Top 10 Most Gimmicky Shoes
By Justin Owings on Jan 22, 2010 | In general | 61 comments »
On a recent flight I found myself in an unfortunate situation: a sleeping wife and baby and me with nothing to read but the Sky Mall magazine.
Therein I was amazed to find advertisements for orthotic-type footwear, "innovative" shoes employing some unusual technology (two of which are on this list, two of which aren't), and a full two-page spread by "FootSmart" advertising various devices intended to relieve foot pain (like plantar fasciitis).
If captive audience advertising is any indication, Americans are looking for answers to ways to cure their chronically hurting feet. Unfortunately, some of the solutions being presented to them may do little to make their feet healthier.
My Sky Mall experience really stuck with me: I felt it was high-heeled time to create a list of the top 10 gimmicky shoes. Here is a definition of "gimmick:"
In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature.
The following shoes are ranked relative both to their adherence to this definition and to how absurd a given shoe seems to me, which is both arbitrary and subjective (This is just for fun!) . . .
#10 — Heelys
Kicking off our list of gimmicky kicks at #10 are Heelys. Heely's are literally shoes with a "wheel in the heel." If you're like me, you've probably been amazed to see kids magically glide on their heels around a mall or down a sidewalk. The magic, it seems, is in sticking a wheel on otherwise normal shoes and then just trusting youngsters' relative fearlessness go to work.
Some "grown-ups" have even given Heelys a spin — Heelys can be seen worn by Dane Cook in Employee of the Month.
To be honest, Heelys strike me as a pretty brilliant invention. In theory, they should get you where you want to go faster and with less energy than regular shoes thanks to the efficiences you get with wheels. Of course, the price is looking very goofy as you glide around in high-tops in a series of very long, static heel-strikes.
Heelys Gimmicky-ness:
Heelys are gimmicky, but the utility of them isn't lost on me—even though kids in Heelys give me the heebie-jeebies. Here's a sorta cool video of someone locomoting around a city in them:
#9 — Strength Shoes
Next on the list at #9 are Strength Shoes. Here they are described in their own marketing lingo:
Essentially a sneaker with a small platform attached to the bottom front half, the Strength® Shoe allows the wearer to continuously engage the calf muscle. In regular shoes, 70% of the body's weight rests on the heels; therefore, the calf muscles exert little effort in supporting the body. In Strength® Shoes, the heel is eliminated, causing the calves to support 100% of the body's weight. This overload works the calves and Achilles tendons with a force equal to 6 times the body's weight upon impact. Used correctly, the Strength® Shoe stretches and overloads these muscles, which in time will lengthen and strengthen.
Over time, Strength Shoes are supposedly capable of adding "5 - 10 inches to your vertical leap" and "increase anaerobic power by 500%." Hefty claims.
The Strength Shoe has actually been around in some shape or form for almost 40 years. Do they actually deliver as promised? It's hard to say. It seems at least a few users have had some success with them, and it's easy to understand how they'd strengthen your calf muscles by forcing you to use them via the front-platform.
Strength Shoes Gimmicky-ness:
Strength Shoes may actually strengthen the calf muscle, but one has to wonder if there isn't a better way. There are other ways to stay on your toes and engage your calf muscle. On a lighter note, Strength Shoes did for George in Seinfeld — remember "Jimmy's training shoes?" Jimmy couldn't jump at all before he got these:
#8 — Reebok Pump
Most of you will remember the golden age of Pumps, and by "pumps" I don't mean high-heels; rather, I'm referring to shoes that had built in air bags that you could pump up with air to tighten the shoe on your foot. The idea behind pumps not only sounds cool but Pumps even made a cool sound when you pumped pressed on the little basketball to pump them up (or released out the air — a source of endless jokes for ten-year olds).
And if you thought Pumps were dead, you'd be wrong:
The Pump is back. 20 years later and your main squeeze still delivers top-drawer comfort and style. The midcut design increasing ankle stability and allows for exceptional lateral control.
- Pump technology adjusts air chamber to fit your foot
- High-abrasion outsole of traction and durability
Now, I have to confess; I owned a pair of these circa 1991 or 1992. Not sure how I convinced my parents that a pair of air-filled shoes was worth the expensive, but I was apparently a master at persuasion.
Reebok Pumps Gimmicky-ness:
High-top shoes are a staple among basketball players, so in theory, the notion of having an even more secure, more "tight" fit around the ankle via air-pumping the sidewalls makes sense on paper, but really, Pumps are gimmicky and tailored for sale to kids (and adults) who buy the hype. It does get points for the epic, turbo-high tongue with a basketball on it.#7 — Reebok EasyTone
Reebok EasyTones have been on a marketing tear recently. A shoe ostensibly designed to strengthen your legs and butt, the EasyTone is marketed directly towards women, mostly employing the age-old marketing technique of playing towards body-image insecurities while suggesting a quick-fix (gimmicky) remedy:
EasyTone is designed to help give definition to your legs and butt. Simply walk and let the balance pods under your shoe do the rest. The slight instability created by the pods forces your muscles to work a little harder, toning you up as you strut.
