Comfortable Shoes

Sometimes, investing in insoles is better than shoes. (You have more options.) I'm on my feet all day and I work with kids so I wear good athletic shoes with regular athletic insoles. I've wanted to try that infomercial insole (WalkFit Orthotics) and the reviews seem mixed.

Hi C.,
I have a pair of Clark shoes and love them. They are comfortable and stylish. I am a teacher and on my feet a lot too. You can get them for less than $100 at Boston Store Younkers, Elder Bierman, ect. They go on sale often and the stores always have coupons in the newspaper for an additional 20-25% off.
Good luck!

For years I've been wearing a brand called "Josef Seibel". I think they are incredibly comfortable to stand and walk in. Brand new, they are expensive, around $120/pair. However, I buy them off of eBay, where you can get new or like new pairs for $30. I even once snagged a pair of mary janes for $12!

One thing to keep in mind is, are you walking around, or are you mostly standing stationary? There are different shoes for each. I have heard that for people who stand stationary, professional dog groomer shoes work wonders.

Good luck!

I completely agree about getting the podiatrist to mold you orthotic arch supports. They are the best! You can put them in all your shoes. My health insurance paid for my first pair.

A brand I've found very comfy without my supports are are Privo, but they are not dressy - more casual. I found them at Famous Footwear & DSW.

C.,
My husband has the same problem. He also buys Borns. His solution: 1. Buy supportive insoles and change them when needed. This prolongs the life of the shoe. 2. Buy 2 Pairs and where them every other day. (Maybe even a different high-end brand) This also gives them a longer life span and also is good for your feet. and 3. We buy him shoes at Nordstrom's Rack at the Mall of America. They have a great selection of name brand shoes for significant discounts. There are also other discount retailers that sell shoes that did not sell out completely when in the major department stores and are at clearance prices, I have even seen Born's at Marshalls.

Dansko is one of the best brands I have worn. They conform to your feet and last forever. I used them when I managed restaurants. Rarely had sore feet.

I taught 1/2 day preschool in GA for years and a co worker introduced me to Easy Spirit shoes. Some styles look a little "old" and grandmother type, but other styles are cute. Sometimes I think that comfort is more important than style, esp when you are on your feet!! The prices may be similar to Born (they are comfortable, too), but stores sometimes have them on sale.

Good luck. I now teach a shorter day preschool here in IA, but it is still pretty easy to tell when I have worn the wrong shoes to work.

I love Dansko shoes! They are a bit pricey around $100 but well worth it if you are on your feet a lot...I wore them all the time when I lived in Europe and walked everywhere! Good luck! Chris

Nurses mostly were athletic shoes,now. If you like Born, I see them frequently at Marshall's for less $. They might be last year's styles, but they don't change that much.
I recommend arch supports also.

Hi C., I love my Dansko's. I am a chiropractor and stand for 8-10 hours per day. I used to buy my shoes at Payless but now I realize I need to pay for good shoes. I get mine at Stan's Fit For Your Feet on 75th and Layton. They are about $115. They rarely have sales on Dansko's. I own brown, black and blue and love them!!!

Good luck!

I'm a lab tech, so I'm on my feet alot as well. I like the Dansko clogs (Schuler Shoes). They are expensive (about $110 for a pair) but they last a long time (I've had mine 3 yrs) and they are really comfortable for me. They have some shoes that are a dressier style, but I think they run closer to $125/pair.

I usually buy Born or Merrell. But I can't spend $120 on a pair of shoes like others.

I agree Born shoes are great (but expensive), I have found the the brand Keen and Privo aare both cushy and comfortable to wear all day. The only draw back is that they too are kind of expensive like the Borns. Good luck and hope you find something you like.

I also am on my feet a lot at work and about a year ago I finally purchased a pair of Dansko shoes. Similar to the Born shoes, they are quite expensive, but that being said, they do last for years and years. Since I bought them I've had other co-workers tell me that they wear the same brand and theirs have lasted anywhere from 5-10 years. They are very sturdy shoes and don't wear out easily. After I put a little shoe polish on mine, they look brand new. And they still feel great! And if you check out Zappos website you will find many comments on these shoes, often worn by nurses. Happy shoe shopping!

I worked for a podiatrist for years and he reccommended SAS New Balance. I could ask if there are more but those were the main ones you might even need a good pair of orthotics but be careful you want them to cast your foot while you are sitting down and the doc puts your foot in the neutral position not ones where you stand in something and it leaves the impression of your foot. good luck if you have anymore questions let me know

you could also try a pair of spenco you can get in a pharmacy before trying the orthotics because they can be expensive.

As a nurse i have found that to stand all day the best shoes to wear are the ones with good arch and heel support to keep your knees and back from aching. flex in the ball of the foot and toe area also helps alot, and i swear by the gel inserts! i use cross trainers, but alot of the newer nursing shoes are cute and look good too. the cupped heels on the soles are the best type of heel support i've found, and when the arches start to give, it's time for a new pair, even when they still look good (learned that one the hard way) lol
Good luck!
C.

I would HIGHLY recommend Dansko shoes. They have great support and are very comfortable if you are on your feet all day. I bought the clogs, but there are many different styles. They have hard support and are not cushion-y, soft shoes on the inside, but they were wonderful for my feet, legs and back. I bought them when I was working in a lab and on my feet all day. They are a little pricey, but 3 years later, mine still look and feel like new. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.dansko.com/html/default.aspx

I'm an RN and I wear Dansko--also worn by chefs--and I love them. they come in all different styles. check out their website. I have purchased shoes from their "outlet" as well. yeah, they're $100 or so but worth it.

Have you tried Dansko shoes yet? They are pretty expensive ($120 on average) but will last forever! They have some really cute styles and are a bit more dressy than Born or Privos. I agree on Privos though..they are the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever worn!!!

C. - most shoes today have little to no arch support. I had arch supports made specifically for my feet at my chiropractor's office. They take molds of your feet, along with a few other measurements including weight, and then a support is produced. I had these made for my daughter too to help with some knee problems she was having.

D.

I don't know what your issue is, but I have flat feet (unsupported arches) and my feet constantly hurt too. I have found great success with a brand called Dankso. That is about the only brand I will wear anymore.

They make a clog that a lot of nurses wear, but also other styles that are suitable for work. They aren't cheap (good shoes aren't) but I find I wear mine every day so they are worth the investment. Good luck! Tired feet make your whole body tired.

Before I read the last sentence from your huband- I was thinking "nurse clogs"- they are meant to be comfortable and ease the strain of standing all day.

Dansko shoes are very comfortable, they also are expensive but the last a long time. I think that you can now get them in an array of colors, most of them are a clog version.

I have a pair of Dansko and would recommend them. I am wearing them right now actually. The clogs I have are very comfy and stylish at the same time. Big plus for me!!