Naot Sandals.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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)

[debra9275]

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

[debra9275]

similar price range too by the looks of them

[*crikey*mate*]

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.

[*crikey*mate*]

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.

[j*oono]

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

[freakiness]

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.

[*crikey*mate*]

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_S...

Birkis are made by Birkenstock, so same footbed

[*crikey*mate*]

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@j*oono wrote:

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

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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?

[b3llag1na]

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