Skechers Shape Ups Versus MBT Shoes: Which Is Better

I have walked a couple of thousands miles in my original MBT's. Still feel like new. The best value---by far. I have the Shape-ups, too. Got a phenomenal deal at Kohl's for about $30, with my % off coupon. (Very ugly shoe.) Great for simple shoes for the grocery store etc, but for serious walking--MBT all the way.

Hi,I'm an MBT retailer.I've been selling them for 4 years now. The only time I have seen problems with disintegrating sensors is when they have been in a salty atmosphere, (wearing them on the beach) or leaving them when they're wet from salty water. When Mbt's are wet you need to dry them on their sides or upside down, this allows the water to come away from the sole and not settle inside the sensor. Also use a good protector spray, spray the whole shoe including the sensor,this protects the shoe and sole. I have several customers who have shoes over 4 years old and this care routine really works. My first pair is 5 years old and still going strong:) Hope this helps. Ann.

"Sorry Shape-Ups, game over! MBT Shoes will win by a landslide." Bad bias. At least you admit it before the review, but I was looking for something a bit more balanced. Like these damn shoes. LOL.

I've had my MBT's for over 4 years and they are still in great shape! I walk a whole lot and stand on average 10 hours on more a day (I'm both a chef and a massage therapist and never had a sit-down job). When I switch to a regular pair of sneakers or clogs for work, I ALWAYS get achy feet and calves. My MBT's are saving me from changing my livelihood that I love.

if you want know about more about those shoes... try to understand the wave like movements.Human ,animals, reptiles all move using the same principle.We ONDULATE.The chinese knew the kinetics of walking better. There 8 accupucture points in the sole and by activating them in order we rock.this wavelike motion propulse our body forward from heel to toe. The rocking exercise set is an ancient chinese method of alingning the biomechanics. REf : MANTAK CIA,DR YANG JWING MING, YOSEIKAN BUDO`s ondulation method of Master Hiroo Mochizuki

Technically you can, but it is not a natural running motion. See the video above. As far as helping for foot related problems, MBT has more published studies on addressing medical issues than any other shoe. They are a bit more expensive, but an overwhelming number of people swear by them. Our recommended retailer (see link above) is a concept store for MBT. They have the largest selection, and best prices.

MBT Shoes have been around for 15 years...Skechers Shape Ups have been around for 2. MBT puts it's money into building and developing a quality shoe. Skechers puts there money into marketing. Better marketing does not mean they have a better shoe. There is no comparison between the two shoes. MBT is far superior. You won't find MBTs in grocery stores...only high quality specialty footwear stores. What are MBT? Do a little research.

I bought my skechers 2 weeks ago. I've been early morning walking for 11 years now so have gotten through alot of trainers. Unfortunately since I've been using skecher's I've got backache, am I doing something wrong? I really don't want to have to buy another pair of running shoes! Lee Hannaford

I bought a pair of skecher's 3 weeks ago as my other walking shoes had literally fallen apart. I walk 6 kms 3 mornings a week and have been doing so for the past 11 years. Well, the first day with the skechers was ok, I found I was walking faster without any concentrated effort but by the end of the week I had a most uncomfortable mid back ache. I haven't been lifting heavy objects or over exerting myslf, so I assume it's the shoes! Anyone else out there had the same problem? Lee Hannaford Italy

I've had my shape ups trainers for 18 months - worn almost every day and I love them. I can be on my feet all day and not get sore feet. They're not worn out at all, and I've just bought another pair in a different colour so I can wear them twice as much. I've bought loads of skechers summer sandals as well - extremely comfortable and great fit on your feet. Last week a friend showed me her MBT's and said they were the originals... I'd never heard of them. I've since been into half a dozen shoe shops where Shape Ups are sold and they don't have MBT's... Skechers win on marketing grounds!

I have severe flat feet, and almost no shoe works. And the only one that has has been MBT. I have a pair of mens loafers for three years, and a second pair for two years. Hardly any wear on the soles at all, and they still look great and feel great. Lately l have been having trouble with my hip sockets, and wonder if there are any of you with MBT's that have flat feet, and what has been your result? At 64 I still love my MBT's, but with hip and knees starting to hurt I am wondering about long time use for those with confirmed foot problems. Sketchers are made so cheaply and lack the foot support of an MBT, and most friends that I know who have sketchers are unhappy with the quality and last-ablility of the shoe. I tried on sketchers and was unhappy from the moment I put them on. submitted by Rick Rodrigues

You won't find any authentic Shape Ups or MBTs for $30. Even the counterfeiters won't sell them for that price.

