SPIRA Women's Classic Leather Walking Shoe

I was anxious about ordering shoes online since obviously I was unable to try them on for fit/comfort until they arrived. However, I am thrilled that I did take the chance and order them. I ordered a Women's 8 1/2 Wide and they fit perfectly. They arrived in good condition with good packaging, and appear to be fairly well made. Although I have never had this type of shoe before (with the springs in the sole), it did not take any time at all to get use to them or feel comfortable in them. What I like is that I do notice a difference from other good walking shoes I have - they definitely have a more 'cushioning' feel when walking. The ground/floor/pavement is not as hard on the soles of my feet and there is less stress on my legs, hips and back.Everybody is different and has various needs. However, if you are contemplating spending hard-earned money on a good walking shoe and want to have good support and a lighter feel to your step, I recommend these shoes. Since I have only had them for two weeks, I do not know how well they hold up. I can tell you though that if I need to purchase a new pair every year, I believe the money will be worth spending. I have had back surgery and have a rod & pins in my back, in addition to having moderate to severe arthritis in my spine, so having shoes that take pressure off my back and legs is enough to make me cry with joy. I do wish they were made in the U.S.A. - they are not - and hope the good quality of the product continues.

I have severe Plantar fasciitis. I am up on my feet on and off all day on concrete and stairs. I was skeptical on a shoe that was so highly rated on web sites. I've tried just about every kind of shoe insert, sock, balm... the works to keep my foot from hurting so badly I could hardly walk on it. I was in a lot of pain the day the shoes arrived. I was home for lunch during a work day and had a long afternoon on my feet ahead. I put them on and went back to work. I guess I expected miracles... my foot still hurt all afternoon. I contemplated sending them back as another thing that didn't work. Rational thought kicked in and I continued to wear them the rest of the week. I swear, no lie, no kidding... the very next day, I had absolutely NO pain for the first time in months. A twinge, yes... a bit of a throb now and then... yes... but by the end of the week, I could walk around my job like a normal person... no pain. I noticed immediate relief the minute I put them on in the mornings. After getting home after work, and taking them off... yes, the pain would kick back in and I'd have to ice my foot, but that's to be expected with Plantar fasciitis. After two weeks, now, of wearing the shoes every single day, even the night pain has subsided to annoying instead of agony. If I slop around on the weekends barefoot or wear other non-supportive shoes... bam the pain is right back, so I know the shoes are working. To be able to get up from my desk and know I can hustle around to get done what is needed at work without the searing pain is well worth the cost of the shoe.My next goal is to start fitness walking again with the shoes to see if they can hold-up to that and still keep my foot comfortable.If you are trying to decide on a super cushioned or "squishy" type of support shoe or a running shoe if you have foot trouble... I've tried them both and they don't do the trick for me.. you must have the arch support of a solid walking shoe for that. I've learned my lesson.Black and/or white shoes may not be the most stylish, but when your feet hurt... looks are not a top priority at least for me. I find the black goes just about anything and unless you are in super high-profile job that requires heels (women obviously), no one is going to pay all that much attention to what you have on your feet.

I am a 33y.o. female who is currently suffering from a severe unspecified spondyloarthritis (type of inflammatory arthritis) flare-up. My both knees and feet, particularly ankles and heels are inflamed, swolled and very painful. I haven`t been able to exercise, or even do much walking, apart from doing small chores around the house. Despite the pain meds and anti-inflammatory meds a trip to a supermarket is a torture.I wish i had found these shoes earlier! I loved them the second i wore them, they are so springy, soft and cushy! I also like the fact that they don`t look huge, and in fact are quite compact for an orthotic shoe. Because of the thick soles and the heel, they also make me look taller, which is great, since i can`t wear sexy heels. These are the ONLY shoes which i can wear at the moment, the only shoes which make my walking/standing less hellish. I would without any doubt purchase one more pair if i ever need to.I bought them after reading the reviews here, particularly from other arthritis sufferers, and i hope that my review will help people too.They have enough room to put in a pair of Dr.Scholl`s orthotic insoles too. But even without it, these shoes are brilliant.They are very thick and warm all around, so they might be a little too warm in the summer.I am going to recommend them to my doctor, so she can pass the word around.Elena

I typically wear a 6 wide, but followed advice to order up a half size and got the 6.5 c/d width. The length was good but width was still snug around the widest part of my foot. I wore them around the house for a few minutes but found that they also caused the bottom of my heels to hurt. They are also very heavy/clunky shoes, but I could have lived with that if they felt more comfortable. Unfortunately, they're going back.