The body-image aspect is both seen on their webpage (see the screenshot) and in their ads. Watch and shudder:
Finally, if you're like me, this auto-playing intro video on the EasyTone website will make you cringe in pain at the thought of heel-striking so heavily while walking.
Reebok EasyTone Gimmicky-ness:
EasyTones get a solid ranking on the gimmicky list for so strongly playing the body-image card in their marketing. In principle, the EasyTones' employment of instability via the rounded sole-pods may actually work on some level, but like the Strength Shoes, I'm convinced there's a better way. And no matter how much you try and convince yourself otherwise, we all know there is no quick-fix to getting in shape.#6 — Skechers Shape-Up
I've been seeing advertising for these things everywhere, and while out shopping back in December, I was in a Lady's Footlocker cringing as a somewhat out-of-shape woman was being sold on the Shape-Ups (She did like my KSO Trek Five Fingers).
Here's the Shape-Up pitch:
Designed to improve your life by changing the way you walk, Shape-ups feature a unique soft kinetic wedge insert and dynamic rolling bottom to simulate walking on soft sand. With the comfort of Shape-ups, you will feel your heel sink to the ground as you step, roll forward as your weight shifts to its center, and push off with your toes. This movement will result in stronger leg, buttock, back and abdominal muscles as you stabilize your steps.
Shape-Ups (and MBTs, which I'll get to in a minute) make me think of what you'd get if you took the theory behind rocking chairs and applied it to shoe soles. Or maybe it's trying to make your foot more like a wheel?
Suffice to say that any product that is marketed with a tag like "Get in Shape Without Setting Foot in a Gym" is likely going to over-promise and under-deliver—gimmicky.
Skechers Shape-Up Gimmicky-ness:
If strapping huge awkward blocks to your feet forces you to walk awkwardly, which in turn strengthens leg muscles you'd otherwise not use by walking like a normal human being, then Shape-Ups may actually deliver (somewhat) as promised. That they simultaneously improve posture, blood circulation, firm up your butt/calf/abdominal muscles/back, and reduce cellulite in your thighs? I'm a teensy bit skeptical.
#5 — MBT
Billed as "The anti-shoe" shoe, "MBT" stands for "Masai Barefoot Technology" — the Masai, of course, being the African tribe whose "elegant upright posture and lack of joint and back problems are attributed to walking on uneven, natural surfaces — which is what is emulated when wearing MBTs." Here's a bit more on the MBT marketing hype:
The positive effect of the MBT is based on the principle of "natural instability". An effect which can, in fact, be achieved without the benefit of high-tech footwear: by simply walking barefoot on soft, uneven, natural ground such as sand or moss. However, in today's thoroughly modern world this is not always easy to do - but the health benefits are significant. While wearing MBTs the body is forced to maintain its natural balance, thereby stimulating and exercising the body's supporting muscle system which results in numerous pro-body benefits.
Now, I've a bone to pick with this Masai tie- in. Here is a photo of some Masai feet:
How do you go from that to MBTs? Not only are the Masai wearing very basic, flat sandals, but the ground on which they're walking doesn't exactly evoke thoughts of a sandy beach. Natural ground, sure, but when you walk on most natural surfaces barefoot, which don't give like a sandy beach at all, you are not rolling on your feet. Seriously, how does an MBT even remotely come close to being similar to being barefoot? Even in it's quest to make you unstable while walking, it's still making your steps uniformly "roll-y" and completely unlike how you'd walk in any other shoe, and totally unlike how you'd walk barefoot!
MBT Gimmicky-ness:
These rank ahead of Sketchers Shape-Ups because MBTs are not only the "original," but they both use the slogan "the anti-shoe" and tout "barefoot" in their acronym.
#4 — Spira
Now you might have thought that shoes with springs on the bottom of them were relegated to cartoon lore — akin to the "flubber" from the 1961 classic The Absent-Minded Professor. But again, you'd be wrong. It seems shoes with springs in the bottom are presently all the rave.
Enter Spira Footwear, which uses forefoot and heel "wavespring" technology, which in a fantastic paradox is not only capable of improving your walking/running experience but also can turn the future into present (see the webpage screnshot). Here's the pitch on the Spira technology:
WaveSpring™ returns energy with every step.
Unlike traditional shoe midsoles made primarily of foams, rubber compounds, or polymers, WaveSpring™ technology stores and disburses energy with every step. Testing performed at Michigan State University in 2001 reported that 87% - 96% of the energy is returned from the WaveSpring™. This is the highest energy return score for any midsole material ever tested. As a result, our footwear not only cushions, but returns energy. In a very real sense, the WaveSpring enables you to recycle your own energy!
In short, the Spira midsole is nothing short of amazing. It almost sounds like their spring technology could turn you into a hovercraft!
