Toning shoes are a new and snazzy footwear trend that helps you get in shape as well as lose weight.  MBT shoes started the toning shoe trend.  The Fitflop brand flip flops, offering better foot support and walking with reduced effort, are stylish and did not clash with summer clothes, have proved effective to their wearers.  As a result of this fantastic success, brands like Skechers and Reebok (among many others) have come out with shoes to tone your body.  Toning shoes promise various health benefits, achieved by walking!


Toning shoes will help walkers

Because toning shoes have an uneven sole for your feet, specific muscles are forced to work harder while you walk.  This results in a better sense of balance, and stronger muscles (such as hamstrings, glutes, and thighs).  You will gain a better posture by wearing toning footwear due to the fact you have greater balance and stronger muscles.

Toning shoes are different from regular shoes.  When you put on toning shoes, you will walk more freely and naturally.  Major shoe brands that have the research and development for toning shoes (MBT) have incorporated the benefits of barefoot walking.  Toning shoes also work much more muscles than regular shoes. Simply by wearing them, one is enabled to get a workout and improve fitness through regular daily activities.  This is great for people who do not have the time to go to a gym.

These kinds of footwear also help to build more powerful calf muscles.  Most people will have fairly small calf muscles, compared to the other major muscles they work on.  Getting strong calf muscles is the end result of walking a great deal, and doing other exercises.  Just by wearing toning shoes, you will strengthen your calf muscles.


Tests of Toning Shoes

According to the YouTube Lacing Up video, hosted by Janice Lieberman, 3 manufacturers were tried out: MBT Shoes, Skechers Shape Ups, and Reeboks EasyTone.  Results:
Volunteers who have tried toning shoes work their hamstrings 11% harder and their glutes 28% harder than if they were to wear standard running shoes.  
All three have rounded rocker bottoms, which make you feel like you may fall over when you first wear them.  You may need to learn how to walk in them.  The more they walk, the more comfortable the shoes will become.
A former NASA scientist (Bill McGuiness) notes that the Reebok shoes were designed with air pots underneath the balls and heels of the shoes.   This was designed on the same principles as the balancing ball, where you stand on the ball to get a greater feeling of balance.  
The MBTs and the Skechers have a wedge on the back that is designed to give one’s feet the feeling like they’re walking on sand.