I owned a pair of Shape-Ups and was considering buying another pair to match more of my workout clothes when I came across these. It turns out this brand and its concept predates Shape-Ups considerably, and I believe they are better shoes, too.

This works well as a toning shoe, as does the similar Skechers Shape-Up. However, MBT shoes were not created to give people more of a workout as they do their everyday walking around; they were created for comfort and for less stress on key joints.

My primary interest in these shoes was that they were comparable to Shape-Ups but were a better brand, but I have to say I have really come to respect this brand, its mission, and its products. Unlike Shape-Ups, MBT makes shoes for a variety of occasions, even work and dress shoes, to serve those who really need the joint relief this style of shoe provides. I don't have joint pain, but I do have muscle pain in my back and a once-shattered tailbone that is still not perfectly healed. Standing - not just walking - in these shoes forced me to engage my core rather than slump back onto my hips and spine. While that itself wore on me after awhile, I did notice improved posture and less pressure on my lower back and tailbone.

I have to say that I haven't worn these in quite awhile, as I began to have fewer and fewer opportunities to wear sneakers or casual dress of any kind. The relief for me personally was not so great that I sought out times to switch to these shoes, and while dress shoes are made by MBT, my need was not great enough for me to invest in a wardrobe full of these. However, that is not the fault of the product and thus I give it a 5-star rating for quality of brand, selection of styles, and effectiveness of the product.

Price would be a sticking point. These are expensive. To that I say, if you need them, you need them and they're worth it. If you're looking into the toning shoe fad and aren't sure how you feel about it, pick up a $65 pair of Skechers Shape-Ups and then upgrade if you really love the concept.

UPDATE: I've been wearing my MBTs for about four days now, and today I had to wear heels all day, then I slipped on boat shoes when I got home. Lying down for a little bit, my spine felt like it had been hammered on both ends. My back muscles felt cramped and my tailbone felt like it had been smacked with a frying pan. I'm going to have to say that yeah, these are extremely comfortable and they must do wonders for your posture.