Customer Reviews Ryka Influence 2.5

a very light shoe, good for dance classes

I dance and do a little running / lifting. I was looking for a shoe that could cross those boundaries. I think I'm asking too much in a shoe. This shoe felt like I could dance / lift (maybe) in it... but not run... the tongue felt like plastic. It felt cheap. The 10.5 fit me. About 5 years ago I was a consistent 10.5 in Nike... but Nike seems to have changed their sizing, and now I'm a consistent 10.

I have been wearing RYKA sneakers for years and they have always been true to size. However, these are made of a different material. There is absolutely no flexibility and toe box is extremely narrow. Thankfully, I was able to return (postage paid by ZAPPOS) for a new pair the next half size. If you’re considering making the purchase of these sneakers, definitely go for the next size.

Wanted to love these, but no. They weren't very cushioned and I need more of that in my workout shoes. Cute shoe so I was sorry to have to return.

I really like the looks of this shoe more than anything else about it. It does have a thin, stiff tongue. I'm hoping it softens or gets more flexible with wear.

Feet went numb after 15 minutes on my feet. Not the to size like most Rykas

These are adorable, but they are very short. I wear a 10w in sandals, 11w in athletic shoes, and the 11w is a full size too short. If they offered them in a 12, I would exchange them. They are great looking and feel great otherwise.

I like the shoe, but although I normally wear a 9 in Ryka, I need to return these and order a 9 1/2. They run smaller than other Rykas.

I usually wear a 9 wide shoe, but these were short. I ordered a 9.5 and they fit perfectly.

Great shoes for class but had to exchange them for half size larger. I would buy it again.

My first Ryka pair after years of Asics. I ordered my regular Asics 9.5 and they fit perfectly in regular width. If concerned with fit, download sizing "footprint" from the Ryka site. Just measure the sizing grid with a measuring tape to be sure your printer is accurate. You stand on it and check the length and width of your foot compared to Ryka sizes. It told me 9.5 regular and they fit great. Just enough room for a half length orthotic to get extra arch support. Wore them for zumba and so much better than wearing running shoes. Should work for training as well. I didn't have any issue with length of laces or the tongue like some reviewers.

Following comments from others, I ordered the wider width and went up a half size. I wore them to my Zumba class right out of the box--they were great! I do have foot issues: bunions and hammer toes, but I found these shoes to be very comfortable.

I bought these shoes for Jazzercise and I love them! They are very light which I love. They are very comfortable and I feel great wearing them. I love that the heels have what feels like shock absorbers. The shoes are coushined well and appear to be very well made.

These shoes are probably the most durable of the dance shoes I tried on, but they have a pointy toe - and my feet are square. While they were wide enough for my wide feet, my toes also point up, and the mesh fabric on the top will likely tear open from my toes rubbing. I was hoping to use these for martial arts, but the pointiness of the toe is a deal breaker for me. I'm going to have to send them back. If I were going to keep them, I'd need to put an arch support in them, there's no arch support to speak of.

Ryka runs super small. My feet measure as a 7.5. I wear an 8 in most shoes & an 8.5 in most sneakers but both the 8.5 W & 8.5 regular (B) were too small. I had to send the shoe back. I ordered a different Ryka & it too was way too small (length-wise).

Nice looking shoe. I had to go a full size larger than what I usually wear.

Looks, cute, feels great. I ordered a 10.5, just on the hunch that I would not want them to be snug because I plan on wearing them with moderately thick wool socks. Perfect. I have other shoes for working out ( New Balance for Jazzercise) and didn't need new ones right now. I needed black shoes to wear for everyday casual in the winter.

Since I haven’t had these shoes very long my comments relate to initial fit and comfort. I have large feet, with a high instep, and I usually order a half size size larger because one foot is wider than the other. With this shoe the length is a little shorter than usual but still seems to work for me, and the D width is fine. That said, I don’t think they would work with thick socks. Arch support is minimal. Another reviewer commented on stiff shiny plastic stitched over the mesh tongue and I agree they’re very uncomfortable and rub against my ankle. I’ll probably trim them or cut a slit so that they can bend. As noted by others the shoe laces are at least 6 inches too short, making it impossible to tie a bow. They’ll need to be replaced with longer ones. With these modifications I expect these shoes will serve their purpose.

The size was good but I ordered the wide and it seem too narrow. The sides were hurting next to my toes I did return them because of it.