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In my opinion, the best shoes for nurses is the Nike Free Run or Free RN Flyknit (link). They are extremely versatile, affordable, and comfortable shoes from a reliable brand.
However, there are a lot of other shoes that me and plenty of other nurses love. So today, I’ll be going over my top picks for the best nursing shoes!
While nursing is an extreme rewarding career, there are some aspects that will take a toll. There is a widely known problem that nurses will have lower back problems later in life. This is due to the stress of daily job requirements. Having strong, supportive nursing shoes will definitely reduce the stress nurses endure.
In addition to physical stress, having the best nursing shoes can also help to relieve mental stress. Keeping your feet healthy is the first step to avoiding otherwise complicated issues with walking and foot pain. Also, keeping yourself stress free is important for nurses when battling to get through night shift.
- Fabric: Performance mesh
- Rubber sole
- Perforated panels, Reflective accents throughout, Cushioned collar and super-soft insole, Engineered for the needs of multi-functional athletes and…
- Signature speed-lacing system
- HelionTM superfoam injected CloudTec sole
- Breathable open engineered textile mesh upper with seamless synthetic overlays
- Breathable textile lining for abrasion-free wear
- Removable textile lined, foam padded insole for cushioning and support
- Durable full-length EVA midsole to absorb shock and offer stability
- Durable synthetic sole with rubber inserts for grip
- COMFY SNEAKS: Comfort styled to go anywhere, the Brooks Revel 5 is for runners looking for the perfect blend of street style and performance running,…
- QUALITY BUILD: Sneaks feature a breathable knit upper that adds style while providing responsive cushioning, along with a soft textile lining and…
- LACE-UP CLOSURE: Easy to pull on and off, our Brooks Revel 5 running shoes showcase a lace-up closure that ensures a secure and precise fit and also…
- OPTIMAL SUPPORT: Our running sneakers are set on a green rubber outsole with BioMoGo DNA that delivers a springy, energized ride and the arrow-point…
- MULTI-COLOR DESIGNS: These comfy running shoes are available in multiple women’s sizes with 18 different multi-color options that will stand out on…
- Stretchy, mesh running shoes with extra cushioning for all-day comfort
- Stretchable mesh upper for breathability
- Combined Cloudfoam midsole and outsole for step-in comfort and superior cushioning
- Cloudfoam memory sockliner molds to the foot for superior step-in comfort
- Sock-like construction hugs the foot
- Best Shoes for Nurse Criteria: What to Look for?
- What Are the Best Shoes for Nurses?
- HOKA ONE ONE Running Shoes
- Brooks Ghost Shoe
- Vessi Men’s Everyday Shoe (Male and Female)
- Nike Men’s Flex Experience Run Sneaker
- Nike Free RN Running Shoe
- ASICS Gel-Venture 6 Shoe
- Shoes for Crews Condor Work Sneaker
- Reebok Classic Renaissance Sneaker
- Vessi Women’s Cityscape Shoes
- ASICS Gel-Excite 4 Running Shoe
- Dansko Professional Clog
- Nurse Mates Dove Oxford
- Adidas Cloudfoam Pure Running Shoe
- Dr. Scholl’s Dynamo Work Shoe
- Crocs Specialist II Clog [Male & Female]
- Final Verdict
Best Shoes for Nurse Criteria: What to Look for?
So what do the best nursing shoes have that other shoes don’t? Being on your feet all day without the proper stability and support can lead to a lot of abnormal issues. These can include the tissues of the foot and heel along with knee and back pain.
Your feet are the first and usually only contact with the hard ground. It is important to put a barrier between yourself and that hard surface.
Would you let your patient with compromised skin sit in bed all day without a pad underneath them? Same kind of situation. If you don’t protect their skin, they could develop more serious conditions.
Arch Support
Firstly, you need nursing shoes with good arch support (source). These helps alleviate any possible tissue or foot damages therefore preventing knee and back pain. Additionally, arch support will evenly distribute your body weight across your entire foot. This ensures that you don’t have one spot with too much pressure.
Insole Cushion
The best shoes for nurses should have good cushioning. Good cushions help protect your joints and soft tissues from damage. A well-cushioned shoe will provide a great amount of padding underneath the foot additionally supporting the arch of your foot.
