Sole Technology

The shoe market has recently been glutted with a new wave of "toner" sneakers promising a better body simply by walking. At first blush, these new kicks seem like the most magical footwear since Dorothy's ruby slippers. But consumers are right to ask whether the shoes are based on sound science or marketing gimmickry. With price tags ranging from $100 to $245, are they designed to firm up bottoms or bottom lines?