Customer Reviews Ryka Influence

I was looking for a shoe for Jazzercise. Having read the reviews by other Jazzercisers, I decided to give this shoe a try. Initially, it was comfortable and I had good movement in it. After 6 weeks of wearing them and having developed a large knot on the bottom of my foot and a very sore ankle, I decided I should probably stop exercising in this shoe. I don't know if it is the lack of arch support or ankle support, but this shoe really did a number on my foot. I have never had that happen. I switched to an Avia shoe and my foot is slowly healing. I emailed Ryka and they could not offer any advice or compensation so a big loss of money for me. Beware of this shoe.

I'm on my third pair of these shoes over about 6 years. The first pair I bought to wear inside at my Dojang for kick boxing and martial arts. I was going barefoot until I got planter fasciitis. These shoes were perfect for kick boxing because of the pivot point. I don't stick to the padded floor.... therefore, no knee injuries. Boxing involves a lot of pivoting. Plus, great arch support for my high arched feet--- no more planter fasciitis. I started playing pickle ball (outdoor) in January and I think they're great for that too. Pair number one (the black ones) are now my dirty jobs shoes.

Running shoes just don't cut it in cardio dance classes. I began having problems with my knee because the shoe sole / tread did not allow you to twist / move as needed. These shoes have more padding in the front of the shoe and the bottom of the shoe allows you to swivel easily. No tork on your knees. I liked that I was able to remove the generic Ryka insole and insert my specialized insole. My only complaint is that the front of the shoe is a little narrow.

I love these shoes! I jazzercise almost every day, multiple classes, and these shoes provide an amazing level of cushioning as well as flexibility for high-impact moves as well as turns and dance combos. In my old tennis shoes (Nike Frees) I always had pain in my arches and shin splints. Now all my joints are cushioned and protected and this shoe has made for a better workout. :) These shoes do run smaller than other Rykas I've tried, I normally wear 7.5 and I got an 8. This gives my feet a little extra room, too.

I ordered these because I'd read they were great for Zumba, & I couldn't find my size in stores. They are lightweight & have a roomy toebox for my wide feet. However, where the shoes bend across the toes, they are stiff & not very comfortable. I hoped it was a matter of breaking them in so I wore for class despite my reservations. I should have sent them back, as my much less expensive Filas are more supportive and far more comfortable for Zumba. I'd skip these unless you have a chance to try on first.

Where have these shoes been all of my life? Best ever for cross training, I just love these! They are NOT running shoes but great for walking and going to my cross training classes.

I'm so glad Ryka is still making this shoe. I think it is the 4th pair I've owned over the last 8-10 years. They are long lasting and well constructed with almost no break in period. I'm a fitness instructor and some of my classes are high impact with both side/side and fwd/back movement as well as weights. These shoes are low profile and great for all around movement as well as good cushion and arch support. They have a wider toe box which works well for my foot. Also, Zappos website and shipping is smooth and efficient.

Love these shoes! Great arch support, good cushioning in the heel and the ball of the foot. Good lateral support too. I use them for intense floor and step cardio, as well as for weight training and the occasional Zumba. Bought them after I realized the new Asics I had purchased (regrettably, not from Zappo!) just were not giving me the cushioning I needed for my Cardio-Cross Training classes. These Ryka are incredible - I love them. As usual, I bought a 1/2 size up from my normal street shoe size, since I would be wearing them for work-outs.

I was looking for a shoe for zumba. I have Capezio Rockit dance shoes for ballroom/latin dancing which I love for turns but they just don't have enough traction for wide stances on hardwood floor (they are great for carpets though). It was between these and Brooks PureConnect 3 which is a minimalist running shoe. I really wanted to like these because I found reviews stating these were great for zumba and had the support for wide stances more than any other Ryka zumba shoe. Unfortunately these are not designed for comfort. The top of the toe box when you bend your feet folds over the tops of your toes and rubs and it's really uncomfortable. Maybe if I had ordered a 1/2 size smaller than my normal shoe it would be less noticeable but the design is still flawed. They also didn't have a whole lot of support so I was worried they would hurt my feet over time. I ended up returning these and going with the Brooks because they had such amazing support and I did not notice and difference in the amount of traction on the soles.

What a disappointment. I bought these shoes for a cardio dance class that I teach. I've worn Ryka Studio Flex Low shoes for years but Ryka stopped making them. I hoped these would be a good replacement but the bottoms of them are very, very sticky--including the pivot circle, which should be smooth. It is impossible to do dance moves safely in these shoes. Ryka used to really understand what people needed in dance exercise shoes. Now they focus more on fashion than on function. Too bad.

If you have wider feet and high arches…these are the shoes for you!!! They feel great; they look great! I am wearing them for group fitness classes and am thrilled with them. Considering buying them in another color!!

These run big. I got the 7.5W because I remember this brand running small before. They are alright but a little big and baggy wrinkled fabric in the toe box. I normally wear an 8M in all athletic shoes. I use these for pretty high impact dance fitness at a park and studio. They do start to hurt after 45 minutes (like just don’t feel supportive at all and there’s a time expiration on the support) but they are pretty comfortable. I added insoles but they still don’t last a whole class time without hurting. Not my fave. I do like the pivot point and they are cute style/color wise but other than that- nah. There is no way I would ever do high impact hiit in these. That would be a bad decision. I probably won’t buy again. Bummer. Not that many good dance shoes tennis out there.

I LOVE these shoes. I have 4 pairs now because I'm afraid they'll stop making them. I have a neuroma and these are the best athletic shoes I have found that are comfortable for walking and I can wear them for pickleball. Plus, they look great. Sooo happy.

These are comfy shoes with decent arch support that are perfect for dance cardio and strength training and walking. Not as much cushion for jumping or HIIT. I like that they are supportive and lightweight and allow me to dance!

I was pleasantly surprised how great these felt! I ordered a 9 Wide, which is the same size I order in Brooks Ghost shoes. They fit so light and comfortable right out of the box. I actually then just wore them to do my hiit workout and my feet feel great. They don’t feel as cushy as my running shoes, but my feet, particularly my toes and ball of my feet, do not ache or go numb, as is the problem I have with other lines. I am going to try these for pickleball since I’ve tried many shoes made for tennis or pickleball and they all hurt my toes before I even get to try them on the court. I’m going to order another pair of these because I’m having such a hard time finding shoes.