Spira Gimmicky-ness:
Springs in your shoes? The future is now thanks to Spira! Spira footwear wins bonus points for being one of our two top-ten winners advertising in Sky Mall!#3 — Gravity Defyer
"I defy thee, Gravity!" I just had to get that out of my system. Gravity Defyer ads are popping up all over the internet—even on this site. Another springs-in-the-soles shoe, Gravity Defyers springs are all loaded in the heels.
Check this Gravity Defyer advertisement:
From the pitch:
The industrial master spring functions much like the powertrain in your car transforming the energy of your step into forward propulsion. Like your cars suspension the two smaller springs provide support and stability. Physical activity will become fun again because Gravity Defyers relieve joint pain and ease spinal pressure.
Get it? Absorb and propels! Makes sense, see!
One customer loves his GD shoes so much that he said he might not take them off — he might even bathe in them! These GD shoes sound pretty amazing.
Gravity Defyer Gimmicky-ness:
A Sky Mall double advertiser, Gravity Defyers win major points on the gimmicky list. And if the springs in the heels weren't enough, you have got to love their logo (see the screen shot above). I'm not sure if that's supposed to elicit thoughts of the Nike swoosh or what, but between that logo and the "elevate performance" ... I better just stop there.#2 — Z-Coil
.
Just look at that website screenshot for a minute. Try not to laugh. Okay laugh away.
Z-Coils are the most epic spring-loaded shoe around. By comparison of sheer spring size, they put Spiras and Gravity Defyers to shame.
How do they work?
Z-CoiL footwear is engineered specifically to relieve foot, leg, and back pain.
It's patented, shock-absorbing design greatly reduces impact to the body and distributes pressure more evenly across the foot than conventional shoes do. And less impact means less pain.
Amongst the coterie of spring-loaded shoes, it's easy to sense a theme: reduce impact to the foot by absorbing it. On the face, it seems a spring would both absorb impact on landing and then return it on stepping off. But does this work in practice?
And more to the point, how are you going to walk in Z-Coils? How are you going to run in them? If the biomechanics of a particular shoe force you to walk drastically differently from other shoes, to say nothing of how you walk barefoot, you gotta just scratch your head.
Z-Coil Gimmicky-ness:
These babies are just something else. They win points for both having the most epic spring of the spring shoes, but also for attempting to be stylish despite the aforementioned spring. I could just stare at the website photo and laugh for hours!
#1 — Nike Air Max
Yep, you read right. At the top of our list is one of the most popular Nike shoes ever created — the Air Max, which you can go ahead and lump together with all Nike shoes that employ a sack of air in the heel. Originally introduced in 1987, the Air Max has taken numerous incarnations, with air sacks varying substantially in size and execution.
Nike Air Max makes the top of the list ahead of all the spring-loaded contenders simply because in a way, they are spring-loaded. Nike Air Maxes just use air pockets to act as springs.
Why are the Air Maxes gimmicky? Because there's no evidence that having air pocketed cushioning (or any cushioning) at the heel does one ounce of good for reducing impact experienced by the foot. A recent study has shown that, as compared with running barefoot, running shoes result in over 30% more stress at key joints (hip and knee).
More to the point, high-heeled shoes like the Nike Air Max effectively force you to heel-strike, basically cutting out all the built-in impact dampening you get by landing on your mid-foot, which engages the arch of your foot as well as the rubber-band like fascia, and allows your calf muscles to flex while landing.
I picked the Nike Air Max specifically as, like the Reebok Pumps, I was a sucker for the "gimmick" as a kid. I wanted to have the air sacks in my shoes — I distinctly remember going from the flat Converse Chuck Taylors to Nikes for this very reason.
Nike Air Max Gimmicky-ness:
Nike Air Maxes are #1 on the list not only because the air sack is a gimmick with questionable benefits — ones backed up entirely by Nike's expertise in marketing (Indeed, Nike basically ascended to sports shoe supremacy by sheer marketing dominance alone), but also because they pioneered the movement towards heavily cushioned, high-heeled athletic shoes. Though even today springs in your heels seems absurd, de facto air sack springs are still widely accepted, and people buy Nike shoes specifically for them. I believe that the emergence and success of Nike is a stark example of how money and marketing can make a bad idea very popular.Parting thoughts on shoe gimmicks:
It is unfortunate that so many individuals are dealing with chronic foot injuries only to turn to shoes that make big promises but often are little more than a bunch of marketing mumbo-jumbo. Though most all of the folks at BirthdayShoes are already "enlightened" to the reality of the sports shoe industry — that the emperor has no clothes and we'd all be better of quite literally with naked feet — it's important to point out the absurdities in most modern footwear, be they rocking-shoes like the MBTs, spring-loaded shoes like Z-Coils, or high-heeled-but-widely-worn monstrosities like Nikes (even the Nike Free, a "barefoot shoe," has an elevated heel!).
