Ryka Devotion X 2 Review

Light, women-specific walking comfort at a friendly price, with modest support

The Ryka Devotion X 2 is the current version of the walking shoe at the center of Ryka’s Devotion collection, the best-selling family from a brand that makes athletic shoes only for women. Ryka’s pitch is that women’s feet are not just smaller men’s feet: they tend to have a narrower heel, a wider forefoot and a different arch, and Ryka builds its shapes around that rather than shrinking a men’s design. The Devotion X 2 is that idea applied to a light, cushioned fitness walker.

Within the collection it is the middle option. The Devotion Plus 3 is the more structured, slightly firmer walker, the Devotion X Max 2 piles on extra foam for maximum cushioning and the Devotion X 2 sits between them as the light, everyday choice. It is aimed at women who walk for fitness a few times a week, run errands on foot and want a shoe that feels soft and secure without costing running-shoe money. It carries the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, and its most important change from the previous Devotion X is a tougher outsole.

Specs

Here are the specifications for the Ryka Devotion X 2:

Pros

• Light on the foot, which makes a brisk walk feel easy and travel days less tiring.
• Soft RE-ZORB cushioning with extra padding under the heel and forefoot, exactly where walkers need it.
• The women-specific shape holds a narrow heel and gives toes room, so fewer blisters and less pinching.
• More rubber on the sole than the previous version, so it lasts longer and grips better.
• Under $90 at list price and often discounted, with wide widths available.

Cons

• Modest arch support. Flat feet or heavy inward rolling will want more structure.
• The soft foam is tuned for lighter walkers and can feel thin under heavier frames on long days.
• Not a shoe for all-day standing on concrete; the cushioning fades by evening.
• Ryka does not publish the drop or a detailed spec sheet.
• Women’s sizes only, so there is no men’s equivalent to recommend to a partner.

What is new versus the Ryka Devotion X

The Devotion X 2 is a refinement rather than a rethink. The women-specific shape, the RE-ZORB cushioning and the light, breathable mesh upper all carry over from the Devotion X, which was already a popular shoe. What Ryka changed is the part that wore out.

The Devotion X used a good deal of exposed foam on the bottom, which kept it light but meant the sole scuffed and wore quickly for anyone walking real mileage on pavement. The X 2 adds more rubber to the outsole, the layer that touches the ground, so it grips better on wet paths and lasts longer before the heel wears through. The cushioning has been reworked too: RE-ZORB still runs the full length of the shoe, and the X 2 adds extra RE-ZORB pads under the heel and the forefoot, so the two spots that take the most punishment in a walking stride get the most padding. The upper keeps its printed mesh and padded collar with a refreshed look, and the molded heel stabilizer that keeps the back of the foot in place is retained. The result is a shoe that feels much like the one it replaces but should survive a full season of daily walks rather than half of one.

Who should buy the Ryka Devotion X 2

Buy it if you are a woman who walks for fitness a few times a week and wants a light, soft shoe that fits a narrow heel without squeezing your toes. That fit is the thing men’s-based shoes get wrong most often for women, and the Devotion X 2 gets it right. Daily neighborhood walks, treadmill sessions, mall walking and travel days all suit it.

It also suits smaller and lighter walkers in particular. Ryka tunes its foam for women’s typical body weight, so the cushioning feels soft and responsive under a lighter frame where a shoe built for a 200-pound man would feel like a plank. Anyone who found the Devotion X comfortable but wore through the sole should upgrade, because the added rubber addresses exactly that. And it suits budget-conscious buyers, since at under $90 it is one of the cheapest walking shoes that carries the APMA seal and comes in wide widths. If your feet are neutral and healthy and you want an easy, comfortable walker, this is a sensible first choice.

