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The Fit Flop

Is the Fit Flop another weight-loss gimmick or does it really work? The Fit Flop claims to work your thighs and calf muscles with their patented shoe design of a  multi-density sole that 'works' on your muscles midstep, thus toning your thighs, calves and glutes. They work by slightly destabilizing the foot, so that you're constantly fighting for balance while you're wearing them. They do this using a micro-wobbleboard that is incorporated into the sole of the shoe and makes them a slightly raised platform. Wearers have noted that the walking takes some getting used to as you have to focus on a more concentrated way of walking. The shoes are meant to be extremely comfortable as well with a soft cushioning and have been ergonomically designed to mimic a barefoot gait.

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FitFlop bliss blue
MSRP $45.00
Release date June, 2007
Brand FitFlop
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Pros & Cons9
Reviews20
Details
Buy It
Competitors1
Comments21
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
20 reviews
51
negative
mixed
positive
7 positive
4 mixed
8 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

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Pros:
Do you agree?
•
comfortable and soft cushioning
+12agreedisagree

•
works leg muscles while you walk
+4agreedisagree

•
Excellent sandal. I keep them on all of the time. My feet are never tired. I didn't believe the exercise part but I have noticed more definition in my upper legs and I have not been working out for a while now.
0agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
skeptical about effectiveness
+4agreedisagree

•
none but I hope they make tennis shoes soon
+1agreedisagree

•
Strap is located in an uncomfortable position
0agreedisagree

•
can cause pain in your knees and ankles
-1agreedisagree

•
caused extreme knee problem which is interupting my original fitness program
-1agreedisagree

•
strap falls off
-2agreedisagree


18 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
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Details

The Fit Flop was conceived by Marcia Kilgore of the UK who never had time to go to the gym, and wanted a way of exercising that could be incorporated into her daily life. The Fit Flop was first available in the UK and has now made its way to the USA. See also Yoga Sandals for a shoe that wants to change your alignment while you walk.

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This report was started August 1, 2007 at 10:50 am by Amanie
with the last edit occurring Thursday, 9:18 AM by Mia1234
This page has been viewed 24592 times, with 173 edits by 35 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

The Fit Flop | Women's - Oasis Thong Sandal

• FitFlop Women's Oasis Thong Sandal,Black,8 M US

UPC: 883945009372

EAN: 883945009372

MPN: 26-001

The Fit Flop | Women's - Walkstar III Thong Sandal

• FitFlop Women's Walkstar III Thong Sandal,Gold,8 M US

UPC: 883945011986

EAN: 883945011986

MPN: 28-010

The Fit Flop | Women's - Walkstar Classic Thong Sandal

• FitFlop Women's Walkstar Classic Thong Sandal,Bronze,8 M US

UPC: 883945000669

EAN: 883945000669

MPN: 002 001

Competitors

MBT Shoes

MBT Shoes

MSRP  $240.00    Released  --

Masai Barefoot Technology ( MBT shoe ) is not just a shoe in the ordinary sense. It is a revolutionary fitness aid from Swiss Masai. MBT shoe's will not only change the way you use your muscles, but will improve the use of your joints and spine. The MBT has been highlighted for its...

ProSCORE
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Comments

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1.  avatar dbarth1993 said:

I have these on order from BBW, can't wait to try them out.
Aug 08, 2007 8:04pm
2.  avatar Neesie said:

I ignored the warning to build up time gradually, wearing my FitFlops. I've now been wearing them for about two weeks, almost all day, every day (including shopping trips, where I'm on my feet for several hours at a time). They're very comfortable . . . but as far as working my muscles goes, I haven't felt even the slightest difference.
Sep 07, 2007 11:25am
3.  avatar Amanie said:

Oh, that's disappointing, maybe you're already too fit for the Fit flop!
Sep 07, 2007 11:31am
4.  avatar suz said:

I just bought these and wore them about 5 hours. I had the hardest time keeping them on my feet and I kept slipping out of them going up stairs. I often had to stop and reposition the strap to keep them on. I had no sore muscles - only a bruise from the strap the next day. I don't think I'd get these again.
Sep 07, 2007 1:55pm
5.  avatar Neesie said:

Amanie, thanks for the chuckle! ;-D I'm just an average person, who does an average amount of walking. I'm used to wearing low-heeled shoes, so MAYBE that makes the difference.

