To be honest, I had never heard of Ryka before I purchased these. I was looking for a lightweight good quality shoe that wasn't too pricey. I saw these for a special price and decided to try them out. They're great. I use them for my every other day 2 mile walk/jog and have run 5km runs in them. They are very light and cushion my feet very well. So two months in, I am happy with them.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I've been using Vibram Five Fingers (those funny-looking shoes with individual pockets for each toe) for the last couple of years. However, I took an almost year-long break from running, and my stabilizing muscles just aren't up to the challenge of running in barefoot shoes right now.
I'm finding these RYKAs to be a fantastic interim shoe. (In fact, I may end up using these long-term instead of my Vibrams.) They have enough cushioning that I'm not killing my ankles, but not enough to make it easy to be lazy about form. The minimal cushioning means I still have to use the muscles in my legs to absorb and control the impact, and that's exactly what I want.
Years ago I had a pair of RYKA crosstrainers that I used for aerobics classes and other stuff at the gym (and occasionally for running) and with both those shoes and these I noticed that the fit is just perfect for my feet. I have fairly wide feet, and many running shoes and sneakers don't fit me well because they narrow too much at the toe. RYKAs, in my admittedly somewhat limited experience, tend to be wider at the toe than most running shoes. If you have feet like mine, I highly recommend giving these (or some other RYKAs, depending on your needs) a try.
There's a negative review highlighting the fact that they have very little cushioning, but I think that reviewer may have been confused about what they were getting. Lightweight running shoes are meant to have little cushioning. This definitely doesn't work for everyone, so this shoe isn't going to work for everyone either. If you need a shoe with a lot of cushioning, this is NOT a good choice. If you've never worn lightweight shoes before, it might not be a bad idea to try some on in the store, or to order these and wear them around inside for a while before committing to them.
Again, I find these to be fantastic, extremely comfortable running shoes. I tend to avoid wearing them when not running so that they'll last longer, but the few times I've worn them when not running I've found them quite comfortable too. It's a nice bonus that they're pretty cute, especially for running shoes.
Best Deals on RYKA Women's Equation Running Shoe
Even as a long-time RYKA fan, and am pleasantly surprised by how much I like these shoes! They are super light, have a nice cushion and good arch support, and feel sturdy enough around the ankle. I can't explain exactly what it is but there's something about the way you step in these (maybe that focus on mid-foot strike that RYKA advertises) makes you want to get moving! Absolutely love them!
Honest reviews on RYKA Women's Equation Running Shoe
The shoes are great! The size was true to size . When the postman delivered them I tried them on and they felt so good I wore them straight to work. I work in a hospital on 2nd shift and was able to wear them 9 hrs. With no problem. I really like these shoes.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for RYKA Women's Equation Running Shoe
A good fit. They have a wide toe box for those with 'problem' feet. I have tendinosis in my right foot and these have a nice mesh in the top front area so nothing is there to irritate the foot. No breaking in was necessary and they are very comfy. While it did not 'cure' my problem it made it easier to get around.
