A lawsuit filed in Boston's federal court asserts that Reebok made false claims about the fitness benefits of its EasyTone shoes. A Reebok statement defended both the technology and the functionality of the product.
“As a leading fitness and athletic brand, Reebok has a long history of
developing new and innovative technologies,” Reebok spokesman Dan Sarro
said in an email sent to The Patriot Ledger. “We are proud of EasyTone's unique balance
ball-inspired technology, and consumer feedback for the product has been
overwhelmingly positive.”
The lawsuit by Massachusetts consumer Sandra Altieri, according to The Patriot Ledger, claims that because of Reebok's marketing
campaign, Altieri and others paid a premium to buy EasyTone
shoes, which can sell for $100 a pair.
The lawsuit is seeking class action status.
The suit pointed to the study funded by the American
Council on Fitness and conducted by researchers with
the University of Wisconsin that found that found no major difference in the shoes' impact on exercise
intensity or muscle activation between toning shoes and conventional athletic footwear.
The suit does not mention Altieri's personal experience with the shoes.
