Reebok EasyTone Shoes

Reebok EasyTone Shoes are all the rage with balance pods that, as the advertisements claim, create instability which "encourages toning through increased muscle activation" in the glutes, hamstrings and calves. In theory, it makes sense that an unstable surface may activate your leg muscles in a different way, but does that lead to toned hips and thighs? There are no objective scientific studies to prove their claims and science already tells us that toned legs come from regular cardio and strength training. EasyTones may make being on your feet more comfortable, but they won't take the place of regular workouts.

Easytones are designed with balance pods under the shoes. The idea is that these pods create a slight instability that forces your leg muscles to work harder, thus encouraging more toning. Reebok claims that these shoes will improve muscle tone in the glutes by 28% and the hamstrings and calves by 11%. The fitness models in their advertisements certainly make you think you'll end up with a butt so fabulous, you'll want it to hang out the bottom of your very short shorts. However, I was unable to find the actual study these numbers are based on, nor could I find any objective scientific studies on these shoes. As of now, there's no proof these claims are true.

These shoes are more for walking and won't offer the support or stability you need for high impact exercises such as running or for activities with a lot of lateral movement like tennis or basketball. They do offer different types of EasyTones, including a running version and casual flip flops.

Many of my readers here have commented on their experience with EasyTones and most reports are positive. Many readers say the shoes are comfortable, especially for people on their feet all day. I found that they can be comfortable for walking, but that's probably the only activity I would personally use them for. However, these shoes aren't for everyone and some users had issues such as:

• Numbness in the feet or toes - Some users reported numbness, especially in their toes. That may be because the shoe is cutting off the circulation. Some readers may find relief by wearing thinner socks, lacing the shoes in a different way or exchanging them for a different size.
• Pain, soreness or injury - Some readers reported sore legs and calves after wearing the them and some reported lower back pain. Some even reported injuries that had to be treated by a doctor/physical therapist. It's hard to know what caused these problems, but they may be related to preexisting injuries, individual foot/arch differences, wearing them for long periods of time or for activities that require a different kind of support (running, tennis, etc.). To avoid injury, talk to your doctor before you buy the shoes if you already have an injury or pain in your joints or feet. You should also practice wearing them for short periods of time to see how your body responds.
• Deflated pods - Some users also reported deflated pods, which can happen with any shoe with air-filled pockets. Check with your retailer about their return/replacement policy before you buy the shoes.

I gave this shoe a lower rating, not because the shoes are bad, but because of the claims made in their advertisements. It's certainly possible these shoes will activate your legs more (and it certainly feels that way), but that doesn't mean you'll have more toned glutes and thighs because of it.

Your experience with this shoe will most likely depend on why you're buying it. If you're looking for drastic changes in your body or you want to look like some of the women wearing booty shorts in the EasyTone advertisements, no shoe, no matter how fabulous, can do that for you.

What we do know is that a pair of shoes isn't enough to change the shape of your hips, glutes and thighs unless, perhaps, you strap them to your thighs with a couple of weight for some squats and lunges. If you want to tone your body, you need to build muscle with strength training and lose body fat with cardio and a healthy diet. It's possible that you'll walk more with the EasyTones and that may contribute to burning more calories which is always a good thing. However, expecting more than that may leave you disappointed.

If you're buying these shoes because you want a comfortable shoe that offers a different kind of support, you may be happy with the EasyTones.