Where can you get them for 30 dollars on sale??...

I have 2 pairs, one which I walk every day for 1- 2 hours the sole was quite worn but the rubber foam at the back of the shoes was desintegrating very seriously. I sent them to have it expertise for the rubber foam and resole at the same time .Their reply is whash them by hand and no contact with acid and humid fertiliser, the repair is not recommend as middle sole is broken.I never washed them with a Karcher or acid and never work with fertiliser. My second pair have been resole I hardly used them but the rubber foam is starting to desintegrate. I just write to MBT with photos so I wait for the reply. Has any one had problem with this rubber foam ?

Try these heel seats for the pain in your MBT's, they relieve the pain instantly, then do the plantar stretches. I put them into mine (MBT's) and the pain went away instantly. Thanks for the review! Feel better!

I was 6'2" 270lbs 10+yrs ago when I found ASICS GT/2020's. It was like jogging on a cloud. Jogged/ran 12K's,5K's etc. then ASICS quit making them. I've since jogged/walked 3 6 hour marathons and 3 halfs. I'm now below 250lbs. Then I get the plantar fascheitis(sp). In trying to heal I've discovered AVIAS. Good for the plantar problem bad for car foot pedals or slippery surfaces. Got pair of Skechers SRR's. They do have a little of the ice skate feel so I might use ankle braces with them for runs. Sounds like the MBT's are a cross between AVIA and SRR. When my plantar hurts I wear the AVIA's.

I understand your disappointment.  Few shoes will hold up more than a year or two if you are wearing them regularly (especially if you walk on concrete).  There are writers on our staff that have had their MBTs for 3+ years of regular use before they needed to resole them.  Your experience is unusual, but I certainly understand your disappointment. 

I had a pair of MBT sandals for about a year and the sole started to split. I thought that quite a bummer, given the price I Paid. Well Over $200. I spent additional money to get them resoled at the MBT resole center, and was informed that they could not be repaired. I did nothing more than walk in these things! i did not dump them in acid. I was very, very disappointed, got no resolution from MBT and would never pay for a pair of these again in spite of all the hype. I'd consider Sketchers only because if they fell aprt (like the MBT's) I'd only be out half the $$$.

Although there are many health benefits to MBT Shoes (and a lot of studies to back them up), I would doubt insurance providers would start covering the cost of them. It would be nice, but it is very unlikely.

I just bought a new pair of MBT's, and I was told that next year the FDA was going to approve them for medical use and that insurance will start covering the price of the shoe. They are great shoes.

I'm a bit suspicious of your review ,most of yr personal reviewer are Anonymous,i myself have posted reviews and all twith my first name and location ,no big deal.Also I dispute the claim that shapeups soles wear out in 3 months ,i have worn mine cotinuously for the past 5 months and they still have aabout the same wear left.I came to yout review to get an comparison of the 2 because i want to see if buying MBT is a good beat.

I tried to save money by purchasing Shape ups instead of MBTs. Never again. The soles are shaped the same, but the foot support inside the shoe is very different. Do beware of imitations on cheap web pages.

I bought my husband an early Christmas MBT Shuguli (Gore-tex) business shoes for £160.00 this year. My husband suffers from very painful heels and struggles to walk sometimes. Since he does a lot of walking on his job, he comes home limping and moaning with extreme pain. Ever since he started using the MBT shoes I never saw him limp home and no more complaints of pain heard. Even his employees commented that something about him is different - my husband pointed out that his posture has got better since he used his MBT's . With these observations I am very satisfied that I made the right choice,

I have a pair of Sketchers that I practically live in, and just bought a pair of MBT dress shoes. The MBTs are more "extreme"as far as the walk, but they are very well-made and comfortable for a dress shoe. The sole materials are more rugged, and they can be resoled for $65, as mentioned above. But they are expensive. Sketchers less so, but they still get the job done- they're very comfortable for walking, with little break-in time necessary. I don't know if they can be resoled; if not, it may well make them more expensive in the long run; but they still work great for me. I've tried Mephistos, shoes with springs, etc. and I prefer both of these shoes to anything I've ever worn.