Who should probably skip it

Skip it if you have flat feet, roll inward heavily or have been told you need a stability shoe, because the Devotion X 2 offers a secure heel but little in the way of arch structure. Skip it if you stand all day on hard floors for work, since the soft foam is designed for walking and compresses over a long shift. Skip it if you are a heavier walker or carry a pack, as the cushioning is tuned for lighter frames and can feel thin under load. And skip it if you want a shoe with a firm, supportive footbed built in.

For those people, these are the better tools:

• Brooks Addiction Walker 2: a leather motion-control walker with firm support for feet that roll inward and a slip-resistant sole for long work days (check price | read review).
• Vionic Walk Max: a walking shoe with an orthotic-style footbed built in and a rocker sole, for women who need real arch support (check price).
• Hoka Bondi 9: a deeply cushioned, wide-based shoe for heavier walkers and anyone on their feet all day on concrete (check price | read review).

How does the Ryka Devotion X 2 fit?

The fit is the reason many women stay loyal to Ryka. The heel is narrow and holds firmly, the midfoot is medium and the toe box opens up so the front of the foot can spread. It is true to size and needs no break-in.

Fit and sizing

Order your usual size. Length is accurate, and because the toe box is roomier than most sneakers there is no need to size up to make space for your toes. The heel cup is deliberately narrow and the molded stabilizer wraps it, so women who slip out of the back of unisex shoes will find this one stays put. The midfoot is medium and the laces let you snug it down. Wide widths are offered on many colors and are worth choosing if you have a broad forefoot or bunions, since the medium is roomy up front but not cavernous. Women with very narrow feet overall may find the forefoot a little generous. The insole is removable, and there is enough depth for a slim orthotic, though a bulky one will crowd the toe box.

Upper and step-in comfort

Step in and the shoe feels light, soft and cool. The engineered mesh breathes well, which matters on summer walks and treadmills, and the printed overlays add a little structure without stiffness. The collar is padded and sits low enough to stay clear of the ankle bone, and the tongue is cushioned so the laces do not bite. There is no break-in: the mesh flexes from day one and there are no seams in the places that rub. The overall feel is closer to a light running shoe than a traditional walking shoe, which most people take as a compliment. What it is not is plush or luxurious; the padding is modest and the shoe relies on being light and well shaped rather than on thick foam around the foot.

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How does the Ryka Devotion X 2 perform?

For its intended job, a few miles of fitness walking at a time, the Devotion X 2 performs well above its price. It is light, soft and secure. Push it into long days, heavy loads or running and its limits show, but those are not what it was built for.

Cushioning and ride

RE-ZORB is the midsole, the foam layer between your foot and the ground, and Ryka tunes it soft. Under a lighter walker it compresses nicely on landing and takes the hardness out of pavement, and the extra pads under the heel and the ball of the foot put the most cushioning exactly where a walking stride lands and pushes off. It is not a bouncy foam and it does not push back the way modern running foams do; it absorbs, which is what most walkers want. The flip side is that the same softness that feels lovely under a 130-pound walker feels thin under a 200-pound one, and it compresses over the course of a long day. For a one-hour walk it is exactly right. For a 10-hour shift it is not enough.

Ride and running performance

Walking at any pace feels easy. The shoe is light, the sole grooves let it bend behind the toes and the narrow heel keeps the foot from sliding, so a brisk fitness walk feels quick and secure. It transitions smoothly from heel to toe without a rocker, relying instead on flexibility. Running is not what it is for, but it copes better than a heavy walking shoe: a short jog to catch a bus or a light treadmill interval is fine because it is light and flexible. Regular running would wear through the soft foam quickly and the shoe lacks the structure to hold a foot at running forces, so keep it as a walker with the occasional jog rather than a running shoe.

Stability and support

We would classify the Devotion X 2 as a neutral shoe with good heel security and modest arch support. The molded heel stabilizer cups the back of the foot and stops it wobbling on landing, which gives the shoe a more planted feel than its weight suggests. The arch of the insole is gentle, and there is no firm wedge or post on the inside of the midsole to slow inward rolling. For neutral feet and mild pronation that is fine, and the secure heel does a lot of the work. For flat feet or heavy overpronation it is not enough, and the shoe will not change how those feet move. The base is moderately wide and stable on flat ground, less so on cambered roads or uneven trails.

