Fitness Footwear

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

I once drove 120 miles to get my hands on a pair of discontinued running shoes. For some reason Nike constantly gets rid of the shoes that I perform best in. Seriously. Every single pair of Nike running shoes I've completed marathons in has been yanked from store shelves leaving me to scour the Internet for leftovers.

When it comes to exercise and footwear, most people are quite loyal to their stomps. However, I recently considered straying from my beloved Nikes to try out a pair of performance enhancing EasyTone shoes by Reebok. The popular show manufacturer recently debuted its version of the MBT Anti-Shoe, which is supposed to help you burn more calories per workout.

Reebok's website claims that by wearing the EasyTone shoes an exerciser can experience 28 percent more action in the gluteus maximus muscle, 11 percent more activation of the hamstring, and 11 percent more calf activation, and all you have to do is walk.

The reason: Balance Pods. The high-tech, built-in "pods" reportedly create instability with every step you take, so your muscles have to work harder. Think: walking on a sandy beach. The shoe will set you back about $110 and comes in a rainbow of colors. Fortunately for fitness fashionistas, the EasyTone doesn't look anything like a traditional orthopedic shoe.

The jury is still out on the effectiveness of Reebok's new addition. However, fitness experts, who have tested the new sneaker, say that unofficial studies show that the EasyTone mirrors some of the same benefits as the MBT, in that the shoes affect many small muscles crossing the ankle joint complex, as well as larger leg muscles.

I probably won't ditch my running shoes for a pair of EasyTones, unless someone discovers that the high-tech inserts have magical powers that would produce the same results as running six miles per day.

What about you? Would you be willing to drop $110 on a pair of EasyTones?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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