Like Suz, I don't think I'd get them again.
Sep 08, 2007 12:49pm
6.  avatar sam said:

I have been wearing them every evening and walking a mile, have really noticed a difference. Has changed the shape of my calf muscles. Initially my legs really ached and some discomfort in my knees.
Sep 09, 2007 5:25pm
7.  avatar lynn said:

Ok here goes. I ordered these in August. My upper legs were 27 inches they are now 25 inches. Lower were 22 now 18 bum is WAY smaller. I am having cramps from wearing them ALL the time but oh I love the results.
Sep 13, 2007 4:02pm
8.  avatar guenwyvar said:

I just got mine 3 days ago & love them. Very comfy & easy to walk fast in;do wish I could tighten the strap a bit.I do notice that when I relax & just go with the flow when I walk in them I can feel my leg muscles working & also the bottom of the butt muscles. I work out a lot anyway ( step aerobics,weights & yoga) so I just ignored the advice to build up slowly & just wore them all day right away. leg muscles felt "worked" but not sore or cramped at all.
Sep 30, 2007 9:22pm
9.  avatar chedolce said:

hi there! does anyone have any reports of knee/ankle pain as reported above? I have early signs of arthritis in my knees due to old injuries and have to be careful of agrivating my knees. Thanks!
Mar 14, 2008 11:35am
10.  avatar michellelanderson said:

I love these! They are very comfortable and have a neat-unique look to them. I can feel my muscles working more when I wear them. Not sure how much benefit they reap, but I love them anyway!
Apr 22, 2008 11:26am
11.  avatar enaile said:

So far, they are very comfortable, I have been wearing them quite a bit, though, the toe/thong area is a bit abrasive. hum, not sure if I feel my muscles working more yet, we will see (have just had them a week) but I do think they are some of the more well padded comfy shoes I own!
Apr 28, 2008 8:06pm
12.  avatar vanessa said:

I got these yesterday. I normally wear a size 6.5 in sneakers, but the sizes it comes in is whole sizes only. I got a size 7 cause the store was out of 6. I walked 2 hours in them today and I agree with one of the other comments, it causes huge bruises on top of the foot, where the strap of fit flop is located. It seems that the shoe has too much toe room but not enough back room, so your heel is right at the end, but you can't move your foot forward cause of the strap, it's in the way and it makes it hard to stay on when you are trying to walk quickly. Also, on the bottom of my foot, under the top ball, a HUGE blister appeared, like half an inch wide due to these shoes. I also notice no muscle pain or anything, which I notice when I wear my MBT sneakers, those actually work and you feel it working. These are just higher flip flops, not sure how that would build muscle. Not recommended.
May 25, 2008 12:50pm
13.  avatar VFRgrl said:

I got these because they are supposed to be "better" than my beloved MBTs. I can say- they aren't . I wear almost 100% MBT shoes (sandals, sneakers, hiking boots) because I have a bad knee. The fit flops actually made my knee HURT and not in a good way. I also will occassionally get ankle pain.
I'm sticking with my MBTs because I went from having knee pain 5 out of 7 days a week (with limping) to zero days of limping and maybe once every few weeks I'll have pain. The fit flops are definitely NOT "better" than MBTs. As far as benefits- well maybe they do help tone muscles but I couldn't get past the knee pain!
Jun 06, 2008 2:51pm
14.  avatar diamondgirl said:

I got these in 2007. I love my fit flops. I do not wear them in the winter so every spring I start all over. If I lived somewhere that was warm year round I would wear them all the time.
Jun 28, 2008 7:58pm
15.  avatar guenwyvar said:

This is an update. It's now June 29 & I still love my Fitflops;wear them every day. I've had some low back issues due to uneven leg length & sitting at computer for hours while taking online courses. This caused a muscle imbalance & low back stiffness. I resumed going to my chiropractor ,got new lifts for the shoes on my shorter leg, &  started doing yoga every day instead of a few times a week. I didn't wear the Fitflops over the winter but resumed wearing them when the weather changed. I found that wearing them all the time forced me to walk better & stretch my front hip flexors (aka the psoas muscles; when these are tight it can cause low back pain) I could still feel my front thigh muscles,calf & bottom butt muscles working  as i said before & within a week there was far less lower back stiffness because the psoas were getting a constant workout. I could REALLY feel the psoas working ...even more than when I first got the shoes. They'd become really tight.My thighs are also trimmer but that could be due to my using the hip abductor & adductor machines at the gym as well as wearing the shoes. I've had absolutely no knee or ankle pain. people who have that problem may have it because of their gait,I don't know. Anyhow, I love my Fitflops,wear them most of the time & may be getting another pair.

