OT: Skechers Shape-ups

[Banned]

Are your boobs wearing the right shoes?

Do man breasts count as boobs?
I tossed the bra after loosing 30lbs in my MBTs.

[Banned]

Athletically, I run mountain trails and wear trail shoes which have a low profile (thin sole). The lower profile puts the foot closer to the ground and helps prevent ankle turns on rough, boulder-strewn trails. By contrast, it would seem the MBT type raises the foot and might cause a great tendency to turn the ankle on rough terrain.

You would never want to wear these kind of shoes for anything faster than a brisk walk.

[BlackSpinner]

I think if any new product works miracles it will be common place very quickly. I haven't seen one person in them : )

4 inch heels don't work miracles an you see them everywhere

I wear birkenstocks in the summer but right now I need job interview shoes and non of those are are going to cut it image wise.

[lvwildcat]

I am an ICU RN who works 12 hour shifts. I SWEAR by mine. I have a bad knee and I can get through a shift without pain.Few weeks ago I wore my Birkenstocks to work...by 1pm...I felt crippled with 6 hours to go .
The first time I wore them...my calves and thighs are SORE SORE SORE the next day.
May I suggest if you're NOT sure about them...go to KMart and buy the TheraShoe shape-ups. They're about $35/pair. Fraction of cost of MBTs and Skechers

[Babette]

GD it Banned, now you made me want a pair of them.

I suffered a foot injury last summer that is still bothering me. I've gone to solely wearing my Merrell's for work (I swear I own them in every style and color) and a pair of Mion's on weekends (you can't get them anymore, Keen and Timberland put them out of business, damned shame too, I love them the best). After 6 weeks of PT I thought I had it licked, then 3 months of a rigorous athletic program, including running, brought it back.

I'm gonna try a pair of these for work. I mainly SIT all day, so they shouldn't bother me too much. I could try them during the weekend shopping excursions for more of a test.

OT OT - BTW, for those that asked, I'm fine. Just busy at work, and menopausal, which causes me to lose patience for alot of the same arguments endlessly going round on this board. I check in nearly every day for PM's, and cruise the first page for anything that might interest me. Feel free to PM me or write me offlist. I'm still here. Everything's fine. Just getting older and crotchetier.

Oh, and I finally bought a smartphone, so I'm obessesed with that now, instead of my cpap. I joined a Droid forum.

AND, I'm taking a break from the NAII Test Drive. I've called them all home. I will entertain the stray desperate plea, but I've taken the links off my signature. Just feeling impatient and frustrated about alot of things lately. I'm sure I need more hormones. Or less.

LOL,
B.

[tillymarigold_]

I think if any new product works miracles it will be common place very quickly. I haven't seen one person in them : )

First there were MBTs, then FitFlops, now there are Skechers Shape Ups and Reebok EasyTone. And that's all within about a year.

By the way *if* you have flat feet you should not wear negative-heel shoes.

Also, the MBTs especially (but really, all of them) are only for walking and only for being on hard, flat surfaces--asphalt, concrete, and so forth. They're not for running nor for walking on dirt or sand or grass nor on uneven terrain.

[LinkC]

The term "roundheels" comes to mind...

[Craig P]

I used to wear MBTs. They are the most worthless shoes you can buy. If you really think about it human feet were not made with shoes in mind. And unfortunately most shoes are not designed for feet they are designed for looks. If you really want good foot health then wear shoes as little as possible. Unfortunately I have to wear conventional shoes for work, but I go barefoot or wear Vibram Five fingers otherwise. The more you exercise your feet the stronger the arch becomes. They are also great for running.



You can find distributor information here: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com

[roster]

I hear you Craig. A number of people have raved about them to me. They told me though that they would not work on trails - small rocks and pebbles would bruise the feet badly.

Do people laugh at you or whisper behind your back at the grocery store?

I may put a pair of those on the wish list for Father's Day.

Guess I would need help from the sales clerk in sizing them properly?

[Craig P]

I do get some comments when I wear them in public. My wife calls them my gorilla feet. If I could get away with it I would not wear conventional shoes again.

They make another version with thicker soles for trail running. They are called the KSO Trek.

As for bruising your feet, everyone should watch where they are walking anyway. Did our ancestors complain about bruised feet?

[BlackSpinner]

. Did our ancestors complain about bruised feet?

No they invented shoes.

Prada Gucci sigh and the thigh high boots with 4 inch heels that I once wore back in the dark ages...

[Babette]

Rooster, check out your local running shoe store. Many of them carry similar shoes now. REI carries them, too.

I haven't been tempted by them - I'm convinced they would be painful for me, since I dislike going barefoot. But maybe I'm just wrong.

I have discovered some more "shape footwear" though, that's cheaper than MBT's:
http://www.shapeupshoes.com/

I think they are not for long distance walking. Just short trips. Don't they remind you of those clogs Geisha's wear out in the rain?

Maybe I'll stick with my Merrell's. They have a nice footbed that seems to suit me.

Cheers,
B.

[Stormynights]

I have a high arch and I have been wearing MBT's for the last 2 years to work in. They have saved my feet. I can't say my butt looks any better because I can't see it. I had terrible foot pain before I got them.

[roster]

Maybe I'll stick with my Merrell's. They have a nice footbed that seems to suit me.

Cheers,
B.

During the last year, I have been running 8-mile trail runs over very rough and steep trails in a pair of Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra Trail-Running Shoes. These are fantastic shoes for speed on the trails and they stick to rocks extrmely well.



For snow, ice and very sloppy, muddy trails, I was convinced by the rep at the outdoor store to buy a pair of Merrell Moab Mid Gore-Tex XCR Hiking Boots. I like these boots a lot for sloppy conditions and have also found that when we hit a dry section of trail they are reasonably good for running.

I like them so much I just ordered a pair of Merrell Moab Ventilators low cut for running. I will alternate days with my Salomons and see which works best for me.

Originally I would not buy Merrells because I saw them being sold for fashion at Nordstroms. But the sales rep convinced me that, while they do sell a lot for fashion, Merrell has kept their solid performance shoes. Just be careful which model you purchase.

[spanz]

Unstable work out surfaces can be very helpful for developing core muscles. So weight lifting and balance exercises with anything that is unstable on your feet CAN be helpful.

However, there is a growing body of evidence that any shoe on your foot during running can cause shin splints, tendonitus, etc. Some of the advanced runners are going with a very thin flat shoe with absolutely not support--just something to keep rocks from hurting your skin. That is the way your foot was made to run for miles and miles over the last 100,000 years! It is folly to think that modern shoe makers can improve on that!