Watch out, Naot. Look both ways, Birkenstock. There's a new shoe in town. Meet the Aetrex Montserrat from the new Sandalistas line. Now Aetrex has been around for quite some time specializing in foot health, orthotics and orthopedic footwear, but until recently, one would be hard-pressed to find a stylish option. Not so anymore. Aetrex now offers four fashion forward sandals with similar comfort technologies to their orthopedic line.
I was a bit suspect when I received by pumpkin orange Aetrex Montserrat sandalistas. I immediately crushed on the orange color, but the thong post worried me. My toes seem to reject anything between them except beach sand. This is the first thong shoe that my toes can tolerate for longer wearings. If you absolutely can't do a toe post, try the Saona, Amalie or Mandehle styles.
What makes Aetrex Sandalistas to incredibly comfortable is the memory foam-covered footbed. Incorporating all the support of a Lynco® orthotic, the footbed molds perfectly to my moderately high arches providing all-day stability, shock-absorption and cushiony comfort. All Sandalista footbeds are removable accommodating a custom orthotic (might be a bit more difficult on Montserrat style).
Another feature which I have yet to try is the Mozaic™ Customization Technology. If you unbutton the toe post from the nubuck upper, remove the footbed and turn it over, you'll see some green pads. The idea is this: peel away the pads where you experience the most discomfort for more customized comfort and relief. If you own a pair of Aetrex, could you leave a comment telling us if this customization is helpful to the overall feel of the shoe?
Two concerns: the light colored footbeds dirty-up fast; go with black if you have chronically dirty feet. The size on me above is a 10.5 which fits perfectly in the heel area, but I have some room to spare above the toes--this doesn't affect the overall comfort of the shoe, however. I can't find any other reviews about this issue, but promise to update when I do. Fits my medium width foot fine, would also accommodate slightly wide feet.
Where to buy the Aetrex Montserrat and other Sandalista styles sizes 5-11:
- OnlineShoes.com: $134.95, free shipping and exchanges.
- HealthyFeetStore.com: $129.97
- PegasusShoes.com: $129, free shipping.
- ShoeMart: $134.95, free shipping
- Although Zappos doesn't currently carry the Sandalista line, they do offer supportive Aetrex fitness styles and some dressier shoes too.
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