topic Re: Naot Sandals. in Community Spirit

Naot Sandals.

the_great_she_elephant — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:54:31 GMT

Does anyone wear these and if so can you recommend them. I need to buy a pair of good, dressy sandals for summer and they must have really good arch support as I have a problem with over pronation (my feet roll inwards)

Re: Naot Sandals.

debra9275 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:11:47 GMT

Ske-ele I had to google them cos I've never heard of them before.

They remind me a lot of Homy-Peds, and I know they're comfortable shoes

Re: Naot Sandals.

debra9275 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:12:20 GMT

similar price range too by the looks of them

Re: Naot Sandals.

*crikey*mate* — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:32:34 GMT

I wear NAOT boots and one pair of their clogs - comfy as - usually wear Birkenstock though, similar/same cork footbed molded to your footbed - not sure about arch support I've never considered it - but they feel like you're wearing Grandpa's slippers - but the store that you buy them from probably has an onsite podiatrist - ask them if they are suitable for your feet?

I don't have foot problems, have just always worn Birkenstocks cos they were comfy when standing on cement floors all day, was looking for more Birkenstocks when I saw the NAOT boots and just liked em enough to buy them in all 3 colours *blush*

My mum has foot problems though, so I took her to the orthopedic shop trying to get her into Birkenstocks, and they gave her Tatami or something, even though they also stocked the NAOT and Birkenstock - so maybe different brands suit different feet?

The big downside of the NAOT and the Birkenstocks is they sort of have a subtle suede like finish on the innersole over the corkbed, so they look really dirty, no matter how clean your feet are in just a few days - there is a definite footprint there that if you're vigilant with it you can "fade" it with a suede cleaner, but it is always there - either that or just don't wear them anywhere you might need to take your shoes off.

Re: Naot Sandals.

*crikey*mate* — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:45:05 GMT

If you do happen to look at the Birkenstocks - the leather is very stiff and even after treating with leather softeners etc for a while they still take about 6 weeks to fully break in - but after that - they really are the most comfortable thing in the universe I reckon!

another downside to all of the shoes with the cork footbeds is that the soles tend to wear down very quickly - maybe 9 to 12 months if worn continuously, which is pretty harsh at $250 a pop - but that's the price you pay for comfort I guess.

To prolong their life - I take them and get them resoled immediately - before I wear them - and a bit more advice - if buying open backed ones of either brand - go up a size - so that your foot sits inside the cup of the heel on the corkbed and does not go over the back or near the edge, thus wearing them down more quickly, because once you have "broken them in" that's where your foot stays, no matter how hard you try to correct it

as soon as the sole shows signs of wear, get them resoled, once the sole is worn down to the cork - the cork deteriorates and crumbles.

I did find that the Naot were made from a softer leather, however they do seem to wear more quickly than the Birkenstocks.

Re: Naot Sandals.

j*oono — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:48:59 GMT

Why do they use that fake suede insole? It looks horrible. I won't buy open shoes that have it.

Re: Naot Sandals.

freakiness — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:49:42 GMT

They look good but their website is frustrating. No stockist list without joining up for newsletter.

No click and enlarge for better view. Got to d/l PDF.

Re: Naot Sandals.

*crikey*mate* — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:58:51 GMT

check this out she ele - there's even a pair with elephants on them LOL

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Birkis-Woodby-Birko-Flor-Narrow-width-Offer-2-/271233692728?pt=AU_Women_Shoes&var=&hash=item3f26c9b438

Birkis are made by Birkenstock, so same footbed

Re: Naot Sandals.

*crikey*mate* — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 11:06:32 GMT

@j*oono wrote:
Why do they use that fake suede insole? It looks horrible. I won't buy open shoes that have it.

No idea Joono, it's just how they are - Most European chefs wear the Boston Birkenstocks, so I got into the habit too - At head office in Germany, they actually take a plaster cast of your foot and keep it on file and custom make the shoe for you - even when wearing socks with the clogs (as you do in the kitchen or if its really cold and you don't care how daggy you look) the soles still get really marked - it doesn't matter how careful you are, how clean you are - over the years, I've scrubbed them with everything from bleach to soapy water and even used a gurney on them - but they still mark.... the suede cleaner and a suede brush seem to do a reasonable job for a while - I even tried using the waterproof spray you use on suede, but that made no difference either.

but gosh they are comfy - I guess that's the tradeoff -

edit - it;s not fake suede on the birk's or the NAOTs - it's the real deal - justvhad a thought - it might be there to prevent your feet from sweating? as they would if right on the cork or leather innersole?

