’m working on (hip, knee, and ankle) and so I need a good walking shoe that will not compound the problem. At first glance the Easy Tone’s looked like a good idea, and hey, benefit, they’d challenge my muscles more (though actually I kind of doubt that since I walk 3-5 miles a day. Not a herculean feat but more than the average Easy Tone purchaser is likely to be doing. I mean if they want special shoes to tone their butt, you know they aren’t doing much for their butt to begin with.)
Probably the uphill walking I do is as challenging to those muscles if not more than Easy Tones would be. Also I read several complaints from people that walking 2 miles in the Easy Tones hurt their feet. To me that’s a bad sign.
Then I read a few forum posts where supposedly podiatrists and chiropractors are seeing more people with joint and foot injuries due to these shoes.
And so… that has led me here. I think I’m going to try on some Nike Frees and see how I feel about them. It sounds like a more sound approach. I really love the Vibram Fivefingers, the lady’s “Performa” is very cool. Makes me think of Catwoman for some reason. I think I’m going to try the Nike Frees through the winter and when Spring gets here opt for the Performa. I’m interested to see how walking outside feels with those shoes. Especially the parts of my walk over grass.
Hi Z, thanks for your comment!
I’ve never worn a pair of Reebok EasyTones, so thank you for confirming my suspicion of the awkwardness. I agree that the uphill walking you do is very likely to increase muscle activation much more than walking on flat ground in the EasyTones. Even if this weren’t the case, I still don’t think it would be worth the possibility of walking mechanics being altered.
Thanks for mentioning the new Vibram Performa model! I wasn’t aware of them until just now. The Moc (men’s version) seems to be even less restrictive than the Classic model that I have, and since all I really use them for is exercising, they’d be perfect. I think I might have to invest in a pair.
Once spring comes, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much more you can feel the ground with the Vibrams in comparison to the Nike Frees, especially if you choose the Performas.
I think I’m going to go with the Vibram Classics. The performa aren’t really meant for outdoors, though I think they’d be fine if you’re mostly in grass like in the park or something. They’re more of an indoor shoe.
I will say what is very disappointing is that Nike seems to be going in the completely wrong direction with their free line. 3.0′s are the most close to barefoot they have, but they have all but discontinued it, and the 5.0′s seem to be going in the same direction. Now their 2010 releases look like they are going in the 7.0 direction which is insane. That’s nothing near barefoot and they’re still billing it as such. It’s like they woke up one morning and said “Oh crap, the 3.0′s and even 5.0′s are like admitting we screwed runners up when we introduced the first running shoe. Better up it to 7.0′s so we still have plausible deniability.”
You can still get 5.0′s and 3.0′s on the website but it doesn’t seem like that will be the case for long.
Either way though I think that either the 5.0′s or 3.0′s will help me build in some better foot strength to transition to the Vibrams in the spring.
Hi Z,
Yes, I noticed that about the Nike Free 3.0 when I purchased mine. It’s too bad, but there’s also some good in this. As another reader pointed out, Nike has been criticized for their involvement with sweatshop labor, so it would be best for us to find an alternative anyway.
I hope you enjoy your Vibrams!
While I agree these sneakers will not deliver the toned legs and butt they promise, I think it’s important to acknowledge the psychological impact these sneakers seem to have. If these shoes are enough to motivate women to get up and go for a walk, even if it is under a false promise, I think it’s worth the hundred dollar price tag.
Hi Mina, thanks for your comment.
It’s hard to argue against anything that motivates people to be active, but there are so many better ways to get people exercising. While the Reebok EasyTones may initially help to get people off the couch, most of these people are likely hoping for the quick and easy solution that Reebok is claiming to deliver. With a mentality like this, I think it’s highly unlikely for their initial motivation to turn into a lifelong habit, especially after it becomes apparent that simply walking in special shoes won’t do much, if anything, to change their appearance.
To Reebok’s credit, their website does provide a small exercise routine to follow, but you have to look for it, and the fact that they do this also contradicts their sales pitch.
I would agree if it weren’t for the unsoundness (is that a word?) behind the idea of “balance pods.” Podiatrists and Chiropractors are already seeing more people in their offices based on these shoes so considering that they may actually be in some way dangerous, I’m against the shoes just on principle.
I think people should be motivated to get moving, but if they need shoes like this to get them off the couch I think their problem is more deeply embedded and this will only serve as a short-term fad, not a long term solution anyway. There is a point of diminishing returns with these shoes, and once you get there it’s not going to tone you anymore, so it’s pointless to use them as a motivator.
Just my 2 cents on the issue.
Thanks for the heads up. I already get plenty of walking time, being a housekeeper in one of Canada’s very busy ski/mountain biking resorts and I thought this might just help a bit towards my thighs, but I guess there’s really no such thing as a quick fix. In my first three months there (four years ago) I did loose two dress sizes but that’s about it. I’ve always been a bit on the plump side (even as a child and not because of McDonalds because that didn’t show up until I was a teenager). I’m glad I didn’t go right out and buy them. As long as I get good arch support I’m set.
But if this helps anyone else get up off their duff and they have the cash to throw around, I’m all for it. I’d say just try a bit at a time and soon enough it’ll show. A sensible diet (not starve yourself diet, but just healthy eating) and regular physical activity (a ten minute walk around the block after dinner to keep the meal from settling on your stomach) is alot less expensive that some fancy shoes and you do that for the amount you’d have spent on the shoes and you’ll probably see progess. The biggest word you have to remember is “Moderation”. That includes physical activity as well as food. If you go gunho on the first try (and I’ve been there) you’ll give up soon enough.
Good Luck All
Hi Amanda, thanks for your comment!
As I said to Mina, it’s hard to argue against anything that motivates people to exercise, but it’s still important for them to be motivated for the right reasons. If health and improved physical function aren’t motivating factors, then motivation will likely fade once it becomes obvious that the EasyTones are unlikely to produce a noticeable change in appearance just from walking in them.
As you suggested, a good diet, regular physical activity, and moderation are much more important.
Good and informative article, you’ve made me think twice about purchasing this shoe. I’m pregnant with my third child and thought that wearing these while running errands and chasing my kids around might do something a little “extra.” The claim of helping to tone muscle while you’re going about your daily business is certainly enticing. So do you think that it really does not provide any kind of extra toning or workout? I’m just curious because I’ve heard so many comments from people that say their legs are so sore after wearing them and they really feel like it’s doing something. Just curious if you think they offer any type of benefit whatsoever. Thanks
Thanks, Kara!
I do believe that the instability caused by the Reebok EasyTones will cause more muscle activation and could possibly also cause soreness for someone who isn’t very active or walks a lot in them. However, muscle soreness doesn’t automatically translate into the muscle growth and fat loss that are typically necessary for toning. Your legs could just as easily become sore from standing for long periods of time, but it doesn’t mean that it’s doing to cause a noticeable change in appearance.
I just bought these sneaks and let me say that in life thus far I have rolled both ankles many times so I am prone to those hurting and continue to roll them especially walking through grass, I also just had a SI Joint injury and was looking for some phisical therapy to reduce healing time and I tell you what these shoes have made a difference in the way my feet feel in just one day. Although I can feel pricks and pains in odd places after taking the shoes off which is the only disadvantage so far as for being of a concern to injury, but I am caught wondering if these pricks and pains that are hurting in the places were I had a sprain in my toe, areas in my ankle that have swolen due to rolling on them so much as a youngen that maybe these shoes are helping to strengthen these areas? So far(these shoes have been out for a long time I have researched) these issues have not been brought up of blogged about that I have found. These shoes are NOT made for everyday ware in my personal opinion only use them for walking outside on smooth surfaces or for use on the treadmil depending on the person. The lady I bought them from at the store was prego and loves them and wears them to work everyday. If I break a bone or continue to roll my ankles I will post back and let you know.
Hi Samantha, thanks for your comment!
I actually wouldn’t be that surprised if the instability of the EasyTones do indeed help to strengthen the supporting muscles of the ankle. However, that’s certainly not what they’re being marketed for, and for someone like yourself who is prone to ankle injury, I wonder if wearing shoes like this all day could be too much.
I think the shoes I mentioned previously like Vibram Fivefingers and Nike Free would also promote better ankle function, and in addition, they’ll promote better foot function rather than restricting it.
Another way to improve ankle strength and prevent recurring injuries is to carefully incorporate some instability training into your exercise routine with something like a Bosu ball or a balance disc.
I just saw an that Avia has Avi-Motion shoes that are promoting the same thing.
Hi Rene,
I’m not at all surprised and suspect that we’ll see other major sneaker manufacturers coming out with similar models as well. Avia’s Avi-Motion shoes actually look like MBT shoes. It seems to me that the thick and rounded sole of these shoes would decrease foot function and promote heel landing more so than Reebok’s EasyTones.
I got a pair for Christmas, I have worn them for a month now, I walk between 16-20 mls a wk. they are the most uncomfortable shoe. I have sciatic pain now in my left leg, my right heel is painfull. I never had probelms before I wore these shoes. Went out today and bought a new pair of Nike’s.
Hi Connie, thanks for sharing your experience! I think it will be helpful for anyone who might be planning to try the EasyTones. Hopefully you’ll have better luck with the Nikes, and I hope they’re Nike Free’s.
Hi, I’m from Liverpool, England and to be honest accidentally stumbled (no pun intended) across your website whilst looking at the Easy Tone trainers on the web and trying to compare them with MBTs. Vin I’d be interested to know what you think?
