Exersteps Men's Whirlwind Black Sneakers

Four years ago I bough a pair of Rocker bottom sneakers that changed my life. No lie. I have severe degeneration in both my big toes. They hurt when I use regular shoes. These rocker bottom sneakers took a lot of the pressure off my big toes and moved it back to my arch. Mostly. I began to be mobile Again. Like I said changed my life. I could now walk miles instead of feet.Well, of course they discontinued the model. But not before I had purchased a back up pair. This brings us to last week. I was shopping on Amazon and I saw these sneakers. I looked closely. I swear they are related to the sneakers I had treasured for years. Different tread design, but otherwise, very, very similar. I bought a pair of these in black.Yesterday, I received them. Other than slight difference in materials, these are just like my old shoes. Which is to say, Alleluia!!!I wore them all yesterday. The soles are grippy. The balance is just right. My feet don't hurt. I am buying at least one, maybe two more pairs of these shoes, which come in Black or white.Years ago, claims were made about rocker bottom shoes that didn't seem to hold up. Claims about improvements in muscle development and tone. Claims about weight loss, etc. Evidently there were suits and counter suits. You know the drill, lawyers. Anyway, that's why my old shoes disappeared from the market best as I can tell.I don't really know about the alleged claims, but what I do know is that for my particular arthritic condition, these babies are just the ticket. They change the pressure on my big toes, they change my gait so I can keep up with my younger friends while walking, and they let me walk without worrying about whether I can make it back home before the pain takes over.I am really thrilled to have found these again. Thank you. They may not be everybody's best solution, but they are mine.

These are just like the Sketchers Shape ups with the exception that they are firm sole'ed and don't have the memory foam in the sole. It's a trade off, the comfort of that form is superlative on the feet, but Sketchers Shape Ups will wear out in about 3 months of daily use... the soles actually come off! These are not likely to do the same, so it's a firmer version of the Shape-UPS and they should last, they seem well made.

I bought these because one one foot was crushed in an accident and as a result I can't roll off the foot when I walk. My surgeon told me about rocker bottom shoes as an aid for this. I started with an expensive pair and notice they really helped me walk so I decided to try these as more of a work shoe that I wold care so much if they got messed up.For size I wear a 11 to 11 1/2 and only 11 was available in these so that's what I bought, they are pretty much to size to a hair small but for me they work. If they come in 11 1/2 I'd go that route for a little better fit. The one thing I noticed about both pairs is while walking is a big help, standing is a little harder because all of your weight is centered at the arch due to the shape of the sole. If I was to stand for long periods with little walking I think I would try a different shoe than a rocker bottom. Also another issue I had was the foot bed in both pairs, even though I have a normal arch because of the shape of the bottom it emphasizes the arch and I tried a different insole which helped comfort a bunch. My good foot experienced the same sensations as the damaged one but to a much lesser degree. So in short would I recommend these, yes for walking not so much for standing. The reason for 4 stars is the lack of half sizes but that could have been a timing issue on my part.

I have had a pair of Shape-Ups for over 10 years (the same pair). I feel that if I am going walking, I might as well get the most out of the walk. I can say absolutely without a shadow of a doubt these shoes make you work harder when you walk.The other day I was on a walk in my Shape-ups and my foot started to slide sideways. I looked down and noticed that the bottom was starting to separate. The rubber in the sole had dried out after all these years of using them. I was extremely disappointed because I knew Sketchers discontinued the shoe.I ordered these the other day and made maiden voyage, a 3-mile walk, and the shoe feels exactly the same. In fact, this new shoe looks a lot like my old shoe. The fit is perfect. I wear a 12.5 and usually order size 13. I ordered a 13 in this shoe and it fit exactly as expected.One noticeable difference is the step is a little more stable in these new shoes than the last one. I would describe it as firm. It may be that my old pair were just slightly worn down (it is worth noting that my shape-ups have held together for over 10 years). Overall, I think these are a little better than the Shape-ups.If you haven't tried this I highly recommend them for making your walk more of a work-out.

Ever since they took Shape-ups off the market my husband and I have been searching for alternative shoes to help with his chronic arch and foot pain. Unfortunately these are not it. They look very similar, but are much stiffer and rigid, not offering the cushioning needed. The materials are obviously inexpensive (no surprise considering the low price). We really wanted them to work, but it soon became obvious they were more of a torture than a solution to his problem. MBT shoes are much more expensive and have a different feeling, but so far have been the best alternative to Shape-ups we could find. Unfortunately they are getting hard to find too and I heard they were also discontinued. Is anybody out there collecting signatures requesting Shape-ups to come back? Please! I will sign!