Re: Naot Sandals.

b3llag1na — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 11:31:37 GMT

No idea about naot shoes, but i can second crikey's opinion on Birkenstocks!

I have plantat fasciitis (?sp) and a spur on my heel, and find my birkys to be the most comfortable summer sandal around.

I have them in 3 different colours - and my DD is bringing me home another pair from the UK (where they are cheaper )

The tip about going up a size is a very good one

Re: Naot Sandals.

the_great_she_elephant — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:42:43 GMT

Thanks for the tips, everyone. A few of the reviews for Naot said go up a size. The reason I was looking at them rather than the Birkenstocks is because I wanted something a bit dressy, I have orthaheel flip flops which I wear around the house and with jeans.

I must admit I haven't had a good look at the Birkenstocks yet . I'll go and do that now - thanks for the link Crikey.

Re: Naot Sandals.

*crikey*mate* — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:11:45 GMT

that was just a link to one design ele - I remembered seeing them and just found it when you asked for a bit of a laugh - but Birkenstocks do have many different designs - some are really dressy - there was even a range they bought out a while back by Heidi Klum under Papillio (also Birkenstock) - beautiful shoes - I've got a couple pair at the moment designed by BonJovi LOL -

they do also make many different materials and designs for the uppers

probably just easist to eBay google Birkenstocks and to narrow the search put in your European shoe size as well.

BUT try a pair on in the store first, as I am a size bigger in Papillion and NAOT, and you also need to be aware that sometimes there is a choice between a narrow or regular footbed - and there is a BIG difference.

Re: Naot Sandals.

acacia_pycnantha — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:16:47 GMT

I like the MBT sandals. They're a bit high up but if you're ok with the curved sole, it;s like walking on air with a spring in your step to mix metaphors a bit.

MBT kimusu. I have three pairs of these.

Re: Naot Sandals.

acacia_pycnantha — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:23:15 GMT

Hang on, that wasn't a mixed metaphor, it was a mixed simile, like.

Is it ok to mix similes?

Re: Naot Sandals.

patchoo78 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 03:43:16 GMT

@acacia_pycnantha wrote:
Hang on, that wasn't a mixed metaphor, it was a mixed simile, like.

Is it ok to mix similes?

Yes.. And despite what your parents tell you, it's also ok to mix drinks

Re: Naot Sandals.

patchoo78 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 03:46:15 GMT

@the_great_she_elephant wrote:
Does anyone wear these and if so can you recommend them. I need to buy a pair of good, dressy sandals for summer and they must have really good arch support as I have a problem with over pronation (my feet roll inwards)

I would also be interested in these shoes... I have the worst foot for buying shoes; long and narrow with an extra long big toe and high arches on top of that so my foot pronates also.

It was a nightmare buying shoes for me when I was younger, it's really hard to find shoes that come in half sizes so I often have to go up a size..

Re: Naot Sandals.

the_great_she_elephant — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 03:54:53 GMT

Thanks Acacia. I've just had a look at one of MBTs online stores. They do look really comfortsble, but I am looking for something more along this line. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NAOT-Womens-Sandal-Dorith-Silver-Threads-37-US-6-MSRP-140-NEW-/400526199128?pt=US_Women_s_Shoes&hash=item5d4138c958&_uhb=1

Thanks also, Crikey - I did love those elephant sandals, and would love to be able to wear them, but alas ,I don't think I could get away with it nowadays.

Fortunately there is no urgency to make my mind up, s. Some of the prices on Ebay look pretty good, but I'll take everyone's suggestions on board and have a good look round first. As you suggest, Crikey, I do need to try before I buy. I used to have narrow feet, but I suspect they've spread a bit over the years - just like the rest of me.

Re: Naot Sandals.

green.fields — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 05:50:04 GMT

I don't know about that brand but last summer I came across a brand at the local show shop in Kalamunda, they are Taos, oh so comfortable, I bought 2 pairs. Don't know where you'd buy them down your way though. The cheap chain shoe shops wouldn't have them but google would help.

http://taosfootwear.com/shoes/sandals/

Re: Naot Sandals.

green.fields — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 05:53:59 GMT

They even sell them here and the prices are good.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Taos-Vision-Womens-US-Size-9-Black-Leather-Comfort-Sandals-Shoes-No-Box-/130958513499?pt=AU_Women_Shoes&hash=item1e7dbc555b&_uhb=1

Re: Naot Sandals.

the_great_she_elephant — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 06:06:49 GMT

Wow. some of them look gorgeous.We have a couple of good independant shoe shops here, but their stock is pretty limited. I might have to do a run up to Perth and have a good look round.