Btw, I’m training to be a personal trainer and nutritionist and think your website is really imformative and interesting. You talk about subjects that I totally believe in and your philosophy about health and fitness is very similar to mine. Just thought I’d throw that one in!:)
Thanks Vin
Sue
Hi Sue,
While the MBT shoes are promoted to improve aspects of physical health such as posture and joint pain and the similar shoes such as Sketcher’s Shape Ups and Avia’s Avi-Motions are marketed from more of a “toning” and appearance perspective, I think they’re all similar. I haven’t tried any of these shoes, but it seems to me that the rolling motion eliminates and replaces a lot of the natural foot function that would occur while walking barefoot. I have a very hard time believing that this is a good thing.
While the MBT shoes may indeed do what they say, it may also be at the cost of natural foot function gradually weakening. It seems obvious to me that the mechanics of landing, absorbing impact, and then pushing off while walking or running are much different when wearing these shoes. I also think that the very thick soles of these shoes interfere with the body’s ability to sense the interaction between foot and ground which is probably not a good thing.
As long as one focuses on developing proper walking and running technique, I think all of the supposed benefits associated with these shoes can obtained in a more natural way. Personally, I’d much rather rely on how evolution influenced the structure and function of our feet and their influence on the rest of the body than the scientists behind the MBT shoe. Fortunately, the MBT website references some supporting research which I plan to eventually dig into.
Foot function is very complicated which makes it difficult to compare Reebok’s Easy Tones to these other shoes that rely on the rolling motion. However, if forced to choose the lesser of the evils, I would probably choose the Reeboks based on the impression that their “balance pods” would be less restrictive than the super thick sole on the other shoes. From a more superficial perspective, I also think they don’t look nearly as ridiculous since they don’t have those really thick soles.
Thank you for your kind feedback! I’m glad you found the site and wish you the best of luck with your training!
What is a good shoe for just walking at home on a treadmill. Thanks for the article on Reebok EasyTone. I have some co-workers I need to enlighten.
Hi Cheryl,
I think Vibram Five Fingers would be a great choice for walking at home on a treadmill. They will encourage you to land more on the ball of your foot instead of your heel and will help to strengthen the function of your feet. And since you have your own treadmill at home, you don’t have to worry about anyone besides your family members making fun of you for wearing funny looking shoes.
If you’re careful, you could probably even walk on the treadmill barefoot, but I don’t think I would recommend that at a faster pace, at least not without first building up the tolerance of your feet.
I got a pair of these about a month ago. I am in so much pain now! I wore them at work one day and the next morning I woke up with searing pain in my left calf. I didn’t really realize what had caused that pain until I wore them a week later and woke up the next day with the same thing. My leg is taking forever to heal! I can’t walk well and am still in a lot of pain! I am not putting those shoes back on and wish I had my money back!
Hi Beth,
I’m sorry to hear that these expensive shoes ended up causing you pain, but I appreciate you sharing your experience. I hope it will be helpful to others.
Self massage might help to relieve the pain and assist your recovery.
Hello Vin!!
I’m from Singapore.
I got to know about the Reebok Easy Tone from the SHAPE Magazine.
I was so attracted by the positive reviews which one claimed that she lost few inch on her hips after a month working out with Reebok Easy Tone.
I am so excited to purchase one, but I decided to google about this item first.
For most, I saw many of its positive but none on the negative, until I saw your post here.
So, I will like to know for a good recommendation shoe for brisk-walking or powerwalk?
Thanks Vin!
Hi Juwita, thanks for your comment!
I think it’s best to use an nonrestrictive shoe like Vibram Five Fingers or Nike Frees that allow your feet to function more naturally. Depending on the health of your feet, you may need to gradually build up your use of shoes like this and give your body time to adjust to them and regain natural function.
Well I’ve got to say that I love these shoes. I’m on my feet at work and these are the most comfortable shoes that I’ve worn, I don’t want to pull them off when I get home. They also make you stand with better posture. The first day does make your legs sore. I have already bought 3 pairs in different colors and looking for one more pair.
Hi Dianna, thanks for your comment.
As comfortable as the EasyTone shoes may be, keep in mind that this is no indication of how they may or may not be altering your foot function and gait. If either is altered in an undesirable way, you may eventually end up with pain that no shoe will resolve regardless of how comfortable it may be.
This is a great article. I bought some Avi-motion shoes and they felt comfortable walking around the store but when I went on my first real walk I started getting bad sciatica in my left leg and found myself limping the rest of my walk home. My chiropractor told me he has heard the same complaint from many of his patients. I wish I would have found this article before blowing my money. After having 4 back surgeries I thought I was doing myself a favor. Next time I will not be so niave.
Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your experience!
As you can see from some of the previous comments, you’re unfortunately not the first person to have a story like this. When they first came out, I figured these shoes would cause problems, but I’m actually surprised by how immediate and dramatic it’s proving to be for some people. I’m glad to hear that you were quickly able to attribute it to the shoes and I hope that others benefit from your story.
I was looking for product reviews on the sketchers shape ups (similar to the avi-motions) and came across this site. I was surprised at how many imitations of these there are out there. Dr. Scholls even has their own version of this shoe. The first time I saw these shoes I thought to myself “I don’t think I could walk in those everyday” Now I’m glad I didn’t even try. I looked up the Vibram Five Fingers and I couldn’t help but laughing, but I can see how they’d allow for movement. There was only one thing that I was confused about…socks. Do you wear toe socks with these shoes?Or if not, what about sweating? None of the people pictured on their website are wearing socks and it says they’re machine washable…so I assume you’d wash them after each use. Am I wrong? I have gone sockless in regular shoes before and don’t like how sweaty my feet get after a while and couldn’t imagine working out like that.
Hi Heidi, thanks for your comment!
Yes, Vibrams are funny looking and people will probably make fun of you for wearing them, but they’re still great. They’re designed to be worn without socks, but I think there might be socks that you can use with them if you really wanted to. However, wearing Vibrams without socks is a much different feeling than wearing regular sneakers without socks. In addition to being machine washable, the footbeds have some kind of antibacterial treatment to prevent odor. I’m not sure what’s in this treatment and I’m not necessarily a fan of it, but it does work well and you can go quite a while without washing them.
If you’d rather a more conventional shoe, the Nike Free might be a better choice for you.
Hi, I was just wondering if you feel the same way about the new shape ups that skechers now offers. I’m going to buy one and I would like your opinion on which may work better. Any advice?!
Hi Amanda,
As I mentioned in some of the previous comments, I do feel the same way about Sketcher’s Shape Ups. In fact, I think their thick and rounded sole may limit natural foot function even more so than the balance pods on the Reebok Easy Tones.
In regard to shoes in general, I think it’s best to choose a pair that is as nonrestrictive as possible and promote natural foot function. While there may be some circumstances where it’s desirable for shoes to be supportive and restrictive, I certainly don’t think toning is one of them.
I’m an owner of the reebok easytones. I owned them for a month now. My legs ARE getting toned. The other night my husband notice my calves were harder to grab. I don’t exercise regularly. I just wore these for around the house when I’m doing my house chores and when I’m out and about doing errands.
Now I don’t feel sore the next but than again I’m not walking miles. I have yet to fall over wearing these. Tonight I plan on trying them out on the treadmill at the gym
Hi Cristina, thanks for sharing your experience.
Unless you took before and after measurements of your legs and your body fat percentage, it would be difficult to accurately say if your legs are indeed more toned, and it would be even harder to attribute it solely to the Easy Tones. I don’t doubt that the Easy Tones put more strain on leg muscles than regular shoes, but this doesn’t mean it will lead to changes in body fat or muscle size that can be easily noticed. Furthermore, your calves could be more firm to the touch simply because they’re stiff from extra use which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Tight muscles reduce flexibility and increase the risk of injury.
A more important consideration than if they actually tone your legs is how they’re affecting the function of your feet and the mechanics of your gait.
I love the Nike Free and the look of it – but I have a huge issue. I broke my femur many years ago and now right leg is shorter than my left due to my leg healing incorrectly in traction and a clueless doc. I also have wicked knee issues, which resulted in knee surgery last year. As much as I love walking barefoot, it’s not really an option for me due to the fact that I need something in my right shoe to “balance things out”. I can never really find a great shoe that accommodates that extra bit of something I try to fit in there as the shoes always have a pre-exisiting arch and then the item I insert in the shoe also has its own arch. I can just imagine the damage I’m doing to my feet ( and on up) trying to “make things right”. I don’t run anymore (which kills me) and my weight lifting has been majorly reduced as well – as in: no more squats or leg extensions etc. I ride the bike (woo hoo) and do upper body and limited legs. Do you have any suggestions as to what sort of athletic shoes I should be wearing to the gym or for walking, as I’d like to incorporate more walking into my regimen?
Hi Molly,
I’m not sure how much of a discrepancy you have, but I can relate at least somewhat. My right tibia is about a half inch shorter than the left, and it’s not the result of an accident, that’s just the way it is. For a while I was wearing orthotics with a heel lift and a forefoot tilt to correct forefoot varus. The tilt was supposed to help eliminate my knee pain. Once I found a much better way to eliminate the knee pain, I stopped wearing the orthotics but continued wearing a 3/8″ heel lift.
Orthotics and even heel lifts obviously don’t work very well in shoes that are designed to replicate walking barefoot and it left me with a decision to make. Do I risk promoting musculoskeletal problems by allowing imbalances to exist without the heel lift, or do I continue restricting natural foot function with regular shoes. I figured there would be potential for problems either way and opted to go the more natural route (less restrictive shoes without the heel lift). Knowing that I do a pretty good job of staying on top of my posture and alignment with stretching and prehabilitation exercises, I wasn’t too worried. The outcome has been good. It hasn’t negatively effected my knee and I haven’t noticed any aches, pains, or overworked muscles as a result. However, I do still wear the heel lift when I play tennis because my hips and lower back were getting tight from playing without it.
