Reebok Easytone

Here at Losetheshoes.net I love to offer you shoe reviews. Sometimes my reviews are more warnings then anything else. This may be the case with my Reebok Easytone review.

Shoe fads come and go, Shoe companies put a lot of money into marketing these fads to fully capitalize on them while they're in. The Toning shoe trend has been around for alittle while now and it has stayed a lot longer then I hoped.

So today I'd like to talk about the Reebok Easytones. I would first like to say that the Reebok Easytones are not a barefoot style shoe and are far from a minimalist running shoe. The reason that I am reviewing these shoes is I would like people to know the truth about them. Don't worry none of my money was wasted in the writing of this review, you can learn alot from a few laps around your local shoe store.

Reebok says the following about the Reebok Easytones "Style and breathability are beautifully combined in this athletic-inspired EasyTone. The SmoothFit hidden-seam liner ensures minimal rub and irritation, while the anti-microbial sockliner manages moisture"

So what are Reebok Easytone shoes? To keep it simple the Reebok Easytone shoes are a normal shoe upper with little stability balls on the sole that create a natural instability that makes your muscles work to balance yourself hence causing toning.  I have seen some stats (of course from the shoe companies) that said the Reebok Easytone shoes cause 28% more gluteus maximus muscle activation, and 11% more calf and hamstring activation. That sounds great but at what cost?

The Reebok Easytone shoes are more for walking and won't offer the support or stability you need for high impact exercises such as running or for activities with a lot of lateral movement. The Reebok Easytones are similar to using a wobble board or balance board in a gym.  They do offer different types of EasyTones, including a running version thats called Runtone.

If you put on a pair of Reebok Easytone shoes you will find them to be very comfortable, the reason being is that they have a ton of padding in the sole and the air filled toning pockets.

Whats wrong with the Reebok Easytone shoes?

Here at losetheshoes.net when reviewing shoes look for a shoe that allows your foot to function the way it was designed to do. The Reebok EasyTone shoes are just as likely as any other "typical sneaker" to alter natural foot function, and walking with “balanced pods” fixed to the bottom of your feet may even be worse for you.

Because Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers are intentionally designed create a slight instability, they can potentially increase the risk of injury to you, think about walking along a bumpy path or trying to run for the bus on a uneven sidewalk. Now when you need your balance most your shoes are working againest you.

The thing that scares me the most about these types of shoes is that parents are putting them on their childrens feet that are still developing and I fear it will harm them down the road, these toning shoes haven't been around enough to know what will happen.

What we do know is that a pair of shoes isn't enough to change the shape of your hips, glutes and thighs unless, perhaps, you strap them to your thighs with a couple of weight for some squats and lunges. If you want to tone your body, you need to build muscle with strength training and lose body fat with cardio and a healthy diet. So save your money and invest in a gym membership or cardio classes. And if you like Reebok try the Realflex's

Reebok Realfex Review: A Good or Bad Shoe?

To start off I'm not saying the Reebok Realflex is a bad shoe, but is it really a good choice as a minimalistic shoe?

Recently there has been a lot of hype about Reeboks entrance into the Barefoot Running shoe market. They launched their Reebok Realflex with a lot of hype and marketing dollars. If you want to check out their dollars at use, check out this catchy commercial.

When watching Reeboks technology video (shown below) you're off the top saying to yourself maybe they do know what they're talking about. The thing is, they are saying all the right things in the video. Here are a few quotes below:

"barefoot or natural running actually makes a lot of sense from a bio-mechanic standpoint."

" Bio-mechanically speaking it makes sense because when you land on your forefoot you land with your knee bent so all the shock absorption happens in your muscles not your joints. When you land on your heel all that shock is taken up by the joints in your knees and ankles and hips"

So reading those quotes your saying to yourself that Reebok has done their homework and maybe they are buying into the Barefoot running idea.

But quickly you see their true colors, after talking up Barefoot running they say this statement... "But we want to take that and improve it — namely by adding protection" If you truly believe that barefoot running is the best for you, would you say you can improve it, and then would you go above that and say to improve it you'll add protection to make it better??

When Vibram speaks about their Vibram Five Fingers newer models that just added 1mm more to their soles they have to apologize because they know with each mm added it takes away from true barefoot running feeling, so is Reebok missing something? Yes!

Reebok seems like they put alot of padding on the heel of the Realflex, why's this? Reebok tells us its for running down hill. I kinda think its for all those heel strikers that will buy these shoes because of the hype and now they won't complain because their heels will be protected, and they will continue to run improperly.

