I NEVER thought I would be reviewing a pair of Shape-Ups!  I had seen the shoes advertised, of course, and not only did I hate the big, bulky look of the rocker-type Shape-Ups and similar styles of "toning" sneakers, but also I thought the claim that any sneakers could help to improve your "rear view," so to speak, was ridiculous!

Well, flash-forward to about a month ago, when I started to research new workout sneakers, and these Toners caught my eye.  THESE were Shape-Ups?  They obviously didn't look like any type of toning sneakers I'd seen before, as the ugly rocker soles are replaced here by special "kinetic toning pods."  So, I loved the look, especially with all the cool color options, but what about the shoe itself?  I'd heard a lot about using these types of sneakers for walking, but could you actually EXERCISE in them?  My next step was to do plenty of research.  The reviews here on Amazon were obviously very positive, talking about how comfortable and supportive the shoe is; I was also intrigued by the comments from users who found that these shoes helped with lower back pain.  In addition to reading reviews here, however, I checked out information on other web sites, including questions and answers from users on the Skechers site.  There are learned that these sneakers are recommended for all different types of fitness activities, not just walking but also strength training and light cardio workouts too.

Okay, I was sold!  I did have some question about what size to order, as I had read a few comments about users going a size larger.  However, I am almost always a size 8 1/2, not only in sneakers but in other shoes as well, and most of the ratings I read on sites like Zappos and ShoeBuy indicated that this shoe fits "true to size," so I went with the 8 1/2.  My favorite color is green, so the color I chose was the white with lime green accents.  Based on my size/color selection, my shoes were shipped directly from Amazon and were eligible for Super Saver Shipping, but yours might not be--pay attention, as some colors cost more than others (this actually factored into my own decision, as I might have gone with the charcoal/lime combination otherwise).  Even with the Super Saver Shipping, my sneakers arrived in less than a week.

Skechers obviously puts a lot of thought into the marketing of their Shape-Up line, as they including various materials along with the shoes--e.g., pamphlets with exercises, recipes, and even a DVD (just a short ad that you can also view on the Skechers web site).  A nicer perk is that you receive TWO sets of laces:  one in white (already laced on the shoes) and one in a contrasting color (mine were lime green).  So, after immediately switching the laces to the lime--which looked totally cool, by the way--I tried on my new shoes.  The first thing that I noticed is that they fit!  The size was fine, with a nice roomy toe box.  The second thing I noticed was that the shoes definitely felt a bit different.  They clearly felt very cushy and supportive, but at the same time, they also felt loftier and more buoyant.  And I was very happy with my color choice, too, which was more of a mix of white/lime/silver and which is eye-catching without being flashy.

On to the most important part:  how the sneakers work.  The rationale behind the toning pods in the shoe is that they create a slight instability, forcing you to engage your muscles more and thus work harder.  Now that I have owned the sneakers for several weeks, how this has translated for me is that when I am wearing them, I get a sense of dynamic movement.  Although the majority of my exercise activities involve using fitness DVDs (i.e., as opposed to walking), these shoes always feel as if they are propelling me forward.  Furthermore, when I am doing movements which require balancing on one leg, I definitely notice that I have to work harder than if I weren't wearing my Toners.  Given this, I think that as part of an overall fitness program, the Shape-Up Toners COULD help to work the glutes and hamstrings to a deeper degree.

So far, I have been very happy with this purchase (and if anything changes, I will update my review).  If, like me, you think that you would never consider a "toning" shoe, give Shape-Up Toners another look; highly recommended!