And if you must wear something on your feet (barefoot always being the free option!), go for footwear that allows your foot to be a foot, to flex, bend, and feel the ground. Barefoot or pseudo-barefoot will make your feet and legs stronger and heighten the enjoyment of just about any activity. In other words, you don't need gimmicky shoes to reduce impact, relieve foot pain, or strengthen your legs and feet!
Of course, for that purpose, I recommend Vibram Five Fingers or any of the other barefoot-like alternative footwear. I know, I know — aren't five-toed, flash foot gloves gimmicky? Maybe, but in my experience VFFs deliver the goods, but feel free to debate this in the comments!
Let's turn the tide of modern opinion and help others have healthier, more free feet!
About the Author — I founded BirthdayShoes.com in April 2009 on realizing just how much I enjoyed having "free feet" - I mostly wanted to use them for weights, sprints, and plyometrics (I'm not much of a runner!). I'm a Googler by day and minimalist footwear aficionado by night; you can find me 'round Atlanta. If you want to catch up with what I'm doing outside of the site here, follow me on twitter @bdayshoes or @justinno or check out my personal site JustinOwings.com.Justin Owings+ has written 754 articles and 302 comments.
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61 comments
The Gravity Defyers are really the WORST on this list! Not even joking - that is a SPERM on the logo! Seriously! They say it represents re-birth and vitality. I would rather wear any of these shoes over wearing a sperm on my shoe...eww. They also don't have good reviews (except on their site, imagine that!?!). Seriously - creepy - what were they thinking?Funny article! Thanks!
Nice article Justin! I admit I used to have Pump shoes and still have some air pocket shoes. I also had Kanga-roos with the "hidden" pocket in them ;) 
Re Mike: I had Roos, too! I don't think I ever used the pocket, lol.Excellent writing, as always Justin! I really enjoyed this article. The world needs to know this stuff. They need to wake up and see that they are being played! These companies are taking advantage of people because they know they can and this just leads to so much misinformation. Someday, our voices will be heard and this non-sense will cease to exist. We, as VFFers, need to make it happen!
PS - I kind of want a pair of Heelys after seeing that video. :P
Very informative posting. Thank you. I didn't even know some of these even existed. 
I actually bought a pair of Shape-Ups this past summer before I discovered VFFs. Now I wish I could get that money back and buy another pair of VFFs instead. I also have a pair of Heeley's although I don't wear them too often. My kids love them though. And I too had a pair of Reebok Pumps when I was kid.One other shoe to be considered are the FitFlops. Also supposed to work your legs, etc. while walking. I have 2 pair. I don't know if they tone your legs or not, but they are very comfortable.
nice article Justin. Yeah, more is better seems to be ingrained in the American psyche, especially when it comes to fitness gadgets and support. It reminds me of all the fitness gadgets promising to make you buff, when all people need to stay in shape are body weight exercises like pushups/pullups/situps/lunges/squats and some walking/running. 
Gimmick, I am not sure you can call Z-coil shoes or Gravity Defyer a gimmick shoes because I have arthritis and for the last 3 years Z-coil shoes help me with my pain, yes I know they are ugly so I got me the Gravity Defyer shoes and they feel just as good as Zcoil but they look better, ...ohh yeah, I learn to make peace with the Sperm. 
Great article Justin. You may remember I posted a story in the forum about how I practically saved a woman's life who was wearing either MBTs or Shape-Ups. She lost her balance on the sidewalk and was falling into oncoming traffic, and I grabbed her arm and pulled her back up.The fact is, some of these shoes are not just gimmicky, they're outright dangerous.
Alarmingly, based on what I'm seeing on the street and in shop windows around New York, the MBT/Shape-Up trend is far outpacing VFFs.
My old boss sported MBT's. We all made fun of his rocking shoes. He had always complained of heel and back pain. Wonder if him being wickedly overweight had anything to do with it? 
Justin, good stuff - very well written! What are your thoughts on Earth shoes with the "negative heel?"On the same page as Air Max's, remember "hexalite" from Reebok? And LA Gear had the "Regulators" which were exactly like the pumps. Ah, the good old days of cushy foot coffins...
Benny,Yeah I remember hexalite! I think I owned some of those at some point, too. I won't even mention my last pair of sneakers ... they're Nikes, but on par with the Z-Coils or Gravity Defyers.
Nike Air Max could possibly be "gimmicky", but being a runner for not very long (only about 25 years), I have found that Nikes fit my feet the best. I don't know if the air in the heel is beneficial, perhaps it isn't, but I do feel that it does help me when my heel strikes the pavement. And I have tried shoes from all of the major running shoe companies. I don't recall Nike ever stating that the air helps provide a "rebound" effect (like the shoes with springs supposedly do), but perhaps I missed that claim. 
