Toning shoes have been developed on the back of recent studies which have highlighted the benefits of barefoot walking. Here at Walking.org, we have long been proponents of the health advantages to going barefoot and the toning that it provides to the lower body. Whilst it is perfect for soft sand, it is not such a practical way of getting around on hard surfaces. Two popular styles of toning shoes offer the benefits of a return to barefoot walking, with the added benefit of EVA underfoot cushioning. FitFlop sandals came from an idea in 2004, to provide a shoe to give the benefits of barefoot but the comfort and support of a shoe. Since their launch the have fast become a fitness footwear sensation.

A return to barefoot walking offers considerable benefits, both to fitness and muscle tone and FitFlop sandals recreated both features without compromising style and offer a range of fashionable designs and colours. The sandals reduce the stress on the joints from walking by getting the body back to a more natural way of walking. They ease the joints and have been reported to help sufferers of painful bone, muscle and joint problems. Offering anatomically designed support they change the posture for a more beneficial walking gait. The shoes include a Microwobbleboard to increase muscle activity in the legs bottom and lower back giving a great boost to toning increasing muscle activity by up to 30%.

The range of styles on offer today has increased dramatically from simple flip-flop style sandals to more standard shoe styles and are now suited to a wide range of activities to offer a toning boost no matter where you are or what you want to do.

Skechers Shape Ups offer a similar return to a more natural walking pattern, and they too simulate barefoot walking and provide the associated health and toning benefits. The trainer styles are better suited to colder weather, and they also produce a range of work shoes which can be worn around at the office.
The shoes feature a curved sole with an innovative Kinetic Wedge. They promote a more natural rolling of the foot from heel to toe, offering exceptional cushioning and reducing stress to the joints. They also work the body more thoroughly by bringing the abdominal muscles into action and improve blood circulation.

A newcomer to the toning shoe market is Reebok, who combine their renowned trainer comfort with a boost to fitness and muscle tone with their Easytone trainer range. Whilst not offering posture correction and a return to barefoot walking, they manage to increase toning to the legs and bottom up to 28%.

All of these toning shoe ranges offer the opportunity to get more value from simple walking, and help with toning, weight loss and fitness. The benefits of barefoot walking can easily be gained with little extra effort, and the health of the whole body can be improved whilst walking. It is no surprise that toning shoes have become such a popular fitness footwear choice.

If you are considering giving your exercise routine a boost, or taking advantage of the health benefits a change of footwear can provide, then toning shoes could be the answer. Alternatively, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a leisurely stroll along a sandy beach. We’ll leave the choice to you.

All of the big names in performance footwear offer a great range of outdoor sandals which provide the same foot cushioning technology as their beefier boot cousins. They are sure to keep the feet comfortable and cool when it gets a little sweatier and your plates start to swell up from the heat. We take a closer look at some of the best models on the market to help you choose the best designs for your walking needs, which will give the right level of performance and are guaranteed to help you look great with shorts and a flimsier lightweight summer wardrobe.

Walking.org’s Top 5 Outdoor Sandals

Merrell Chameleon II Kahuna
The classic bestselling sandal from outdoor footwear giants Merrell and as you would expect from a chameleon, they’re incredibly comfortable. Stylish, hard wearing and comfortable, they feature soft pigskin uppers with a neoprene/spandex lining for a comfort fit and a rear adjustable suspension strap to ensure no heel slippage. A DeepDish 3D contour footbed keeps the feet sunken in the sandal and curved sole gives additional protection to the toes. For grip you can depend on the Vibram rubber sole with 4.5mm lugs, and give added protection with a forefoot plate and air cushioned midsole. They pack in a lot of technology and it’s no surprise they are one of the top selling brands of outdoor sandals for both men and women.

Keen Newport
Developed to provide the perfect crossover between a summer sandal and hardcore multisport shoe. Keen are the champions of toe protection with their patented rubber toe guard, and a synthetic hydrophobic upper makes these sandals perfect for more amphibious pursuits. These stylish brown sandals feature a drawstring quick lace system for a secure fit, and a chunky carbon sticky sole for maximum grip on dry land and underwater. For comfort, a compression moulded EVA footbed has been constructed from an anatomical last to mould perfectly to the foot. Sure to keep you on your feet in all conditions, they offer the maximum comfort and keep the feet healthy with an AEGIS Microbe Shield to keep foot odour at bay. In short, they are a terrific all-round beach and walking sandal with the highest foot protection.

