Finding the right pair of comfortable shoes can be time taking, whether you’re shopping in a store or looking online. As not all shoe companies offer comfortable footwear, narrowing your search to the finest shoe brands might be a little tricky.
If you need help selecting a brand of such shoes that is also better for your foot issues, then you should check out Ryka and Vionic. Certainly, both of these footwear brands make some great styles and their shoes are incredibly good for health. So, let’s see in what ways one is better than the other.
Comparison Table Between Vionic And Ryka:
| Vionic | Ryka |
|---|---|
| Founded in 1979 | Founded in 1987 |
| Not specifically made for running | Running shoe options |
| Long Break in period | Shorter break-in time |
| Snug fit | Medium to the Wider fit |
| For, Men, women and Kids | For Women Only |
| More orthotic shoe options | More performance-based options |
| High Arch support | Moderate Arch support |
| More affordable | Slightly Pricey |
| Dress shoe styles | No dress shoe options |
| Water resistant options | Water sports shoe range |
Overview of Vionic:
Vionic is a collaboration of shoe-obsessed professionals who operate their headquarters in San Rafael, California. They design and sell shoes that use the latest support technology, which helps them grow all over the world.
Phillip Vasyli, an experienced Australian podiatrist, founded Vionic in 1979 to provide a low-cost way to treat common orthotic disorders that many people suffer.
His development of heat-moldable insoles influenced the brand’s whole product line, which combines comfort, stability, and cushioning, with a stylish aesthetic.
Additionally, the company employs a scientific consulting group comprised of chiropodists, sports medicine professionals, and others to direct its research and development efforts.
Moreover, Vionic has a lot of popular styles and their signature contoured design provides optimal comfort and relief for common foot issues like plantar fasciitis by spreading pressure evenly throughout the foot.
One of their bestselling Tide II Toe Post Sandals has more than 1800 customer reviews to date with an impressive 4.5/5 stars.
The brand was purchased by footwear multinational Caleres Inc. in 2018, with the existing executive team remaining the same.
Overview of Ryka:
Since its beginning, the mission of the brand Ryka has been to constantly believe in and celebrate each day as every woman deserves strength and happiness in the world.
Sheri Poe founded Ryka in the United States in 1987 intending to develop a better-fitting sporting shoe for women. It was the first company to design sports shoes specifically for the “foot shape, muscle movements, and build” of women. Moreover, the company manufactures athletic apparel, bags, activewear, and other accessories.
In addition, Ryka merged with Global Sports in 1997, and later this sports industry sold its branded division to American Sporting Goods Corporation in 1999.
Presently, Brown Shoe owns this brand after buying American Sporting Goods in 2011.
In their huge collection of shoes, Devotion Plus 2 Fitness Walking shoes are the latest version of their iconic style and one of their bestselling models with more than 800 positive customer reviews on the website to date.
It is a classic sneaker silhouette with leather overlays that reinforce the lacing holes, heel, and toe for increased durability.
Furthermore, the Ryka FIT Program and the company’s partnership with fitness organizations like Curves are aimed to develop and boost women’s confidence.
Major Differences between the Brands:
In this segment, I will elaborate on every ins and outs of Vionic and Ryka to ease out your decision-making process.
1) Comfort:
Ryka shoes are constructed with plush cushioning to soften the impact and shock absorption for easier running, reducing the risk of injury to the toes, heels, calves, and back. The tongue of these shoes is also padded, which protects the top of the foot and keeps it from different weather elements.
Moreover, the wide forefoot of Ryka sneakers is notable for maximizing comfort when standing or walking, you may have found that many other sneakers lack this feature, which indicates why Ryka shoes feel comfier than others.
Ultimately, the molded EVA in the anatomical footbed cushions your feet just where they need it most, making these shoes exceptionally comfortable.
On the other hand, Vionic sandals and shoes are made by taking into account different foot conditions and using Orthaheel Technology which maintains the foot’s natural position while still being comfortable and helps relieve pains.