When walking, cushioning will reduce the impact of your foot hitting the hard ground constantly. Thusly, providing comfort, support and relief from impact forces (source).
Shock Absorbing Properties
Along with insole cushion, shock absorption helps to prevent nurses from coming in constant contact with a hard surface. Walking around on a hard ground every shift all day is extremely taxing on your joints. Good shock absorbing technology should be able to take a substantial amount of impact off your joints and feet.
What Are the Best Shoes for Nurses?
In our opinion, the best nursing shoes have to be the ON Cloud Shoes. They are a bit on the expensive side, however they provide excellent performance and all-day comfort.
Not only are the ON Cloud’s very comfortable, but they are extremely stylish as well. They have a lot of really neat designs, and back up their style with performance.
HOKA ONE ONE Running Shoes
The HOKA ONE ONE has been making a swell in the nursing shoes community. They are one of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis and due to this are great for nurses.
They have some of the best heel, bottom sole and plantar cushioning available from any shoe. While they are designed as running shoes primarily, healthcare workers have found them to be one solution to aching feet.
When working on your feet all day, it can be extremely beneficial to have the most comfortable shoes you can get. The HOKA ONE ONE shoes provide excellent all-day comfort for male and female nurses.
However, it does come at a price, a pretty high price. While these are one of the more expensive choices. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the craftsmanship, quality and comfort.
Brooks Ghost Shoe
What is it about Brooks Running Shoes that make them so popular among nurses? Because, they have a lot of the qualities that makes for a good nursing shoe.
Firstly, they are extremely comfortable and can be worn all day long without any issues. They come in several colors, so you can match them to your scrubs as well.
Brooks are made from high quality, breathable materials and are extremely good-fitting. All of these qualities make them one of the best options for nursing shoes.
Vessi Men’s Everyday Shoe (Male and Female)
Why is the Vessi Everyday shoe one of our top choices? Well, it’s extremely comfortable, durable and waterproof! These are vegan shoes from Vessi.
They are becoming more and more popular among nurses and healthcare workers for their style and durability. As I mentioned before, they are waterproof, which is huge for nurses. It makes it very easy to wipe off and sanitize your shoes after a shift (which is something I personally do).
They are easily one of our favorite nursing shoes to come out this year and we’re very excited to see where they go! They also come in a variety of colors and styles if you’re interested in other styles. Vessi shoes also come in styles for both men and women (Click for 10% Off Your First Order).
P.S. – We also did a full review of Vessi vs Clove Nursing Shoes!
Nike Men’s Flex Experience Run Sneaker
The Nike Flex Experience Run Sneaker is a male shoe that is perfect for nurses. These shoes are designed by one of the best shoe manufacturer’s in the world, Nike. They have a synthetic sole for good sole support.
Additionally, they are made out of a lightweight knit fabric. The fabric helps conform to your foot to help bring pressure off every step. They also have a comfortable fit with the flex grooves and soft mesh heel. The Flex Run sneakers are designed for running which are why they are one of the best nursing shoes!
Running shoes are perfect shoes for nurses because they provide great arch support, cushioning and are extremely lightweight.
Nike Free RN Running Shoe
Another great choice for good nursing shoes are the Nike Free RN Running Shoe. Again, running shoes are great for nurses for several reasons. They really help with arch support, cushion support and impact relief. Nike makes this shoe is several colors and styles which helps cater to everyone.
Nurses will enjoy the Free RN shoe because they literally feel like a feather on your feet. They are extremely lightweight and even make it seem like you have pillows below your feet. These shoes are very very comfortable and will not disappoint you.
We highly recommend the Nike Free RNs as one of the best nurse shoes. However, we do have a full list of my favorite Nike nursing shoes as well.
ASICS Gel-Venture 6 Shoe
The ASICS Gel-Venture 6 Shoe is another awesome choice for nurses. These shoes have a synthetic rubber sole that provides good arch support. It also features a rearfoot GEL cushioning system that attenuates shock during the impact phase. And, allows for a smooth transition to midstance. There is a removable sockliner so that you can put in a medical orthotic.
