Avia

Founded in 1981 near Beaverton, Oregon, Avia shoes were created using the principle of cantilever design in every pair of shoes. The cantilever principle lies in the concave heel design, which provides shock absorption and stability without the need to add on a single bell or whistle. The cantilever design system is so simple, yet so functional, that by the mid-1980s the Avia brand became synonymous with Men's Basketball and Women's Aerobics.

Avia's cantilever design has remained constant in its simplicity, yet has also evolved into next-generation technology. In the 1990s, the Dual-Cantilever System was developed, which uses an inverted air bag as a second cantilever atop the concave heel. And most recently, the innovative Ecto-Cantilever System (ECS) has been created.

Designed to offset the molecular breakdown of today's standardized midsole, the ECS uses thermoplastic plates to provide a mechanical action for cushioning and stability. One of the plates is built into the outsole with the concave heel in contact with the floor, while the second plate is inverted under the heel of the foot for a supportive ride that also centers heel-strike. Using a mechanical cushioning system, rather than the traditional inert white foam material used by most manufacturers, enhances the longevity of the shoe and reduces breakdown of the midsole.

We at Onlineshoes.com are proud to offer you the Avia collection of athletic shoes for men and women. We hope that you may find, as many individuals have, that Avia's cantilever design is effective in reducing lower back pain, because the concave portion of the heel never actually touches the walking surface. At any rate, we're sure that whatever your foot type: high arch, medium arch or no arch, and whatever your sport: running, walking, basketball, fitness or crosstraining, Avia has the shoe for you.