North Face Hermano
For a featherweight design with heavyweight performance the Hermano offers a super light sandal at a shade over 250g per shoe. They can be worn as a sandal or a slide with a removable heel strap, and the synthetic Nubuck construction is both hardwearing and vegan friendly. A super sticky Hydrotrak razor cut sole gives excellent wet and dry grip over all terrain, and a super-soft SBR lining provides for perfect comfort. The shoes feature an innovative X-frame design to reduce torque and foot slippage over uneven surfaces, and a recessed hook and closure system offers a secure quick release fit. Fully water resistant and double stitched uppers give long lasting wear in all conditions, plus they can be easily fixed to the outside of a backpack for a quick change on long treks.

Merrell Chameleon Cargo
Technically it’s a sandal, however it behaves more like a rugged off-road walking shoe and gives the ultimate protection over all terrain. If you want to make the transition from walking shoes to sandals gently, then this is the model for you. They feature a removable heel strap to enable wear as a sandal or slip-on, with an anatomical Ortholite footbed, injection moulded arch shank, speed lace system and padded neoprene lining for super day-long comfort. High quality Vibram soles have 4mm lugs for excellent multi surface grip and a thick EVA underfoot frame gives excellent shock absorption. It’s an excellent sandal for picking up the pace and one of the best designs for toe protection and keeping the feet in cool summer comfort.

Birkenstock Arizona
When it comes to brown leather sandals, Birkenstock are top of the list, providing some of the most stylish sandals on the market. Perfect for light walking in the summer, they are the number one sandal for holidays abroad. Whilst not providing the rugged high technology for serious off-road capability, when it comes to flat promenades, cool evening wear and long lasting comfort there are few better on the market. For extra comfort they offer an anatomically moulded cork latex footbed with excellent cross arch support. A toe gripper and deep heel cup allow the feet to sit low in the shoe and keep the sandals firmly on the feet. This two strap design is a classic and year round bestseller, and is constructed in leather, Nubuck or Birko-Flor vegan-friendly synthetic leather.

If you want to look good this summer whilst keeping the feet cool and comfortable, it’s time to put away the walking boots until winter and opt for some lightweight summer footwear. Not only will a good quality pair of outdoor sandals protect and cushion the feet on arduous hikes, they will be great for the beach, the garden or just pottering about round town. In terms of value for money, no matter what pair you choose you will get the maximum use throughout the warmer months and will probably not want to wear anything else all summer.

With styles to suit all walks of life you can be sure that no matter where you go, the last thing you need to worry about will be the comfort of your feet. So get out there, get walking and embrace the outdoors this summer. Walking for fitness couldn’t be better!

Reebok EasyTone trainers are the latest shoes designed to burn more calories and rapidly tone the muscles while walking. Much like the other walking shoes of this kind that are currently available, they also mimic the effects of barefoot walking to use the full movement of the foot in order to work the calves, thighs, glutes and core more effectively.

While FitFlops have a multi-density sole and Shape Ups have a dynamic rolling sole, Reebok EasyTone shoes feature balance pads built into the sole at the heel and forefoot. So like the other walking exercise shoes, EasyTones encourage a rolling motion of the foot while destabilising your balance in order to strengthen the core and other muscles being used in walking.

Like their competitors, Reebok EasyTone shoes are all about offering you that extra workout when walking, essentially speeding up the whole exercise process by making each step that little bit more challenging, but without producing a noticeable impact straight away. The results are intended to be gradual, but just like collecting your loyalty points at the super market, they soon add up.

The concept of getting exercise during your daily activity is certainly very appealing, but footwear of this kind will never be a replacement for a proper country walk or even a gym work out.

While many will happily walk on a treadmill in the gym for an hour, we feel that it’s far better to embrace the outdoors, take in your surroundings and get some fresh air.

But for those looking to get an extra workout while they walk could benefit from wearing Reebok EasyTone trainers. They’re styled like a classic everyday fashion trainer, so no one should ever feel embarassed to wear them out in public. EasyTone trainers are also a good deal cheaper than the other walking exercise shoes, which could be a winning factor when people step outside into the warm weather this summer.

If you’re wondering “where can I buy reebok easytone trainers“, there’s a growing number of online retailers that already offer them at discount. So if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful trainer to help you burn some extra calories, EasyTones are the inexpensive answer.