For nurses, this is important because a lot of nurses will use custom orthotics. Custom orthotics help provide extra cushioning that is customized for your foot. ASICS is also an awesome brand that makes high-quality shoes perfect for nurses.
Shoes for Crews Condor Work Sneaker
The Shoes for Crews Condor Work Sneaker was originally designed for the food service industry. But, they make a great option for nursing shoes because of their features. They have a rubber sole with a performance styled design. Additionally, they have a slip resistance factor, water resistance and ventilated lightweight design.
All of these factors make the Condor sneakers one of the best sneaker choices for nurses.
Reebok Classic Renaissance Sneaker
The Reebok Classic Renaissance Sneakers are a classic example of a nursing shoe. These shoes have a rubber sole and durable and lightweight material.
They have phenomenal foot support with a die-cut EVA midsole and cushioning that should last a long time. Additionally, the Reebok Renaissance have memory tech foam sockliners that provider extreme comfort.
Vessi Women’s Cityscape Shoes
It’s no surprise that Vessi’s shoes would make our list again for top female nursing shoes. Basically all the things we said for the men’s version reigns true for the women’s version as well.
They’re incredibly comfortable, supportive and waterproof. The waterproofing is a huge plus that a lot of other shoes don’t offer and definitely is a great feature for nurses.
ASICS Gel-Excite 4 Running Shoe
The women’s ASICS Gel-Excite 4 running shoe is one of the best nursing shoes for female nurses. These are awesome! There is a lot of nurses at our hospital that have these shoes. They provide excellent support, a fun style, many choices and soft cushioning.
Dansko Professional Clog
When looking at nursing shoes, Dansko is one of the top brands without a doubt. These Dansko women’s clogs are easily one of the best shoes for nurses you can find. They provide excellent arch support with good comfort and support.
Admittedly, they can be a bit weird to wear at first. But, after a few weeks, you’ll learn to appreciate them! They have several colors that they come in along with different fabrics as well. In addition, they’re extremely easy to clean with soap and water.
Nurse Mates Dove Oxford
Nurse Mates makes the Dove Oxford shoe for nurses. These shoes have a shock-absorbing EVA bottom portion with durable, slip-resistant rubber inserts. Additionally, they have an outer heel shell with a polyurethane core for powerful, shock-absorbing protection.
Nurse Mates also adds stain-resistant leather with durability and softness. These shoes are designed for nurses, making them one of the best choices for nursing shoes.
Adidas Cloudfoam Pure Running Shoe
The Adidas Cloudfoam Pure Running Shoe is a prime example of a good nursing shoe. They have excellent support, comfort and weight. Every single feature that a nursing shoe needs, these Cloudfoam Pures have.
Words cannot describe how comfortable these shoes are to wear. If you’re on your feet all day, like nurses are, they a top choice for sure. They have a rubber sole with a tall platform for comfort. They also have the cloudfoam sockliner that helps provide maximum comfort. Additionally, they are designed to hug your foot which really helps when you’re on your feet all day.
Dr. Scholl’s Dynamo Work Shoe
Dr. Scholl’s is a popular brand that makes several different foot related products. The Dynamo Work Shoe is a prime example of a shoe designed for nurses or healthcare workers. It is 100% leather built along with a strong rubber sole. They provide unmatched comfort and cushioning for this style of shoe.
The Dynamo are one of the best shoes for nurses because of several additional features. They’re extremely easy to wash off with soap and water. Also, they have a Dri-Lex moisture wicking lining and Aegis Microbe Shield control. Both of these help control bacterial growth and protect you. They also hold up to TM144 standards.
Crocs Specialist II Clog [Male & Female]
Crocs are one of the most popular healthcare worker shoes. Healthcare workers can even get a free pair. But, even if you don’t get them for free, they’re great for nurses. Crocs come in many different varieties and styles so you really can pick whichever one works best for you.
Most Croc’s are similar as far as they have a synthetic sole that is very cushioned. Additionally, they have a thick sole along with a fully molded material. The material is very easy to clean with soap and water and also has a thick toe section. These Specialist II shoes really are perfect as some of the best nursing shoes.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good nursing shoe. However, it is definitely worth it to invest in not only your health, but your work mental health as well.