Despite my 1/2″ discrepancy, I still jog 3 to 4 miles in Vibrams once in a while, but at low intensity and not more than a few times a week. I also lift weights in Vibrams. For cycling, I use bike shoes and clipless pedals along with cleat adjustments. I figure since I’m using the bike shoes, I might as well correct the leg length discrepancy too.
I know that’s not really a definitive answer, but hopefully it helps. One thing that’s important is to implement any changes you make gradually.
Thanks for your reply … My difference is more like an inch or slightly more, which wreaks havoc on my back. I can feel the difference when I walk barefoot – and I crave to walk barefoot .. but I usually pay the price. Over the past 20 years, my cartilage has become non-existent and my knees make a horrid grinding noise – my right knee is bone on bone. I checked out your exercises, and unfortunately can do none of them. I’ve always eaten healthy, maintained a healthy weight and always spent plenty of time in the gym. I could move plenty of weight, but always made sure to stretch to maintain super flexibility. I don’t know where I went wrong. Currently, my only source of cardio is to ride the bike – I have the seat pushed forward to the point that my leg does not extend where major knee movement would be required. Can you recommend an exercise that will work my quad without bending my knee? I’ve tried strapping my ankle to one of the machines and doing ‘kicks’, but that mainly works my hip flexor muscle. I really want to isolate my quad, but again, cannot put any pressure on my knee. Again, thanks for your help. I appreciate it.
Hi Molly,
1″ is a pretty big difference and cartilage damage is a much different knee issue than what I was dealing with. Based on your description, it sounds like the damage to your knee is pretty extensive. Perhaps your best bet would be to search for a well regarded physical therapist.
Are you drinking plenty of water? At least as many ounces as half of your body weight in pounds? If not, you may be dehydrated and it may increase the friction and pain in your knee.
Even if you can’t do the exercises I mentioned for knee pain, you should still be able to do self massage which can help to relieve some of the stress on your knee.
Gelatin may help your body regenerate cartilage, and bone broth would be even better. As you probably are aware, there are a number of supplements that could help as well. It may also be worth while to look into treatments such as prolotherapy.
It’s not easy to work the quadriceps without putting pressure on the knee. If there are any exercises that you can do with just body weight, I would try adding weight to them very gradually. Perhaps you can even try starting off with something like a leg press machine so that you can use even less resistance than your body weight. If your knee can tolerate the stress of cycling, then hopefully you should be able to do something like this. Whichever exercises you choose, it might also be a good idea to do one leg at a time to eliminate the influence of the leg length difference.
This is probably not the response you’re looking for, but I hope it helps nonetheless. Good luck and please let me know if you try anything that makes a difference.
Got them. Love them. Noticed a huge differance. Offically I eat right and go to the gym. I don’t think reebok was implying – hey these shows will transform your butt all themselves and hey are magic so if you weigh 240 lbs we can still give you a nice ass- No they just give you and extra push and heck yes, if ppl think they can get a good butt from shoes alone then they deserve to be let down. But in the commercials and ads they never show Anyone that isn’t fit already, they are meant for already active ppl and those wanting to be active, not those that just wanna buy shoes and free of fat. So don’t hate. Peace
Hi Danielle, thanks for sharing your opinion.
I never suggested that Reebok is claiming to transform someone from being obese to being toned. It’s pretty obvious that this won’t happen. However, it seems that a lot of people who want to lose 5 to 10 pounds and aren’t motivated to follow a real exercise program are falling for the hype. If this type of shoe motivates someone to be more active, then great, but what happens when the novelty wears off or the shoe causes problems by altering walking biomechanics? The real question is not how well do these shoes work, but why people need a gimmick to motivate them to exercise.
I’m not “hating” or criticizing these shoes for the mere sake of it. Instead, I’m offering what I believe to be a more sensible perspective on weight loss and fitness to anyone who’s willing to consider it.
While I agree that shoes alone won’t tone your lower body overnight, I am acquainted with the studies and test that show the performance increase provided by these kind of products and their long-run benefits. They are not for everyone. However, if you are the kind of person who goes to MC Donald’s and orders a monster size burger and a “Diet” Coke, don’t ever expect a product to do a miracle for you. It’s up to your determination and hard work that equipment such as these shoes will ever have a positive effect on your body. This kind of product would walk “hand to hand” with a good exercise and diet routine. It’s easy to talk the talk but a lot harder to walk the walk.
Hi Chris, thanks for your comment.
I certainly agree that hard work is what’s most important here. However, the advertising for these shoes suggests otherwise. Besides, anyone who’s truly committed to an effective exercise program and healthy lifestyle habits won’t need shoes like this, and considering their potential to alter foot function, they make even less sense.
I think that you shouldn’t be writing such a broadly judgmental article unless you’ve actually tried them for a period of time. I have a pair of Easy Tones and they are super comfortable. I go walking in them with my dog every day and use them in the gym; I have no stability problems or shoe-related injuries, and I really feel the extra workout in the glutes which is an additional motivator to keep active. I actually found this article while I was searching for an online source to buy a second pair in a model that isn’t available in my area – that’s how much I like using them. They are perfect for a person like me who is moderately active and doesn’t play sports.
Hi Ann,
I’ve worn regular sneakers my entire life, and now that I have Vibrams and Nike Frees, it’s very obvious how much regular sneakers can restrict and alter natural foot function. Based on this, I don’t think I need to try any of these new toning shoes just to confirm that sneakers with a sole that’s twice as thick is going to restrict and alter foot function at least as much as regular sneakers.
Considering how unlikely it is for the use of Reebok EasyTones or any other similar shoes to directly make a significant impact on muscular development or weight loss, it’s very questionable if the benefits they may provide are worth compromising natural foot function.
I think it’s great that you’re motivated by feeling the effects of wearing these shoes, but your body will likely adapt to this as it does to any new type of exercise stimulus. What happens when you no longer get this feeling? Do you search for a bigger and better shoe? Perhaps you’d do more walking instead, but why not just do that in the first place?
I’m a big believer in the importance of perspective and motivation in regard to fitness and healthy living, but I think the motivation provided by a gimmicky shoe is superficial and will be short lived. Motivation should come directly from the benefits of an activity and perhaps the activity itself. Special shoes might initially compensate for a lack of such motivation, but it’s unlikely to last.
In my opinion, walking up a hill instead of on flat ground or walking a little further than normal would be a much better way to get more out of every day activity than wearing special shoes. It would also be more practical, less expensive, and depending on what type of shoes you’d wear, it wouldn’t impose as much restriction on foot function. Walking up stairs would be even better and I wonder how many of the people who rave about these shoes are still taking elevators to avoid walking up just a few flights of stairs.
I did buy a pair at Christmas time not because I thought they would actually tone my butt & legs, but because I thought they were comfortable and great to wear for working out or long walks. The first couple of months they felt great to wear, but now I have a very painful pinched nerve every time I walk on my heal or make a sudden movement at the base of my back on the left side just above my butt crack and my big toe is also experiencing some side effect from what I believe is caused by these shoes. Are there others out there feeling similar symptoms from wearing Reebok Easytone shoes?
Hi Long Beach, thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been experiencing pain since wearing the EasyTones. If you read through some of the comments above, you’ll see that others have had similar experiences.
It is almost ridiculous to read that after every positive comment someone has made regarding the shoe you have something negative to say. Who’s to say that those people had a hard enough time getting out to exercise already and the shoe really helped them. If mentally they feel better about themselves isn’t that a good enough jump start? Being a physical education teacher I know that simply walking around on shoes such as the Reebok EasyTones is not going to shed 30 pounds and cut 8 inches off your waist. I also understand that many people are hopeful for a quick cure to being over weight and out of shape. At the same time you have to comend these people for at least trying. What about those women who have to walk around in high heels or pumps all day who want some kind of comfort? What kind of professional shoe do you recommend for the working women who isn’t able to buy these miracle shoes known as the Nike Free’s? For a shoe that isn’t going to be worn for multiple hours in the day and for someone who wears toe-pinching, unnatural-shaped shoes where’s the difference??
I understand that you’re highly against the marketing aspect of the shoe and for someone who has never even tried the product I must say you’re quite hypocritical. I agree that the marketing tool Reebok used to lure consumers to their product may be sub par but it got you talking about the shoes didn’t it? Isn’t that the point of marketing? Point Reebok.
Hi Alan, thanks for sharing your opinion.
Perhaps you’re right that I’ve been too negative in some regards. In general, I always intended for the overall message to be positive, and in this case, it’s the importance of unrestricted foot function and a stronger source of motivation.
In regard to shoes like the EasyTones encouraging people to exercise and this being a “jump start,” I agree that this is a positive aspect, but only as long as it’s backed by a more meaningful source of inspiration. Otherwise, such people will likely revert to their old sedentary habits once the novelty of the shoes wears off. For those who commit to a lifelong exercise habit based on inspiration from these shoes, good for them. However, I think this would be a very small percentage of the people who try them, and this is where I guess you can say my negativity tends to surface. I’d like to catch the attention of those who are inspired to exercise by gimmicks like this and encourage them to reassess why they’re choosing to exercise and why such a choice is important to them.
Women who wear high heels all day have made a conscious decision to favor fashion over practicality. They have the choice to wear flats instead, but they don’t, and that’s fine. However, I also think it’s shortsighted to consider shoes like the EasyTones to be a sensible compensation for the muscle tightness and pain that heels can cause. Furthermore, why would anyone who can buy EasyTones not be able to buy Nike Frees? They’re readily available on the internet. In regard to only being able to wear a more practical shoe for a limited portion of the day, it seems silly to not bother pursuing the best option based on assuming it won’t make a difference. As with exercise, a little is certainly better than nothing at all.