Nice article! I will be quoting you now when talking to patients about not buying any of these shoes. A barefoot runner myself, I've been convinced by my own case study following years of ITB friction syndrome, which has completely resolved since taking up running au naturale. The arguments for barefoot running make a lot of sense from many perspectives - anatomy, kinesiology, evolutionary biology, etc. VFFs are great because they protect the feet while allowing natural biomechanics to shine through. I love those goofy, cool gardening gloves for feet, and am happy that Vibram knows better than to try to pass them off as stylish. 
I don't know how much research you've done on this, but Z-Coil shoes gave me my life back... I was in a wheelchair my senior year of high school, and even after extensive surgery and recovery, I was unable to walk through Wal-Mart without pain... The SECOND I put on my Z-Coil shoes, I could walk again. I've worn my Z-Coil Freedoms every day since August 2009. They gave me my life back and I swear by them. I don't care how funny they look... if you do, then you're extremely shallow for not looking past their appearance. Z-Coil shoes are amazing, and I wouldn't be walking today without them. 
I just ran across your article. Very interesting. Have you ever heard of Soft Star Shoes. I have bought them for my kids, husband and many relatives. My daughter did a report on "Unujual Shoes" in 2nd grade (using the phonetic spelling they allow today!). It brought us to some very interesting information including this site and the "lilyfoot".
http://www.softstarshoes.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=23
The Health Article is interesting.
"Gravity Defyer ads are popping up all over the internet—even on this site"Thanks Justin. I take that as a personal compliment...and to throw one back, I love the creativity of this page. How about you replace that adsense stuff with a nice CJ banner direct from us at with a healthy % commission on each referral :)
We chortel , we learn, we scorn all the quick fixes in your list. And then a big big plug for Fingers...and we wonder: is all this a putdown so the writer can shill for a product he gets paid to push? 
love the article, but i think you may have misslabeled the nike as the most gimmicky shoes. not that they aren't gimmicky, just that i wouldn't say they were the most gimmicky shoes. i'd give that title to the porsche inspired adidas BOUNCE:Shttp://www.luxuriesdepot.com/products.php?cat_id=134&prod_id=448
you can't beat having a porsche suspention system cramed into your shoes for gimmickiness. not to mention that these shoes not only try to be gimmicky and fashionable, but also violate your wallet while doing so...
Bought these stupid Easytone walking shoes two months ago on the recommendation of a girlfriend who loves hers. I got the walking version (there is also a running and a cross training version). Found out today that you are NEVER supposed to run on the walking version. I've probably only got about an hour tops in run time over the course of the past two months, and on average about 3kms per day in walking the dogs. However, for almost the WHOLE time I have been suffering from very painful hips on both sides. Just started physio ($200 worth SO FAR)... and after hearing the salesperson at the SAME store where I bought my Easytones tell my other girlfriend that if she plans to do ANY running that she should have the Runtone version of the shoe because the walking version is NOT to be run in. Hmmm... does 2 plus 2 equal four for you too? Am pretty confident that the majority of my hip pain has been caused by these DAMN shoes! I'm going back to my old pair right now. DO NOT BUY THE REEBOKS! 
I have used Reback, Nike and other brnads and paid good money over the yrs. None would fit my feet. Always have burn in the toes. Itried otc arch supports and foot RX arch supports but not much help. Foot RX helped but not to my satisfaction. About a yr ago I saw Sketchers when one of my coleage bought at our hospital gift store. I tried and immedietly felt comfort. I realized that these shoes have good arch support. my foot has deep arch. I will wear them if I could all day. My another coleage tried and hated them and did not buy. I am in my 60's and my daughter who is in her late 20's commented me that I am walking faster than her in these shoes.
I believe that one glove does not fit all. Same with shoes. first try and then rate them but you need evaluate the feet and then do large studies before strike them down. I do agree there is lot of misleading goes on in general. I tried the several sleeping aids by seeing the great reviews but none work for me. Is it me or the product.
I am going to try the spring loaded sneakers to see if they help me better during my jogging and Zumba exercises. they have 30 day money back garantee. I will post the results.
I bought a pair of Gravity Defyer shoes from a store in Napa. They explained the "Sperm" logo as the seed of a great idea. Having tried almost every shoe on the list I can vouch for almost all the Gravity Defyer claims, they do relieve heel pain and my knees have not ached since I first put them on. I would tell everyone to try these shoes. 
