Ryka Women's, Influence Training Shoe

The Ryka Influence shoe fits like it was made for me personally! Amazing shoes! I have a medium width foot, wider at across at the little toe joint and narrow at heal. I also have high arch. I have these shoes in every color I can get my hands on in case Ryka phases out the style since the thick sole look is currently trending. The best thing about RYKA’s are in the details. The tell you the heal to toe rise. They have sole types based on your activity. They are made specifically for women. The Influence model has a low heel rise of 8 mm so my foot is not thrown forward. It has a circular area or pivot point on the sole under the big toe. Didn’t realize how useful that was until I had to do 3 months of PT. This model is marketing for use with activities like aerobics and Zumba but I wear my RYKA’s all the time. I first saw them when taking my husband for medical treatments at the hospital and a lot of nurses were wearing them several years ago. The first two pair I ordered, I ordered in my usual size 8. The fit was exactly spot on and allowed for thin footies or socks. I only wore them to the gym at that time. Three years later, I found I needed to go up to a thicker cushioned sock and the shoes felt a little tight at the toe so I purchased 8.5 size. Perfect!!! I now live in these shoes. I damaged both knees in a recent fall and these shoes help keep me aligned so I can wear them all day without pain or discomfort. I wear them to the gym and PT with no problem and they’ve held up very well. Admittedly, I don’t do hardcore activities in them but I am hard on shoes. I wish I’d had sense enough to wear them while I was still teaching! Ryka has a wide variety of styles, both lace up and slip on. I highly recommend the brand and so glad they have a store on Amazon now!!

Great shoe for Zumba. Has great medial lateral stability features, toe flexion and heel stability. There is a circular area under the great toe that makes quick turns easy to prevent knee injury. On top of that it is a really great looking shoe and that is very fun with its almost iridescent stripes that show up but don't blind like florescent colors do. I wear a 9.5 B or medium width and found it to be exactly that. I have not used this shoe for anything else because I want to keep it clean for the dance floor. Almost forgot, my single leg balance for quad stretching and hip stretching is greatly improved with this shoe.

Not all rykas are the same. This shoe doesn't have the cushion in the sole like the high tops so its not as comfortable. But its a nice shoe. It has good support and toe room. It's a sturdy shoe.

I am 5' 6" tall and 135 lbs and fit. I exercise for about an hour every day doing cross training and cardio. I have purchased only Asics over the past five or six years but have found less and less to like about them. A lack of stable options, wearing out too fast, and less quality in the sole. I go through a pair of sneakers every three months so I want something that will hold up. Also my foot rolls outward so stability is very important. So is a decently wide toe box. I wear an 8.5 women's in medium but my foot is on the wider side. I have used these for about a week now and there is a lot to like. They are lightweight and roomy on my foot. They are very stable. I don't feel any outward roll, but I also don't feel restricted. While they don't feel squishy they are clearly well cushioned because i literally felt like i had a spring in my step - more energy - just walking around. The first time i used them I did a 45 min walk/run on the treadmill and had no discomfort, pinching or cramping. My foot that rolls out the most felt stable and comfortable. The only thing i wish these sneakers had is an extra lace hole further down the top towards the ankle bone. But some of that is because my other ones needed it since they were not as stable. I don't feel the shoes are slipping i guess i am just so used to having to tighten them up to get them snug i keep looking for that set of holes. It's not enough to make me want to return them. I can definitely see me purchasing these again and exploring other shoes from this brand. As a recommendation to others who mix running and walking with other types of cross training i suggest owning at least two pairs of every day exercise shoes and a third if you wear sneakers for around town. I have a pair of Puma cross trainers that I use in the gym for classes and boxing. These i use only for cardio work outs. It makes a big difference to your feet to switch on and off and it greatly extends the life of the sneakers. It's just like having different outfits for different events.

I will admit to being a total fitness novice - due to a back injury, I've been very sedentary for almost 20 years. I decided I've got to start doing something, so I've started walking and exercising to some videos (PiYo and zumba). After a lot of searching, these are the shoes I chose. I'm impressed with how comfortable they are - I really like them. That said, they run short. I am pretty consistent size-wise, even across different brands. The toe box in these is short and uncomfortable. I had originally gotten them just to work out in the house, but when I needed shoes to go for a walk, I grabbed these. MISTAKE! After only a few yards I figured out that these were short. They feel great everywhere else, but when shoes are pinching your toes, little else matters. I should mention I struggle with ingrown toe nails on both big toes - getting pedicures and making sure there is plenty of room in the toe area of my shoes has kept those painful ingrown nails at bay. I also battle neuropathy - which is not aggravated by these shoes (except that toe area). Now the ingrown nails are back, loudly professing their presence. I can't wear any of my shoes without pushing on those obnoxious ingrown areas, so I just dread wearing all shoes right now. Bottom Line: I like the shoes. I like the style and the colors. I appreciate how they feel nice and cool, like your feet are getting good ventilation. I also like that the weave is tight enough to keep my feet pretty dry when I (unexpectedly) walk through snow piles. Decent arch support. The only problem I have with these shoes is that they are short. Which is a big problem. I purchased size 11 and they fit more like a 10. I wish I would have gotten a 12, I feel the extra size would have been just enough to vastly improve the comfort level. Their comfort is about a 9/10, but that short length brings my rating to a 4/10. Ordering a size up will most likely result in purchasing one of the most comfortable pair of workout shoes you've gotten in a long time. Make the mistake of ordering your usual size and you'll undoubtedly have issues with length - especially if that's an issue you struggle with already. These are so nice looking and comfortable in the rest of the shoe that I'm bummed I can't wear them. Plenty of wiggle room width-wise in the toes...just way too short.

Super cute and comfortable.

I waited to review these until I had worn them for awhile. Perfection! I wear them indoors primarily for weight training and cardio. Good arch support and good lateral support. I do not wear them for anything high impact and, besides, they’re not designed for that. I found them a little stiff at first but after a few wears they are great. I feel safe and snug in a good way. I sprained my knee this past summer and badly pulled that same leg’s hamstring. These shoes have been wonderful as I went through PT and continue to get back at it in the gym. Highly recommend

The most painful workout shoe I've ever worn! I'm a Zumba instructor and needed a new shoe. My go-to was out of stock so I tried this pair as it was on sale and had decent reviews. I am miserable! After wearing these to teach one class my feet, ankles, and calves are all screaming in pain like I've been trying to walk through mud for hours. There is no cushion, the sole feels as padded as a paper bag. Zero support, completely flat interior. The toe box is oddly wide and would not tighten sufficiently despite my every expert attempt. Returning these while I still can