Oh Mia, Oh Maya...My Aravons

FlashBack Friday :)

It has been done before...it will likely be tried again...An athletic shoe company ventures into dress shoes with the hopes of marrying comfort technology to dressier footwear.

None have done it as well as the Aravon line made by New Balance. What sets the Aravons apart is the fact that they offer a wide range of widths. I have found that comfort is more than a shock absorbing midsole. If the shoe truly fits well your feet will be happier. In general they have done better with their wide widths than narrow but bless their hearts for at least offering narrower widths for us folks with narrow or low-volume feet.

My first pair of Aravons were a charming pair of mary-janes called the Mia. This style has been replaced by the very similar Maya and both offer fit, function and style. I have always been a fan of mary-jane styles as they are versatile enough to wear with slacks, capris, skirts and dresses. I can work on my feet all day in these shoes and walk all over town that same evening. The Mia and Maya offer a generous toe-box, adjustable ankle straps, smart little heel and removable “memory foam” footbeds. If you happen to require full length custom orthoses you will find that the Aravons will serve you well. Even their sandals offer a fully removable footbed to accommodate your orthoses.

The Maya offers improvements such as velcro at the ankle strap for ease of use and is a little more closed-in for a bit more support and stability.

Thank you Aravon for making a shoe that fits my tricky foot with style.

To make the most of Aravons wide range of available sizes find a local retailer that can help you get the best fit. The following online sites do offer these styles: New Balance.com , Joes News Balance Outlet and Zappos.com

Fitting Notes:

U.S. Sizing. I own the Mia in size 8 2A and the fit is perfect for my foot though I am not a true narrow. If your feet are truly narrow consider trying some of Aravon's sandal styles as they fit narrower and have more adjustment options. The memory foam insole is REALLY comfortable and has been very resilient and offers just enough arch support. Also, this thick, full length footbed is removable making all kinds of room for serious orthoses that usually only allow you to wear athletic shoes. If you have arthritis in your hands opt for the Maya style with velcro so that fastening them will be easy.