sneakers that give you a workout?

[Disneychix]

I just got the Reeboks. They are comfy and really hold your feet tightly which I like in a sneaker. I really can't tell I'm wearing them except sometimes I can feel the 'balance balls' in the front.
My hamstrings get a little tight at the end of the day

 

[tinkmom2]

I got the Sketchers and have been wearing them to the gym this week. I had soreness in my but and calves the first time I wore them. I walk on the tread mill about 20-25 minutes. It takes a minute to learn how to walk fastly with them on. I have a bad left foot and did notice some soreness in it the first time but now I am getting used to them it's not so bad. The shoes won't magically make you fit. You have to put exercise and diet into the mix

 

[extremesoccermom]

I also have PF and love my Dansko shoes as well. However, I'm looking for something more "summery" than what Dansko offers. I'm afraid to sink money into the Sketchers in case they make my PF worse.

I bought a pair of Dansko clogs and found that they cured my Plantar Fascitis. LOve them!

The nurse mentioned that she found these shoes helpful but there is no way I can afford the 110.00 and up price. Do you have a source that offers coupons or discounts?
I noticed on the Dansko website they have sandals also. Some were really cute.

 

[patsal]

I bought the sketchers flip flops that are supposed to be good for toning the legs. I have made lots of other changes too, but they are comfy and do tone the calves. I am thinking about the Mary Jane style, but justifying $110 is hard to do!

 

[idofabric]

I found the sketcher shape-ups at our local Base Exchange, a Military store... you need an ID card, but they were $89! and they have the mary janes.
Didn't get them cause I had just got 2 part of the Fit-Flops the week before for $39 a pair.
I have had my left ankle completely re constructed, and a new big toe joint replacement in my right big toe, and the right ankle tendon on the back of that ankle repaired, my orto.pod. recomended the fit flops cause I HATE encloused shoes in the summer- think sweaty feet. Yuck!
And I also got a pair of the Five Finger Footwear, which is almost like going barefooted... I LOVE them... not sure how they will work, but so far, 3 weeks in they are great! I get lots of arcdh support, and they really make my calfs wake up.
I rotate all of them cause I have, in my Dr's words, S***y knees, and am looking at replacements in the future.... and I have custome insertsthe ort.pod Dr made for shoes that will keep them in...
OH, yea, love my MBTs, but weat them only a little, the reviews that warned not to get them wet cause they fall apart scared the stuff out of me- we get lots of rain in the south! and they cost the earth!

 

[ZachnElli]

I have the Sketchers Shape-ups and I really like them. When I first started using them, I was really, REALLY sore in my calves and my hips. As for toning, well, I do 5 miles on the treadmill in 60 mins 5-6 times a week, so something better be getting toned!

 

[lroger01]

I got the Avia version ($60). I love them. I think they are best for the following people:

• Bad posture due to locked knees and tilted pelvis
  
  
• Previous leg, hip or back issues that are now healed. It helps resolve things you may have done to "protect" the injured area. I broke my tail bone years ago. Wearing the shoes stretched out my left thigh and butt cheek. When my tail bone was healing I had got in the habit of sitting on my right cheek to protect it. Now with those muscles stretched out I find I can walk further and faster.

I also had a tendancy to "clomp" a bit when I walked. Wearing the shoes drove me crazy the first few days as I tried to clomp around in them. Later I discovered I had to walk with what seemed to be a very pronounced heel to toe motion. Now that motion is normal and I've discovered that's the way most people walk!

So, if you want to improve the way you walk or stretch out tight muscles I recommend them highly!

 

[shannon1119]

My wife and I watched a show that tested these against regular tennis shoes and the tennis shoes actually were proven to work the muscles more. I can't remember what show it was but I think it may have even been a news segment. The placed electrodes all over the calf and thigh concentrating on the muscles. They had a number of women doing the test with different types of these 'butt boosting' shoes and regular tennis shoes. The tennis shoes were shown to have more of an effect on the muscle. It was really interesting. My wife wanted a pair but decided to save the money after watching it.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I have the Skechers Shape Ups and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!

 

[lchadwick]

I have the LA Gear version of the Reeboks and love them. And I was able to get them for $40. I'm a fitness instructor so I already work out a lot, but just thought they'd feel good to wear - and they do.

 

[danagirl]

My friend talked me into the Sketchers Shape ups. I am not one to pay 100 dollars for shoes...and it killed me to do it!!! Now I own two pairs of tennis shoes and two sandals. I notice some difference in my legs and I have lost a little in my thighs but honestly that wouldn't be enough for me to buy more. The fact that my back doesn't hurt AT ALL after standing on my feet all day is well worth it...I would pay a heck of a lot more for that alone!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I bought the sketchers flip flops that are supposed to be good for toning the legs. I have made lots of other changes too, but they are comfy and do tone the calves. I am thinking about the Mary Jane style, but justifying $110 is hard to do!

I used to be like that too but I look at it like this: Your feet are very important, most of us spend a good portion of the day on our feet and poorly fitted shoes can lead to hip, back and knee pain. I cannot wear cheap shoes(Payless etc)because my feet let me know about it.. My scrubs are provided by the hospital so I have some leeway with shoes.

I purchased my Sketchers at Kohls and paid $89.00.

 

[MEM]

The nurse mentioned that she found these shoes helpful but there is no way I can afford the 110.00 and up price. Do you have a source that offers coupons or discounts?
I noticed on the Dansko website they have sandals also. Some were really cute.

Sign up for alerts from the 6pm.com website - that's where I bought my Danskos - they must have been last year's style (about 70% off) but I didn't care.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I have the Reebok runtones and I love them. I haven't really noticed a difference in my legs or butt, but they are so comfortable. Very easy to run in. I saw that Kohls has the easytones now so maybe you can get those cheaper with a 30% discount. I think the price there was $79.99.

 

[SFigments]

I just recently bought the Reebok easytone. I love the way they feel on my feet and they do seem as if they help keep the body in alignment. I am a nurse and they are comfortable enough to wear on the floor for a 12 hour shift. I am unsure how truly toning they are, but I just love the comfort. Also I found mine at Kohl's were they were on sale for 79.00 plus kohl's usually gives further discounts. By the time i used my kohl's cash and the 30% off i had they were only $6 dollars!
I tried on the skeetchers and other brands but I felt like I might fall in them when walking down steps. I dont know if there is a kohls in your area but they had the best price I could find and currently giving at least 15% off at the register.