The Matai continues to be one of Naot's most popular styles. The quirky curly-q and slope of the toe box put me off at first, but the style started to grow on me after Jenni Prokopy of ChronicBabe.com reviewed them on BDS last year.
Then I tried on a pair--straight out of my mom's closet on Thanksgiving Day. I'm sold. The Naot Matai felt custom-made for my feet with all their problems--bunions, hammertoes, fallen arch and mild plantar fasciitis, if you must know. I kept them on during Thanksgiving clean-up to see if they'd hold up to a "on-your-feet" job and found them to be incredibly supportive and very comfortable for my RA-afflicted feet. Apparently over 300 Zappos customers and my mom agree: the Matai is one of Naot's finest. As mom put it, "They're cushiony, the pewter color goes with much of my wardrobe and the velcro strap is easy to fasten."
Special comfort features of the Naot Matai:
- Adjustable instep strap
- Lightly padded rear collar to protect from annoying heel rubbing
- Removable anatomical footbed absorbs shock (and allows shoe to accommodate orthotic)
- Good arch support
- Deep heel cup protects heel bone and helps body balance
- Lightweight rubber, polyurethane and latex outsole is flexible yet durable.
Where to buy the Naot Matai:
- Zappos: $162, free shipping both ways.
- OnlineShoes.com: $161.95, free shipping and exchanges.
- PlanetShoes.com: $162, free shipping and returns.
