Unlike most high-heeled shoes, wedges are inherently comfortable. The thick, solid sole and curved silhouette evenly distribute pressure throughout your foot, as opposed to only on your heel or the ball of your foot. This keeps you steady when you’re out and about without wearing on your arches.
As you probably know, not all wedge sandals are created equal. But with the right pair, your puppies won’t be throbbing at the end of a long day.
If you’re like a lot of ladies out there, you might be partial to strappy low wedge sandals—and who can blame you? When it comes to elevated designs, this is one of the most comfortable, supportive shoe styles you can get. Keep reading for a breakdown of the best wedges with modest heels, as well as tips on how to wear wedges with style.
What Are the Best Low-Heel Women’s Sandals?
The continuous heel-to-toe soles of wedges help alleviate pressure on your feet, allowing you to go about your day without aches and pains. And while 4-inch strappy wedge sandals are certainly comfier than 4-inch stilettos, they’re not for everyone.
If you’re looking for a shorter heel, the footwear experts at Vionic have you covered with our low wedge sandal. Bear in mind, though, that heel height isn’t the only thing that makes a shoe comfortable. Material, slope, and footbed shape shouldn’t be overlooked. Below, find a rundown of the best low-heel womens wedge sandals and what to look for when shopping for each style.
Low-Heel Espadrilles Wedge Sandals
First up on our list is the low-heel espadrille wedge. The jute-wrapped sole offers an easy-breezy vibe, while the strappy uppers keep your feet secure as you walk, dance, or strut through your day. Espadrilles are great for vacations, going out to eat, barbecuing, or shopping, and they go with a wide range of warm-weather outfits.
Espadrilles wedges for women offer a heel height of 2 to 3 inches. The sturdy soles and footbeds are biomechanically engineered to hug your arches and promote your natural gate.¹
Our styles include options with wide-strap leather uppers, adjustable ankle straps, animal-print detailing, and even some closed-toe designs that are not quite a sandal but not quite a shoe either. You can wear them out to brunch, on an airplane, on a date, or even to professional settings.
Low-Heel Cork Wedge Sandals
Classic cork women’s wedges are another excellent option for those in the market for slightly elevated summertime shoes. While some options are made with solid cork shoes, the styles from Vionic feature cork-wrapped rubber outsoles, enhancing the durability and shock absorption of the design.
Cork wedges can be made with a variety of upper materials, like leather, suede, or textile. Vionic carries a number of designs, including black low-heel wedge sandals with leather uppers, strappy snake-print sandals with a modest heel and hook-and-loop fastening, and low-heel slides.
Our chic podiatrist-designed wedge sandals low heel options feature Vionic’s exclusive Vio-Motion Support technology, meaning you can count on stability and support from the ground up. Heels range from about 1.5 to 2.5 inches, offering just the right amount of extra height without sacrificing comfort.
Toe-Post Wedge Sandals
With a wedge heel, toe-post sandals walk the line between laidback and classy with ease. The understated elegance of this shoe style can effortlessly transition from poolside lounging to a night out on the town without missing a beat.
Vionic’s toe-post wedge sandal takes thong-style sandals to new heights—but not too high. This warm-weather footwear staple features Y-strap uppers and a modest heel height of about 2 inches.
We have toe-post sandals in numerous colors, prints, and styles. From metallic detailing to tortoise straps, and wear-anywhere neutral hues, Vionic has something for everyone. What’s more, our Y-strap comfortable wedges feature dual-density midsoles and molded EVA footbeds for ultimate arch support, plus padded neoprene lining under the uppers to reduce uncomfortable rubbing.
Platform Wedge Sandals
Then there are comfortable platform sandals, which are similar to comfortable wedges, except the sole is elevated underneath the toes as well as the midfoot and heel. This means that, even with a higher heel, your foot won’t arch as much. For instance, with 3-inch platforms that have a 1-inch platform height under the toe, it’s really like wearing 2-inch wedges.
Since steeper inclines can put added pressure on the ball of your foot, platform sandals allow you to get the height without the discomfort.² The platform women’s wedge sandals from Vionic come in a range of styles. We’re talking wide-strap slides, strappies with hook-and-loop closure, and raffia-wrapped platform wedge with adjustable ankle strap.
No matter which style you choose, you can bet you’ll get the comfort you crave. Our elevated sandals have heel heights of about 3 inches and platforms of around an inch, reducing the pitch and minimizing strain on your feet. With built-in orthotic arch support and heel stability, Vionic’s comfortable sandals for women support your natural alignment and keep you light on your toes.
Sporty Platform Sandals
The sporty platform sandal is like many of the active styles you’ll find on the market, but with elevated soles from heel to toe. Unlike platform wedges, this shoe is usually about an inch high and features continuous elevation throughout.
The ladies’ low-heel wedge sandals from Vionic come in sporty styles with modest heels and adjustable ankle strap and forefoot strap. Our summer-ready styles are great for walking, running errands, hanging out with your friends, or strolling along the beach at sunset. The versatility of this shoe really can’t be overstated.³
The sporty platform sandals can be worn with:
- Jeans and a t-shirt ( See our blog article on how to wear wedges with jeans)
- Athleisure wear
- Maxi dress
- Sundresses
- Jumpsuits and rompers
- Leggings and an oversized tee
- Shorts, skirts, and skorts
As with all our other shoes, our active platforms have reliable backstraps, molded EVA footbeds, and durable rubber outsoles between 1 and 2 inches high. No matter the height, straps are key when it comes to active sandals, as they prevent slipping by keeping your feet anchored in place.
Orthotic Platform Sandals and Wedges from Vionic
If you’re looking for comfortable women’s low-heel wedge sandals, you’re in good hands. Here at Vionic, we know how important arch support and overall comfort are, but we also appreciate fashion-forward designs.
Whether you’re drawn to low wedge espadrilles, cork wedges, toe-post sandals, platforms, or sporty low-heel sandals, you’ll find something that strikes your fancy here. Not only that, but with every pair, you can rest assured knowing you’re getting the orthotic contouring and stability your feet crave.
Shop our entire collection of comfortable women’s shoes and order the perfect pair today.
External sources:
- Carey Reilly. “These shoes are so comfortable, I bought them in 8 different styles”. May 29, 2019, https://www.today.com/style/vionic-shoes-review-t154357
- Francesca Cocchi. “20 Best Comfortable Wedges that Won’t Hurt Your Feet”. The Pioneer Woman. Mar 4, 2021, https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/fashion-style/g32463219/comfortable-wedges/
- Richelle Szypulski. “Get Rid of Your Rubber Flip-flops — These Are the Comfy Walking Sandals You Need Instead”. Travel and Leisure. Updated Feb 27, 2021, https://www.travelandleisure.com/style/shoes/comfortable-walking-sandals-womens