My father swears by these shoes!!! He was born with clubfeet and hammertoes and after wearing Gravity Defyers after one day, he was miraculously healed!!!! But that’s nothing compared to my cousin – she was born with her right foot missing and after wearing Gravity Defyers for only 3 days, she grew a new foot!!! Wow!!! Also I ordered 2 pairs for my mother about 6 months ago, we havn’t received them yet but she claims her feet feel better anyways!!! Way to go Gravity Defyers!!! Forgot to mention – my sister, age 67, who has been barren without children, wore her Gravity Defyers for a month and became pregnant!!! I guess that logo had everything to do with it!!! Thanks Gravity Defyer!!! (now, if I could just keep them away from my grand daughters… 
Normally, I do not post comments on articles on the internet, but as a wearer of ZCoil shoes, I just felt the need to reply to these reviews. While the shoe itself may LOOK gimmicky, they are actually very therapeutic. As someone who was not able to walk more than 20 feet without severe pain due to spondylolisthesis, arthritis and torn discs in my lower lumbar area, ZCoils actually helped me do all the activities of daily living before I was able to get fusion surgery. That is 10 years worth of normal life. Post surgery, the ZCoils allowed me to go back to work and earn a living and not be relegated to the rolls of those on disability. ZCoils allow me to be a productive, functional human being and that is not the product of a "gimmick". I had a choice, vanity about my shoes or a productive life. A productive life won hands down as soon as I put on the shoes and walked PAIN FREE for the first time in a decade. 
puma discs? Remember them? i was too young to get a pair but i remember them. just googled them and they actually look mental. i had air max when i was younger and my bro had reebok pumps. strange to think that kids nowadays (in the uk anyway) are wearing old school converse for £35. i remember at school in the 90s it was almost too embarrassing to leave the house if your shoes didn't cost £100. fashion eh??
Gravity shoe was recommended by my family Doctor. I had radicl back surgery in 2006 and was experiencing some mild lower back pain. I purchased a pair of Gravity Defier atheletic shoes. They worked! I could walk without as much pain for a much longer time than berfore. BUT, after 6 months a loud CLICK in the heels developed when I walked. I sent the shoes back to Gravity Defier and they sent me a coupon for 10% off my next pair. Big Whoop. I have another pair that are fairly new. If the click develops again I will just CLICK when I walk :). The shoe does help even with the CLICK. 
To call something "gimmicky" is a matter of opinion unless you have data to back it up. I consider the 5-fingers/toes to be gimmicky and dangerous but that is just my opinion. I have no research to back it up. I can't imagine running on conrete @ 215 pounds and not have anything to absorb the shock. My knees hurt when I run and I am considering a pair of Gravity Defyer shoes. They do have a 30 day money back guarantee. 
Re the z-coil: It's not enough just to dis something in order to have a good laugh: you have to have a reasoned argument as to why they are no good. It's obvious from your barbs that you have never even tried them, or spoken with someone who has worn them, or read a study about them. Why bother to write anything at all then? Just to get people to hate something that may be beneficial because they look funny? 
Thanks for disguising your ad to look like a well written article "Justin?"After you dissected all the other shoes you slip in your shoe which is as much BS as any contender. I doubt this comment will post, but I'm on to you and if I am, smarter readers will be too. Good Luck with that snake oil "Justin".
@John,You're too smart for your own good. BirthdayShoes is clearly all about barefoot shoes or being barefoot -- that I tout going barefoot (which I do) or barefoot-esque shoes as *actually* good things for your feet (and not gimmicks) sorta goes without saying. And even when I do say it, I don't feel like I was making a hard sell here.
But I guess you read it as me selling snake oil. Regardless of my plug, you could have attacked my take on shoes I consider gimmicky based on the merits of my arguments: that is, rather than trying to poison the well (Just like fred lapides up there). Again, my bias is laid "bare" for all to see -- it doesn't take brilliance to see that I believe in feet as being functional in their natural state. Perhaps it does take an astute reader to take any blog post with a grain of salt -- but this is the Internet and it's 2011. Shouldn't skepticism be required for web browsing?
Gimmicky? Probably; but, for me, I don't care what sort of logo a shoe has or how stupid the gimmick seems to be. I have had "bad feet" my whole life - simply some congenital problems that haven't precluded me from doing just about everything, but have often caused significant discomfort. Thus, when I saw an ad for the Gravity Defyer shoes I figured "what the hell" and I ordered a pair. The bottom line is they are very comfortable and I do have less foot pain. I'm in the midst of a 30 trial and assuming it continues to go well, I will definitely order another pair. 
So many posts by people on the gravityshoe payroll. Makes sense- if they run ads in sky mall and have huge marketing budgets, why wouldn't they have an army of online posters flooding sites with positive testimonials. I hate marketing. 
I don't think the heelys are gimmicks they were just plain to roll around on! I remember feeling like I was rollerblading through walmart and it was a blast.
Strength shoes do assist in strength, power and endurance training, I have used them to assist in my boxing training. I use shape-ups for jogging I feel they help absorb the impact of each stride and I roll from mid-foot to toe. I have tried the five finger shoes and they don't provide the support I need. I wore pumps as a kid for style and the flat bottom soles are good for powerlifting. I haven't tried spring shoes but after reading these posts they will be the next shoe I purchase. 
I think that your type of foot also has a lot to do with this! I have never liked going barefoot and finally realized 50 years later, it is due to high arches. When I switched to a spring in the heel (I made sure it was stable model), my back pain that I almost always got when shopping at malls disappeared! Imagine how thrilled my wife was at that!!! 
