Vault: Do butt-shaping shoes work?

Summary

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The Bert Show – Vault: Do Butt-Shaping Shoes Work?

Air Date: July 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This lively episode of The Bert Show puts Skechers Shape-Ups—the much-advertised "butt-shaping" shoes—under the microscope. Host Bert and the cast, with jump-ins from intern Lauren and several enthusiastic callers, debate whether these shoes actually deliver on promises of sculpted legs and bottoms, improved posture, and reduced pain. The crew blends firsthand user experiences, skepticism, and plenty of humor to dissect whether Shape-Ups are fitness hacks or just a passing fad.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Spark: Personal Stories and Skepticism

• (00:16–00:55) Intern Lauren kicks off by clarifying she heard about Shape-Ups not from ads but her own mom, who swears by them after just 30 minutes of wear:

  "She got one about a month ago, and I swear, the first day she put them on, she's like, 'Oh, my God, these are amazing... I can totally feel it in my calves... like, everywhere I go...'" – Lauren (00:38)

• Lauren voices skepticism about instant results:

  "That is such crunk. That looks like rain platforms. I don't understand how." – Lauren (00:53)

• The women on the show express universal curiosity about whether the shoes work as promised, prompting a call for user feedback.

The Product Claims Explained

• (01:23–02:18) The hosts read directly from Skechers' promotional language:

  "Walking in Shape Ups can help burn more calories, tone muscles, and more... get in shape anywhere, everywhere." – Show Host, reading website (02:18)

Debating the Mechanics: Are They Effective—or Just Odd?

• (01:42–02:18) The hosts question if the unique design—rounded heel/platform—offers muscle benefits or just discomfort:

  "If you're walking around on a heel that is shaped differently than what you're normally walking... then... wouldn't you normally be sore? Like, it's going to work different muscles. But is that good for you or bad for you?" – Show Host (01:42)

• (02:51–03:01) Another point: the shoes are loud and weird-looking, drawing practical (if mocking) ire:

  "The only thing that I've noticed is that they're very noisy, like, walking around the house." – Caller (02:51)
  "Don't they look like prosthetic shoes?" – Caller (04:52)

Listener Call-Ins: Testimonials and Contradictions

Supportive Experiences

• Mandy (03:11–03:28):

  "I love my Shape Ups. I wear them every day to work, and I work out in them too...especially in my calves and legs... working on concrete all day relieves the back pain. I don't have back pain anymore." – Mandy (03:11-03:26)

• Beth (05:13–05:25):

  "I've had a pair for about three months and I've had some old back injuries, and I just want to let you know that they work for me. I love them." – Beth (05:13)

• Heather (05:40–05:59):

  "I love my Shape Ups... I have got hip problems and back problems... I have not had shin splints, I haven't had the hip problems, and my butt's looking good." – Heather (05:40)

• Lori (06:07–06:34):

  "The Step Ups really work... I have lost a whole pant size just from walking around on these shoes... They help your back, work your whole body, and they're comfortable." – Lori (06:07)

Counterpoints and Skeptics

• Tatum (03:44–04:10): References Dr. Oz's debunking:

  "Dr. Oz did a whole show on workout items that don't work, and they said that the Shape Ups didn't really work... all it is is, like, affecting your balance, and it may give you a little bit of, like, stimulation in your legs, but it really doesn't do anything." – Tatum (03:48-04:10)

• Lauren’s Mom’s Side Effects:

  "My mom didn't wear them for one day and she was like, 'Oh, my God, my back hurts... I need to wear my Shape Ups.' I'm like, are you kidding me?" – Lauren (04:21)

Memorable Moments & Humor

• Shoe Fashion & Vanity

  "She just wants to be able to wear them everywhere... She was mad because she didn't have her white ones..." – Lauren (04:43)

• Self-Deprecating Banter

  "Will you for a couple weeks, just wear one on one foot and then send us a picture of your ass cheeks?" – (03:28)
  "But nobody's gonna be looking at your ass because you're walking like a fool." – (05:05)