Point Reebok? I’m not challenging Reebok or anyone else. Yes, my negative opinion of their product enticed me to mention their name and bring them more attention. However, doing so also gives me the opportunity to share a different perspective with people and hopefully help them be more realistic and sensible about their fitness pursuits. To be honest, aside from the potential of people being misled by their marketing, I’m indifferent to how well or poorly Reebok does with the sales of these shoes. The same goes for Sketchers, Avia, or any other company that makes a similar product.
I was wondering after reading this article, since you talk a lot about the anatomy of the foot, if you’re a doctor, or chiropractor, or anatomist? I see so much skepticism about the Easy Tones, mostly from people who have never tried them.
I purchased a pair around Christmas and have worn them in my every day activities and when I exercise. I can tell such a difference. They are so comfortable, I wear them to work where I am on my feet a lot. When I exercise, they make me want to walk farther because it feels so good. i have also used my other tennis shoes and walked and did feel the “burn” as much. If these shoes help to motivate people initially to get in shape and then that motivation turns into something from within, then great. Maybe it will help people enjoy being active, which I think is the point. I don’t see why you need to be so judgmental and negative.
Hi Sara,
It doesn’t matter to me how comfortable these shoes are or how much of a “burn” they cause. I’m confident enough in my knowledge regardless of trying them to know that they could have a potentially undesirable effect on walking mechanics and that they’re highly unlikely to produce an easily noticeable increase in weight loss or muscular development just by walking in them without any other additional changes.
Do I need to try walking in front of a moving car to realize it’s a bad idea? Granted, this is an extreme example, but the potential changes in walking mechanics are supported by research on cushioned shoes in general, and in my opinion, my point about muscular development is a matter of common sense after considering the amount of stimulus and many other factors required to provoke noticeable muscle growth.
If these shoes encourage someone to do more walking, I think that’s great, especially for someone who just wants to be active and isn’t necessarily concerned with being lean and “toned.” However, developing a “toned” body typically requires a lot more effort than simply walking. More importantly, how long will this encouragement last without a more meaningful source of inspiration? People who have a strong source of inspiration for exercising don’t need gimmicks like this. If these shoes help people to discover such a source of inspiration, that’s great, but for the large majority of people who try them, I doubt this will be the case.
My negative judgment in regard to these sneakers is intended overall to be a positive message that encourages people to be more proactive about choosing effective methods of exercise and to find motivation from deeper sources that are very likely to be much more powerful and longer lasting. In regard to wearing these shoes primarily for comfort, which still has the potential disadvantage of altering natural foot function, this is a completely different subject than what this article is intended to address.
Hi, I just wanted to say I read your article and didn’t want to think these shoes wouldn’t work. My sister just bought some and walked four miles and loved them. So I decided to join the club and grab a pair myself. Within the first 15 to 20 minutes of walking on my treadmill my lower to mid back started to hurt. I have had mild to moderate back pain before but in my regular running shoes I have no problems. Finally I hit 30 minutes on the treadmill, still only at a moderate walk, and I couldn’t take the pain anymore. I plan on taking the shoes back tomorrow and hopefully I will get my money back. There are plenty of other exercises I can do to keep me trim and tone me up without the back pain. Hope this helps someone before they decide to buy.
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your experience! I’m sorry to hear that it was an unfavorable one.
Although it’s great that you can simply return to your regular running shoes to eliminate the pain, it might be a warning sign that you have an imbalance or weakness that’s making you susceptible to injury. It might serve you well to look into this further. Assess and Correct is a great program for doing so.
I disagree. I’ve had mine for about 5 months now, and have seen results. I do walk about 6 miles a day at work, which is why I purchased the shoes. I love them. Never have I been more comfortable or happy with a pair of shoes for walking at work.
Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m not sure what your results have been, but it seems that most people who disagree with the premise of this article do so based on the shoes being comfortable or the “burn” that they may cause. However, these observations don’t really suggest anything that is contrary to what I’ve said. The sensation of muscle burn doesn’t necessarily imply muscle growth, especially at a easily noticeable level, and because the comfort level of these shoes may be coming at the cost altered walking mechanics, this actually supports what I’ve said.
If you’re merely looking for comfortable shoes and are not concerned about the potential effects of altered walking mechanics, then I’m happy for you that you’re enjoying them.
I agree with the comment left about how you made such a braod judgement on shoes you have not tried. Thats like me making a comment on how wine taste ( I have never drank wine). I am not saying you’re wrong I am just saying you would have more credibility if you actually tried the shoe. I started to believe you untill you said the word “seems”. I do not suggest running or working out in the shoe but walking is fine. As with any shoe you are prone to injury such as my shin splints, even then they werent just from my shoe but because I hadnt worked out in a while and then just up and started running one day. So why not try the shoe or have your wife and then post about your (wifes) experience.
Hi Mrs. Texas, thanks for sharing your opinion.
Trying something is not always necessary to have an educated opinion on it. Research supports the potential for cushioned shoes to cause undesirable changes in biomechanics and proprioception which I think is more important and credible than any personal experiences that I might have with these shoes. Furthermore, I’ve experienced this effect with regular sneakers, and these shoes obviously have much more cushioning.
My feet are flat which don’t work well walking barefooted. I have plantar faciatis and bone spurs that my podiatrist was surprised I could even walk on. I do have orthotics that help put my foot in a more natural position. However, the bone spur pain was so bad that pain meds were not effective. The air pockets in the easytones was the solution to easing the pain. When I wear the EasyTones there is no pain. (Note I put the orthotics in but it’s the air transfer in the pods that are the pain reliever. My podiatrist had sold me a stretch fabric boot with air pockets that helped the pain but I could only afford one. The EasyTones worked the same way and were cheaper.) When I switch to regular shoes or athletic shoes (with or without the orthotics) the pain returns. I am not sure I buy the exercise claim but the air pod transfer idea should be incorporated in future designs perhaps with more stability per your argument. Now if the could come up with airpods for moderate 2- 2 1/2 high heels or higher. That would be something.
Hi Kat, thanks for sharing your experience!
In your case, it seems that these shoes actually have some merit, and I’m glad to hear that they’re helping you avoid pain. However, I hope you also continue trying to directly address the problems with your feet. One thing you might want to consider trying for your plantar fasciitis is rolling the arch of your foot around on a tennis ball or golf ball. This is likely to cause a lot of pain which would be an indication of trigger points. Massaging these trigger points to get rid of them will help to reduce the tension in the plantar fascia and may reduce your pain. Here’s some more information on self massage and plantar fasciitis from the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. If you do some research, I think you’ll also be able to find some exercises that might help to correct your flat feet.
I hope that helps and I wish you the best of luck with your feet!
I purchased the easytone by reebok and when walking down the stairs my ankle rolled and i broke my right fibula and sprained the ankle, so here I sit at 50 years old in a cast with crutches, couch bound, do not buy these!!!!!
Hi Sallie, thanks for sharing this important experience! Even if these shoes were to live up to the claims associated with them, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to take the chance of increasing their risk of such an accident, even if it’s only by a small margin.
I’m sorry to hear about your injuries and I wish you the best of luck with your recovery.
“I’m a big believer in the importance of perspective and motivation in regard to fitness and healthy living, but I think the motivation provided by a gimmicky shoe is superficial and will be short lived.” Yet, you wear the Vibram and Free…
Hi Tim,
I suppose there’s some subjectivity in classifying something as a gimmick. However, in contrast to the statement that you quoted, I don’t wear Nike Frees or Vibrams to improve my motivation. One of the primary arguments of support for toning shoes like the Reebok EasyTones is that they motivate people to exercise. I’ve never heard anyone say that about Nike Frees or Vibrams, and even if such claims were made, I wouldn’t support them. Furthermore, in my opinion, Vibrams and Nike Frees (at least the 3.0 model) do an excellent job of what they’re advertised to do, and that’s to provide the protection of a common shoe with a reduced amount of restriction.
I have bought these shoes, and they are amazing!
Your comments about instablity causing problems is wrong – they have improved my joint problems significantly, especially in my ankles where the other running shoes I have tried before caused severe pain and swelling. I am only 17, and have hypermobile joints (which means that I have problems in all of my joints, not just my ankles, but my knees and especially my hips as well) and I have had no problems whatsoever.
Also, the effect on my bum as been quite significant – I have really noticed how toned it is getting! Although this effect is barely noticable on my thighs where I need it most.
I would recommend these shoes to anybody.
Hi Lollie, thanks for sharing your experience.
The fact that these shoes have helped to reduce your joint pain doesn’t disprove their potential to alter walking mechanics in an undesirable way. Nonetheless, I’m happy for you that you’re in less pain. I have no doubt that being exposed to instability while walking or standing improves the strength of the stabilizer muscles surrounding joints, and in turn, can lead to improved resistance to pain and injury. However, in my opinion, it makes much more sense, especially from a safety perspective, to include such a stimulus as part of a controlled fitness routine rather than to introduce the instability through daily walking.
I have a pair of the Sprint Vibrams I wear them a LOT.
I get weird looks and lots of questions but I don’t mind.
I’ve always been a comfort before looks person so I was used to wearing sneakers.
I love my vibrams more than any of my sneakers I feel connected to the ground. On really cold days when I wore boots I missed the feeling I get when I have my Vibrams on.
The idea of these shoes seemed really sketchy so I was glad to find your article.
