Vivaia vs. Rothy’s: Which Comfy, Sustainable Ballet Flats Triumph?

• Appearance: 20/20
• Comfort: 17/20
• Fit: 17/20
• Value: 17/20
• Quality: 18/20

Total: 89/100

The one thing I love most about this Meghan Markle-approved brand is the design. From the cut of the shoes to the silhouette, each pair looks like it was designed by someone who has a great aesthetic eye. They’re never frumpy and can always be dressed up.

After having personally worn several pairs over the years, in addition to compiling comprehensive reviews of their entire men’s and women’s collection, I would recommend Rothy’s for those who do not have flat feet, wide feet or bunions. Based on my own experience and reading reviews of PureWow editors and testers, the brand can feel narrow sometimes. There’s also the footbed. Recently, Rothy’s updated some models to have its new In Love Insole, which is a lot more cushioned and supportive than its original footbed, which I found pretty thin. That being said, isn’t not plush—but it does provide more stability when walking on uneven surfaces like gravel and cobblestones.

One of the big selling points of Rothy’s is that they’re machine washable, and I do attest to their durability. When I’ve worked with our testing team, I’ve often gotten the concerned feedback that the knit doesn’t seem durable. Trust me, I’ve had the same pair of sneakers for five years and at this point, the only thing that’s showing wear is the soles. The fabric, while strong, will stain. I recommend spot treating immediately for the best chance of getting it out. My mistake was waiting too long to wash my flats after a rainy day, and while the discoloration lightened, it was still pretty visible.

• Appearance: 17/20
• Comfort: 19/20
• Fit: 18/20
• Value: 19/20
• Quality: 19/20

Total: 92/100

If I could only use one word to describe Vivaia’s shoes, it would be plush. The insole is made of shock-absorbing herbal foam with extra padding at the heel. Every time I wear a pair, from the Cristina ballet sneakers or Tiana flats, I feel like I’m floating, even over gravelly sidewalks, rough patches of asphalt and cobblestones. I feel nothing. It’s crazy.

Compared to the Rothy’s, I immediately noticed that these flats were sturdy—not speaking in terms of quality, but stiffness of the material. Where Rothy’s felt more flexible, the Vivaia flats were more structured while still being supple. I felt supported but not squeezed to death, especially around my bunions. There’s also a little arch support built into the sole, which I think contributed to the “floating” feeling, plus a ton of heel padding.

Vivaia also seems to be a good brand for those with wide feet—speaking as someone who will gravitate to a wider size if offered. The shoe is specifically designed to stretch in a way that avoids squeezing your toes, and I found them to be a good mix of comfort and support, not letting my bunions spill out but not strangling them, either.

My only note here is that while Rothy’s are sleek, sometimes the cut of certain Vivaia shoes can feel orthopedic and frumpy. However, having had several conversations with the co-founder, I know that designing for walking and comfort is paramount. In that respect, I’ve always had a much easier time walking in Viviaia shoes.

Similar to Rothy’s, these shoes held up well in the washing machine, too, but I also recommend immediately spot cleaning for optimal stain removing success. I was accidentally caught in the rain with the Cristinas and had major staining on the toes. After a couple rounds of stain remover, they’re invisible to the casual observer.