• Product Critique via Sarcasm

  "There's nothing sexier than a Dollar General clerk with a heel spur wearing a Shape Up." – (06:42)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:16–01:23 – Intern Lauren's intro, mom’s experience
• 01:23–02:18 – Product claims and design described
• 02:51–03:01 – Annoying shoe noises and fashion faux pas
• 03:05–03:37 – Mandy's testimonial: pain relief, workout benefits
• 03:44–04:10 – Tatum references Dr. Oz: "Shape Ups don't work"
• 04:21–04:56 – Skepticism and Lauren’s mom’s devotion to Shape-Ups
• 05:13–05:25 – Beth's testimony: back pain relief
• 05:40–05:59 – Heather: hip and shin improvements
• 06:07–06:34 – Lori: lost pant size, comfort, foot pain relief
• Throughout – Panel banter, jokes, and practical concerns

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Tone and Takeaway

The conversation is energetic, teasing, and authentic—typical for The Bert Show. While testimonials from callers generally praise Shape-Ups for comfort, pain relief, and perceived fitness benefits, the hosts keep things balanced with skepticism and humor. The presence of mainstream debunking (Dr. Oz) tempers the hype, but plenty of listeners swear by these shoes.

Bottom Line:
Shape-Ups might offer comfort and help with pain or posture for some users, but the promise of dramatic butt-shaping is, at best, debatable. Most on-air agree, however, that if a product makes you move more—and you feel better—it counts for something, even if the science is thin.

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Transcript

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[Show Host]

Listen, it's the vert show. So intern Lauren has seen an ad, seen a billboard that sort of touched a nerve, I think, with the other women on the vert show. Because we brought this up in our post show meeting, and all the women went, I want to know if that works.

[Lauren]

I didn't see a billboard. My mom actually owns two pairs.

[Caller or Guest]

She does?

[Lauren]

Yeah. She got one about a month ago, and I swear, the first day she put them on, she's like, oh, my God, these are amazing. I can totally feel it in my calves. I can feel it in my legs, like, everywhere I go. I totally can tell that I'm shaping up. And she put them on for, like, 30 minutes. I'm like, that is such crunk. That looks like rain platforms. I don't understand how.

[Caller or Guest]

What are they called again?

[Lauren]

The Sketcher. Shape Ups.

[Show Host]

Okay, so here's what we're looking for, really, is we're looking for user reviews of the Sketcher. What?

[Lauren]

Shape Ups.

[Show Host]

Shape Ups. These are the ones that are, like. They are, like platform shoes, but they got, like, a little circ.

[Lauren]

Right?

[Caller or Guest]

Right.

[Show Host]

Like a circular heel to it.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And they say, like, you lean back and forth, and it tones up your calves and whatnot. And she was like, she bought a pair for my sister, and she's like, oh, my God, they're awesome. But she had them for, like, a day. I'm like, how can you tell if they hurt? Like, I really don't understand. Like, okay, should you be insulted on the shoe?

[Caller or Guest]

Like, are they supposed to. Are they supposed to, like, shape you up within a matter of hours or days or weeks or what do they claim?

[Lauren]

I'm guessing it has to be within a few months. But it says, like, you don't have to go into a gym. You can just walk around, wear these shoes, and you're shaping up just walking in them.

[Caller or Guest]

It's supposed to affect your entire body, your posture and your calves and.

[Show Host]

Yeah, but here's the thing. To me, if you're, like, walking around on a heel that is shaped differently than what you're normally walking around on, then wouldn't you normally be sore? Like, the next day? Like, it's going to work different muscles. But is that good for you or bad for you?

[Caller or Guest]

I don't know. I mean, I remember seeing these, like, in those random. You know how when you order something from a catalog, you end up getting 50,000 catalogs after that. And it used to be in, like, a medicinal catalog. The random thing that I got before. And Skechers is really the first company to take it, you know, mainstream company to take it. But yeah, it claims that it will affect your entire body just by walking around.

[Show Host]

This is what it says from the Skechers.com from About Shape Ups, that the shoes are a great way to exercise while you go about your busy day. Walking in Shape Ups can help burn more calories, tone muscles, and more. Shop for Shape Ups by they got them for everybody. Men, women, and get in shape anywhere, everywhere.

[Caller or Guest]

I wonder how I'm wearing. Those would be hilarious.

Yeah.

I wonder how many miles you have to walk, though.

[Show Host]

They give me a couple inches, I'll wear them.

[Caller or Guest]

Definitely do it.

Do 50 miles a day, and then you'll be in shape.

Then you're good.

Jessica has. The only thing that I've noticed is that they're very noisy, like, walking around the house. Yes. Because I think they're just.

Has she has a pair.

[Lauren]

Do they work?

