OT: Skechers Shape-ups

[Craig P]

If he had the regular KSOs they may be a little too light unless you have spent some time in them and have your feet prepared. I took a few short walks in the area of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in regular KSOs and could feel every rock. For rough country you would be better off with the KSO Trek with a sole that is twice as thick.

Yep, I think the guy bought the wrong ones for hiking in rugged terrain. They looked thin and he told me he paid $85. Looking on the internet I see those are the regulars and the Treks are $125.

I need to get to a store and try them on.

If you decide to get a pair you will find that you are paying more attention to where and how you place your feet. As an example of the pounding regular running shoes give your knees: a few years ago I began running on a treadmill a the local YMCA. After a while I had to quit because my knees were so painful from the heel strike running. After I got my VFFs I began running on my treadmill at home using the forefoot strike and have not felt one twinge of pain in my knees.

[Craig P]

Rooster, send Grandma that picture you sent me. She needs it.

I swear, every time I read this thread, my left foot starts aching again. I don't notice it until I read this thread. Heck, maybe I need a pair of shape-ups now.

KSO's... NO WAY! For one thing, the "feet stink" issue is a big one for me. I can just smell my feet now after a few hours in those. I like the concept, but until they figure out how to make them out of non-stink-producing materials, NOPE!

LOL,
B.

That's why they make "toe" socks. http://www.injinji.com/index.htm

[DreamStalker]

Rooster, send Grandma that picture you sent me. She needs it.

I swear, every time I read this thread, my left foot starts aching again. I don't notice it until I read this thread. Heck, maybe I need a pair of shape-ups now.

KSO's... NO WAY! For one thing, the "feet stink" issue is a big one for me. I can just smell my feet now after a few hours in those. I like the concept, but until they figure out how to make them out of non-stink-producing materials, NOPE!

LOL,
B.

That's why they make "toe" socks. http://www.injinji.com/index.htm

It is also the reason people should take a bath at least once a month.

[-SWS]

Well, thank you Rooster for starting this thread... And thank you to everyone who provided information about these shoes.

After reading this thread and researching a bit, I decided to go down to the shoe store to try some on. Instantly more comfortable than my orthopedically approved Rockport casuals and New Balance athletic shoes (can't comment on workouts yet). I bought a black pair of casual shoes that I thought I could get away with visiting clients. And my wife bought a pair of athletic walking shoes that she can wear in her highly casual tech lab at work. She initially found her Skechers to feel about as comfortable as her traditional walking shoes---only slightly different or foreign feeling. Haven't viewed the bundled Skechers DVD just yet... But the store clerk mentioned that we should ease into wearing them---rather than walking around in them all day long at first.

There are plenty more user reviews here for anyone interested: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... prefix=ske

And more info here as well: http://www.skechers.com/info/shape_ups

Thanks again!

[Babette]

BATH???? We don't need no stinkin' BATHS!
B.

[-SWS]

Equal URL time for the reasonably-priced TheraShoes that were also mentioned earlier in this thread: http://www.therashoe.com/ and http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/v_10151_1010 ... &adCell=W3.

Neither of these MBT sites seems to be working at the moment: http://us.mbt.com/ and http://www.mtboutlets.com/.

BATH????

As in foot bath: http://tinas-eyes.com/yahoo_site_admin/ ... 16_std.gif.

[Muse-Inc]

Thanks for the info re Merrell shoes (never heard of 'em before)...these look quite comfy and some quite acceptable in the business casual world I tend to work in. Look like they'll be much nicer than what I've been wearing.

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks for the info re Merrell shoes (never heard of 'em before)...these look quite comfy and some quite acceptable in the business casual world I tend to work in. Look like they'll be much nicer than what I've been wearing.

Yeah I nearly crippled my self last week wearing "fashion" boots to a job interview. At least they were flat. I had found a pair of shoes that looked like I could survive in,Mephistos , until I turned them over and discovered they were $360 Cdn (plus tax) So I bought the $50 boots and added inserts.

[Banned]

And more info here as well: http://www.skechers.com/info/shape_ups

The advantage of the MBT is the patented 'sensor' under the arch, that the sketcher/thermashoe do not have. Technologically, the sensor ball directly under the arch allows the heel and ball of the feet to wrap around the sensor while supporting the arch. Just like walking in sand.
The MBT allows you to know exactly what your foot is doing in relation to the 'sensor' over the arch. With the MBT you land on the arch first, your heel and ball sink below the 'arch line', if you will, and you rock forward as you take the step.