Outsole, grip and durability

The outsole is the biggest improvement over the Devotion X. Rubber now covers more of the sole, particularly the heel and forefoot where walkers scuff, and the grooves cut into it let the shoe flex while also acting as small shock-absorbing channels. Grip on dry and damp pavement, paths and gym floors is good; it is not a trail sole and it is not slip rated for wet work floors. Durability should be noticeably better than the previous version, which was the main complaint about that shoe. The mesh upper holds up well for a light shoe, and the soft foam will be the first thing to fade after a few hundred miles. Ryka makes no lifespan promise, and a season of regular walking is a fair expectation before the cushioning feels flat.

Is the Ryka Devotion X 2 good for walking?

Yes. It is designed as a walking shoe and it is a good one for its price. Fitness walks of two to five miles, daily dog walks, mall walking, treadmill sessions and sightseeing on vacation all suit it, and the light weight and breathable upper make it especially pleasant in warm weather. The women-specific fit keeps the heel secure and the toes free, which is exactly what you want over a few miles.

Where it falls short is all-day standing and long distances under load. The soft foam compresses through a full shift on concrete and the modest arch support does not hold up tired feet the way a more structured shoe would, so nurses, teachers and retail workers should look at firmer options. Travel is a strength thanks to the weight, though the mesh will soak through in real rain. Orthotics fit if they are slim, and the removable insole makes the swap easy.

Devotion X 2 versus Ryka Devotion X

Here is how the two versions line up:

Buy the new model if you walk regularly on pavement and want the sole to last, or if you liked the Devotion X and wished it had a little more padding under the heel. Buy the previous model if you can find the Devotion X on clearance and you mostly walk on a treadmill or indoors, where the softer outsole was never the problem.

Ryka Devotion X 2 Alternatives

The Devotion X 2 is a light, soft, affordable women’s walker with modest support. These four each change one part of that.

• Ryka Devotion X Max 2: the same women-specific fit on a much thicker slab of RE-ZORB for walkers who want maximum cushioning (check price).
• Ryka Devotion Plus 3: a slightly firmer, more structured Devotion for women who want a little more stability underfoot (check price).
• Skechers GO WALK 8: an even lighter, softer casual walker with a hands-free option, for easy days rather than fitness walks (check price | read review).
• Hoka Transport 2: a tougher, more cushioned everyday walker with a rocker sole and a grippy outsole for people who walk in all weathers (check price | read review).

Price and value

The Devotion X 2 lists at $89.99 and is regularly discounted at department stores and on Ryka’s own site, which makes it one of the least expensive walking shoes with a women-specific shape and the APMA seal. What the money buys is a genuinely good fit for a narrow heel and wide forefoot, soft cushioning where walkers need it and a sole that now lasts. What it does not buy is serious support or all-day durability under heavy use. For a woman who walks a few miles several times a week and has no major foot issues, it is excellent value and hard to beat at the price.

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Final verdict

Best for: women who walk for fitness a few times a week, have neutral feet and want a light, soft, well-fitting walker without spending running-shoe money.

Avoid if: you need arch support or motion control, you stand all day on concrete or you are a heavier walker who needs more foam.

Fit: true to size, narrow heel, roomy toe box. Wide widths on many colors. No break-in.

Verdict: the Ryka Devotion X 2 does what a good budget walking shoe should. It fits women’s feet properly, it is light and soft and the new outsole fixes the one real weakness of the shoe it replaces. It is not a support shoe and it is not built for punishing days, but for everyday walking at under $90 it is one of the easiest recommendations we can make. Check the latest price.

Frequently Asked Questions for Ryka Devotion X 2