The Today Show: EasyTones, Shape-Ups, and Five Fingers, Oh My!

NBC's Today Show aired a segment this morning about the latest fads in fitness footwear; specifically, the growing number of shoes that promise to tone up your lower body simply by wearing them and walking around.

For once, I'm not talking about Vibram Five Fingers, but rather shoes like the Reebok EasyTones and Skecher Shape-Ups.  That said, I'm happy to report that the Today Show does feature barefoot running and Vibram Five Fingers, too.  Just watch the segment:

Outside of the hearty mentioning of Vibram Five Fingers and barefoot running (Al Roker in black KSO Five Fingers and a suit!), there were two things that stuck out to me about the segment, as summed up by these quotes:

• "Sales expected to top $1 billion next year"  (Note the screen-cap)... "Get in shape without setting foot in a gym."
• "The primary market: women — accounting for 90% of sales."

I can't help but think of the old saying "There's a sucker born every minute" — the idea that simply wearing shoes with extra cushioning at the midfoot (like the Skechers Shape-Ups) or shoes with awkward balls underneath the front and back of your foot (like the EasyTones) will help you shed weight or "tone up" makes for quite a sales pitch.  It plays right into the consumerist mindset that buying the product means buying the proclaimed results.

It's just not that simple.  At best, these toning sneakers will put stress on different muscles as you're forced to adjust your gait.  At worst, their benefits will diminish over time and leave you with an awkward, unnatural gait.  For most, I'd guess they won't be any better or worse than your run-of-the mill modern-day sneakers.

I'm happy to see that the Today Show didn't exactly paint these gimmicky shoes in a glowing light — though the Doctor they quoted didn't exactly look like the healthiest chap.

Toe Shoes on the Today Show

Al Roker's black KSO Vibram Five Fingers feet on The Today Show.

It's encouraging that the Today Show also gave about half the segment to another "fad"* (as some might argue) — barefoot running and toe shoes — a.k.a. Vibram Five Fingers.  Specifically, we got to hear from John Durant of BarefootNYC and Hunter-Gatherer (Seen on The Colbert Report in KSO Vibrams), and see a bunch of barefoot or VFF-shod runners demonstrate minimalist running in NYC.  And ________ (who is this guy?) even ran alongside the group barefoot (or in Bikilas?  Not sure) and prominently noted that his feet didn't hurt — though his calf muscles did.

Finally, I thought it was great to hear that Natalie Morales, who is apparently a runner, was going to try out her Black KSOs on her next run.  Though her comment was hard to catch, it sounded to me like she had actually done some research into Vibram Five Fingers.  Natalie, enjoy your inaugural almost-barefoot run — just take it slow!

So what did you think about this segment?  This is the second time Vibram Five Fingers got mentioned on the Today Show.  Maybe one "step" closer to mainstream awareness?  What say ye?

• I don't think it's a fad, but I'm biased!