I just read every comment here from start to finish in hopes of getting some info. on how my body might react to the Easytones, before I think of buying them. For two years now I walk/run 5 km every morning Monday-Saturday plus normal all-day housework/chasing after my girls. My heels feel absolutely flattened a lot of the time, so I could benefit from the extra padding, although I will have to wear them only sometimes at first to get my calves used to them, or I may get awful muscle spasms in my calves at night from the ‘on-tip-toe’ effect (like being pregnant again, right ladies?) Also, I have the same issue as the other Mom who commented that she walks a lot but feels her ‘other’ muscles don’t get involved like they would if she had time for ANYTHING besides walking, so these shoes may help involve a wider array of largely untapped muscles in her legs and torso. The feeling of new/different movements must be good also to make one consciously aware of the other parts of ones body normally left out of the walking experience. My vote: They sound like they could do me some good, but I will have to watch my posture and pivoting and any negative feedback from my knees, neck, calves, and ankles. Like any equipment, its how you use it. No one should have ANY wear-all-day favourite shoes for too long; a change is as good as a vacation, even for your feet. Your feet need to wear different shoes to experience new angles, and fun counts for a lot too. Every little girl knows that it’s fun to spin on her toes like a ballerina, and that’s without any shoes making her do it! But you wouldn’t do it all day! As for the bare feet theory, I went bare foot all summer during my childhood up to the age of eighteen, except at school, etc., but that’s the country, and the ground is soft, besides which I am sensing that my ligaments holding my bones together aren’t as tight as they were fifteen years ago, so my foot ‘spreads’ more when I put weight on it, so I need some support. I still go barefoot inside the house all the time, and I’m not overweight (5’8″ 120 lbs, not bad for 38), so I’m quite sure its just that I’m not 18 anymore, and I need shoes that will treat my old aching bones right. (I know all about dehydration, I drink my fluids too.) So to all you super-scientific jocks out there – go a little easy on your body, you’re not a machine, have a little fun, take a little rest, let yourself wear a cushy sneaker sometimes. The best of bodies do wear out; you’d find out soon enough pounding the pavement for 5 miles in actual bare feet. Unnatural terrain calls for unnatural foot wear. These days I’m saving my bare feet for plush carpet, thick grass, sand, and the occassional gravel patch, just for fun. Sorry to digress in 5 million directions, I don’t have girlfriends to gush to. Thanks for all the info. every shared.
Hi Rebecca, thanks for sharing your opinion.
If you feel that your heels are hurting from running, you may want to consider looking at your running technique and trying to land more towards the balls of your feet instead. Doing so allows the intricate structure of the forefoot to gracefully absorb much of the landing impact. Landing on your heel eliminates this possibility and results in much more impact force being transmitted to the rest of the body. Research has shown (Lieberman et al, 2010) that landing on your heels, even in a cushioned shoe, is likely to generate more impact force than landing on your forefoot.
The fact that your foot spreads as you put weight on it is a sign that it’s doing it’s job of absorbing the force of that weight instead of transmitting more of it to the rest of your body. I’m not sure why you interpret this as a need for more support.
I do agree that shoes like the Reebok EasyTones have the potential to active muscles that might not be used as much during ordinary walking. However, in regard to the benefits of improving musculoskeletal health and preventing injury, this can also be accomplished through basic exercise that everyone should be doing anyway, and this is arguably a much more effective way to do so.
For someone who needs more excitement and fun in their exercise routine, it would make much more sense to me for them to add variation to what they’re doing rather than what they’re wearing on their feet. For example, try a bike ride instead of a jog, or try walking up stairs or up a hill instead of walking on flat ground. Doing so will add much more stimulus than simply walking in a shoe with extra cushioning!
I appreciate your efforts to help people to think outside the pharmaceutical driven medicine of today, but you’re not a therapist specializing in gait, an athletic trainer, nor a biomedical engineer who researches and designs shoes.
I am a physical therapist. I bought the Reebok Simply Tone ( a cousin to the easy tone) to find out how they impact gait first hand, and be able to advise appropriately when asked by clients and non therapy colleagues.
They provide good toe room-and incidently do a better job of having the toes function for balance and “toe-off” then the naked foot-stimulating the toe proprioception-many people actually skip using the toes actively. The position my ankle is placed in corrects too much anterior pelvic tilt (tired posture), pulls in the abds to support better posture, decreasing back and knee pain, and dysfunction caused by nerve or organ compression.
“Just as likely to alter foot function like any other sneaker.” “It would seem they reduce function…” Not true- predjudice and speculation.
“However, in regard to the benefits of improving musculoskeletal health and preventing injury, this can also be accomplished through basic exercise.” Over simplification-so much so, I would say wrong. In your workout do you have some basic exercise that has some lateral ankle stabilization to prevent a common sprained ankle, what about correcting that patella that rides too laterally for over supinating from your running workouts? And the shoe does not advertise that it will prevent injury nor correct injury or dysfunction.
These shoes do allow proper gait mechanics- and increase the use of the muscles in roughly the amount advertised–better and more efficiently then most people who think they know what they are doing in the gym.
Any piece of equipment can be mishandled by any idiot. This a comfortable walker that provides a good foot bone workout, good plantar and dorsiflexion workout as well as lateral ankle workout. It is actively giving me, as a supinator, a work out to strengthen my ability to put a little more weight through the ball of my big toe. I broke all the middle metatarsals of both feet back when I was 19 when a 70lb bar dropped on my bare footed weight work out, with resulting traumatic arthritis (I am 46 now)- Zero foot pain using these shoes on my feet all day at work. The best foot bone workout I have had since I was last able to roller skate. Also add in the subsequent increase in blood flow in my feet, ankles, calves, thighs, and yes, butt. All good things.
I will recommend them when asked- for the appropriate patients. They are not for someone who is “athletic”, they are not for jogging, bike riding, weight lifting. Just for the average busy Jane, who already incorporates some walking activity in their day or wants to. Its not to add fun or excitement or variation or enhance athletic performance, its just to make the best of walking.
Hi CW, thank you for sharing your insight.
No, I’m not a therapist, nor have I claimed to be, but that doesn’t preclude me from having valid ideas and beliefs.
I can see how shoes that introduce instability can help to correct excessive or insufficient pronation. The instability of these toning shoes would probably exaggerate such problems and make walking more difficult unless an adaptation is made, which in this case would likely be a beneficial one. However, it is other aspects of foot function that I’ve been referring to as being restricted or altered.
My arguments are primarily based on heel strike and use of the forefoot. The structure of the forefoot is well adapted to absorbing landing force, and increased shoe cushioning, which is a common aspect of Reebok, Sketcher, and Avia toning shoes, encourages one to land more on their heels. While the added cushioning may absorb some of the impact force, it’s arguable that landing more towards the forefoot would absorb more of it. This has already been shown with running shoes. (Shorten, 2002 and Lieberman et al, 2010)
Although toning shoes might expose the muscle, connective tissue, and bones of the feet to other forms of desirable stimulus, heel striking will reduce the stimulus that results from the forefoot’s natural ability to gracefully absorb landing impact. Anyone who becomes more inclined to land more on their heels as a result of wearing toning shoes may be more likely to continue this habit while wearing other less cushioned shoes. This can lead to more impact force being transmitted through the rest of the body, and perhaps it can result in a deconditioning of the forefoot’s natural capacity to absorb impact.
Another concern is that the stiffness of a shoe’s sole can restrict the function of the forefoot. Unrestricted dorsiflexion of the metatarsophalangeal joints (the joints joining the toes to the forefoot) is important for natural arch support and efficient propulsion. The sole of a shoe, especially if stiff, has been found to reduce this dorsiflexion by half. (Bojsen-Moller et al, 1979) In contrast to walking barefoot, or even with less restrictive shoes like Vibrams or Nike Frees, one can easily feel the restriction in this dorsiflexion when wearing regular sneakers. Common sense suggests that adding even more cushioning to a shoe’s sole, as is done with toning shoes, would likely increase this restriction. I think this applies even more so to shoes that have a rounded sole like the Sketcher Shape Ups.
I do think you’ve highlighted some legitimate functional benefits to toning shoes, but the question still remains if such benefits are worth the potential disadvantages. Besides, I suspect that most people who buy these shoes are doing so more for the appearance driven desire for muscle toning than the potential to improve excessive or insufficient foot pronation. I think we can agree that the former motive is not very realistic.
In regard to basic exercise that would improve lateral ankle stability, I think this could be accomplished quite well with single leg exercises, especially if done barefoot or with shoes like Vibrams that don’t provide lateral support. This can even be taken a step further with the use of a $20 stability disc. Single leg exercises are a great thing to include in a basic exercise program, and regardless of whether or not a stability disc is used, they’re likely to generate a much greater increase in blood flow than walking.
I’m sorry but you are not correct in your analysis. Walking barefoot is not the best way for your foot. The foot needs arches and support to help create stability for the foot. If you walked around barefoot all the time you will lose your arch and have more issue with joints and things like that. I should know I am flat footed. The shoes you wear help maintain the already developed foot. Now I do agree that a infant and toddler should not have shoes that are confining because their feet are developing.
I do understand that toneups are not designed to participate in all activities that would be stupid for someone to think because of the fact that they do create a slight unstability. But everything we do to our bodies causes issue with our joints. He stand on concrete floors, hike, ride bicycles, run, etc. All of these things effect our joints. The best way though to help your joints is to strength the muscles around them. I should know this because I also joint disorder that cause my joints to be able to move out on their own under stress. I have seen several doctors about this and have figured that doing things that are not recommend help my joints, like running because strengthens my muscles. Before just l listen to one point of view.
They do work but like everything you cannot expect them to make miracles. Everything in life is not simple. If you take a diet pill you still have to work out and eat right. If you workout all the time you still have to eat right or you will just stay the same.
