Ryka Devotion Plus 3

The Devotion Plus 3 is the comfort pick for dancers with tender knees, achy arches or a class schedule that runs long. It thrives in dance cardio, aerobics, studio classes, step and at-home workouts — anywhere the priority is soaking up impact rather than snapping through turns.

Our assessment is community-verified: built from Ryka's specs plus consistent themes across verified buyer and instructor feedback, not a pair we personally wore.

Pivot is a 7 out of 10 — respectable, but not the shoe's headline. The thicker, cushioned platform that makes it so comfortable also sits you a little higher off the floor, so fast pivot-heavy choreography turns quicker in a lighter, lower shoe. For the steady footwork of most cardio and step classes, the 7 is plenty.

Grip scores a 7 on a non-marking rubber outsole with forefoot flex grooves. It is genuinely versatile on floors — hardwood and sprung, rubber gym floors, low-pile carpet and concrete or home surfaces — which makes it a great choice if you split time between the studio and living-room streaming classes.

This is the shoe's whole reason for being: cushioning rates 9 out of 10. Ryka's RE-ZORB foam is tuned for repeated high-impact landings and stays supportive instead of going flat mid-class. The arch and firm heel add structure many dancers with flat feet appreciate. That said, a shoe can't diagnose or fix foot pain — if you have plantar fasciitis or ongoing knee trouble, a podiatrist should guide the call.

It comes in standard and wide, and the wide is a true wide rather than a slightly-roomier standard. The woman-specific fit holds the heel while giving the forefoot room to spread on landing. Most dancers find it true to size.

Breathability is a 7 — a comfortable middle. The upper vents well enough for a full class, though the substantial build means it runs a touch warmer than the airy canvas sneakers on our list.

At roughly 9.2 oz with about a 10 mm drop, this is the most substantial Ryka in this group, and that heft buys durability. The thick RE-ZORB midsole resists packing out, so the cushioning you pay for is still there months later.

Break-in is minimal — the plush midsole feels good from step one. The supportive arch may feel pronounced at first if you are used to flat shoes; a few wears settle it in.

Dancers who choose the Devotion Plus 3 talk overwhelmingly about comfort — the ability to get through back-to-back classes without their knees or feet complaining. It is a frequent recommendation for anyone returning to fitness or carrying a little extra impact concern.

Skip it if your classes are pivot-heavy and you want the quickest possible turns — a lighter shoe or a split-sole dance sneaker will spin faster. Skip it too if you dislike the feeling of a taller, cushioned platform underfoot.