Reebok made a pretty shoe that looks great and is comfortable, but is it really a barefoot shoe?
They made the sole more flexible which is great, they made the shoe alot lighter which is great but when it comes to the padding there's still too much between your foot and the road.

Reebok say the Realflex is natural running perfected, I say it's marketing dollars perfected.

A great shoes not a great Minimalistic shoe

KO

REEBOK REALFLEX REVIEW

Looking for a new running blog? Check out IdleHide

Reebok has officially jumped on the bandwagon of barefoot running "or natural running." That may be understating the significance of this event, Reebok has not just created a "natural running" shoe. No, no, they have perfected natural movement. 

 Natural movement. Perfected. ( From Reebok Site)

76 strategically placed RealFlex sensors independently adapt to your environment, providing tailored protection and performance. With a sole that is 20% lower to the ground than conventional running shoes, RealFlex brings you closer to your training surface for a more responsive, more natural feel.

The Video below does a good job at marketing the shoes, I like how they talk about these shoes being built to protect you on pavement but the video is all out in the mountains...lol

When watching Reeboks technology video (shown below) you are off the top saying to yourself maybe they do know what they're talking about. The thing is, they are saying all the right things in the video. Here are a few quotes below:

"barefoot or natural running actually makes a lot of sense from a bio-mechanic standpoint."

" Bio-mechanically speaking it makes sense because when you land on your forefoot you land with your knee bent so all the shock absorption happens in your muscles not your joints. When you land on your heel all that shock is taken up by the joints in your knees and ankles and hips"

So reading those quotes your saying to yourself that Reebok has done their homework and maybe they are buying into the Barefoot running idea.

But quickly you see their true colors, after talking up Barefoot running they say the following statement... "But we want to take that and improve it — namely by adding protection" If you truly believe that barefoot running is the best for you, would you say you can improve it, and then would you go above that and say to improve it you'll add protection to make it better??

Reebok seems like they put alot of padding on the heel of the Realflex, why is this? Reebok tells us its for running down hill. I kinda think its for all those heel strikers that will buy these shoes because of the hype and now they won't complain because their heels will be protected, and they will continue to run improperly.

One Thing I must say is that Reebok has made a great shoe to go head to head with the Nike Free, I just wish they went alittle more minimalist.
Reebok made a pretty shoe that looks great and is comfortable, but is it really a barefoot shoe?
They made the sole more flexible which is great, they made the shoe alot lighter which is great but when it comes to the padding there's still too much between your foot and the road.

Reebok say the Realflex is natural running perfected, I say it's marketing dollars perfected.

Does the Realflex's heel mess with your running?

I find it funny that if Reebok was making a true Barefoot shoes, that they would give it a raised heel, does that make sense?

The heel only allows you heel strikers out there the option to heel strike if you chose.

It's interesting that in the video at the start they speak of fore foot running then at the end they are talking about heel padding??? Whats up?

Reebok say's:
There's two problems with barefoot running. One is landing on the forefoot on hard man-made surfaces such as concrete tends to induce stress fractures. We want to protect that.

So we're taking your foot and raising it up off the ground and protecting it throughout the foot with 76 sensors each designed to serve a specific purpose under your foot. Back in the heel the sensors are joined together. That's going to give you heel impact. One of the other issues with running barefoot is that when you're running downhill you can't land on your forefoot so you're going to need that heel protection and this build that in. On the lateral side of the back of the shoe we build those posts a little square to give you support and stability. Up in the forefoot we link those pods together. These nine pods right here are what's giving you the impact protection up in the forefoot.

All combined it gives you the feel and motion of natural running but with protection. That's the difference with RealFlex.

I have a problem with this.... The whole point of barefoot running is to stay away from all the unnatural padding that we see in the everyday running shoe. How can they say this is a barefoot shoe then talk up all the padding ???

It's funny that Reebok has 76 pods called "sensors" but these sensors lifts your foot higher away from the ground.

Every shoe does this to some extent. Vibram FiveFingers even do it. 

So is Reebok's Realflex a good addition to the Natural  Running Movement?

I would have to say no, the shoe looks like any other running shoe that gives you alot of padding at the heel, so you can heel strike, They try to make it sounds like the Reebok Realflex is something new.... Have they ever seen the Nike Free?? I must say that the realflex is a great shoe I'm just disapointed that Reebok didn't go all the way..

I'll let you make your own choice...

Nike Free Vs. Reebok Realflex