I have arthritis in both of my knees. I tried stem-cell injections on my left knee and it did not work. I had excess cartilage removed from my right knee and that did not work either to relieve my knee pain. But the moment I tried on a pair of Z-Coil shoes the pain disappeared in both knees. I tried Gravity Defyer shoes and they are a joke. Z-Coil shoes deliver a 52% shock absorber rebound. Gravity Defyer's top shoe only delivers an 18 to 25% rebound rate and their heels are too low to the ground compared to Z-Coil's...Z-Coil shoes have only one huge spring that is visible and not enclosed. Gravity Defyer shoes have three very small springs hidden in the heel and are a joke.If anyone claims that they did them any good, just imagine what Z-Coil shoes would have done for their aching joints and knees.
Hi Justin, I just watched a news broadcast piece on "Kangaroo Jump" shoes.They claim a 82% rebound rate when you walk in them. They have to be the most outrageous looking shoes I have ever seen.
You must add them to your great list of gimmicky shoes. I would put them at the top of your list. Because when you see the looks of them, you also will agree.
The gravity defyer is THE WORST!!! Had them and they killed my feet!!!!!!!!!! 
I have worn Zee-coil shoes with an enclosed heel for the last several years and find that I have a lot less back pain when walk and wear them. I can't imagine being without them. I wear slippers with cushioned heals in the house. My back sure lets me know when I walk on hard surfaces and bare feet or hard heels. 
@Peter I tried z-coil before I went with VFF. They made my back pain worse when I would wear then. I found it interesting that they even say you should never wear z-coil shoes when you are having back pains or other pains. I bought them to help my back pains... but I am not supposed to wear them when I am having pain.
The z-coils were an expensive loss for me. It just made things worse when it came to my back pains.
I guess we are not all the same. What works for some doesn’t for others and that is often the case in life. For some of us, z-coil shoes are a God send. I am so thankful that I was told about them by 2 satisfied customers. I bought them and they work for me. I say it is like a person with an injury riding in a luxury car compared to an old wooden wheeled buggy. 
Gimmicky or not my Z-coils saved my life. After suffering from back pain and sciatica for several years I tried my first pair of Z-coils. The difference was incredible. I honestly believe I'd be in a wheelchair now if it weren't for my Z-coils. I'd rather wear a pair of shoes that look funny than to not be able to walk at all. The worst part is getting stopped at every metal detector you go through and having to explain what the shoes are for. I've learned to carry information with me to show to the TSA or other officials monitoring the metal detectors. I've even had the security officer in the Federal Court House go out a buy a pair after seeing mine regularly because his back hurt from being on his feet all day. 
I had the skechers and MBT and thought they were a good preparation for barefoot/minimalist shoe running, since ultimately they don't have a heel and they promote forefoot stride. Of course, I now wear minimalist shoes exclusively, but I'm not angry with the MBT/Skecher concept, as I am with Nike (in which I did get injuries, as opposed to the Skechers). 
I have bursitis in my heel and the only cure is to stay off of it. How do you stay off of your heel? After a month and a half of misery and being very hobbled when trying to walk, I went looking for a shoe with a higher heel after recommendations from the nurse at my doctor's office with bad feet. She wore a Nike with springs for heels. I went and looked at them but they were overpriced garbage that didn't do what they needed to do for me. I went to another store and the manager of the store also had bad heels and recommended Skecher Shape-ups because they keep the weight off of the heels. They have been a miracle for my heel. The were also on a clearance sale at 50% off.
Really great article. I get angry when I see these companies preying on the aging population and spinning these lies and making completely unsubstantiated claims. I was an employee for Gravity Defyer when it was Gadget Universe and witnessed first hand all the bullshit stories the countless dissatisfied customers and just could no longer stomach working for such a bullshit artist. I am happy for the people who absolutely need these and are getting relief. 
Interesting that all of these shoes lack stability, like that just doesn't matter at all. Credit to Converse for staying with the original design all these years.
Honorable mention, Newtons? ;)
Seriously though, they're a good show. I just do not know if I buy into the lug technology of returning more energy.
You can say what you want about the Spira Shoes but I love them. They may not last as long but I can be on cement all day and my feet don't hurt. Great for walking too. 
I was sucked in by the Gravity Defyer add in skymall. Thank goodness this was on the top of the search results when I decided to check them out. BTW, Vibrama shoes may be great for people with short toes, but not someone with long, gnarly toes like mine. And after I forced them to fit, I could feel every dust particle on the floor through the sole. No thanks. 
The vibram shoes ruined my feet. After a very short period of wearing them, I developed painful neuromas on both feet due to these horrific shoes. I would warn anyone to stay the heck away from what I believe is another gimmick. Never had any kind of issue until I foolishly bought into the marketing of this shoe. 
