I’m a huge fan of toning shoes and own a positively indecent number of pairs of Fitflops, so I was extremely interested in the toning shoes from M&S, namely, Step-Tones. With a very similar USP to FitFlop, they were born of research from a leading sports science university, and aim to tone and hone your calves, reduce foot pressure and protect your feet, using a uniquely shaped sole that makes muscles work harder. Unlike FitFlop, they don’t claim to make any inroads to your thighs and bum. So long as we know. Step-Tones have a segmented sole which apparently allow your feet to move as nature intended them to. There is also the big, yawning price gap. FitFlops start at £36 for the most basic of pairs, while Step-Tone start at £25.
Of late, I think FitFlop have gone slightly awry with sizing – if you have very narrow feet, I think you would struggle to find a pair to stay on – my beautiful purple Frous (£75) are far too wide, and yet my navy Lollas (£65) are perfect. I might add that my FitFlop Fiorellas (£75) are my favourite shoe in the world, ever. Step-Tone, on the other hand, hug the feet nicely and are probably the better option if you have a very narrow foot. When Step-Tones launched a couple of weeks back, a pair were being sold every two minutes, which clearly says that women are in search of the perfect calves and comfortable, stylish flats. And, after the slightly raised sole of FitFlop, Step-Tone feel very flat.
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| Frou |
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Style-wise, Fitflop are the clear winner, although that said, Step-Tone have a beautiful black patent pair with a camelia-type flower on the top (shown in red, £35) that are absolutely gorgeous, and a denim pair that I love for wearing with jeans (£29.50).
| Flower |
| Denim |
To sum up, both are delivering on comfort, although you should do some trying-on to find your own foot perfection, both deliver on style although FitFlop have the edge, and clearly Step-Tone are the winners on price. It’s yet to be seen whether Step-Tone give the toning effect we’re looking for – I know though years of wearing that FitFlop have certainly kept my calves and the backs of my legs in better shape that they would be otherwise, but my bum doesn’t seem to show quite the same benefits! My heart is still with FitFlop purely because of the raised sole that gives my 5ft 3″ height a little lift, but my wallet might well prefer Step-Tones.
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9 comments
I agree with you about the Fitflop sizing..a couple of mine have been running wide.
I’m interested to hear how your M&S ones do longer term!
I love my fit flops but I have my eye on the Next ones with little flowers on x
The thing that stops me wearing Fitflops is that little ridge that goes right under the big toe pad and gives me horrific blisters. Is that missing on the M&S ones? I hope so.
I have wide feet and found the original Fitflops too narrow so I’m pleased to hear that Fitflops are now running a bit wide. I will take another look.
Hi Great She – I have never had an issue with that ridge – it somehow just doesn’t bother my feet at all. I similarly don’t notice any ridge on the Step-Tones but clearly I’m not particularly sensitive to it.
I love my FitFlops…they’re my go to comfort shoe…but I must admit I have NEVER had any toning or muscle as a result. They’re just comfortable! I find all the toning stuff to be a load of rubbish for my body, wish it did something!
xo
Sara
my wife swears by her fitflop boots she says they are so comfortable.
Flitflops are the saviour for people with wide feet and people with foot problems that involve the underneath of the feet. Normal shoes its like barefoot on concrete, flitflops are wonderful. And I can promise you, as a foot sufferer that flitflops and M&S (and the Clarkes version) are not in the same league. Flitflops have a way more comfortable sole – the rest are just fashion immitations.
But many people will need to consider only style and price and in that sense there is nothing wrong with the competition.
To me, Step-Tone were the best thing since sliced bread. I have Arthritis in my feet but can walk a long way in them. Sadly it looks like M&S have stopped manufacturing them. There are certainly none in the stores.