IDS vs. Ray Rose vs. Aida Latin Shoes

[Miss Silly]

Wanted to ask you what you meant by the above - are you saying that going down just a half size in the Karinas made the shoe feel tighter/narrower, even though you kept the same width.

Yes that is correct. I use some shoe stretchers to help pre-strech them... saves my feet a little. But I do like the shorter shoe. It helps with the look of the foot (accentuating the arch) and i like the 'compact' feeling and less shoe sticking past the toes when you point. My toes don't spill over the front, but very close (i've seen some people have a lot of toe-spillage LOL).

 

[Miss Silly]

I finally have a paoul standard shoe, and i was going to do a comparison between aida, paoul and supadance since i happen to have all three.

 

[GinaN]

Yes that is correct. I use some shoe stretchers to help pre-strech them... saves my feet a little. But I do like the shorter shoe. It helps with the look of the foot (accentuating the arch) and i like the 'compact' feeling and less shoe sticking past the toes when you point. My toes don't spill over the front, but very close (i've seen some people have a lot of toe-spillage LOL).

I definitely like my shoes short. I have long toes (gross I know) so mine definitely spill a lot over the front I feel the tips of my toes on the floor if I want to. I'm sure people are grossed out by it LOL but I try to not think about it.

 

[GinaN]

I finally have a paoul standard shoe, and i was going to do a comparison between aida, paoul and supadance since i happen to have all three.

I don't dance standard but still, that would be super awesome.

Plus I am really interested to hear about what you think about the Paoul brand I know @j_alexandra (I think it was her) really likes their latin shoes (or was it standard? can't remember. All I know is it brought my attention to that brand, which I had never heard of before). I wanted to try their latin shoes but none of them come with the strap that you can tie underneath your arch they are all a single strand around the ankle (or at least the styles I was interested in.) That would not be a good look for my "generous" legs plus I wouldn't feel like my foot was secure.

You inspired me so much by your comparison picture post that I plan on doing the same (I have 2 Supadance 1403 shoes - one wide, one regular, and the Aida Karinas). Been meaning to do it the last couple of days but haven't had a chance.

 

[j_alexandra]

I don't dance standard but still, that would be super awesome.

Plus I am really interested to hear about what you think about the Paoul brand I know @j_alexandra (I think it was her) really likes their latin shoes (or was it standard?

Standard.

 

[datitmarsh]

Hi there, I am trying to ŕead up on the diffeŕent latin shoes. Just went to practice with my daughter and realised that her shoes have a split sole giving a much better arch to foot. Is that something you have to order specially or do some brands just come like that? My daughter didn't know as someone gave her the shoes

 

[Miss Silly]

I think most brands of latin shoes have a supported shank and then flexible under the toes and the ball of the foot.

Random shoe photo:

So, from the heel down to about where you see the word "sole" is stiff. Then the rest to the toe is softer.

Once i had some sort of budget pair that had either a really weak shank or just completely flexible and it was utterly aweful. No foot support whatsovever. And the heel would want to sort of slide out backwards.... in fact it was borderline dangerous.

I don't mind split soles when it comes to practice shoes, but definitely not my latin heels. The Aida and Ray Rose latin shoes i've had in the past all had stiff shanks, as well as the supadance and International that I tried (but returned - didn't fit my feet). I don't think you can order a 'shankless' latin sandal.... at least i've never seen this.

But again - practice shoes... no probs if it's a split sole.

 

[datitmarsh]

I think most brands of latin shoes have a supported shank and then flexible under the toes and the ball of the foot.

Random shoe photo:

So, from the heel down to about where you see the word "sole" is stiff. Then the rest to the toe is softer.

Once i had some sort of budget pair that had either a really weak shank or just completely flexible and it was utterly aweful. No foot support whatsovever. And the heel would want to sort of slide out backwards.... in fact it was borderline dangerous.

I don't mind split soles when it comes to practice shoes, but definitely not my latin heels. The Aida and Ray Rose latin shoes i've had in the past all had stiff shanks, as well as the supadance and International that I tried (but returned - didn't fit my feet). I don't think you can order a 'shankless' latin sandal.... at least i've never seen this.

But again - practice shoes... no probs if it's a split sole.

OK thanks for that explanation. Mine are at the budget end of things, so I was looking at which ones to try for a better pair. Mine seem to be pretty stiff, not very flexible at all. What have you found as to flexibility but still with good support?

 

[Miss Silly]

Honestly, it's tough with shoes because people's feet shapes vary so much, that everyone tends to experiment until they find something that works for their feet and their preferences. And, their budget. LOL. Unfortunately sometimes this means wearing a shoe well past the point of returning it to discover that you don't like it (been there!!). I tried many shoes, before I settled on what I normally wear... and it's hard not to look back and lament over the wasted $. But, now i really know what i like. LOL.

If you can try on shoes (even if they're your friends' shoes LOL... if they dont' mind ;-P) do it. At vendors at comp if possible or if you happen to live near somewhere that sells shoes.

I remember i used ot wear ray rose and one day they changed their latin shoes to "ultra flex" and i felt SO unstable. I got used ot it, but I also had to work on actual foot stregth (just youtube a bunch of ballet videos - tons out there) and then I dind't mind the shoe so much.