Hi Samantha,
To say that the foot needs outside help for arch support is suggesting that it’s not capable of doing the job itself. I personally don’t believe this. Arch support not only comes from the connective tissue of the foot, but also from its muscles, (Basmajian et al, 1963) and it has long been known that corrective exercises can help to improve natural arch support and lessen the severity of flat feet. (Bettmann, 1937) In addition, it’s been shown that shoes can limit the range of motion of toe dorsiflexion which limits the foot’s natural ability to support the arch. (Bojsen-Moller et al, 1979)
While some people may indeed need an artificial method of arch support, to say that we all need this is like saying that we all need to walk with crutches. Furthermore, using such a support reduces the required activity of the muscles involved in naturally providing arch support and this can potentially lead to them becoming deconditioned and less effective.
I agree that to prevent pain and injury it’s important to strengthen the stabilizer muscles that surround joints, but this seems to contradict what you say in regard to the feet. In general, I don’t see any reason why the concept of naturally strengthining the function and stability of a joint shouldn’t apply to the feet as well. In my opinion, saying that people with healthy feet who don’t wear shoes will develop flat feet is like saying that people with healthy knees who don’t wear a knee brace will develop knee problems.
In regard to your diet pill analogy, if you eat right and exercise, then you shouldn’t need diet pills. The same goes with Reebok EasyTones and all of the other toning sneakers that are similar to them.
I tried on a pair of Reebok Simply Tone because I was curious to see how they felt. I walked around in the store with them on and said I have to buy these. I don’t expect the shoes to tone my muscles. They are just so comfortable! I’m not sure of the difference in Simply Tone and Easy Tone, but I LOVE my Simply Tones. I wear them to walk for excercise as well as wearing them to run errands and around the house. I think they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned.
Yes! I also bought a pair of Simply Tone shoes this summer and have gone on lots of walks and done lots of shopping in them, and they are soooo comfy! And…I think they are toning my legs a little. There’s this really hard hamstring exercise that I sometimes do, that after I’d used the shoes for a few weeks, felt much easier! I’m going to continue to experiment with them and try going on much longer walks to see what happens. If my legs continue to feel good, I might purchase the running version, “RunTone Action.”
I’ve had a sciatic nerve problem that hasn’t acted up in two years… once I wore the easy-tones for about a month, the pain set in again. I think they are good for walking but as far as rigorous exercise goes…. do not wear these sneakers!! pivoting, cutting, lunging, running all require stability… and these sneakers are designed intentionally without stability.. not good for the back and knees
Hi Katie, thanks for sharing your experience! You’re unfortunately not the first person to report having experienced pain after wearing these shoes.
I totally agree that they shouldn’t be worn for rigorous activities. Although this probably qualifies as common sense, the cost of these shoes may cause people to rely on them as their only pair of sneakers and leave no other options.
I have read every comment on these shoes and am curious about the specific dangers you are saying they could ultimately cause. I’ve had a pair for 7 months and wear them everyday for every activity I do. I agree with all your marketing claims, but from the first time I put them on, they have been the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever had. I have extremely high arches, I have stood on my feet in my job for over 20 yrs and have tried every shoe that I could afford. I do not like going barefoot, which I realize puts me in an extreme minority, but nevertheless I don’t ever walk around barefoot. I also tend to have pain in the ball of my foot because of the way I naturally stand and walk. Except when I wear these shoes. They seem to make me stand correctly so I don’t put pressure on the balls of my feet. I don’t find them restrictive at all. Although I do tend to like a snug, not tight shoe. But I am now, after reading your comments, concerned about doing long term damage to my feet. Which I stand on all day. I’m not over weight, I workout, and I don’t care about Reebok’s claims. That’s not why I bought them. I can’t afford different expensive shoes for every activity I do and wear these for all of them because when I wear anything else, my feet hurt. So I would appreciate knowing more specifically what long term damage I may have been doing. Thanks for your help.
Hi jrock, thanks for your comment.
It sounds like you may have some issues with your feet that the comfort of these shoes is compensating for. Ideally, I think the best approach would be to identify and correct the problem. If the problem can’t be corrected, then I suppose these shoes are a good alternative since they’re relieving your pain.
I didn’t mean to imply that wearing these shoes will literally damage your feet. One of my arguments against them is that the cushioning and instability is likely to alter walking mechanics and result in less use of the intricate structure of the feet. This reduction in use could potentially lead to a weakening of the muscles and connective tissue in the forefoot. Although this would be undesirable, it doesn’t necessarily mean damage. However, if the arch becomes weak, it can lead to overpronation of the foot while walking and running which can transfer stress to other joints and muscles throughout the body. In extreme situations, such as with a distance runner, the repetition of this stress could cause muscle and joint damage, but this is much less likely to happen from every day walking.
In general, given the questionable claims of Reebok EasyTones or any similar shoe having a notable impact on fitness or appearance, my point and opinion is that even the slightest of risks associated with alterations in walking mechanics is not justified. Perhaps for people like yourself who rely on these shoes for comfort, there is more justification, but I still think it would be preferable to try addressing the cause of the pain rather than just compensating for it.
Since these are your only sneakers, a much more likely cause of damage is from an acute injury. The instability of these shoes are likely to increase the risk of falling or rolling an ankle while exercising or engaging in rigorous activity.
Well, I bought the simply tones to see if they would help to tone my legs. However, I have worn them for 3 days, just walking around doing household chores, I’ve maybe worn them for 4 hours a day and I have had the worst knee pain! I can’t tell you how bad my right knee hurts.!! I hate that I spent $80 dollars on something that has caused me so much pain.
I wonder if anyone has contacted the company?
Hi Tonda, thanks for sharing your experience. If anyone does decide to contact Reebok or any other company selling similar shoes, I’d be curious to know what they say.
I beg to differ with your assessment. I am not a fitness buff but am trying hard to get healthier at age 61. My Easy Tone sandals (not sneakers) have significantly improved the tone of my thighs and butt just by wearing them as my primary shoes and walking my dog every day. I did not buy them to improve my appearance but with the idea that every little bit of exercise helps. I did not expect to see visible improvement in the muscle tone of my legs and butt, but my former “cottage cheese” thighs and saggy butt are pretty much gone.
Weight loss and exercise become more and more challenging as we age, and from what I’ve read, increased muscle mass in the large muscles of the body, i.e., glutes, quads, and hamstrings, is particularly helpful in burning fat. So, while toning shoes might not be a perfect or ideal solution, I have found them to be very helpful.
Hi Sally, thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m happy to hear of your results, but in regard to the shoes, can you confidently say that other factors such as an increase in your amount of walking or a change in your diet weren’t also involved?
You’re absolutely right about the large muscle groups, and even though what you mentioned about them in regard to weight loss is true, I think that it’s even more important to focus on these muscles for functional purposes. This also ties into the primary point of this article which is that if muscle development and weight loss are a real priority, then there’s no match for a focused fitness program and a truly healthy diet. In addition to this, there’s the question of these toning shoes negatively influencing one’s gait.
I don’t doubt that these shoes provide some benefit, but in my opinion, everyone should care enough about their health and physical function to eat a truly healthy diet and follow a well rounded fitness routine. Those who do this should have no need for these shoes, and I suspect that many of the people who embrace them have a plenty of room for improvement with their eating and/or exercise habits. Based on your last sentence, I think we can agree on this, and I’d add that toning shoes are more of a compensatory measure than a solution.
I have some Easy Tones – I actually really like them – for walking only- in an effort to ‘save’ my running shoes and not wear them out doing the grocery shopping i purchased some Easy tones – they were much lighter than the other ‘balance shoes’ – plus i didnt mind working my leg muscles a bit extra (I have had knee surgery and my stabilisation needed some work) – my butt is fine! But – i think i was wearing them too much – i have never had an issue with my feet but i noticed on the weekend that the shoes must be like a FOOT BEDS – i looked like i had bunions at my little toe both sides! I was horrified…i plan to wear them a lot less now – maybe just a walk a few days a week – Has anyone else had this problem? I hope I can reverse it.
Hi Allison, thanks for sharing your experience.
Here is some information related to knee stability that might be more useful than a toning shoe. To mimic the stabilization effect of the EasyTones, arguably in a much more effective way, you can also consider incorporating a balance disc into your fitness program.
These shoes might not give you the results that are said on tv, but other than that, the shoes are so very comfortable.But lets face it, all shoes are the same! No matter if they have a little ball or not, if you dont run or work out then of course you wont have a nice firm butt or legs. Shoes are shoes. Wearing these shoes might make a little difference but not as much, wearing them is like wearing heels, I love them both so much and i have got to say, these shoes were definitely worth $100. I would so recommend them.All shoes can affect feet or legs in a way, no shoes are really different, but yes, I enjoyed your article.
Hi Ari, thanks for your comment!
I’m glad you agree that shoes can’t take the place of a legitimate exercise program. I can also appreciate that you enjoy the comfort of the EasyTones, but more cushioning results in less proprioception, and I think it’s important to consider that this could potentially lead to undesirable adaptations in the foot.
I purchased the Easytones a 2 months ago and am VERY impressed with the results. I work out 4 days a week at the gym and my regular cardio routine is incline walking on the treadmill. I have noticed a significant increase in muscle tone since converting from my previous band of sneakers. Furthermore, I just wore them to walk around Disneyland for an entire day (I would absolutely NOT suggest this for someone who doesn’t work out regularly) and probably the best leg work out of my life without the effort. So, take it from someone who OWNS, USES and LOVES their Easytones … They are worth the buy.
Hi Deeann, thanks for sharing your experience. I think it’s safe to say that anyone who is dedicated to fitness like you seem to be is going to see improvements with or without toning sneakers as long as they follow reasonable training guidelines. You could just as easily, and arguably more appropriately, get more stimulus from your workout by modifying exercise selection, intensity, or volume. Either way, what’s important is that you’re not expecting these shoes to compensate for what you’re doing in the gym.
