I’m a firm believer in the old saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true”.  But I’m also open-minded enough to try a new product or gadget out to see if the hype is real or not.  So, I took a leap of faith (and a chunk out of my wallet) and bought a pair of Sketchers Shape-Ups.

If you’re not familiar Shape-Ups, they’re very similar in style and design to MBTs—the pioneers who first created these shoes.  Like many pioneers with great ideas, they often fall behind when a big competitor—with very deep pockets—comes along.  I feel guilty for not doing research the MBTs, but I really didn’t feel like shelling out $250 (or more) for a pair of walking shoes.  Further, when they first came out, the MBTs were just plain ugly.  My friend Sonya bought a pair (and loved them) but we couldn’t help but laugh at her every time she wore them because they made her size ten feet look like fifteens!

Sketcher Shape-Ups make too many promises.  When you buy your shoes, you get a nifty handout that states:  “Get in Shape without Stepping Foot in a Gym™”.  It says they are designed to:

  • Promote weight loss
  • Tone muscles
  • Improve posture
  • Strengthen your back and abdominals
  • Reduce cellulite and tone your thighs
  • Increase cardiovascular health
  • Reduce stress on knee and ankle joints

As I searched their website, I thought I would find a great deal of published research backing their claims.  Not so.  I did find some testimonials and a case study on the site but that was it.

When I first bought them, I had Mom try them on.  She walked across the room looking like Groucho Marx.  If only she had a cigar in her hand, I would have sworn she was his long lost (and much younger) sister.  I was laughing too hard to tell her it was okay to STAND UP.   She just couldn’t bring herself to walk upright in these shoes.

My next guinea pig was Vicki (the Queen of Kegels).  She felt like they weren’t stable enough for her and was afraid she might sprain her ankle.  Shape-Ups feature a soft kinetic wedge insert which is meant to cause a rolling motion—similar to walking barefoot in the sand.  But what she didn’t like was the extra lateral motion she felt while standing still.  If someone had very weak ankles, I could see this as a potential problem.  But, I also see how it might help strengthen the muscles that support the ankles as well.

Now it was my turn.  They were comfortable but they’re very awkward at first—partly because they’re so bulky and partly because you do walk differently.  I felt like Shaggy on Scooby Doo but, honestly, it didn’t take long to get the hang of them.

I’ve been wearing them now for over a month and I must admit I really like them.    They are super comfortable and I feel like my posture is better when I wear them.  My hips, which give me trouble from time to time, have been quiet.  I’m not sure if it’s from the shoes or just pure coincidence but either way I’m happy about it.

I have tripped more than a few times while wearing my Shape-Ups.  I’d like to blame it on the cobblestone streets in our neighborhood but I’ve tripped on flat surfaces as well.  Thank goodness I haven’t fallen but I can see how this might be an issue for some people.

I did a little research of my own and talked to a few women who own “Shape-Ups” to see what they thought about them.  Two women are nurses and both SWEAR by them.  Shirley, my favorite Orthopaedic nurse in the world, is on her feet all day long taking care of 60-70 patients per day at Dr. Phil Parr’s busy practice.  She told me that since she started wearing her Shape-Ups, her legs don’t feel exhausted at the end of the day.  I met another nurse outside Thomas Jefferson Hospital who had on a pair.  She echoed Shirley’s enthusiasm with the shoes and said she couldn’t imagine getting through a day without them.  She told me that many of the women who work at the hospital wear them too.  Another woman I met in Washington Square Park said they were the most comfortable walking shoes she’s ever worn.

My plea to Sketchers is to change your marketing message.  People are skeptical if you try to be too many things to too many people.  They are comfortable shoes that seem to positively alter the way you walk.  They’re particularly helpful for people who are on their feet all day long.  They may help relieve pain in different parts of your body, but I doubt if they’ll raise your metabolism, get rid of your cellulite, and get you so fit you’ll never need to go to the gym again.

If you have a pair of Shape-Ups, MBTs or Easy Tones (a similar shoe by Reebok), please post a comment and let us know your thoughts.

Stand Up Straight & Smile,

Molly