Jun 29, 2008 7:38pm
16.  avatar helen said:

Someone told me that they had to buy a size smaller than they normally wear. I want to order some online (there is no store near me that sells them) and I don't know what size to buy. Any comments about size?? Thanks, Helen
Jul 14, 2008 12:32am
17.  avatar sk said:

In terms of size, I ordered my normal size and they were fine.
I found them very comfortable HOWEVER after only a half an hour of wearing them my back locked up on me and I've been having problems ever since. I think they somehow realign you very slightly and it was just enough to cause a problem. If you are sensitive to these things I wouldn't recommend them.
Jul 22, 2008 9:45am
18.  avatar UC said:

I purchased the fit flops in September after doing a little research on them. I currently have a knee problem for which I'm getting physical therapy. I wore them for a few hours on the day that I bought them. I immediately had knee pain that I thought could be associated with fit flop but wasn't sure because I experience intermittent pain and am working on my gait to obtain better alignment with my knee to elimnate it.

The big test for the fit flop was an all-day tailgate. Whenever I stand on my feet for 6+ hours, on the following day my legs and feet hurt. I'm a 30-something so not very old. I wore the fit flops for approximately 12 hours straight. I woke up the next morning expecting to have achy legs and feet and didn't. Not the slightest ache or pain.   I was very surprised and of course happy!

The benefit of the shoe is that it has helped me to work on my gait to have better knee alignment. It gives in places to make your feet and leg muscles work to keep you balanced. I don't know if I can give all of the credit for toner legs to the shoe but I can feel the muscles in my inner thighs and hamstrings working if my feet hit the ground in an unbalanced way. So they work for me. There was and is a medical warning on the website and attached to the shoe so I consult ed with my physical therpist.

Sep 27, 2008 4:52pm
19.  avatar certainthistime said:

I wore these for 10 minutes and my toes started to bleed. Had to ask a stranger for band aids so I could walk home. In 4 months of communication with customer service they have not done anything. DO NOT BUY THESE!!
Apr 10, 2009 2:35am
20.  avatar Andrea Kiesling said:

Bought these in Chicago during a recent trip. My mom also got a pair because the shoes she was wearing were rubbing her the sides of her feet. We put them on and didn't take them off the rest of the trip!
We did a lot of walking and at the end of the day - literally miles - our feet didn't hurt. I did notice my hip hurt after the third day, but I wear them everywhere now. I don't know that I've felt a lot of muscle work, but I do know that my feet aren't killing after hours of walking. I also noticed that my arches feel much better after wearing these flops (I have very flat feet).
They were available at Macy's for about $60 a pair; my only complaint is that the pair that fit me is glitzy - gold sequins, and there are fabric versions available, but they didn't fit me and the store didn't have a size larger than an 8.
Be forewarned that you should order at least one size up. I normally wear a size 9 to 9 1/2.
Jul 17, 2009 2:13pm
21.  avatar carrrieslight said:

I eagerly ordered the Fit Flop after much reviewing of the material on it. I was used to wearing an ergomically-designed tennis shoe and wanted something more summery. I wore Fit Flops from June until Aug continously and began to notice my hip was really sore and hurting. By the time Aug arrived, I was walking like a duck myself, with great pain in my hip joint. After I quit wearing them, the pain subsided. It is my opinion that the Fit Flops exercised the muscles around my hip joint too much and was damaging to my joints. Although they are very comfortale and I really regret this, most likely I will not be able to wear them. Bummer! Others beware.
Aug 15, 2009 11:55pm
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

carrrieslight

avatar
August 15, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
2 cons
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning
  • works leg muscles while you walk

Cons

  • skeptical about effectiveness
  • caused extreme knee problem which is interupting my original fitness program

