How would you like to be able to tone your legs and trim your butt without ever setting foot in the gym? It sounds too good to be true - but there are now a whole range of shoes from a variety of different manufacturers which claim to be able to help you do exactly that. They come in a range of colors and styles - some of them look nothing like exercise shoes at all and are very fashionable.

The general approach seems to be to replicate the mechanics of walking barefoot on soft ground - like sand or lush grass for example. Most of these new high tech fitness shoes achieve this by the use of specially designed soles. Use of the correct density of materials in the construction of the shoes also seems to be an important factor.

Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes (MBTs)

These are probably the forerunner of the current range of shoes on the market. As a matter of fact, they aren't really fitness shoes. They were invented by Karl Muller, a Swiss engineer. He was walking barefoot across a rice field in Korea when noticed that his back pain, a perennial problem for him, was considerably better than usual.

He investigated a little further and, after some research, discovered that the Masai are well known for their good posture and have a much lower incidence rate of lower back pain than western societies. He specifically designed the MBT range of shoes in such a way as to produce a rolling motion when your foot comes into contact with the ground. Users certainly seem happy with he benefits.

Fitflops Sandals, Boots And Shoes

The Fitflops range of fitness footwear was developed in the UK by ex-personal fitness trainer Marcia Kilgore. These also feature a curved sole to mimic walking on soft ground in bare feet and incorporate something called "microwobbleboard" technology. Testing at London South Bank University and Salford University in the UK has shown that the lower body muscles are engaged for longer when walking in Fitflops, in comparison with standard shoes. Fitflops are, according to the company website, the sandal with the gym built in. They tone your lower body as you walk around during the course of your daily routine.

Of the various specially designed fitness footwear on the market, Fitflops are probably the least like exercise shoes. Their range includes sandals in a wide selection of colors and styles and slippers, clogs and boots have now been introduced. Over and above the independent testing, wearers of Fitflops have anecdotally reported a wide variety of further benefits which are claimed to be available by wearing these shoes. Reduced cellulite, better posture and less heel spur pain are amongst the various benefits attributed to these shoes. Traditional flip flop type sandals can actually produce foot problems. However, Fitflops are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Skechers Shape Ups

Skechers Shape Ups shoes also use a curved sole which uses carefully selected materials in its manufacture. Again the aim is to replicate the effect of walking barefoot across soft sand. Studies in the USA and Japan have concluded that wearing Shape Ups while you walk can provide wearers with a number of benefits.

Reeboks Easy Tones

Reeboks contribution to the latest trend in toning shoes is the most recent addition to the market. They are slightly different from the other offerings in that they do not feature a curved sole but use air filled balance pods built into the soles. These cause "natural instability" when you walk in them which makes your muscles work harder to try and regain balance.

Once again, there have been a number of independent tests which seem to concur with the claims that walking in this type of shoe encourages the lower body muscles to work a little harder. There are also any number of rave reviews from actual users, both on the company website and in other locations.

On an intuitive level, it's possible to imagine how the shoes that mimic walking in soft sand might stimulate your muscles to do some extra work. It's probably also reasonable to assume that, if you're trying to regain your balance on a constant basis, then that might make your muscles work a little bit harder. In any event, it's certainly a very attractive proposition - getting a free lower body workout by doing nothing other than walking about as normal. It may well be worth a try. There is now such a wide selection of these miracle shoes on the market - at prices which are comparable to standard exercise shoes - that you could probably find a style that you like the next time you need a new pair of shoes anyway.

Boost the effectiveness of your walking workout routine using Fit flops exercise shoes. Keep your motivation levels up by using an Omron pedometer to monitor your progress.