Comfort Engineering by New Balance
I have a non-negotiable rule: the only time you will ever find me wearing uncomfortable shoes is when I am a bridesmaid. That leaves roughly 365 days in most years that I need to find comfortable shoes to wear. When I am traveling or when the weather’s good and we walk most everywhere, finding comfortable shoes for long distance is especially difficult. Hubby jokes that I am constantly on the hunt for shoes, and I would argue that is because finding the perfect shoe is next to impossible.
Possibly this is because I am extremely picky about what makes the cut, and possibly because my very pampered feet are used to luxury, but whatever the reason, I find it extremely hard to find comfortable shoes and harder still to find good looking shoes that fit my requirements. When I heard that New Balance had a new collection for women that was hailed to be both comfortable and stylish, I had to see it for myself.
One look at the Aravon site and I was on a mission to find these shoes. For one, the whole line is practical. We’re talking sandals, mary janes, slip-ons, oxfords, dress shoes and office footwear in four different comfort formulas that all equal all-day wearability. There is the Stridarc line with their patented heeled rocker sole, Traversa collection of flats and slip-ons, the Power Comfort line with full ground contact soles for performance, and the Office collection which has various heel heights and can pull off office casual as well as dressy.
So, which style did I choose? It was a tough choice, but in the end I chose the Aravon Piper and couldn’t be happier. Since most of our traveling happens when the weather’s warm, finding shoes that can go with both skirts and jeans is always tough. The Aravon Piper is perfect for all my Summer apparel and even goes well into Fall since its sophisticated look works with slacks, khakis and jeans just as well. Having even a small heel was a definite change for me since most comfort shoes are flats, so I was extra excited to wear a heel for the first time since my sister’s wedding in 2008. Even with the 2+ inch heel, the Stridarc Piper shoes are some of the most comfortable I have ever worn and are now my go-to shoe for walking and for travel.
The Aravon Piper product specs are longer than most household appliances, which you will completely understand once you take a few steps in a pair. The result of all this engineering is a supremely comfortable sole that contours to your feet and provides support and cushioning for all day wear and an adjustable leather upper that feels silky smooth and soft with no “breaking in” required. A feature I absolutely love is the hook and loop closure that allows you to tighten or loosen the upper as needed for a custom fit. As someone with abnormally thin feet (which probably accounts for a portion of my shoe issues), I always appreciate when shoes are adjustable, especially when I can still slip them on in a hurry.
And now for the full Aravon Piper Product Details
• Primalux™ Comfort Cushion is a high density, open-cell foam that gently conforms to the foot and disperses pressure.
• Soft-seam linings have been pounded smooth and insightfully placed to avoid irritating your foot
• Ionact™ Antibacterial Protection helps keep shoe free from odor-causing bacteria
• Hook and Loop closure provides a custom fit without laces
• Leather upper for natural comfort, durability, and breathability
• Abzorb® cushioning in the forefoot for exceptional shock absorption
• Stability Cradle embedded in Velocor™ footbed supports the arch, cups the heel, and helps provide motion control
• Slip-On construction for easy on/off wear
• 12/8 inch heel
• Stridarc heeled rocker sole
• Velocor Footbed made of soft, lightweight EVA foam features an understated metatarsal bump for support
• Colors: Bronze Metallic and Black
As you can see, there’s a lot more than good looks going on in the Aravon Collection, which means I’m finally able to stop searching for the perfect shoe and instead start saving my pennies for the other styles in the Aravon line I would love to own.
Take the Aravon Healthy Feet Quiz
Price: I have found Aravon shoes from $70 and up on sale and under $150 full price. There are sales happening web wide on their sandals and Summer-y shoes and you should act fast if you want to snatch these up at the low rates. Search for Aravon shoes locally here
Looks: Stylish and sophisticated, these are not your grandma’s comfort shoes.
Overall: For when sneakers are not appropriate but comfort definitely is.
Hubby and I both want to extend a big thank you to Aravon for this review and for ending my quest for comfort shoes.