Cool! I am also enjoying my Simply Tone shoes, but haven’t gotten to the point of wearing them an entire day…probably the most I’ve walked in them was an hour or so during the course of one day. No problems at all so far. (I tried on some Skechers Shape-Ups, before deciding to buy the Reeboks, and they were a definite “no!” Felt like trying to walk on a ship on the ocean or something! But with the Reeboks, you kinda “rock and go!”) I have tried quite a few running shoes and have a lot problems with my low back and hamstrings when I run (and I’m just a slow runner), so I am experimenting to see if cross-training with the Reebok Simply Tones might help. Just found out that Reebok makes a running version, too. I am getting desperate and willing to try about anything…either those or Nike Free’s! Because neither stability shoes or cushioned running shoes have been working for me. I have normal-ish arches and minimal pronation. In fact the heels on my running shoes have been wearing out unevenly–on the outside, not the inside of the heel. One of these days, I hope to solve the mystery…Reebok may be the solution or may not be…time will tell, I hope!
Hi Shirley,
In regard to your back pain, I think you might be better off focusing more on your lower body function than trying different shoes. If you have imbalances or weaknesses that are contributing to or even causing the pain, shoe selection probably won’t make much of a difference and is even less likely to correct the problem. I think your best bet would be an evaluation by a good physical therapist, and if that’s not helpful, perhaps the Assess and Correct program might help you identify some areas that need improvement.
I have a pair of easy tones. I can tell you, that I have lost a lot of weight thanks to these shoes. I weighed 340 pounds. Walking hurt my feet and I did not walk fast at all. I was like a snail! I changed my diet and wanted a pair of walking shoes that were comfortable. These did the trick! I have lost 78 pounds and can out walk my family sometimes. My knees and feet are perfectly comfortable. I want to start running soon. I am sure that I will have to find a pair that will be suitable for running. I know these shoes are not suitble for that purpose. They may be a gimmick, but they truly get some of us moving. I thank my lucky stars that I found them. This is the best I have felt in my life. I am doing 5ks…soon I want to run them!
Hi Cheryl, thanks for sharing your experience!
Congratulations on losing weight and improving your lifestyle habits! Although I’m obviously not a fan of these sneakers, I’m glad that the EasyTones have made it easier for you to be more active. Hopefully you’ll be pain free and no longer have a need for them once you get closer to your ideal weight. Keep up the good work!
These shoes are fantastic!!! I LOVE THEM!!! I wear them constantly and they are so comfortable. I really don’t care about the toning feature–it’s all about the comfort.
Hi Donitsky,
Sitting in a slouched position in a chair is more comfortable than sitting upright in good posture, but this doesn’t mean it’s good.
It seems pretty obvious to me that toning shoes have the potential to alter walking mechanics. Although these shoes may slightly increase muscle activation in the legs, the trade off is that muscles and connective tissue in the foot may be understimulated. This could arguably lead to reduced strength and then impaired function and pain. If it does, this would nullify any benefits of comfort that these shoes might provide. I think the only exception is for people like Cheryl who temporarily need the added comfort to work their way into a more active lifestyle.
Millions of years of evolution have provided us with a complex foot structure that is remarkably good at absorbing impact and supporting the weight of the body. Unless absolutely necessary, why wear anything that could potentially interfere with these capabilities?
Hi,
I was really interested in the easytones, (they looked like fun), but I must admit that seeing peoples commentaries here made me wonder. I walk a lot but almost all my shoes hurt my feet sooner or later, I get blisters or the arch of my foot gets cramps. Also I have back problems because of a vertebrae that won’t go back in. I also will soon have to be walking a lot more and standing on my feet most of the day. Long story short is there a pair of shoes that you could recommend that would help with all of this without having to go into the medical accessories?
Thanks
Hi Nez,
To help avoid foot cramps, you can try massaging the bottom of your foot with a tennis ball. You can do this by supporting yourself with a hand against a wall, positioning the arch of your foot over the tennis ball and pressing down against it, and moving your foot back and forth. You’ll probably have some trigger points in the muscle which will cause some discomfort that’s comparable to what you’d feel during a deep tissue massage. You might need to do this several times a day and especially just before going for a walk.
For the purpose of promoting natural foot function, I think the Nike Free is a great shoe to try. If you don’t have any major issues with your feet or walking mechanics, they should feel like slippers and should be comfortable to walk in as long as you don’t land on your heels with too much force. Because your feet will have to do more of the work that they’re meant to do while walking, this will help to strengthen them and may gradually enable you to walk longer distances without pain. It would be ideal if you could gradually work your way towards the amount of standing and walking that you anticipate having to do in the future.
Would these shoes be helpful with an exercise plan?
Hi Krystal,
In my opinion, the slight increase in muscle stimulation that these shoes are supposed to provide doesn’t even come close to the stimulation provided by a well designed exercise program. Even if someone wanted to benefit from the instability stimulus that these shoes provide, they could incorporate something like a Bosu ball or a balance disc into their program. Furthermore, it’s not desirable to use an unstable surface or shoes that promotes instability when performing certain exercises. It can lessen the exercise’s effectiveness for strength development, and even worse, can increase the risk of injury. Based on this, I don’t see any need for EasyTones or any of the other shoes like them to be used in addition to or as part of a well designed exercise program.
I am on my second pair of reebok easy tone shoes. I walk 3 to 5 miles most days. I really love these shoes. But about a month ago i noticed that both of my knees have a crunching sound and feel when bent, but no pain. I am 51. I have decided that maybe these shoes have played a part of this knee problem. I plan on purchasing a more flexible type of shoe tomorrow after reading all these blogs. Family Dr told me no more squats or running stairs and if he were me he wouldn’t walk every day. I will not stop my daily walk. Anyone else have noticed this problem.
Hi Susan, thanks for sharing your experience.
It’s hard to say if the EasyTones are the cause of your knees making noise, but I agree that it’s a good idea to try different shoes to see if it makes a difference. It would also be a good idea to consider anything else that might have changed. For example, along with wearing the EasyTones, perhaps you’ve been walking more than you normally do which could also be a contributing factor.
Muscle tightness can change the forces that act on a joint and therefore alter it’s function. Perhaps this is contributing to the noises that you’re hearing. Fortunately, this is easy to fix with self massage. I highly recommend giving it a try. Keeping the muscles around the knee loose and balanced will help your knees to function more smoothly. It might also be helpful to try some single leg exercises that will strengthen your hips and help to improve knee function.
It sounds like your doctor is basically telling you to give up and accept limitation. Unless there’s more to this situation that you didn’t mention, I think you can do much better than that!
I am a nanny and I fell for the gimmick too, I was even told by the sales man that it would be a terrible decision. Stubborn me ended up with shin splints like some of the other people on the blog. If possible I would never wear shoes but I really dont like the feel of the 5 finger shoes you were talking about in an earlier post. I also recently suffered a knee injury and would really appreciate it if you could help me figure out a good shoe that will get me through the day that can also double up as an exercise shoe. Thanks! Your article is really well written and portrays all the flaws that I unfortunately chose to discover on my own.
Hi Christina, I’m sorry to hear about your negative experience with toning shoes. Although, it’s somewhat refreshing to know that there are sales people out there warning customers about a potential downside to these shoes.
The Vibrams definitely take some getting used to, especially if you plan on wearing them for long periods of time. The Nike Free shoes are much more like a regular sneaker and I think they’re definitely worth a try. The 3.0 model is the least supportive and promotes natural foot function the most. I have two pairs, and although I wish they had a bit less cushioning in the heel area, I love them! If you’d prefer more cushioning and stability, you can try the 5.0 model instead.
Since you just injured your knee, until you’re healed, it might be a good idea to stick with the shoes you regularly wore prior to the toning shoes. Otherwise, you might want to ask your physical therapist or whoever you’re working if adjusting to such a shoe could have a negative impact on your recovery. Although it’s generally a good thing that shoes like the Vibrams and Nike Frees force your feet to do more of the work, it may take a while for your feet and legs to adjust, and adjusting while also recovering from an injury may not be a good thing.
I purchased the Simply Tones several months ago. I believe Reebok has discontinued this line and now markets the Easytones. I don’t know what the difference may have been between the two. I am a runner and have shoes that are light and comfortable. I did buy the Simply Tones out of curiosity more than anything. I have been wearing them every day (not for running, just for everyday activities) and they feel fine while I wear them. However, when I take the shoes off and walk around my home without shoes there is a terrible pain that wraps around the heels on both feet and the sole of my foot located between the heels is in pain as well. Since I have never experienced this with any shoe, high heels, sandals, sneakers, etc. I can only attribute this development to wearing the Simply Tone. I have stopped wearing them and hope the problems I’m having now resolve over time. I’m more intrigued by the fact that there is no pain by wearing them and after taking them off, pain. Very odd.
Hi Shannon, thanks for sharing your experience. I hope your pain resolves itself by no longer wearing the Simply Tone shoes. Perhaps it’s just soreness resulting from the added instability which wouldn’t be such a bad thing, but either way, I think it’s better to avoid shoes like this.
The pain on my heels and the rear ball of my feet after not wearing them for just a week completely resolved the problem. I wear my New Balance when I run and feel no pain. I agree with you about the soreness from the Simply Tones possibly resulting from the added instability and probably would have continued wearing them but for the fact that like any pain from a different flex or stress the pain eventually subsides. This never did. If barely being able to walk from the pain after taking the shoes off is normal then I believe Reebok most definitely should advise consumers of this possibility. I have to wonder if the makers realized this with the Simply Tones and after re-engineering the shoe put it back out as EasyTones.