Comments

"I eagerly ordered the Fit Flop after much reviewing of the material on it. I was used to wearing an ergomically-designed tennis shoe and wanted something more summery. I wore Fit Flops from June until Aug continously and began to notice my hip was really sore and hurting. By the time Aug arrived, I was walking like a duck myself, with great pain in my hip joint. After I quit wearing them, the pain subsided. It is my opinion that the Fit Flops exercised the muscles around my hip joint too much and was damaging to my joints. Although they are very comfortale and I really regret this, most likely I will not be able to wear them. Bummer! Others beware. "
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

lynn

avatar
October 12, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
1 con
have ithave it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning
  • works leg muscles while you walk

Cons

  • can cause pain in your knees and ankles

Comments

"Ok here goes. I ordered these in August. My upper legs were 27 inches they are now 25 inches. Lower were 22 now 18 bum is WAY smaller. I am having cramps from wearing them ALL the time but oh I love the results."
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

enaile

avatar
April 28, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
1 con
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning

Cons

  • skeptical about effectiveness

Comments

"So far, they are very comfortable, I have been wearing them quite a bit, though, the toe/thong area is a bit abrasive. hum, not sure if I feel my muscles working more yet, we will see (have just had them a week) but I do think they are some of the more well padded comfy shoes I own!"
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Neesie

avatar
September 7, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
1 con
have ithave it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning

Cons

  • skeptical about effectiveness

Comments

"I ignored the warning to build up time gradually, wearing my FitFlops. I've now been wearing them for about two weeks, almost all day, every day (including shopping trips, where I'm on my feet for several hours at a time). They're very comfortable . . . but as far as working my muscles goes, I haven't felt even the slightest difference."
"Amanie, thanks for the chuckle! ;-D I'm just an average person, who does an average amount of walking. I'm used to wearing low-heeled shoes, so MAYBE that makes the difference.

Like Suz, I don't think I'd get them again."
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

suz

avatar
September 7, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
1 con
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

  • skeptical about effectiveness

Comments

"I just bought these and wore them about 5 hours. I had the hardest time keeping them on my feet and I kept slipping out of them going up stairs. I often had to stop and reposition the strap to keep them on. I had no sore muscles - only a bruise from the strap the next day. I don't think I'd get these again."
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

certainthistime

avatar
April 9, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
40
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
3 cons
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Comments

"I wore these for 10 minutes and my toes started to bleed. Had to ask a stranger for band aids so I could walk home. In 4 months of communication with customer service they have not done anything. DO NOT BUY THESE!!"
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Amanie

avatar
September 10, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
40
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
3 cons
wanttotryitwanttotryit

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning
  • works leg muscles while you walk

Cons

  • skeptical about effectiveness
  • can cause pain in your knees and ankles
  • strap falls off

Comments

"Oh, that's disappointing, maybe you're already too fit for the Fit flop!"
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

basset

avatar
July 2, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
75
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
1 con
love itlove it
have ithave it

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning
  • works leg muscles while you walk
  • Excellent sandal. I keep them on all of the time. My feet are never tired. I didn't believe the exercise part but I have noticed more definition in my upper legs and I have not been working out for a while now.

Cons

  • none but I hope they make tennis shoes soon

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

VFRgrl

avatar
June 6, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
25
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
3 cons

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning

Cons

  • skeptical about effectiveness
  • can cause pain in your knees and ankles
  • caused extreme knee problem which is interupting my original fitness program

Comments

"I got these because they are supposed to be "better" than my beloved MBTs. I can say- they aren't . I wear almost 100% MBT shoes (sandals, sneakers, hiking boots) because I have a bad knee. The fit flops actually made my knee HURT and not in a good way. I also will occassionally get ankle pain.
I'm sticking with my MBTs because I went from having knee pain 5 out of 7 days a week (with limping) to zero days of limping and maybe once every few weeks I'll have pain. The fit flops are definitely NOT "better" than MBTs. As far as benefits- well maybe they do help tone muscles but I couldn't get past the knee pain!"
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Manders

avatar
July 16, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
33
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
2 cons

Pros

  • comfortable and soft cushioning

Cons

  • skeptical about effectiveness
  • Strap is located in an uncomfortable position

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No
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