Vionic Sandals for a Supported Summer: Our Picks

Your arch support doesn't have to hibernate until winter. Four Vionic sandals we're loving for a Kiwi summer, plus what to do if you wear a custom orthotic.

Every summer, the same thing happens. The sneakers get packed away, the jandals come out, and by the end of the first week your feet are wondering what they did wrong. Most flat sandals give you nothing under the arch, which is fine for a dash to the dairy and not much fun for a full day out.

Vionic sandals fix that by building the support into the footbed. Every one sits on Vionic's Vio Motion support, with a contoured arch, a deep heel cup and cushioning underfoot, so you get an open sandal and proper support in the same pair. Our picks this season are the Reese Back Strap Sandal, the Amber Adjustable Sandal, the Leticia Wedge Sandal and the Bella Toe Post Sandal.¹

Our Vionic sandal picks for summer

Every sandal in the Vionic range comes with Vionic's iconic Vio Motion support. These four are our favourites for the season, but any Vionic sandal will tick the boxes. What changes from pair to pair is the strapping, and in a sandal the straps are what keep your foot sitting on the arch.

Weekend favourite

Reese Back Strap Sandal

A back strap behind the heel and hook-and-loop straps across the foot hold everything exactly where the arch is, which is why it's the one we reach for on long days out. APMA accepted, with a heel of just under 4cm.

Shop the Reese

Most adjustable

Amber Adjustable Sandal

Four points of adjustment on a back-strap design, so you can set it exactly how you like it and loosen it off on a warm afternoon. Little enamel beads on the vamp dress it up a touch.

Shop the Amber

Going out

Leticia Wedge Sandal

A little lift for lunches and long weekends. Crisscross leather straps sit on a cork-wrapped wedge with a built-up platform, so the lift feels gentler than the heel height suggests, and it carries an APMA Seal.

Shop the Leticia

Beach days

Bella Toe Post Sandal

For the die-hard jandal wearer (you know who you are). A toe post with a contoured arch and heel cup where a standard jandal has a flat slab, which makes it the easiest habit you'll ever change.

Shop the Bella

Like the Reese but want leather? The Cypress Back Strap Sandal has two adjustable straps, a back strap and an APMA Seal.

Got wide feet?

Of our four picks above, the Reese comes in a wide (D) fit. If you wear a wide, these two are great options too. It could be more important than you think. A sandal that's too narrow pushes your foot off the very support you're paying for, and our guide to the best wide-fitting shoes explains why.

Wide (D) fit

Laurel Strappy Sandal

A secure multi-strap design with hook-and-loop closures and a back zip, so it's easy on and easy off. The lightweight lugged sole handles long days on your feet.

Shop the Laurel

Wide fit

Mar Platform Sandal

The dressier wide-fit option, with a leather upper, an adjustable hook-and-loop ankle strap and a low platform of about 2cm. It also carries the APMA Seal.

Shop the Mar

Looking for more? Browse our full women's wide-fit range.

What if you wear a custom orthotic?

Vionic sandals have a fixed footbed, so there's nowhere to put a custom orthotic. The support is built into the sole instead, which is how they stay slim and strappy. For most people, that built-in support is plenty.

If your podiatrist has fitted you with a custom orthotic for a specific reason, Revere is the answer. Revere sandals have a lift-out footbed, a strip of velcro underneath that grips your orthotic so it won't slide around, and slightly raised footbed walls, so your device sits neatly out of sight. We cover the whole range in our guide to the best orthotic-friendly sandals in New Zealand.

Not sure which you need? A podiatrist can tell you, and Podiatry New Zealand lists practitioners near you.⁴ You're also very welcome to pop in and try a few pairs on at our Comfort Co showroom.

Getting the fit right

Set your straps later in the day, when feet are at their biggest, and leave about a finger's width of room. A strap that feels just right at breakfast can pinch by mid-afternoon on a hot day.

Coming straight from flat jandals? The arch can feel noticeable for the first few days, and that's normal. Vionic's product pages suggest a few hours of wear a day to start, with full comfort usually within one to two weeks.² Our explainer on what orthotic-friendly footwear is covers why the shape matters.

What's inside a Vionic sandal

Vio Motion was developed in the Vionic Innovation Lab with specialists in lower-limb biomechanics,¹ and many Vionic styles carry the APMA Seal of Acceptance, which the American Podiatric Medical Association awards to footwear its committee has reviewed as promoting foot health.³ In a sandal, it works on four fronts:

• Stability. A deep heel cup holds your heel in place, which matters even more when there's no closed heel doing that job.
• Arch support. A contoured arch meets your foot from the first step.
• Cushioning. A shock-absorbing midsole softens tiles, decking and hot footpaths.
• Flexibility. A flexible forefoot bends with your foot as you push off.

Your questions, answered

Which Vionic sandals have the best arch support in New Zealand?

Every Vionic sandal is built on Vio Motion, with a contoured arch, a deep heel cup, cushioning and a flexible forefoot, so the best one is the style you'll love wearing. This summer our picks are the Reese Back Strap Sandal, the Amber Adjustable Sandal, the Leticia Wedge Sandal and the Bella Toe Post Sandal.

Do Vionic sandals have removable insoles?

No. Vionic sandals have a fixed footbed with the arch support built into the sole. If you need to wear a custom orthotic, Revere sandals have a lift-out footbed designed for it.

Are Vionic sandals good for wide feet?

Yes. From our picks, the Reese Back Strap Sandal comes in a wide (D) width, and the Laurel Strappy Sandal and Mar Platform Sandal are also great wide-fit options.

Is there a Vionic jandal with arch support?

Yes. The Bella Toe Post Sandal has a contoured arch and heel cup in a toe-post shape, so it's an easy swap for a flat jandal.

What's the difference between an orthotic sandal and an orthotic-friendly sandal?

An orthotic sandal, like Vionic, has the support built into the footbed. An orthotic-friendly sandal, like Revere, has a removable footbed so you can fit your own orthotic.

Still weighing it up? Pop into the showroom or chat to our team, and we'll help you pick the pair that suits your summer.