Skechers USA Inc. shoe company opened its doors in 1992, making it one of the young boys in the block.

While the big players in the sneaker manufacturing industry have a tradition of 40 to more than 100 years old, Skechers sneakers became in less than 20 years, if not a standard, at least a very popular piece of sporting equipment.

Skechers Sneakers

Skechers sneakers are very popular with those of ages between 10 and 30 years and more. They have a unique design that creates an instant catch. They are a favorite of teenagers and those who practice jogging and other sports.

The first thing you notice on a pair of Skechers sneakers is the big “S”, the first letter in the company name, usually in red. While in the beginnings it was a very simple “S”, over time its design evolved and became the official logo of Skechers.

Skechers shoes come in various models for men, women and children. Any passionate can certainly find a pair of Skechers sneakers to fit him.

Their latest release is the new Skechers Shape Ups shoe line which is an attempt to enter one the niche created a few years ago by MBT.

The first impression for me is that the Shape Ups are a 100 percent copy of MBT, but that’s mostly because their sole has the same out-of –the-ordinary shape and it catches your eyes. At a closer look, they have a clear Skechers design, with the well known “S” sign on the sides and the typical Skechers themes.

Skechers Shape Ups

It was to be expected they after the huge success the competition had, it was only a matter of time till a company with tradition in the athletic and lifestyle shoes market would enter this niche.

I don’t know if they’ll manage to take over Swiss Masai just yet though. They do have some interesting designs, but Swiss Masai is already well established and they do push some innovative and useful ideas to their clients, like instructional DVDs that come with the shoes.

Skechers Shape Ups have the advantage of price and the reputation of a powerful athletic company besides them. While a pair of MBTs can be found for 2-300 dollars, you can buy a similar pair of Shape Ups for about $100. Guess what I’d go for?

I tried to get some technical information about these new shoes and found their website. Boy was I disappointed. The copy on the site was a typical sketch for a TV infomercial. I swear that I could already imagine the guy on TV acting funny wile reciting the text I was reading.

But I did manage to get some information about the shoes and well, it’s pretty much what MBT shoes promised to do four years ago. Quoting the official site, “Wearing Skechers Shape Ups regularly will help you to lose weight, tone and strengthen your back, legs, thighs and bum, while reducing cellulite and improving your posture.”

They promise that just wearing the Skechers Shape Ups during your normal daily routine will do you just as good as a normal workout session at the gym. I’ve got to say that I’m a little skeptical about those claims, but on the other hand, they do make sense considering the discomfort they produce and the fact that they force you to improve your posture to walk easier.

All in all, the Skechers Shape Ups are a pretty stylish alternative to the four years old MBT sneakers that we’ve already known. I’m not gonna say that I’m gonna run into the first store to buy myself a pair, but they sure are pretty cool to wear.

However, at a closer look, the Skechers Shape ups are different and the only thing that resembles the MBT sneakers is the thick rounded sole. It really stands out.

Just like the competition, Skechers claims that  these sneakers will help improve your posture, work on your fats and improve your overall health just by doing your day to day activities.

Skechers Shape Ups

The Shape Ups line has both shoes and sandals for the summer. You can wear them at the gym, the supermarket or just about anywhere. At least that’s what they say.

I don’t see myself wearing something like this, but I’m in a pretty good physical shape already.

The cool thing is that they are much cheaper that the one from MBT. While you can get a typical pair of MBT sneakers for about $300, a similar pair of shape Ups goes for about $100. A fantastic bargain if you ask me. Take a look here.

Well, I’ve written a more in-depth post about Skechers Shape Ups and you should check it out.

The store is located in a 1930s Art Deco three story building, a tourist attraction in itself. With a capacity of over 20000 pairs of Skechers sneakers, it really is a huge location, ideal for a premium sneakers brand.

Contrasting with the traditional look of the building, there are numerous modern features, like LCD displays and  a three-dimensional “super block wall” constructed from Styrofoam and plaster.

Entering the store will feel like entering a new world. One floor will be dedicated to men and women sneakers and a second one will be exclusively for children footwear and apparel items.

In total, Skechers owns 215 stores worldwide, each located in high traffic tourist areas, such as Times Square in New York, Los Angeles’ Hollywood & Highland and Universal City Walk.