A leg up on fitness?

FitFlops promise to give legs a workout.

By DALIA WHEATT
Published June 18, 2007

Sandals that tone your legs? We were skeptical, too.

But that didn't stop stores from selling out of the shoes less than a month after their U.S. debut.

FitFlops are a footwear innovation from -- where else? -- England. The gist is that they're harder to walk in, so just wearing them gives your lower body a workout. The shoes come in women's sizes 6 to 10, in red, black and blue.

But good luck finding a pair. FitFlops are sold out at bay area Bath & Body Works stores, where they retail for $39.95. They're due back stateside in July, so check www.bathandbody works.com for availability updates. You can also preorder the sandals for $45 at BlissWorld.com.

We managed to snag a pair of FitFlops and took turns wearing them around the office. Although the shoes were super-comfy, they aren't the most attractive accessory, and whatever they're made of smells pretty awful. For what it's worth, we didn't feel any more toned after wearing them -- but maybe that means we're already in fabulous shape.

Here's the word from FitFlops headquarters in the United Kingdom:

What you get: a more toned lower body. "FitFlops simply increase the amount of work your leg muscles do while you're walking, so you get more done in the same amount of time, from a muscle-toning perspective," wrote FitFlops founder Marcia Kilgore in an e-mail to the St. Petersburg Times. The company has also received testimonials from people claiming to feel relief from ankle injuries and other foot conditions.

How they work: A study by the Centre for Rehabilitation and Human Performance Research at the University of Salford, England, gave "sufficient evidence" that wearing FitFlops targets the gluteals and hamstrings more than wearing other shoes, said Dr. Philip Graham-Smith, who conducted the research.

How to tell if they're working: Your legs should feel sore, as they would after a workout. If you feel nothing, then you're probably already in good shape, so just enjoy FitFlops for the comfy sandals they are.

For maximum results: Start by wearing the shoes for 30 minutes a day and build from there. "Some people feel like they've done a 'bum-blaster' workout after a half an hour," Kilgore wrote.

What's next: Sandals, sneakers and a pull-on boot version are in the works. Also look for men's FitFlops next spring.

Dalia Wheatt may be reached at dwheatt@sptimes.com.

The FitFlop

Where to buy the exercise shoe: www.thefitflop.com

[Last modified June 18, 2007, 16:28:53]