On the other hand, I still have the shoes. I have worn them from time to time for short periods just to see if it happens again, that along with irritation that I paid $79 for a pair of shoes and dang it I’m gonna’ wear them!
Hi there, I was at the store last night buying a pair of new shoe and I had my iphone on me and thank God I did, because I was about to walk out of the store w/ a pair of the Easy Tone shoes.
I just spent the good part of the morning reading everything that you wrote on here, it’s awesome that you are patient w/ the comments and take time to really answer them. I don’t usually comment on these sites, but I figured you would be able to really help me w/ this.
Some background: I used to play volleyball in HS (over 10 years ago) and thus have had multiple knee & ankle injuries. I also gained a lot of weight after HS (almost 85 lbs) which I am in the process of losing right now. My legs are not strong.
In the meantime I want to spend up to $100 on a pair of sneakers that I can wear when I am just running errands and also at the gym. I want these shoes to last me for a while, I am a student and I can’t afford to buy multiple shoes. I want these shoes to be my go-to shoes. I am also moving to San Francisco and don’t plan on taking my car so I will be riding my bike or walking everywhere.
I also rolled my ankle about 6 months ago and suffered a hairline fracture while hiking… this injury also resulted in an impacted toe nail that my podiatrist finally had to pull because he said it was doing nerve damage… yeah I am not too lucky in the foot area :/
He told me that I was wearing shoes that were WAY too tight. I can tell when I look down on my feet. I had my shoes resized and my left foot is literally 1 size smaller than my right foot. I was was wearing a size 7 1/2 to 8 in shoes, but after having the doctor resize them he told me my left foot is a little under 8 1/2 and my right foot is a lil under 9 1/2! My poor feet were squished this whole time!! My podiatrist also told me to always buy my sneakers HALF a size larger and in order to ensure not damaging my toes again to make sure that when I wear the sneakers, my big toe is not touching the front of the shoe. Is this true?
What shoe do you recommend for me to buy? In the past I’ve always bought New Balance shoes, I love them because I have pretty flat feet. I liked wearing some of their cross trainers and running shoes. But you seem to have sold me on the Nike Frees. This is the one that I liked and my store had.
I also tried on these Reebok shoes. I really liked these shoes, but after reading this article and walking all over the store in them I realized that I probably just like them due to the cushioning and lightweight feel.
I noticed in the free I was able to actually open and spread all of my toes, especially when it comes the outside of my foot (where small toes are) instead of feeling like my toes are curling over a bit and gripping the ground.
I totally agree w/ you on your assessment w/ the Easy Tone or any of these types of shoes, there’s no way that is stable or safe for your foot over time, especially if you are having to twist around or run on uneven surfaces to grab a bus, your dog, the phone, etc. Walking around in them was fine, but when I tried to make quick movements, I could feel the un-stability that I get when I war bad platform shoes. NO BUENO!
I am leaning towards the Nike Free, mainly due to your recommendations alone. What you describe makes sense, I want to rebuild my feet and strengthen them as much as possible. I plan on being more active as I finish up losing weight, so this is a lot more important to me than feeling comfy in cushioned shoe. So can you please give me advice on what to buy? oh and by the way I need to make sure that I can find the shoe at Kohl’s because I have a $100 gift certificate from there, otherwise I can’t really afford to buy exotic brands :/
Oh the other two shoes that I liked are the following
New Balance 461 Cross Trainer shoes
New Balance 500 Running Shoes
oh and btw, are running shoes not good to use when doing cross training like going on hikes, elliptical, treadmill, weight/strength training? I’m clueless in this aspect.
Hi Danesh, thanks for your support!
While promoting natural foot function, shoes like the Nike Frees will also require your feet to do more work. Given your history of foot problems, this may or may not be a problem. Especially with shoes like the Vibrams, some people need to gradually work their way into wearing them on a regular basis. Since you can only afford to have one pair of shoes, you might want to consider buying a pair of regular sneakers that you know you’ll be comfortable in and hold off on getting the Nike Frees until you have the money to buy them as a second pair. Or maybe you can request them from someone as a gift.
As a tennis player, I know it definitely doesn’t feel good when my big toe crashes into the front of my shoe. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen much, and I don’t think I’ve ever worn a pair of shoes that were small enough for my big toe to touch the front of the shoe. Leaving space there seems logical and sounds to me like sensible advice.
Running shoes tend to have additional padding in the heel which results in your foot being more slanted as well as being higher off the ground. This makes them less desirable for working out and for activities like tennis that require lateral movement. A cross trainer is probably your best bet for a well rounded shoe that’s appropriate for most situations.
The Nike Frees come in three different levels of support with the 3.0 having the least, the 5.0 being mid range, and the 7.0 having the most. I don’t know if they make them anymore, but I know at one time some of the 5.0 and 7.0 models were intended to be cross trainers. If you’re really set on trying the Frees, maybe the 5.0 or 7.0 model would be a better fit for you to start out with. Unfortunately, I highly doubt you’ll find them at Kohl’s.
I got these shoes because I am a long time wearer of the MBTs and liked the look of the easy tones better. But after about 10 minutes my feet cramp up and my circulation gets bad in some places, which is odd because the shoes arn’t too tight or anything. I even made them really loose and it was all the same. I noticed these shoes don’t provide the arch support I need which may be why my feet cramped up so bad. they have the balls on the front and back, but nothing in the middle, whereas my MBTs had support there. As a person who works out everyday, I am definately returning these ASAP.
Hi Amanda, thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m not sure how the EasyTones would impair circulation assuming they fit correctly, but the cramps could possibly be a result of the shoes causing your feet to function differently, or as you mentioned, because of the difference in arch support. It would be interesting to see if you experienced any of these problems with regular sneakers (not MBTs).
I have a pair of the easy tone and have been wearing them for two months and I HAVE noticed a difference in my legs and butt. I’m five months pregnate and love these shoes and would buy another pair in a heartbeat!!!!
I bought a pair of the Reebok Simply tone shoes and didn’t have much of a problem at first, exept a slight tingling in my feet after I had been wearing them.
Then a couple of days ago I wore them all day doing Christmas shopping and I had a slight problem with my left leg and so was limping a little and putting a lot more pressure on my right leg. The next day I could barely walk. I have pain from my knee up into my groin and up into my back. I can only hobble around and have even borrowed a walker from an elderly relative as it really hurts to put any weight at all on my right leg. I am really sorry because I really liked them. Is it because of putting too much pressure on the right leg that this happened?
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your experience.
It’s tough to say what caused this, but it seems logical that a long day of walking in addition to favoring the one leg is likely to at least be part of it, especially with the added instability from the shoes. Hopefully the discomfort will go away after a few days of rest, otherwise you should probably have it checked out.
I love these shoes. I bought them on sale, half off. They were the same price as my normal New balance I usually wear, so I thought i’ld give it a go. I’m glad I did. I had toe surgery and the shoes takes the stress of my toes. I’ve worn them for a week now,and I feel and see a change. I walk a lot at work and I keep to a 1500 calorie nutritional eating style,not diet. Maybe now I can lose the last 25 pounds i’ve been warring with!!LOL
Hi Denise, thanks for sharing your experience.
I think it’s great that the EasyTones are taking stress off of your toe and allowing you to remain active while you recover. However, the toes are obviously very involved in walking, running, and balancing. In my opinion, reduced involvement of the toes exemplifies how these shoes can alter biomechanics, and I think this is worthy of consideration once your toe is healed.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and an unstable right ankle. What type of walking shoes do you recommend?
Hi Jessica,
If you’re able to walk barefoot without any issues, then I don’t think there’s any reason why the Nike Free, Vibrams, or any other shoe based on the same idea would be inappropriate for you. However, if you have an unstable ankle, it seems like a matter of common sense that you shouldn’t spend all day in a shoe like the EasyTone that will reduce your stability even further. Either way, you should consult whoever is treating your arthritis and ankle.
Last summer I bought a pair of EasyTones ($109) — not because of the claims of the makers but because I did not own a pair of sneakers and thought this might be as good as any.
I am a 57-year-old woman, extremely fit, walking everywhere and at least 4 miles daily. Since the time I owned these shoes I have had 5 falls, the latest being yesterday. Last week I saw my ENT because I thought there might be a neurological problem. My hearing and equilibrium are fine. After yesterday’s fall I decided to check the web to see wheher there were any problems with the shoes, which have led me to this site.
Could this be the cause.
P.S. Prior to owning these shoes I have not had a fall in my adult life!
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Given that these shoes intentionally create instability, it’s certainly conceivable that they can alter your balance enough to increase the chances of falling. Even if people find benefit from walking in these shoes, I think it’s safe to say that it’s probably not a good idea to wear them as an all purpose sneaker.
There’s one simple way to find out if they’re a contributing factor to your falls, and that’s to stop wearing them!
I purchased a pair of the Reebok runtone mostly because when I tried them on they were so comfortable! I didn’t know about all the problems until now. I’m having a really hard time walking. I love running but I have always had a lot of trouble finding the right shoes. I always get blisters (which I’ve learned to live with) but this type of pain is worse than blisters! Can you recommend a good running shoe? Recently I’ve been thinking about the Virbam Five Fingers. I really wish I had done more research before buying them
Hi Yami,
There are a lot of factors that go into selecting an appropriate running shoe. If you run a lot, I suggest finding a local store that will do a gait analysis for you and give you shoe recommendations based on it.
As great as I think Vibrams are, you have to be careful about using them for running, and it’s something that you should gradually progress into. You may encounter some problems if you start running long distances in Virbams without your feet being used to the extra work that will be demanded from them. If you’re interested in running in Vibrams, I suggest you do some research on barefoot running first. Harvard’s barefoot running website is a good place to start.