[Caller or Guest]

I mean, like, has she. No, of course.

[Show Host]

Hey, Mandy, Good morning. You're on.

[Caller or Guest]

They're loud and they disturb me.

Good morning.

[Show Host]

Good morning.

[Caller or Guest]

I love my Shape Ups. I wear them every day to work, and I work out in them, too.

[Show Host]

So can you tell a difference?

[Caller or Guest]

Absolutely. Especially in my calves and legs when I do the workout. Now, working on concrete all day relieves the back pain.

Really?

I don't have back pain anymore. Yeah.

Will you for a couple weeks, just wear one on one foot and then send us a picture of your ass cheeks?

Well, sure. Already got that. I can send it to you.

[Lauren]

Okay, thank you.

[Caller or Guest]

Jeff100atlanta.com Here is Tatum.

[Show Host]

Good morning, Tatum. You're on Q100.

[Caller or Guest]

Good morning.

[Show Host]

Good morning.

[Caller or Guest]

No, I saw these on Dr. Oz, and Dr. Oz did a whole show on workout items that don't work, and they said that the Shape Ups didn't really work.

Why did they explain.

He just said that it really all it is is, like, affecting your balance, and it may give you a little bit of, like, stimulation in your legs, but it really doesn't do anything.

[Show Host]

That's coming from Dr. Oz, and he's very, very smart.

[Caller or Guest]

Anything he says is gold smart.

[Show Host]

Um, but most calling in are saying that they. They feel a difference I mean, I

[Lauren]

know my mom didn't wear them for one day and she was like, oh, my God, my back hurts. Like, I. It's just. It's just not the same. I need to wear my Shape Ups. I'm like, are you kidding me?

[Caller or Guest]

Really?

[Lauren]

It's just so odd. I'm like, you look a little taller. But that's about it. She, like, she wanted. Okay, she has two pairs actually, and she wanted to go to the store and get another pair. I'm like, you don't need three pairs of a shoe that doesn't work. And she wanted to get the sandals. I'm like, oh, my gosh.

[Caller or Guest]

So she just wants to be able to wear them everywhere?

[Lauren]

No, she does. And, like, she was mad because she didn't have her white ones and she was wearing, like, an outfit that she needed, white tennis shoes. And she was like, oh, my God. I guess I'll.

[Caller or Guest]

But can't you tell? Don't they look like prosthetic shoes?

[Lauren]

Yeah. Like, everybody makes fun of her. She's like, I really don't care because it's helping me shape up. I'm like, cool.

[Show Host]

Hey, Beth. Good morning.

[Caller or Guest]

Yeah, but nobody's gonna be looking at your ass because you're walking like a fool.

[Show Host]

What's up, Beth?

[Caller or Guest]

Hey, good morning.

[Show Host]

Good morning.

[Caller or Guest]

Just wanted to let you know I've got a pair. I've had a pair for about three months and I've had some old back injuries, and I just want to let you know that they work for me. I love them.

Really?

Oh, yes. I can wear them to work. Our work is casual and I wore them a lot and they are great for my posture and my back. I love them. I'm a big fan.

[Show Host]

She sounds like she stepped right out of the commercial. Hey, Heather, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller or Guest]

Hi, good morning. I love my Shape Ups. I just bought them about a week and a half ago, and I have got hip problems and back problems and I actually run in them. And I have not had chin splints. I haven't had the hip problems, and my butt's looking good.

Nice.

Yeah, I'm really liking them a lot. I'm digging them. I'm definitely going to get another pair.

[Show Host]

I hear Lori also. Yeah. Hey, Lori, good Morning. You're on T100.

[Caller or Guest]

Morning.

[Show Host]

Hey.

[Caller or Guest]

The Steps up, the Step Ups really work. Where I manage a Dollar General in Hampton and I have lost a whole

pant size pants size just from walking

[Show Host]

around on these shoes.

[Caller or Guest]

Yeah.

Now are you walking more because you bought them.

Oh, no. We do a lot of walking in the store anyway. And I mean, they really work. They help your back. They help. I mean, they work your whole body.

[Show Host]

Yeah, most of them are.

[Caller or Guest]

And they're comfortable on your feet, too.

Yeah. See, I was gonna have to have surgery for a heel spur that I had. I don't have any heel problems anymore. It works.

There's nothing sexier than a Dollar General clerk with a heel spur wearing a Shape Up.

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