Since Gabe was born, I've been hitting the streets like I've never hit them before. Walking with him (since my post-baby body isn't quite ready for running), either in a sling or in the stroller, has been my sanity saver when I get a little stir crazy from being cooped up in the house. I'm notoriously bad about my shoe choices for our long walks, though, mainly because I'm too lazy to change shoes or go hunt through my closet to find my sneakers. Inevitably, I find myself walking to our town center and back (sometimes 3 miles or more!) in snow boots or flip-flops. Not some of the smartest decisions I've ever made, I have to say.Given this unfortunately bad habit, I was psyched when Parent Bloggers asked me to review some new sneakers. I figured that maybe shiny new sneakers would tempt me into wearing them instead of taking the lazy route of the sandals sitting by the front door. I was right.
I received rykä's MC2 Walk shoes in the mail a few weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they were pretty cute. I'm not very daring when it comes to sneakers because I want them to go with whatever I have on, so that generally limits me to white or light gray sneakers. Sadly, I find myself wondering if I'm in the minority on the white sneaker thing, because most of the cute sneakers come in bright pinks or purples or an assortment of neon colors. The white sneakers available look like my mother might wear them, and if you saw the kinds of sneakers my mother picks out, you'd be assured that this is not a good thing. Thankfully, the MC2 Walk shoes are cute. They are simple, stream-lined, not too wide or flashy, and go with everything.
Next, the shoes had to pass the comfort test. I have super duper high arches, and since getting a hairline fracture in my foot during college, I need lots of support in those super duper high arches or I end up with stabbing pains in my feet. At the same time, however, I can't have shoes that are too tight or I'll also end up with stabbing pains in my feet. I am a very picky shoe wearer- no high heels for me- especially not while toting a 20+ pound baby. I decided to test the MC2 Walk shoes during a serious test- Gabe and my flight from Boston to San Francisco two weeks ago. I knew this was a risky proposition. Our flight had a layover in Atlanta, and with a baby, a heavy carry-on bag and a stroller, I needed to be comfortable, just in case I had to make a mad dash for our next flight. My feet also swell during long flights like these, so I wanted to be able to get my shoes on and off easily.
I'm pleased to report that the shoes were surprisingly comfortable, particularly for my first time wearing them. The sole of the shoe provides fantastic support, and I found myself bouncing along through the terminals while pushing Gabe in his stroller. My feet never felt sore, even at the end of our journey when my feet were definitely swollen and tired. I did some pacing up and down the aisles of the plane with my tiny traveler, and the MC2 Walk shoes were definitely a pleasure to have on. Once we were in California, I wore them on walks with Gabe and was happy to find them to be very comfortable, no matter the terrain. I didn't try to run with them, since rykä makes both running and walking shoes, and I'd specifically requested walking shoes, but I think they would even work on slow jogs.
rykä creates shoes for women, by women, taking into account the specific comfort and design needs of women. After wearing their shoes for a few weeks, I definitely believe it. I wouldn't normally order shoes without trying them on, but these rykäs fit like a charm. I'm even building up the courage to join our neighborhood gym, because these last 5 pounds are apparently not going to melt off all by themselves. I'm going to have to actually break a sweat before I'll fit back into my old clothes. I have a feeling these MC2 Walk sneakers are going to make breaking that sweat a little more comfortable.
You'll be happy to know, though, that if you disagree with me on the white sneaker front,
rykä has lots of colorful options for you to choose from, both on the running and walking front. I highly recommend the MC2 Walk sneakers, though, if you're more of a walker, like me. rykä also has a couple of fantastic tips to help you determine both (a) what kind of shoe you need, and (b) what shape of foot you have.
In the meantime, rykä is giving away 50 pairs of shoes a day until October 25th on their website! Plus, Parent Bloggers is having a blog blast this Friday, September 14th, for the opportunity to win a full work-out outfit, including rykä sneakers! Check it out and make sure to check out rykä the next time you're picking up some new sneakers!
