Alegria by PG Lite Sandals Review

With each passing day, I am more and more excited that summer is coming. After almost 8 months of cold Canadian weather, I am more than happy to pack away those winter boots and bulky clothing. With the new season, of course, comes a great excuse to shop for summer sandals. And of all the types of shoes out there, sandals are my favorite. I would choose a fresh and funky pair of sandals over high heels any day. So, I was pretty happy when contacted to review a couple pairs of sandals from Alegria Shoes.

ALEGRIA means HAPPINESS..
it is also a new line of fun footwear created by California based company PG Lite. Alegria is developed with technical features that promote health and wellness. Its simple slip on ergonomic construction suits the relaxed California lifestyle. A heavenly padded footbed really feels like you are walking on clouds. Made with leather in a variety of bright, up-beat collectible designs, Alegria adds color therapy to your day and its rocker bottom adds spring to your step. Being comfortable in your own shoes never felt like this before.

For review I chose two different styles that Alegria offers: Pisa and Carina. From the photos on the website, I thought these two suited my tastes exactly – sturdy and supportive with nice accents of detail. When they arrived, I was happy that my initial thoughts were true, they fit wonderfully and the detail make them stand out! Yet there’s more to Alegria shoes than just a ‘pretty shoe’, here are the main features that make Alegria stand out from the others:

The “Perfect Fit Footbed System” – an anatomically correct patented interlocking footbed system with arch support that is loaded with latex, memory foam and cork to create a “perfect fit” every time by forming to the natural contours of the foot, giving each user their own customized fit.
Lightweight Mild Rocker Outsole – Engineered to roll naturally, the rocker outsole induces a normal walking motion while naturally toning leg muscles. It also benefits users by promoting a perfect posture, reducing stress on muscles, joints and back, giving you energy all day long.
Removable Insole – The heavily padded footbed is removable and allows insertion of custom orthodics.

When walking in the Alegria sandals, I notice the Rocker Outsole right away. I am able to walk heel to toe, in proper posture and normal gait. It basically prevents me from plopping my whole foot down when walking, which is so common when wearing sandals. I did have a couple days of ‘breaking in’ time with these shoes, but most non-sporty type sandals require that, so to me it was expected. Yet, like I said – I have been wearing wool boots for 8 months, that could add to the fact that my feet needed to adjust to these sandals, “we can breathe? we’re going into shock!” {heh} Once broken-in though, they are very comfortable – the memory foam allows for that ‘walking on clouds’ feeling, which is a common way to describe comfort and softness.

I chose both the Pisa and Carina styles in the Chrome Patent color, though there are many colors to choose from. This color really stood out to me, since it can be combined with pretty much any summer clothing yet allows for that shimmery fun look. Also note that the Carina style has a Velcro strap to ensure a comfortable fit around the foot. This really prevents sliding and rubbing on the toe separator. I really like that the rhinestone detail masks the Velcro, so it doesn’t stand out. My favorite feature about the Pisa is just the overall look of the straps and the shiny bling of the rhinestones. And both have a nice butterfly detail on the sides of the shoes. Very trendy sandals for summer 2011!

Alegria has so many choices when it comes to footwear: clogs, sandals, shoes, boots and more. Whether your style is frilly and feminine or edgy flair, Alegria has a pair of shoes to fit every personality type. Alegria shoes start at $99 a pair, and womens’ sizes range from 5-11 {no half-sizes though}. Canadians can purchase Alegria shoes online at The Shoe Girls, or you can seek out a US retailer near you! Also note that Alegria Canada donates a portion from each sale to aid in the fight against Breast Cancer!

**You can save 10% of regular priced shoes at The Shoe Girls, This offer is only available from now until June 30th, just use the code: chaos when making your purchase. Also note that when ordering from Canada, standard shipping is Free! I like free shipping … just sayin’.

One Canadian reader is going to get one pair of shoe {winner’s choice, subject to availability} chosen from The Shoe Girls website.