Both Skechers and Reebok have recently released lines of athletic shoes that supposedly help tone the wearer's legs and glutes faster than regular trainers. The method to their madness is that the creation of instability on the soles of the shoes will make muscles work harder to maintain balance, thereby allowing increased tone in the same amount of workout time. These companies claim that wearers can simply walk their way to sleeker legs. This is a product that will likely appeal to athletes and non-athletes alike. For athletes, the shoes will provide more bang for their workout buck, so to speak, while non-athletes will see the product as an easy-out way of toning without putting in any actual effort. In this way, these products are reflections of the modern value of instant gratification (and possibly laziness as well). They indicate our reliance upon technology to help us as we become less and less likely to put in the work for ourselves.
