Dr. Scholls Original exercise sandal, $35-$89. Launched in 1968, this shoe still has followers who love its sculpted wooden footbed and leather strap with adjustable buckle.
The claim: The raised toe crest on the wooden footbed causes toes to grip the shoe, which tones and defines legs.
PODIATRISTS SAY:
Lorry Melnick: “It’s too stiff; I like to see a little more flexibility. I don’t know that they’d harm someone who wasn’t having problems, but your feet will take a pounding because there’s no shock absorption. Stephanie Clements: “Like flip-flops, they don’t give you support, and the heel flies free. You’re better off with a synthetic heel that will absorb shock.”
More:
Walk this way
FitFlops, $50-$60. The flip-flop-style sandal, developed at the Centre for Human Performance at South Bank University in London, was designed to engage muscles more than regular shoes by having different densities of EVA cushioning in the forefoot, midsole and heel.
The claim: “Get a workout while you walk” is the tagline of the company, which claims clinical trials found the shoes “significantly increased gluteal muscle response, increased hamstring response and increased calf-muscle response.”
PODIATRISTS SAY:
Lorry Melnick: “These look like they have actual cushioning. The materials are pretty flexible, and the EVA offers shock absorption for decent support.”
Stephanie Clements: “They look like they fit better than most flip-flops and give decent support. But would you exercise in them and do a Turbo Jam class? I don’t think so.”
More: ;
Rock your soles
MBT, $235-$270. The initials stand for Masai Barefoot Technology, and the rocker soles are supposed to mimic the way the Kenyan people naturally walk on uneven, soft terrain.
The claim: “We’re anti-shoe,” the ads say, promising their designs “defend your back against the corrosive power of hard, flat surfaces.” MBTs, they claim, will improve posture, protect knees and tone muscles.
PODIATRISTS SAY:
Lorry Melnick: “It has a very stiff sole and might work if you have a rigid toe joint. It’s OK for certain uses, like if you have plantar fasciitis. It requires a break-in period.”
Stephanie Clements: After four foot surgeries, “It’s the only shoe I can go walking in. They take some getting used to but will give you a smooth, forward motion and are great if you have ankle and forefoot pain. Having the rocker bottom takes the place of a shock absorber.”
More: ;
Balancing act
Shape Up Shoes, $40. With a bottom that goes from a thickness of about an inch high at the heel to several inches under the midfoot and low again at the toe, the thong-type sandal requires the wearer to concentrate on her balance. Resting on the heels stretches the back of the lower leg and tipping forward on the toes works the quadriceps muscles.
The claim: Worn 30 minutes a day, they are “an effective fitness and weight-loss tool that allows you to tone and shape your body and shed unwanted pounds. Walking in them is like balancing on a BOSU board in combination with using a Stairmaster.”
PODIATRISTS SAY:
Lorry Melnick: “If you have tight Achilles tendons, (wearing these) is going to be a problem.”
Stephanie Clements: “You’re better off balancing on the BOSU if you want to work on that. There’s a lot of instability in this shoe, so you better have sturdy ankles.”
More:
Posturing
Chung Shi,
about $240.
With a toe and heel at either a 15- or 20-degree angle, like the MBT, it makes the foot roll forward.
The claim: The rolling motion makes the muscles work harder.
PODIATRISTS SAY:
Lorry Melnick: “It forces the arch up. Anything that changes your gait pattern can be hard to get used to.”
Stephanie Clements: “For the right foot type it can work. The roller might hit you in the wrong place if you have flat arches. It makes you engage your core, but again, it takes some getting used to.”
More:chungshiusa.com;
On terra firma
Earth Shoe, $70-$140. With a negative heel design that places the heel lower than the toes, the shoes are supposed to mimic a person’s natural gait.
The claim: These have been around since the early 1970s, but the company recently jumped on the fitness shoe bandwagon, saying wearers will “burn more calories with every step.” By shifting your weight back, you stand straighter, breathe better, and build core, thigh and leg muscles, they say.
PODIATRISTS SAY:
Lorry Melnick: “I like the wide toe box, and it offers some support, but you have to be careful not to overstretch your Achilles tendon, particularly if you’re used to wearing heels.”
Stephanie Clements: “Burn more calories? Maybe if you wear them the whole day; but you’d do better getting on a bike and exercising, or doing some Pilates. And if you have high arches, these aren’t for you.”
More: ;