Ordinary shoes might have a little arch support built into the insole, while Vionic Vio-MotionTM footbed technology provides “Three-Zone Comfort with Ultimate Arch Support,” which also takes the heel and ball of the foot into consideration, thereby enhancing the overall comfy feel.
Moreover, by supporting each of the pressure points, Vionic footwear improves alignment in the right spots.
Vionic has a longer break-in time compared to shoes by Ryka so you should keep in mind the initial discomfort. After breaking in your Vionic shoes for the few times you put them on, it will allow your feet to adjust to improved orthopedic stability and give you the level of comfort you need the most.
2) Popularity:
Most of the Vionic footwear has the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association as they have been carefully looked over by certified doctors to make sure they are of good quality, and well made.
Additionally, many well-known media platforms, including “Oprah Daily, Footwear Plus, Refinery29, Prevention, InStyle, People, Today, Men’s Health, The Zoe Report, Reader’s Digest, Marie Claire”, and many others, feature Vionic Shoes.
On the other hand, Ryka footwear is a favorite choice among active women, such as professionals, gym freaks, and travelers. Many news organizations, including “PR Newswire, CNBC, Outside Business Journal, and NBC News”, have highlighted footwear by the brand.
3) Target Market:
Ryka designs and sells the best shoe available to women between the ages of 21 and 35 who want walking and high-performance athletic footwear. The brand got a significant portion of its clientele from the United States and Canada.
Furthermore, Vionic’s orthotic-friendly footwear is designed for anyone, from those who often suffer foot and lower-body pain to those who wish to prevent such complications. The majority of their customers are between the ages of 18 to more than 40.
4) Price:
Ryka Women’s Shoes are a bit on the pricier side, ranging from $49 to $169. On the other hand, Vionic’s footwear price range starts at $40 and goes up to around $149 whereas many options are under $80. Vionic is the obvious choice if you’re looking to save money and want options for both men and women.
5) Design:
Vionic has a huge selection of active and casual, slippers dress shoes, and sandals. Their shoes are clinically proven to provide the wearer with rejuvenated feet due to their supporting technology and high-quality materials.
Vionic has its innovation labs where the new designs and improvements to existing shoes are tested out based on wearer data and common medical complications. However, most of their shoes are better for activities that aren’t too strenuous, so wearing them for lifting weights, racing, working out at the gym, or playing sports is not a good idea.
Moreover, the Vionic active and recovery shoes are better if you’re looking for a pair with added stability, durability, forward motion design, and fluid heel-spring performance.
Conversely, The Ryka shoe collection is designed with a focus on the unique needs of women’s feet and bodies. When women run, the additional weight is frequently shifted to the outside of women’s feet naturally, resulting in ‘instability at foot strike,’ and the risk of injury is increased. So, to produce a shoe that fits the shape of a woman’s foot ideally, the company’s footwear incorporates a spacious forefoot, slimmer heel, stable footbed, and an expanded instep volume.
Also, their neutral running shoes will help you get the most out of your run as they have CradleFitTM technology, which increases foot contact within the shoe as well as encourages natural foot posture, and signature ACTIVfoamTM which is tuned to a woman’s particular body mass and stride. Moreover, while walking, hiking, or doing any other outdoor activity, your feet will feel cooler and more comfortable due to the breathable upper of Ryka shoes.
Conclusion: Which Is Better For You?
Vionic and Ryka each have distinctive features that justify their presence in the market.
If you have any foot issue that causes discomfort when you need to stand for too long, leading to inflammation of the foot’s arch then footwear by Ryka and Vionic can significantly alleviate the symptoms associated with your foot conditions.
Get Vionic if you’re searching for lightweight, versatile sneakers that won’t make your feet feel heavy or unpleasant, but we will not recommend them for speed running or heavy training due to less durability.
Likewise, Ryka shoes will be the best choice for women if they’re seeking a supportive, stable shoe designed for performance and other activities. Now, the choice is all yours!