OT: Skechers Shape-ups

[BlackSpinner]

Masks and shoes - so many of us are fascinated by masks and shoes. My shoes collection match my mask colection and I bet that many of us may be able to match Imelda Marcos (3,000 shoes) world record

Yes and many of us get much better service in a shoe store to fit our shoes then we get at for fitting our mask. Can you just imagine a shoe sales person insisting you take a shoe that doesn't fit because that is what they have in stock and you just got to learn to live with it? Or not letting you try to walk in the shoe?

[SleepingUgly]

How do we know none of our ancestors' feet hurt? It seems a bit unrealistic to assume that today we have a continuum (ranging from people who can wear anything and their feet don't hurt to those whose feet hurt much of the time regardless of what they wear), whereas way back when, everyone's feet felt great barefoot all the time.

Once upon a time I could wear shoes without support for everything except very long walks, for which I needed a very minor bit of support... that is until I started doing Tae Kwon Do barefoot. I've never been able to reverse the negative effects of that and I have to wear orthotics. I wish it were true that all I had to do to reverse this was to spend more time barefoot.

[roster]

I started doing Tae Kwon Do barefoot.

I guess opposable toes give you a significant advantage over opponents?

[Craig P]

If you google "barefoot living" you will find all kinds of information. Including the answer to "What's wrong with wearing shoes?:

Reasons why You might be Barefoot
(If even one of these sounds familiar, try taking your shoes off.)

85% of all Americans seek medical treatment for foot-related pain. By comparison, only 3% of people in barefoot populations have debilitating foot problems" "New research shows that, aside from trauma, our footwear is most often to blame" "The cushioning effect of conventional footwear inhibits the sensory stimulus (to the sole of the foot) that is needed to trigger the proper muscle function required to align the bones for optimal stability" "Rigid soled and enclosed footwear restricts the full foot flexion necessary to manage impact stresses effectively. Rigid soles inhibit natural walking and running dynamics and increase the forces the foot must manage. Shallow toe boxes restrict the natural toe movement required to form a strong stable arch. Tight lacing inhibits the natural raising of the arch in response to increased loads, causing the foot to flatten, which promotes inefficient bone alignment and structural instability that weakens the restricted muscles and causes other muscles to fatigue from overwork."

What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot

[gasp]

Banned,

You give a very convincing testimony for MBTs. I will try them on in the store.

I am thinking about using them for casual wear.

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.

It will be interesting to see what happens to MBTs in the U.S. You might think that a similar product at a much cheaper price has arrived and will make a dent in MBT sales. But it could be that the Skechers draw attention to this type of shoe and sales of MBTs to "shoe-snobs" (I am one ) skyrocket.

Zappos is a good internet source of shoes. They ship free and if you get the wrong size they pay for return shipment.

http://www.zappos.com/mens-mbt-shoes

http://www.zappos.com/mens-mbt-shoes

Have you tried the Vibram Five Fingers? I wanted to try them but haven't done it yet. I had a serious sprain in multiple places and ever since have stayed off higher profile shoes and those without flared heels.

[Craig P]

Any shoe that raises the heel above the level of the ball of the foot throws your whole body out of alignment. I wear the Vibram Five Fingers and I really like them.

[Cygnusia]

I have a friend at work that actually wears the Skechers, and she absolutely loves them. I didn't realize she wore them until reading this thread and noticed the absence of the heel.

[gasp]

Any shoe that raises the heel above the level of the ball of the foot throws your whole body out of alignment. I wear the Vibram Five Fingers and I really like them.

Do the shoes have to be worn with the special toe socks? If not, do the shoes abrade skin around the toes?

[Craig P]

Any shoe that raises the heel above the level of the ball of the foot throws your whole body out of alignment. I wear the Vibram Five Fingers and I really like them.

Do the shoes have to be worn with the special toe socks? If not, do the shoes abrade skin around the toes?

I wear them with Injinji socks only because they have a tendency to become rather stinky. Otherwise I had no problems wearing them without socks. And they can be washed in the washer and air dried.

[Cygnusia]

Well, I picked up some TheraShoes at KMart today. They're built along the same line as the MBTs and Shape-Ups. I've been wearing them since I got home and I thought I would have difficulty getting used to them... I couldn't be more wrong. I already feel like I've been walking in them for some time.

Of course, time will tell when they get a trial by fire come tomorrow during my 10-hour shift...

[roster]

Well, I picked up some TheraShoes at KMart today. They're built along the same line as the MBTs and Shape-Ups. I've been wearing them since I got home and I thought I would have difficulty getting used to them... I couldn't be more wrong. I already feel like I've been walking in them for some time.

Of course, time will tell when they get a trial by fire come tomorrow during my 10-hour shift...

Let us know how it goes.

If you haven't already planned to, I would suggest taking your regular shoes to work in a bag in case your feet get tired of the new configuration after a few hours.

[Cygnusia]

I hadn't thought about it... but I probably should. Good call.

[roster]

I have a pair of the Skechers one and OMG I can't live without them. Every time I need to do a lot of walking I put them on and next day: magic. My abs look flatter and my butt looks firmer. I mean we sent a men to the moon, couldn't they figure this out sooner...

So your point is that we developed the complicated technology to send men to the moon before we developed the simple technology to tighten up one's moon?

[Uncle_Bob]

If you google "barefoot living" you will find all kinds of information. Including the answer to "What's wrong with wearing shoes?:

Reasons why You might be Barefoot
(If even one of these sounds familiar, try taking your shoes off.)

I just had thoughts of you jumping about bearfoot on hot asphalt after a day of 115 degree high temperatures here in Arizona

Seriously how do those Vibram Five Fingers hold up on the hot asphalt?

I am currently experiencing foot problems for the first time, i left the doctors with generic insoles and foam finger to wear in between my toes. On my way out they tell me they are not covered by insurance and needed $45 for the supplies. This place was worse than a DME i could have got those supplies for $20 in wallgreens.
Oh and he wants to make me some custom insoles for my high arch at a cost of around $300

[grandmma]

Another really interesting thread guys. Haven't seen any ads for Sketchers over here, but I do tape a lot of shows & skip through the ads, so that may not mean much. Also have never seen the Five Fingers!

I do have issues with my feet, and after seeing a lot of people, a podiatrist yonks ago finally got it right, and set me up with really good inserts (can't grab the name of the shoe insert thingy right now, escapes me ). Apparently walking incorrectly was throwing out my hip and back, and they did make a difference. But I notice I don't have the same issues now, so I need to go back and be rechecked, I feel.

I always buy Kumfs for the inserts (nice, well made, but I love cute, girly, feminine, bad for you shoes, so they're still "ugly shoes" to me). I've done a mean line in ugly shoes the last 10 or so years! When I had a stress fracture recently, I needed a pair of shoes which were velcro all straps, so I could adjust as my foot swelled later in the day. I got a pair of homipeds, ugliest shoes they had too, and swore they'd go the minute the stress fracture issues did. Sadly, they're the only shoes, including gym shoes, I can wear all day with no ill effects, and walk in for aeons. Must find out if they make any other styles using that particular last.

So on all day they are! Old age is such a bore, but at least ugly shoes, no one expects otherwise, a rite of passage for most?!

Babette, don't know if I've missed any comments or answers on this, but where's your gorgeous, cheeky avatar? Marked your personality so well, bring it back!!!!