Another thing that affects stability is the heel placement. This is another area that personal preference really comes into play. But even the difference between flare heel and slim heel (on the same model shoe) can change the way it pitches your weight. On top of that, every brand will feel slightly different. As well as every height. LOL.

SO anyway, to answer your question, the ray rose (now i believe all their latin sandals are "ultra flex") was very flexible, but maybe too much for my experience/level at that time. I preferred the heel shape/placement of Aida, so once i could get my hands on a pair i made the switch. In fact, I'm breaking in a new pair now and they feel stiff. But my old pair are amazingly flexible but still a nice sturdy shank. If your shoes are new, they may take a bit longer to break in. IF they're old and still really stiff feeling, then perhaps you do want to seek out something more flexible.

I can't remember how i felt about Supadance and International, since the fit wasn't great so i didn't spend a long time in them. THere are more brands out there of course LOL hopefully others can chime in for this.

 

[FancyFeet]

Supadance tends to be a pretty stiff shoe, particularly for standard, and tend to suit dancers with medium to long toes, depending on the model. I love them as I have fairly strong feet that are slightly inclined to roll out - they make me feel supported. I acknowledge that they do take some breaking in, and know that some hate the feeling and want more freedom, or a more curved sole under the ball to help them roll through the feet.

They are definitely my forever standard shoe; I may try different latin ones once I burn through the couple of pair that I have.

 

[datitmarsh]

Honestly, it's tough with shoes because people's feet shapes vary so much, that everyone tends to experiment until they find something that works for their feet and their preferences. And, their budget. LOL. Unfortunately sometimes this means wearing a shoe well past the point of returning it to discover that you don't like it (been there!!). I tried many shoes, before I settled on what I normally wear... and it's hard not to look back and lament over the wasted $. But, now i really know what i like. LOL.

If you can try on shoes (even if they're your friends' shoes LOL... if they dont' mind ;-P) do it. At vendors at comp if possible or if you happen to live near somewhere that sells shoes.

I remember i used ot wear ray rose and one day they changed their latin shoes to "ultra flex" and i felt SO unstable. I got used ot it, but I also had to work on actual foot stregth (just youtube a bunch of ballet videos - tons out there) and then I dind't mind the shoe so much.

Another thing that affects stability is the heel placement. This is another area that personal preference really comes into play. But even the difference between flare heel and slim heel (on the same model shoe) can change the way it pitches your weight. On top of that, every brand will feel slightly different. As well as every height. LOL.

SO anyway, to answer your question, the ray rose (now i believe all their latin sandals are "ultra flex") was very flexible, but maybe too much for my experience/level at that time. I preferred the heel shape/placement of Aida, so once i could get my hands on a pair i made the switch. In fact, I'm breaking in a new pair now and they feel stiff. But my old pair are amazingly flexible but still a nice sturdy shank. If your shoes are new, they may take a bit longer to break in. IF they're old and still really stiff feeling, then perhaps you do want to seek out something more flexible.

I can't remember how i felt about Supadance and International, since the fit wasn't great so i didn't spend a long time in them. THere are more brands out there of course LOL hopefully others can chime in for this.

Thanks for all the information. It was mind boggling surfing websites without a bit of input from actual dancers. I will keep looking bearing in mind what you have said.

 

[Miss Silly]

I feel ya! It's tough with shoes. Most people don't live near a store that carries many brands.... many of us are stuck trying our luck with online orderding....which is super easy once you know your style/size/brand. But when you're still figuring out what you want, it's really tough!

 

[scullystwin42]

anyone wear a style from Aida other than Karinas? like the Nikolishina? trying ti figure out if i should go wide or double wide. i don't think i will even get my feet on a triple wide for karinas now. sigh.

 

[datitmarsh]

I feel ya! It's tough with shoes. Most people don't live near a store that carries many brands.... many of us are stuck trying our luck with online orderding....which is super easy once you know your style/size/brand. But when you're still figuring out what you want, it's really tough!

Exactly. Up to following this thread I didn't know one brand from another. There aren't exactly a whole lot of places in Calgary to go try on dance shoes - I think I'd need to order from Toronto possibly so it's good to read what others have experienced in their search for shoes.

 

[Miss Silly]

Good question.

Currently my bunions seem to be getting really bad, and the way the straps of the Karina go on my feet, it seems to aggrivate the problem.

I got a pair of Manusova recently, but I haven't spent much time in them yet:

The design is certainly WAY more comfortable for my bunions. When i get a chance, i'll also do a side-by-side comparison (i swear they feel wider! But i can't remember if i ordered somethign different for width or not).

What i don't like is the tbar strap, because I prefer to wrap my strap around my foot arch. To me, it just feels like the shoe is more stable on my foot.

Also, i have a tough time pointing with these shoes. Could be cause they're new, and my foot point isn't amazing so if the shoe isn't well broken in, i don't have an amazing arch. Could be the T-bar strap. Could be the really wide staps on the toes. I'm not sure yet.

The straps where the toes come out are in different places than karina's, as I've discovered through getting blisters LOL.

@scullystwin42 definitely let me know if try the Nikolishina since it almost looks like a nice cross over between Karinas and these LOL!