The design flaw of the knock-off sketcher/thermashoe is that there is nothing directly supporting the arch (NO REAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ARCH) other then the thicker sole. Hence, you don't have any idea what your arch is doing in relation to the heel or ball of your foot as you walk.

Thanks for the insight.

Enjoy your shoes!

[Cygnusia]

The cheaper shoes still feel better than the standard, though. I've been using my TheraShoes for two weeks now and I've noticed a huge difference in how my feet feel at work. Granted, my big toes are still numb from using the Dr. Scholls for so long, and I am a little worried that that damage might be permanent.

[BlackSpinner]

The advantage of the MBT is the patented 'sensor' under the arch, that the sketcher/thermashoe do not have. Technologically, the sensor ball directly under the arch allows the heel and ball of the feet to wrap around the sensor while supporting the arch. Just like walking in sand.
The MBT allows you to know exactly what your foot is doing in relation to the 'sensor' over the arch. With the MBT you land on the arch first, your heel and ball sink below the 'arch line', if you will, and you rock forward as you take the step.

The design flaw of the knock-off sketcher/thermashoe is that there is nothing directly supporting the arch (NO REAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ARCH) other then the thicker sole. Hence, you don't have any idea what your arch is doing in relation to the heel or ball of your foot as you walk.

Yes but at $300 plus tax I can't afford to spend it. If I am spending that much money it will go to new winter boots instead.

[Babette]

Thanks for the info re Merrell shoes (never heard of 'em before)...these look quite comfy and some quite acceptable in the business casual world I tend to work in. Look like they'll be much nicer than what I've been wearing.

Oh gosh yes. They are my standard business shoes. I'm a big fan of the Primo Breeze for the warmer months. I keep a watch for them on Ebay. I hate to pay more than $30 if I can help it.

Cheers,
B.

[Babette]

Tried on the Therashoes at Kmart the other day. NOT impressed. They are basically really bad Earth shoes. There is no real roll to the shoe. I'm not sure if I could learn to strike on my arch, rather than my heel. If you strike on your heel, you're gonna really strain your hamstrings with these.

If you want a "rocker" sole, go to the original - wooden sabots. The closest commercial brand to this is the Dansko line. I used to be a big Dansko fan, but I've since morphed to Merrells. I only have one pair of Dansko's left. The Merrell's still roll, but they are more comfortable. I'm no longer convinced that the way the Dansko's immobilize the foot is a good thing over time. In the short run they are comfy, but I think they contributed to whatever is wrong with my left foot now. They lack of mobility caused my broken toe to fuse and now it doesn't flex correctly, causing me problems and pain.

MBT's are interesting but too expensive. If I could find a store where I could try them on, I might consider them. But so far I've only found them online.

I'm so annoyed that Timberland put Mion out of business. I live in my Mion Pen Shell's in my off hours. If I could get more of these I would.

Just my two cents.
B.

[cpapernewbie]

BlackSpinner mentioned Mephisto

PleASE GET AWAY FROM THIS Mephisto. Not only are they overpriced, they are uncomfortable.

Ecco is slightly better and 50% Mephisto price, Clarks about the Ecco price level and comfortable.

But in the end after spending as much for shoes as for CPAP masks, the simple athletics shoes are great

I found that Adidas is very comfortable at 20% of Mephisto price - especially Adidas Adizero - very light (8 oz) and airy

[Babette]

Okay. Confession time.

Went out to the mall today. Not planning to buy anything. Actually, we just stopped to use the cash machine. Which was next to the shoe store. And there they were. Skechers Shape Ups. On sale. Tried them on. Found them... Interesting. Felt kinda good walking in them. Put one of my other shoes on, and walked around comparing them. Decided I wanted to know more about them. Bought them.

Not sure that they are Gods Gift to feet. But they feel kinda interesting. I might want to go walking in them. And that's all that's important to me. That they feel comfortable when walking. I don't believe any shoe will make you lose weight. But if they make you want to go walking in them, that is a good thing.

I'll report more after I've worn them more.

I can say they didn't feel anything like the Therashoes at Kmart I tried on last week.

Cheers,
B.