Has anyone tried the new Ray Rose 3" Straight heels?
- Thread starter ballroomconvert
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Miss Silly
Well-Known Member
Interesting! They do look like Aida's. There is an International Dance shoe model that is also newer (maybe 1-2 years old i think?) and also has a similar Aida-heel. Everyone wants Aida heels perhaps LOL
Actually i do dance in Aida now, and used to dance in the Ray Rose Slim. In my old RR (kalahari), a couple of times i actually broke the heel (but the satin kept it together), right in the middle. Shortly after I switched to Aida. I still don't know if it's just maybe something with my dancing or just a design flaw or a couple of lemon pairs of shoes.
To relate it to your question though - i don't notice a huge difference in balance so much as sturdiness. I know that kind of sounds like the same thing LOL so I hope that makes sense ;-P
Actually i do dance in Aida now, and used to dance in the Ray Rose Slim. In my old RR (kalahari), a couple of times i actually broke the heel (but the satin kept it together), right in the middle. Shortly after I switched to Aida. I still don't know if it's just maybe something with my dancing or just a design flaw or a couple of lemon pairs of shoes.
To relate it to your question though - i don't notice a huge difference in balance so much as sturdiness. I know that kind of sounds like the same thing LOL so I hope that makes sense ;-P
ballroomconvert
New Member
Miss Silly: are Aida's as balanced as RR? I've always wondered but I haven't met anyone personally who wore them cause they're pricy. Are they worth the money? 
I haven't heard a ton of things about Aidas, but the little I have has been pretty positive, but I just wanted to see what more people think.
I haven't heard a ton of things about Aidas, but the little I have has been pretty positive, but I just wanted to see what more people think. ballroomconvert
New Member
Miss Silly: are Aida's as balanced as RR? I've always wondered but I haven't met anyone personally who wore them cause they're pricy. Are they worth the money? I haven't heard a ton of things about Aidas, but the little I have has been pretty positive, but I just wanted to see what more people think.
I haven't heard a ton of things about Aidas, but the little I have has been pretty positive, but I just wanted to see what more people think.
Miss Silly
Well-Known Member
Hmmm. well i haven't worn my RR in a while. But I still have one of my super old pairs so maybe i'll put them on again and compare, and get back to you.
Personally, i prefer the aida's. A lot of it has to do with the heel. When i tried that International pair (that's almost the same version as the Aida's that I currently wear) they had great potential... but I had bought the wrong size so i didn't spend a lot of time test-driving the Internationals. The only thing that i remember specifically is that they were a bit stiffer - which could be good or bad (bad - longer to break in, or good - likely more long-lasting). I just looked on IDS website but i didn't see the model i'm talking about ("Flavia" tan with elite heel which is very similar to Aida's "Karina" model).
I like that Aida's do break in fairly quickly, and i think the sole padding is a little cushier than average. My first pair is still my current regular pair, and they're getting really trashed (which is expected when I've been using them for about 10-12 months). I bought a second pair to use for comps but they haven't been demoted yet so I only have this first pair to go by in terms of seeing how they wear-n-tear. I like that once they're broken in they didn't continue to get more and more loose which has happened in the past with other brands. I do love the heel and the heel placement/balance, but since other companies are starting to produce similar heels, it is possible that these other companies can make a more affordable version, something "close enough" LOL but without the price tag.
What i didn't like about it is that the straps wore out fast and I had to bring them to a shoe repair guy to sew in some reinforcement (they looked like they were shredded where they get buckled). The inside heel satin wore away more quickly than previous brands as well. So i think maybe it's the softness and easy-to-break-in-ness of them also means they could wear out faster. Just a guess by what's happening so far.
Because what I have is working and i'm tired from The Great Shoe Hunt of 2013, i'm sticking with Aida's. LOL
Personally, i prefer the aida's. A lot of it has to do with the heel. When i tried that International pair (that's almost the same version as the Aida's that I currently wear) they had great potential... but I had bought the wrong size so i didn't spend a lot of time test-driving the Internationals. The only thing that i remember specifically is that they were a bit stiffer - which could be good or bad (bad - longer to break in, or good - likely more long-lasting). I just looked on IDS website but i didn't see the model i'm talking about ("Flavia" tan with elite heel which is very similar to Aida's "Karina" model).
I like that Aida's do break in fairly quickly, and i think the sole padding is a little cushier than average. My first pair is still my current regular pair, and they're getting really trashed (which is expected when I've been using them for about 10-12 months). I bought a second pair to use for comps but they haven't been demoted yet so I only have this first pair to go by in terms of seeing how they wear-n-tear. I like that once they're broken in they didn't continue to get more and more loose which has happened in the past with other brands. I do love the heel and the heel placement/balance, but since other companies are starting to produce similar heels, it is possible that these other companies can make a more affordable version, something "close enough" LOL but without the price tag.
