It’s easy to find cute and trendy shoes. Trust us on that.
What’s hard? Finding a comfortable pair of shoes that will keep your feet happy when you’re on them all day long.
Standing all day can greatly affect your lower extremities and lead to some serious long-term complications. Medical professionals, hotel employees, and retail and food service workers are prone to experiencing muscle fatigue, joint pain, knee problems, and even back pain. Therefore, choosing the right pair of shoes that offer support and comfort is vital for those who spend most of their days on their feet.
Nurses need the best shoes for standing all day
There are plenty of factors to consider when purchasing the perfect pair of shoes for walking and standing all day. The first is arch support.
The arches of the feet act like shock absorption as they bear the amount of pressure that you put onto your feet every time you’re walking, running or even just standing.
Shoes with great arch support can lessen foot pain as they can provide support, stability, and balance. Make sure the shoe is padded, too, for added comfort and to lessen the stress on your feet.
The next factor to consider is the weight of the shoes. Lightweight shoes won’t tire your legs out as quickly, but you have to make sure that the shoes you select are both durable and sized correctly.
Your shoes should be a comfortable length and width, with a wide enough toe box to give your feet enough room. You should also ensure that your shoe soles offer a good grip and traction on a variety of surfaces.
Considering the number of factors involved, we’ve listed some of the best shoes that might work perfectly for you. For maximum comfort, check out our list of the best compression socks as well.
1. New Balance 928v3 Walking Shoes, $68.42 – $275.55 at Zappos and Amazon
The New Balance brand is dedicated to helping athletes achieve their goals, and it does so by designing shoes to fit wearers rather than an image. While not as lightweight as other pairs listed below, given the full-grain leather material, it will provide comfort and stability for all-day comfort.
The New Balance walking shoes feature the brand’s Rollbar and Walking Strike Path technologies, which provide motion control and superior stability.
They also have Adzorb midfoot cushioning, a seamless Phantom liner, and odor-resistant treatment. In addition, they have a compression-molded EVA midsole, dual-density PU inserts, and durable rubber outsoles.
These are available in different colors for men and women.
2. Brooks Addiction Walker Shoes, $92.95 – $229.99 at Zappos and Amazon
Although these shoes look chunky, they are loaded with support for low arches and control for overpronation.
They feature the brand’s BioMoGO DNA midsole cushioning, which adapts to stride, weight and speed; Extensive Progressive Diagonal Rollbar, which is a support system to guide and keep your body in its natural path of motion; and innovative slip-resistant outsoles.
Women can get these shoes in white, black and bone colors, and men can buy them in black, white and brown.
3. Nike Tanjun Sneakers, $38.51 – $85.00 at Amazon and Zappos
If you’re looking for a more stylish yet comfortable pair of shoes, these Nike Tanjun shoes are for you.
The Nike Tanjuns are named after the Japanese word for “simplicity,” and the design shows it. These shoes have a streamlined design made of breathable mesh material. They feature a lightly padded collar and tongue, fabric lining, and textile insole for added comfort.
They are also shock absorbent, thanks to the cushioned foam midsole and outsole that provide grip and stability.
These shoes are available in seven color combinations, perfect for fashion-forward individuals who are also looking for all-day comfort.
4. Skechers Equalizer Persistent Slip-On Sneakers, $39.90 – $109.13 at Amazon
These Skechers Equalizer slip-ons are one of the lightest pairs of shoes on the market, and they offer unmatched comfort. The lightly patterned mesh front and side panels provide a cooling effect that will keep your feet dry.
They also have a shock-absorbing FlexSole midsole, which is lightweight yet durable, and memory foam cushioned insole for additional support. The side elastic fabric panels should make these shoes easy to put on and off.
5. Saucony ProGrid Integrity ST2 Walking Shoes, $64.97 – $143.52 at Zappos and Amazon
You’ll never have to experience any pronation issues with these well-cushioned plush shoes.
