A Week in Her FitFlops

For one week, a $50 pair of red-and-white FitFlops supplanted the sneakers, slides, espadrilles, and strappy sandals that I usually wear at this time of year.

Almost everywhere I went, the sporty-looking flip-flops, which are said to tone the legs, tighten the rear, and reduce joint pain, attracted attention. "Do they work?" strangers stopped me on the street to ask.

As it was too soon to gauge the shoe's body-shaping promises, I told curious passersby that my FitFlops were exceptionally comfortable; that, despite being outfitted with miniature wobble boards, they were easy to walk in, and that, unlike other types of flip-flops, they hadn't caused me painful blisters between my first and second toes.

It took me several weeks to get used to the rocking motion of the clunky-looking Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) sneakers I purchased two years ago; those $250 shoes, also reputed for their muscle-toning and pain-relieving properties, came with an instructional DVD. There was no such learning curve with FitFlops, which don't look or feel all that different from a pair of cushy flip-flops. It's important to note that the shoes come with a warning that first-time wearers should build up to walking in them for extended periods of time to avoid "excessive muscle soreness." Meanwhile, some foot doctors recommend that FitFlops be worn for no more than two or three hours a day, and that pregnant women consult their physicians before trying out the sandals.

While there was no noticeable change in the appearance of my legs, the FitFlops did seem to provide a supplementary workout for quadriceps and calves. And those muscles, as well as my hamstrings, did feel tighter by the end of my weeklong experiment.