The British weather has been rather whimsical of late, calling for all sorts of outdoor wear from waterproof jackets to cool walking sandals. Columbia are one of those brands who have been around for centuries, but often get overlooked in favour of the more flashier labels like The North Face and Salomon.

The great thing about Columbia of course is that they cater for everyone taking part in virtually any outdoor activity. Their clothing also provides the perfect level of protection with just the right amount of technical features not to seriously harm your wallet.

As far as branding and the like goes, this is Columbia’s real charm, because it doesn’t matter if you’re walking the dog on a cold and misty morning, trudging along a trail in torrential rain or taking a calm stroll in summer, because Columbia clothing for for anyone and everyone. You don’t need to be a high performance athlete to appreciate it. Columbia’s philsophy isn’t about conquering mountains or being the best, but simply enjoying yourself in the great outdoors.

Much like any other outdoors brand, Columbia offer an extensive range of fleexes, waterproof jackets, waterproof trousers, hats, gloves, etc. But what sets Columbia apart from the crowd is their innovative ideas.

Columbia made the headlines with their Bugathermo rechargeable heated boot that can keep feet warm for up to eight hours with three temperature settings.

Their Mobex back pack has been just as successful. While it’s mostly intended for trail runners, it’s a great summer back pack for walkers because of its lightweight and excellent storage while offering plenty of shoulder movement.

Columbia is just starting to come into their own with a growing range of boots and shoes. Columbia boots in particular offer similar looks to the most popular North Face and Merrell styles, appealing to the slightly younger outdoor market, but with dark earthy colours for the more experienced walkers. When it comes to price, Columbia shoes are much the same as their competitors, but tend to offer a greater number of technical features.

This is because Columbia use only their Omni core technologies to provide all the comfort, support, breathability and waterproof protection you need. Other brands will employ Gore-Tex technologies, which while being renowned for their waterproof membranes will often push the price of a good walking boot up by at least £20 more.

If it’s time to replace your walking boots and apparel, Columbia is certainly worth a try as a better value alternative to the more trendy brands while maintaining a high level of quality.

Outdoors enthusiasts will be turning their noses up at the mention of Fit Flops, but here at walking.org, we may love a walk in the country, but our real focus is on leading a healthy and active lifestyle through the benefits of walking.

So for people with an incredibly busy lifestyle, products such as Fit Flops can help them to stay in shape by burning calories and getting an extra amount of daily exercise.

What are Fit Flops?

Fit Flops started life as a range of colourful sandals, then as they became more popular and fashion orientated, Fit Flops slippers and even Fit Flops winter boots came into being. However, all of these product are designed to do the same thing, which is give you an extra workout while you walk.

They were originally designed in 2007 by a personal trainer named Marcia Kilgore who created Fit Flops to meet her own needs.

Despite being a personal trainer, she didn’t have much time to go to the gym herself, so to burn extra calories, she would wear fit flop sandals whilst walking to work.

So in many ways, Fit Flops are the quick and convenient exercise solution to the busy modern lifestyle where people don’t have time to go for a walk. Or perhaps they prioritise other things instead?

In order to capture the everyday person who’d like to stay in shape but doesn’t have the time, Fit Flops have been fashionably styled to resemble a range of everyday products that can be worn for walking around the shops, picking the kids up from school, walking to work or even getting the most exercise out of a gentle stroll. So there’s a broad appeal for this kind of product.

How do they work?

Fit Flops are designed to give you an extra workout while you walk. They achieve this using a unique wobble board midsole which works by slightly destabilising your footing. This then stimulates the fast twitching muscles in the glutes, hamstrings, calves and thighs, making your legs and bum work harder when walking, which helps to tone these areas, whilst helping you to stand straighter and improve your posture.

These benefits make weapring Fit Flops an excellent addition to a healthy exercise plan by burning extra calories while working, toning and strengthening your muscles with every step.

Originally, Fit Flops targetted the vanity market, stating that wearing their product regularly will make your legs look more slender and your bum look smaller while displaying countless lifestyle shots of well toned women in their product -and in all honesty, who can blame them?

More recently however, they have focussed on the health benefits of their products, having comissioned a study from biomechanics experts at Salford University, Manchester and the London South Bank University.

The most recent study was performed using the original FitFlop sandals over a 36 month period by Dr David Cook, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics, and Darren James at The Centre for Human Performance at London South Bank University.