They are made of breathable and flexible full-grain leather upper with Forefoot Stretch Zone, ProGrid cushioning system on the forefoot and rearfoot, and compression-molded EVA midsole, offering exceptional comfort and support.
In addition to the Strobel board, which helps reduce impact, they also have a ProGrid heel with Respon Technology that gives added support and shock absorbency. The durable non-marking rubber outsole with Walk Trac Technology provides great traction and grip.
6. Dansko Professional Clogs, $63.72 – $130 at Nordstrom and Zappos
These leather clogs have a seal of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association. Clearly, these are perfect for those who work long shifts on their feet. Dr. Howard Friedman, a New York-based podiatrist, often recommends Dansko clogs or similar type clogs to nurses.
They provide excellent support, comfort, and stability, and feature a roomy reinforced toe box, an anatomically contoured midsole, an inner frame, a padded instep collar, and a protective heel counter. Use the following fit guide to find the perfect clogs for your feet.
Dansko clogs will have a slightly snug fit when stepping in, but your toes should not touch the front of the clog and there must be enough room to allow them to wriggle freely
They also have anti-fatigue rocker bottom for a natural stride and shock-absorbent rubber outsole with two-inch heels. Dansko also offers narrow and wide clogs for women and narrow and wide clogs for men.
7. Tiosebon Athletic Walking Shoes, $19.99 – $32.99 at Amazon
Tiosebon provides high-quality yet comfortable shoes for those who frequently stand during their working hours. The best part? The brand offers a competitive price tag.
These particular walking shoes are sleek and have an easy slip-on design with an elastic topline for easy on and off. Crafted from breathable and durable mesh fabric, they are super lightweight at only 142 grams.
The damping latex insole features just the right cushion for comfort and latex arch insert for support.
They also have a ComforFry sock liner for optimum cushioning performance, which provides a cooler, drier and healthier shoe environment.
Although lightweight, they are shock-absorbent with Solyte midsoles, which offer excellent bounce-back and durability, and non-skid high-elastic MD outsoles that provide good traction. Its quick-drying features make this pair an excellent choice for rainy walks.
These shoes are available in white, black, and several color combinations.
8. Rockport Almartin Oxford Shoes, $49.34 – $118.75 at Amazon
For those looking for a dressier pair of shoes — say, retail and hotel employees — these Rockport leather oxfords may be a great option.
They are perfect for standing all day, thanks to a sponge ethylene vinyl acetate footbed that conforms to the shape of the foot, offering cushioning, stability and a personalized fit.
In addition, they are designed with lightweight shock-absorbing soles and a padded tongue and collar that prevent blisters.
Aside from comfort and stability, these shoes can add a touch of class to your professional wardrobe. The brogue detailing and perforated wingtip design provide a dapper appeal as you work from nine to five, or longer.
9. Clarks Rosalyn Belle Dress Pumps, $65.90 – $110 at Nordstrom and Amazon
Ladies who are reluctant to wear heels at work should hesitate no more with these Clarks dress pumps.
They are guaranteed to lift your look without, of course, sacrificing the comfort that you need while servicing customers all day.
Aside from the classic leather style, they have comfort features, which include Clarks Plus underfoot cushioning and OrthoLite footbed that offer breathability and sustained support.
They also have round toes for extra room, a padded collar, and a moisture-wicking lining. The 2-inch leawood block heels and decorative toes complete the simple yet professional look of these shoes.
10. Vionic Madison Mia Pumps, $52.32 – $139.95 at Amazon
At first glance, you might not consider these pumps to be the best pair for standing or walking all day, given the heel height. However, with the flawlessly engineered construction of these heels, you might forget that you’re actually wearing heels.
These shoes also have a podiatrist-designed microfiber sock footbed that hugs your arches for additional comfort.
You can get these sleek leather pumps in patent and printed designs.
What do you think? Are any of these shoes enough to convince you to make the switch to an orthopedic-friendly pair of kicks?
Credit: Howard Jones / WENN