What i didn't like about it is that the straps wore out fast and I had to bring them to a shoe repair guy to sew in some reinforcement (they looked like they were shredded where they get buckled). The inside heel satin wore away more quickly than previous brands as well. So i think maybe it's the softness and easy-to-break-in-ness of them also means they could wear out faster. Just a guess by what's happening so far.
Because what I have is working and i'm tired from The Great Shoe Hunt of 2013, i'm sticking with Aida's. LOL
ballroomconvert
New Member
Is the sizing similar to RR? For example, I'm a U.S. size 7, RR/UK size 4.5. Would I still be about that same UK size in Aida's?
Miss Silly
Well-Known Member
No - Aida has some other numbering system. My street shoe US size is about 8.5 and in Ray Rose i'm 5.5 and then Aida 24.5 (wide+square toe). I buy them from Ilia at aidadance.us and he was very helpful when i was trying to figure out my size.
(...and I haven't seen a distributor in Canada yet....)
(...and I haven't seen a distributor in Canada yet....)
Tangos_with_Tim
Member
I was wondering if anyone has gone from RR Flared to their new Straight heel, and if so how it effected your dancing.
I normally wear 2.5 inch RR flared heel, and tried the International 2.5 inch Elite heels (as they came out before the RR straights). I felt that my weight was pitched too far forward for stability in rumba and cha cha (particularly doing back-replaces). Just standing straight, I didn't feel like my weight was centre-ing down through my heel, more forward towards the arch. As I actually didn't feel safe dancing in them I gave up on them.
But as RR has a reputation for having the best heel placement, I'm hoping their straights might be better balanced than the Internationals?
Or maybe it's not the shoes that are the problem - maybe I just dance more back-weighted than people who dance more professionally.
Thanks for any thoughts...
I normally wear 2.5 inch RR flared heel, and tried the International 2.5 inch Elite heels (as they came out before the RR straights). I felt that my weight was pitched too far forward for stability in rumba and cha cha (particularly doing back-replaces). Just standing straight, I didn't feel like my weight was centre-ing down through my heel, more forward towards the arch. As I actually didn't feel safe dancing in them I gave up on them.
But as RR has a reputation for having the best heel placement, I'm hoping their straights might be better balanced than the Internationals?
Or maybe it's not the shoes that are the problem - maybe I just dance more back-weighted than people who dance more professionally.
Thanks for any thoughts...
Miss Silly
Well-Known Member
I would imagine - but they are the only Russian shoes that I have so... i dunno? LOL
Dancing Irishman
Forum Master
It's a shame their pricing isn't reflecting the collapse of the ruble...
Daniewanie333
New Member
*bump*
Anyone try the straight heel from ray rose?
Also-- has anyone tried the Carmen 2 or 3? I've been dancing in Carmen 1, and love it, however, am thinking about switching to a straight heel.
Anyone try the straight heel from ray rose?
Also-- has anyone tried the Carmen 2 or 3? I've been dancing in Carmen 1, and love it, however, am thinking about switching to a straight heel.
FancyFeet
Forum Master
Just saw this one... old post, but in case you hadn't heard, Crystal Clover out of Toronto now carries them.
I love my Aida's! I've been like the princess and the pea with shoes and I'd been struggling for a couple years to find just the right ones. Done. I Love them with rainbows and unicorns and puffy hearts. It's all in the heel placement. It's more centered on your foot and just so much more balanced. I love the square vs rounded toe option with allowed me to get the perfect placement of my toes in the front while still having enough width. I think they have 4 width options? Really getting fitted was also the best thing too.
They do wear quickly. I wore my first pair for 6 weeks before Ohio with 10 lessons a week and the satin was worn through by the end of Ohio. But I love them so much I didn't care. They now make a pair with a suede heel cup that I now wear for practice and I got another pair for comps. Yep, they're expensive. But I was buying $100 plus supadance that I was wearing through in 4-6 months anyway and I never felt as secure and balanced in them.
Seriously- rainbows and puff hearts.
They do wear quickly. I wore my first pair for 6 weeks before Ohio with 10 lessons a week and the satin was worn through by the end of Ohio. But I love them so much I didn't care. They now make a pair with a suede heel cup that I now wear for practice and I got another pair for comps. Yep, they're expensive. But I was buying $100 plus supadance that I was wearing through in 4-6 months anyway and I never felt as secure and balanced in them.
Seriously- rainbows and puff hearts.
theAnnelis
Active Member
I only tried it on when I switched to slim heels...the heel is thin. Really, REALLY thin. I don't know how else to describe it because I could barely walk because it felt like I was standing on pencils. With the point down. The Aida slims actually feel like I have something under my feet.
Yaaaaasssss, the other reason I didn't go with the Ray Rose is because the heel is placed so far back I felt like I was going to fall through the shoe. I'm guessing that now you wear the Astas for practice? Those are definitely my next purchase even though I technically don't need them - I ordered my Karinas in black suede for lessons and practice and those actually have held up incredibly.