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6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Very good cross-training shoeNov 21, 2009
By Beth Cholette
"doctor_beth"
I finally admitted that I needed a new pair of exercise shoes when I began to realize that my feet often felt achy after working out and that my old sneakers had a permanent indent from my big toes. I decided to buy online because of the better selection, but of course, that raised concerns about sizing (more on this below). After doing quite a bit of research, I decided to go with the Ryka brand. Although I had never own Ryka shoes before, the brand seemed like they would be a good match for my feet, as they are specifically designed to fit more snugly around the ankles (something that was often a problem for me with other sneakers) as well as to have extra room in the toe box area, a plus for me since my feet tend to run just a tiny bit on the wide side (although not usually enough to purchase a "wide" width shoe). I researched several different Ryka cross-training styles, but overall, these Intensity XT3s seemed to have the best reviews and to be the best match with my fitness activities--I exercise at home using fitness DVDs, which includes lower-impact cardio such as kickboxing but also some occasional jumping/plyometrics as well as various strength training routines.
So, once I decided to go with the Intensity XT3, I had to decide what size to order. I read MANY different things which suggested that Ryka shoes tend to run small. However, I was extremely wary of ordering a larger size, as I tend to be a VERY consistent size 8 1/2--almost every shoe I have every owned has been this size, including all of my past athletic shoes. Furthermore, the Zappos reviews of this shoe indicated that about 3/4s of the customers thought that this shoe felt true to size, so in the end, I decided to order my usual 8 1/2. This was ABSOLUTELY the right decision for me--these shoes fit me perfectly right out of the box! (By the way, this seller, ShoesontheWeb, sent the shoes already laced, which was kind of nice.) I wear my workout shoes with medium-weight (not heavy) socks, and if anything, even after adjusting the laces, I found that there was still a teensy bit TOO much room in the toe box. Similarly, although these shoes definitely DID fit more snugly around the heel than my former sneakers, they still felt a tiny bit loose in that area to me, so I decided to continue using the special lacing system that I had been using with my old sneakers to make the shoes fit more snugly in the heel.
For further comparison with my older sneakers (which were Avias--I've had several pairs, and I have liked them), I put a new Ryka--in their pretty white/glacier/silver color, looking just as pictured--on one foot and one of my old sneakers on the other. Wow, what a difference! The foot wearing the Ryka felt so much taller due to all of the extra cushioning; the difference in support was monumental. And the difference in fit was clear too: suddenly, the Avia felt like it was practically hanging off my foot, whereas the new Ryka felt like it was comfortably hugging my foot in all the right places. But the final test, of course, was to actually wear the new shoes while exercising. I was very excited to try the Rykas for their inaugural cardio workout, and I'm happy to report that it was a great success! Since then, I have tried my new shoes with various aerobic and strength routines, and they have performed very well--even high impact moves are more enjoyable now that I have my Intensity XT3s to cushion my landings.
The only downside to these shoes is that I do wish the fit had been just a bit better--as mentioned above, they were a little looser in both the heel and the toe box than I would have liked. However, given all the other pluses of this great Ryka brand (especially at the nice price being offered by this seller here on Amazon), I'm not complaining. I would rate these shoes 4.5 stars overall, and I would definitely recommend them.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Ryka cross trainersMar 04, 2009
By Lisa C. Bailey
"southernbreeze"
I have worked out in this shoe every day for more than two weeks. They are everything they are advertised to be. They offer good, cushiony support without being too constraining--great for aerobic and weight training/fusion workouts.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Not Ryka's bestFeb 05, 2010
By Gail McWilliams
I love RYKA shoes, but this one is not quite the shoe I was expecting. It has a "clompy" feel when doing aerobics, doesn't feel as supportive as most Ryka shoes.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
These run true to sizeOct 14, 2009
By Barbara B. Williams
Usally when I buy Ryka I have to buy a half size larger but these seem to run true to size. I've been wearing Ryka on and off for over the pat 12yrs and I'd have to say these have been the most comfortable pair I've gotten. Love the coushion in them and I work out for 2hrs at a time and never do my feet start to hurt in them. I hope to buy this style next time also!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Love the styleOct 13, 2009
By J. Roberts
I was looking for some black cross trainers for dance style aerobics class and ordered these. I love the design, look great with black pants. I ordered a half size up and still occasionally bump against the top of shoe so maybe could have gone even another half size up. I usually order a wide but it wasn't available at time of order. I don't notice a problem with the width so the regular size must run wider than other shoes. The shoes are really comfortable during class but my feet do get fatigued when I wear for a few hours, particularly if I walk a lot. Recommended more for training than walking and general purpose.
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