Do Toning Shoes Really Work?

MBT Shoes is an abbreviation for ‘Masai Barefoot Technology’ Shoes or also commonly know as ‘Swiss Masai’ shoes. (I’ll refer to them as MBT shoes for the sake of this article.)

MBT shoes were the original breed of toning shoes. To read about the how toning shoes came about and the history of MBT shoes, go to the History of Toning Shoes page here.

In all the reading and the investigation of comments and reviews on MBT shoes that I’ve done over the last few months, they are certainly popular! They get rave reviews from most wearers, with only a few disappointed people. Some of those disappointments possibly also arise from unsuspecting buyers buying counterfeit MBT’s on Ebay or other sites. Be warned – if the price of the MBT’s you are looking at buying is extraordinarily cheap, then they are fakes. MBT shoes are quality shoes, and they don’t sell for $20 or $30 – ever!

One of the things I’ve come across often in reviews of MBT shoes, is the recommendation to buy a half size larger than normal as they seem to be a small fitting and if you have wide feet, then the recommendation would indicate that you should buy a full size larger than you would normally buy. If you’re not sure, go to a store that sells them and try them on to find out the right size, then order online to access a better price or more variety of styles.

Those who have worn MBT’s and then try Skechers would generally seem to prefer MBT shoes. There is obviously a difference between these two most popular brands, but they both have avid fans that would not wear anything else. Such as the following comment from an MBT fan:

“If you’ve never used MBT before, imagine yourself trying to balance on one leg while standing on a soft couch or mattress — all sorts of muscles have to spring into action. A major difference with MBT’s is despite the intentional instability effect that it is trying to create, my flat feet feel very well supported and doesn’t cause my arches/ankles from sinking like with the Skechers.”

As with anything, we are all different. Our bodies react differently to things and when we’re used to something, it can sometime take time and patience to adapt to something different.

On the possible downside, I have read some comments about the soles on some styles of MBT shoes not lasting as long as one would expect from a pair of such expensive shoes. I don’t know if this is because, again, people are buying cheap imitation shoes or whether these are the real deal and the sole just isn’t as hardy as it could be.

Either way MBT shoes would appear to be a good choice. They’re not cheap, but probably worth the money from all that I’ve read. When I eventually get around to trying them myself, I’ll update this post.

Here’s a fairly typical sample of reviews on MBT shoes:

“These shoes are fantastic. I own several pairs of MBTs, but the orange ones are my favorites – so bright and fun for summer. I usually wear a wide width, and found these very roomy width-wise, but the toe box is very, very short. So, even though I thought I was familiar with MBT’s sizing, I had to return my first pair and order a FULL SIZE larger than my regular shoe size. You are probably thinking this is an outrageous price to pay for a pair of sneakers, and it is, but they really will do wonderful things for your lower back, knees and posture. Perfect for people who have to stand all day, or walk for hours on concrete.”

Amazon have a huge range of styles of MBT shoes for women, men and children at great prices such as the MBT Women’s White Fora Shoe
All shoes seen on this site and many more are available at Amazon.com