The diagram on the right shows the muscle benefits from the case studies in red, which include increased leg, calf and gluteal muscle activity, improved posture, mimickery of a barefoot walking gait but with more muscle load and improved muscle tone.

Meanwhile the blue points are feedback from people who have been wearing Fit Flops and reported relief from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, chronic back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis, RLS, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease and all sorts of other conditions due to the soft cushioning and posture improving characteristics of the Fit Flop midsole.

Summary

Unfortunately, because of the way in which they’ve been initially marketed to the masses, many people will think that Fit Flops are a bit of a fitness gimmick, which is understandable.

But having undergone clinical case studies, scrutiny from the press and critques from everyday people as well as scientific experts, Fit Flops have emerged as an excellent addition to leading a healthy lifestyle.

It’s important to note that they certainly won’t work wonders on their own. A healthy diet and actually walking is essential. Wearing a pair of Fit Flops just gives you that extra bit of exercise whilst walking.

If you’d like to add a pair of Fit Flops to your daily routine to increase your cardiovascular health, you can find a wide range of the best selling styles at www.fitnessfootwear.com

But before we begin, you’re probably wondering what the difference is between a walking boot and hiking boot. Simply put, hiking boots typically offer greater rigidity in the sole, additional cushioning and greater ankle support for carrying larger ruck sacks and heavier equipment.

The line between walking boots and hiking boots as blurred over time as outdoor footwear has become more technical and manufacturers have become more carefree with their terminology.

But generally, the more technical features an outdoors boot has, the better it is for hiking rather than walking. Of course, many hiking boots are excellent for walking as well, if a bit heavy due to all the Gore-Tex XCR and other technologies.

Now that Autumn is here and winter will be arriving shortly, we’ve selected 5 current hiking boots that we would recommend. To provide as diverse a selection as possible, we’ve chosen one hiking boot from each manufacturer and targetted different price points typically associated with those brands. So for Salomon, we picked one of the most popular technical hiking boots, while for Hi-Tec we chose one of the most affordable. You get the idea.

We’re going to run through the top 5 hiking boots,explaining why we’ve chosen them, why you would want and them and if they offer sufficient value for money.

Most importantly, are they waterproof? The weather isn’t fantastic at this time of year and if you’re hiking far and wide across open fields and up mountain trails, you’re going to get caught in the rain sooner or later.

Lightweight comfort and breathability are also important. It may not be summer, but this doesn’t mean that your feet can’t become hot and sweaty or heavy from all that walking -especially if you have a ruck sac across your shoulders. Hiking is a much more intense form of walking, so extra points will be awarded to products that are light and breathable with moisture wicking linings to help prevent blisters and even anti-bacterial treatments to reduce the build up of unpleasant odours.

On the trail, rocks and other sharp surfaces are common, so underfoot protection is paramount to comfort. As a result hiking boots feature thick and chunky treads to offer excellent grip on all manner of outdoor surfaces.

So to find out which of the 5 wlaking boots are the best, we’ll award our usual 3 prizes. This way the most expensive boot doesn’t always come out on top and we can give you a clearer guide. So if you’re looking to splash out on a boot with all the technical features, then our Best Performance boot will be the one for you.

Similarly, if you’re looking for a pair of hiking boots on a budget, then our ‘Best Value’ boots should be within your ideal price bracket.

Finally, if you’d like an good all-round hiking boot with an emphasis on looks and comfort, then we always select a boot with the Best Looks from our top 5 too!

Salomon Elios Mid GTX- Autobahn and Asphalt
Salomon describe their best selling Elios Mid GTX as the ultimate mid-cut all weather hiking boot and quite rightly so. Featuring waterproof uppers, Gore-Tex lining and 3D padding, it combines protection, comfort and fit with a breathable ‘mesh sandwich’ to ventilate the sides of the foot. The Contagrip outsole offers excellent grip and each boot comes with an Ortholite sockliner for additional cushioning. Salomon’s reputation for quality in their outdoor footwear is next to none while retaining a style all of their own. So if you’re ever in doubt over which boots to buy, Salomon are always a safe bet.

Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi – Chocolate and Light Taupe
Hi-Tec’s latest hiking boots have been selling like hot cakes and it’s clear to see why. The Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi is their most technical boot to date, utilising all of their technologies from a lightweight V-Lite build to Ion mask waterproofing combined with traditional waterproof full grain leather uppers and an exclusive Vibram outsole. What you get is a fully featured hiking boot with classic good looks, chunky treads and full waterproof protection. The WPi has been receiving rave reviews and for only a tenner more than the Salomon hiking boot, it’s certainly a good time to ‘buy British’ once again.

