Reebok Will Pay $25 Million Over False 'Toning Shoes' Claims

Reebok International Ltd has agreed to pay $25 million to settle charges that it made unsupported claims that its "toning shoes" provide extra muscle strength, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday.

The penalty will go toward consumer refunds.

The FTC said in its complaint that Reebok, a unit of Adidas AG, falsely claimed in advertising that its EasyTone and RunTone shoes "strengthen and tone key leg and buttock (gluteus maximus) muscles more than regular shoes."

"The FTC wants national advertisers to understand that they must exercise some responsibility and ensure that their claims for fitness gear are supported by sound science," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection.

The agency said Reebok began making the claims in early 2009, and provided statistics about the purported benefits of the toning shoes.

The FTC said that in one commercial, Reebok advertised that its EasyTone shoes are proven to strengthen hamstrings and calves by up to 11 percent, and to tone the buttocks up to 28 percent more than regular sneakers, just by walking.

The refunds will be made available either directly from the FTC or through a court-approved class action lawsuit, the FTC said.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; editing by John Wallace and Gerald E. McCormick)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[outgrowingfear1]

08:00 AM on 09/30/2011

So what am I going to do with the ones that Reebok says will make me walk on WATER???

[pablitop]

10:55 PM on 09/29/2011

The company should have been fined for making ugly shoes.

[BigJoeD]

02:14 PM on 09/29/2011

If it fools people into more fitness activities then good for them. We are a nation of fat people.

[CPAwADD]

10:08 AM on 09/29/2011

If you really want to tone your calves go bare foot.

[RaceCondition]

01:46 PM on 09/29/2011

Or be short. I'm 4'11", and I have spent most of my life on my toes, reaching for things out of reach. I have monstrously strong calves as a result.

[pablitop]

10:54 PM on 09/29/2011

LOL.

[Mrsbean54]

08:33 AM on 09/29/2011

'bout time they admitted those shoes are a bunch of bs!

It probably rubs salt in the 'bad purchase wounds' that the shoes are ugly as sin too....

[celestialmotion]

06:50 AM on 09/29/2011

Life is too short to wear ugly shoes.

[Jack Daniels Esq]

03:31 AM on 09/29/2011

Cheap advertising at the price - they spend that in one week

[lilliefaerie]

03:07 AM on 09/29/2011

The end result is this. The cost of the suit will be passed on to the consumer. Nobody wins except the lawyers.

[gailwrits]

03:05 AM on 09/29/2011

For walking shoes Reebok is the best. I would have loved to test the toners but I wear my sneakers out every six or so weeks and felt they were a bit much in price too use for a little time. As for New Balance they wear out awful fast I'm not kidding I had a new pair wore out in two weeks, their not worth the money. Nike makes a good shoe. But Reebok is number one.

[PhloxJeana]

01:01 AM on 09/29/2011

Wow, of all the crap that's advertised and all the claims that are made, this is what they go after? Why don't they go after the politicians?

[lilliefaerie]

02:59 AM on 09/29/2011

Funny, I read the headlines and thought my daughter's friend a massage therapist, loved her pair and my second thought was, look at all of Obama's claims...Then I read yours, and true, politicians can't often stand by their claims.

[marlaannchristenson]

12:28 AM on 09/29/2011

Anyone who actually thought walking in these shoes would tone their muscles was a idiot. I saw them, and thought "There is no way those are going to tone anything since I am not working out and am eating a Burger King whopper." Common sense. America - use some common sense.

[ascension]

12:17 AM on 09/29/2011

Wow. So people were walking around, doing their errands, in those ugly shoes for NO REASON.

[BUTCHER99]

12:14 AM on 09/29/2011

According to Ron Paul this would never happen because citizens would sue to make sure it did not. And then the supreme court would make everyone sue on their own. No class action

[YakittyGirl]

12:03 AM on 09/29/2011

Reminder about toning shoes---and other stuff: If it sounds too good to be true, it is!

[dmm1047]

11:50 PM on 09/28/2011

This settlement wouldn't have happened if the Republicans had there way. Customers would have been taken by false claims.

[wilsonbarbell]

11:54 PM on 09/28/2011

HaHa. You must hover over your computer waiting for any possible chance (no matter how pathetic) to bash Republicans.

(Their way not there way.)

[lilliefaerie]

03:03 AM on 09/29/2011

I think this is a frivolous suit. The person I know absolutely loved her shoes and wore them to work as a therapist, so she's on her feet a ton and she did lose weight and tone up. So, I wonder how many Dorito stuffing people decided they didn't tone up watching television and jumped in for profit. Sue when you really have a beef. Get the company to give you an refund if you aren't satisfied.