I tried both and compared them. 1 - Skechers were less expensive (100€). I don't know why but in Portugal women sizes stop at 6 aprox.. Nobody has big feet like me??!!and stores don't sell them. So I bought men's shape-ups 884-2314 XT 52005 black/charcoal - size 7, for my walking the dogs in our moderate winter. 2 - I walk 2 hours/day, don't feel tired, they are very confortable and I feel my muscles (legs and back) work. 3- They are softer (the soles bend a little and it is a must for me. I had an artroscopic sinovectomy 8 months ago and it softens the floor a lot. 4 - In both cases I really didn't believe and didn't thought about loosing weight ( I'm 1,70m tall and weight 62 Kgs. - 50 years old) 5 - Skechers Shape-ups make my feet smaller. This is my oppinion. Thank you very much for your reviews Manuela Meneses

I have a pair of MBT's, and I'm very happy. In Shopping in my Local MBT Shoe store, they have actually bought a pair of the other brand, and cut them in half right down the middle, as well as a pair of the MBT's cut the same. You can see the difference.

mbt shoes are designed using a unique and patented curved layered sole. Walking in MBT shoes is often compared to walking on sand, because like that exercise, they help to transmit and relieve the tension.MBT shoes are specially designed to make you use all your muscle groups, to help you burn calories efficiently and minimize this kind of harmful stress. Wherever we go, we walk only on flat and hard surfaces. Buy MBT Shoes sale are specially designed to relax the muscles and to improve posture, They can be used by anyone, and even athletes use them in their practices for speed, flexibility, endurance, power and injury prevention.

im in healthcare and on my feet all day.bought all kinds of shoes and sketcher is the best and most comfortable shoe yet.i bought me two pair and getting me the boots they have..

if mbt's are more comfortable than shape ups i'll be on cloud 9. i intend to purchase my first MBT shoes very soon, but must say; the shape up shoes (i've worn shape ups exclusively for 8 months now-sneakers or closed toe sandals) are uber comfy with great arch support and both pairs remain in great condition-i foresee them lasting a long time. if shape ups still put such a happy spring in my step (i am 57 yrs old) will MBT's make me fly?

When I first got my shape ups I thought I'd found a life-saver for body alignment. Now they just feel like normal shoes. They have just worn down. I have had them less than 4 months. My MBTs are harder and perhaps not quite as comfortable (could be that they are dress shoes as opposed to my sporty shape ups.) I know of sure though that these shoes are going for the long haul.

remember some places you can resole mbt's and that is a great plus.

I went down a pants size in less than one year wearing MBTs. Nothing else different --just the shoes. In the winter I wear the higher sports model for 8 to 12 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week. Wouldn't switch for anything. Sandals ugly, so miss out for a few summer months---until my knee starts bothering me. And back I go. Miracle shoes. truly.

I have had MBT's for over three years now, and wanted another pair for sport rather than my dress ones. When I saw the sketchers in the store for less than half I was interested. However after reading your review I just called Footwear and ordered another pair of MBT's. Thank you for your work. Dean Dolbeck

Since you've been shopping, you know none of these shoes are cheap. Our goal is to help you make the Right Decision. Good luck, and if you get the chance, please let us know how it turned out of you.

Very thorough comparison and sound arguements! It offered true help in my research on which one to buy!

Reading through the artical on MBT vs. Skechers Shape Ups I notice one important fact about the MBTs was missing, for $65 u can actually have MBTs resoled through a company called Resole America. For more info on MBT resoling check out resole.com

I liked that you picked a winner between the two shoes.  Other reviews don't seem to do that, or many people choose Shape Ups (I think mostly because they are cheaper, and they want to feel good about their purchase).  The fact is you can get MBTs for just $30 more, on sale.

I think one thing that is missed when reviewing MBTs is that they are very comfortable shoes.  I can walk in them all day...and some days I do.  I get that most people don't want to spend $130 - $250 on a fitness shoe.  Just remember, you get what you pay for.  That has always been true.