Womens Merrell Chameleon Arc Mid Waterproof
A fantastic hiking boot from Merrell. It’s a pity they don’t make a similar model in mens colours. The Merrell Chameleon Arc Mid Waterproof is clearly the most breathable of the hiking boots in our top 5 with plenty of breathable mesh ports along the side as well as a mesh padded tongue and cuff. There’s a long list of injection moulded TPU supports, protective rubber areas, footbeds and advanced cushioning technologies.

Merrell are an American brand renown for the comfort of their products and these Chameleon Arc Mid Waterproof hiking boots are no exception. Their grip is exceptional too with suitably chunky treads as part of their unique Chameleon Arc outsole made by Vibram.

These boots look fantastic and are suitable for all-year usage, but we wouldn’t recommend them for trekking in torrential rain, otherwise they’re surprisingly waterproof for a boot with so much breathable mesh.

Carn Storm Chaser eV Mid
Despite the french looking name and design of their footwear, Carn are a new British footwear manufacturer who have launched into the outdoors market with a range of technical walking shoes, hiking boots and trail running shoes. The Carn Storm Chaser eV Mid is the top of the range product, built on their Carn Storm Chaser eV walking shoes, but with an extended collar design to provide extra ankle support and additional protection against the elements.

What you get is a simple, but great looking hiking boot with eVent waterproofing, a Carn exclusive uTRX sole unit that’s very versatile and offers excellent grip over all terrain as well as AEGIS and Trek-DRY anti-bacterial and moisture wicking linings. While these Carn hiking boots have a lot of great things going for them, the Carn brand seems very expensive on the whole when compared to Salomon and Merrell products of a similar price point. It probably doesn’t help that from the side, the Carn Storm Chaser eV Mid looks like the considerably cheaper Hi-Tec Eurotrek.

Brasher Supalite GTX
Designed to be traditionally styled with super-lightweight comfort and a host of modern features, the Brasher Supalite GTX is a very popular hiking boot, if on the expensive side. However, weighing just 1122 grams, this is the lightest, waterproof, breathable leather hiking boot in existence. So you certainly shouldn’t be as tired as a whole day of hiking. The Supalite GTX is made with full grain leather, a waterproof Gore-Tex lining and a supalite sole unit, making the boot appear very modest considering its cost.

Brasher are always modest about their technical features, which makes their boots difficult to compare against other brands. However, the quality and comfort of their products certainly speak for themselves.

Conclusion Because all of these hiking boots are essentially top of the range walking boots, it's quite close to call for our three awards. But while our top 5 are around the £100 price mark, they are all very different and each have their own areas of specialisation. The Merrel Chameleon for example is the most breathable, the Brasher Supalite is by far the lightest and the offers the greatest level of waterproof protection.

So to keep things simple, here are our three awards to help you prioritise what’s important to you in a hiking boot.

Best Value: Salomon Elios Mid GTX
It was a tough battle between the Elios and the WPi for the Best Value and Best Performance awards, but when the Elios is a good deal cheaper, it’s certainly worth the price. Salomon has an excellent reputation for the comfort, performance and good looks of their products and when measured up to the best selling Merrell or Hi-Tec, their value for money is very apparent.

Best Performance: Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi
While the Salomon Elios came close to winning this award, it was the all-round appeal of the Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi that won. With its traditional looks, full grain leather uppers and full range of features it’s an excellent hiking boot from a British brand that dedicates itself to offering the leading technologies for less than their competitors.

Best Looks: Womens Merrell Chameleon Arc Mid Waterproof
If there’s one thing Merrell always do well, it’s creating great looking footwear with an emphasis on comfort. The Merrell Chameleon Arc Mid Waterproof is a fine example of Merrell’s unique styling with makes their huge range of outdoor shoes so appealing. Costing roughly the same as the Salomon Elios, it couldn’t compete on performance and value for money, but when it comes to comfort, Merrell products will always be the winner.

We hope that our hiking boots guide has been helpful and provided something for everyone, whether it’s value for money, performance enhancing features or just goodness to honest comfort.

If you’re interested in buying any of these or would like to browse a wider range of hiking boots, then visit www.fitnessfootwear.com who offer the web’s widest choice of sports and outdoor shoes with Free delivery.

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