I wore Z -Coil for 7 years and it helped relieve the pain on my hernniated disc at L5-S1 and I work in the OR , however I just have had another back injury and have Si joint problem and the Z-Coil is not good for them .Its not a gimmick because it works for certain problems. You also have to sig a waiver with this shoe because of the exposed springs.
Yeah Justin! I really like this article because its out there to advocate the truth, I'm shocked at how stubborn people can be to this though. I have a pair of KSOs and Komodos, I absolutely love them but I prefer the KSO's because it's more bare and feels more natural. In any case I completely agree with you, all these other shoes we have commercialized has become insane and these cushioned heels are ridiculous with research that sounds unreasonable, when we were already born with all we needed. VFFs are the best shoes because they're natural and have no elevated heels, making us use our feet like we should, with superb toe freedom, I love the toe freedom because it doesn't squish my toes like regular shoes do and let me use my toes too. We were born with leveled heels not elevated heels therefore we don't need the extra elevation. We wouldn't be having all these foot, back, and knee problems without all these elevated heels. I completely support you even if a majority of the people here are extremely stubborn or use this site to get more of these "gimmicky" shoes. I will never turn back to regular shoes-- I own a few nike shoes and what not but never bought any other shoes recently other than my two VFFs which was a long time ago. I'd like to say that my VFFs have last me a long time, much longer than my regular shoes because all I step evenly on my VFFs. I now see that I should wear my VFFs more often because I'm sick of being made fun of for being normal and having feet. I also prefer being natural too next to anything else. We spend too much for something that will only hurt us. Thank you for showing confidence and being bold in what you believe, also in being the few to come to love VFFs for its functionality rather than for the cosmetics.I remember a good friend of mine advising z-coils a while back, I was very convince by them but the price was unreasonable so I held it off for a while, after a while I saw a person wear VFFs and I looked em' up I was even more so convinced by the philosophy and how natural they seemed, and I don't regret my decision at all. I am young so I adapted to them quickly, I have never felt any problems with regular sneakers but I really like my VFFs and prefer my VFFs more because they feel lighter, less clunky, and more free than funky regular sneakers.
I used z-coil shoes for years, had 3 pairs and loved them for comfort from knees to neck. Healthier now, and do not wear them.As a Registered Nurse, I wear Sketchers, and am on my 3rd pair. Yes, they do shape up the butt a bit:)Half the RNs I work with wear Sketchers!
Just bought my husband some Gravity Defyers for work,he likes them.
Embrace technology for feet, if the shoe fits, wear it with a big smile, I do!
Heelys are awesome!!! 
Thanks Justin for the information. After reading the posts at least I can make an informed decision buying Gravity Deifiers as I was ready to place an order for myself and my wife. Instead I’ll invest In a good pair of inserts.Thanks
Bob
barefoot runner needs more compassion 
Other than for the laughs, is Z-Coil a fake or Gimmick? Do they really not work and is that the reason you've included it in this list. I did not like my Z-coil shoes. I bought a pair and I could not get used to them. They made things worse for me. On the other hand I know poeple who wear them everyday and have for years and love them. Each person is different. So it just depends on what works for the individual. For me though they made it worse. Partly because anything with a heel rise can cause me pain. 
I have 3 pair of Z-Coils. Being on my feet all day and after having achilles surgery, they are the only thing I have found that allows me to move without pain. I have tried many shoes and orthotics and I love my Z's. They are some ugly, but work! 
The only gimmicky shoes I've ever bought were Spira, a couple months after a hip replacement surgery (and subsequent IT band syndrome and physical therapy). I used them on a trip and walked all through Italy on them. I actually LOVED them. They were comfortable, walking felt easier, and I strongly feel they contributed to a successful 3-week trip. After a few months the spring in one shoe started squeaking with every step. So I bought another identical pair. After owning those for another 4 or 5 months, they also started squeaking. Although I loved the shoes, I didn't buy another pair because I prefer to keep shoes for a year. Now I stick with Brooks.
Worth remembering that this is how 90% of people see toe-shoes.Also, minimalist shoes suit me down to the ground: I wear them everyday and not just for running. However, I wonder how effective they would have been for me had I not been a neutral pronator with fairly normal arches in the first place.
I almost lost my L foor after a hit & run driver blasted me from behind while riding down a Hwy. I ended up with a R knee replacement, titanium femur and a fused L ankle. I was considering having my severly damaged L foot removed and going with a fake foot. I tried Z-Coils just before setting the date for an amputation. They saved my foot. I've been wearing the enclosed heel work boot version for years. I still have foot pain but at least I can walk. The heel spring bending compensates for the my fused ankle not having any range of motion at all. Without Z-Coils I would probably have been an amputee for the last few years. The problem now is they have discontinued the work boot version. I haven't been able to find a replacement pair in size 9. I don't know what I'll do when my newest pair wear out.I hope the are able the make the boot version again soon. Without them I can barely walk and with a bad limp.With them I can walk long distances with very little limp. Thank God for Z-Coils. 
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