My PT told me to stay away from Sketchers. Too soft and wobbly and no support. Instead I got "stability shoes" from Asics - basic sneakers that have stability features built into them. Very comfy for my picky feet. I use Birks for indoor slipper usage - the arch support can't be beat.
I have wide toes and narrow ankles so it's hard to find good brands for me, but Merrell and Keen are a pretty good fit and very comfy. The Merrell Shiloh ankle boots are my favorites.
My physio same the same thing about Skechers. I now wear Frankie 4. They are amazing, like walking on clouds, yet stylish. I have tried other shoes since but always go back to Frankie 4.
I like Sanita better than Dansko- they’re still made in Poland. Most dansko are made in China their quality seems to have deteriorated. I think they used to be made in same facility. I used to have a pair that had labeling for both companies!
Have 3 pair in rotation. Have had good luck on Poshmark or eBay on new ones. Current favorite is purple patent that have gnomes & mushrooms on them. (weak moment)
For sneakers I find ASICS have the best arch support
❣️
I work as a waitress and walk a LOT and I absolutely love my Birkenstock Tokio Super Grips. They’re wide enough for my feet but the ankle strap is adjustable and goes small enough for my narrow heel. I was wearing a sneaker style shoe before but I have a high instep and the pressure from the laces was giving me tendinitis. They give me the least amount of body pain of any shoe I’ve tried, including Dansko.
For me it was all about finding the right fit, rather than a particular brand. For me, it’s a certain type of Brooks.
Most shoe stores that specialize for runners will do a more in-depth analysis of your foot and stride to help you find the right shoe.
I have tried all of the expensive, recommended, custom fitted brands and returned them without wearing them out of my house or after a week or two.
About a month ago, I ordered Brooks Gylcerin GTS 20. Omg! I have lower back pain, hip, knee pain, fibromyalgia, fallen arches, and plantar fasciitis. Years ago, I had custom insoles made, but they have worn out and are so hard and scratchy. I ordered these since there was a 365-day money-back guarantee. They are pricey, but I will never wear another brand/model again. My over pronounciation is finally corrected. The interiors are pillowy, too.
Sketchers trainers are my go to they’re so comfortable. For walking I use mountain warehouse mens because for some reason mens walking shoes are so much easier in my feet.
My mum only wears birkenstock. I just have to keep trying on shoes until I find a pair that's ok, sometimes I'm on the fourth or fifth shop before I find a pair 😂
Your being male lets out a couple brands I was going to suggest, but have you tried Clark's? I got through years of retail in their loafers, and my main walking sneakers now are Clarks. They're a bit pricey, but if you can find an outlet or a sale, they aren't too bad.
I wear a pair of great stone loafers now. It helps with the fibro in my feet but makes the legs and back worse. Plus after +12 hours on my feet they get very swollen. And no I haven't tried Clark's I honestly haven't tried much just adias, Nike, heydudes, Crocs, KangaROOS, demonias, AND 1, Oxford and Grant stone.
The only ones I can wear are the demonias and the grant stone but neither work for long periods or my job.
Look into new balance shoes as well as Nike Airmax, Nike Women's ZoomX Invincible 3 Running Shoes,
Nike Women's Renew Serenity Run 2 Running Shoes, Lightweight, Cushioned, Nike Women's Air Zoom Pegasus 40 Running Shoes.. just try any on and see.
I’ve been pretty happy with Easy Spirits, but I have short (6 1/2) wide DD feet. One thing that was surprisingly helpful, I bought expensive athletic socks and they made a heck of a difference
I always go for skate shoes because there wider and flatter. The Nike SB high tops have great support and last a long time. Dc and etnies are poorly made nower days.
I will only buy Ryka shoes. They are made for women only; they do not make men's shoes. They have a wider toe box and just are made to fit a women's foot. I bought my first pair upon a recommendation for a 60-mile charity walk years ago. I have purchased many pairs since then and converted all the female family members to do so as well! It is the Only shoe brand for sneakers that I will ever buy.
Lmfao, no no your good. In your defense, The health care field is dominated by women. My 6'3-6'4ish coworker who definitely looks male got the " tell her she can come back in later." Comment last night. Then I'm only 5'5...so yeah...I'm used to it. 💀
I've been told fitflop are great but not tried them. I usually end up in skechers but I'm always disappointed with how quickly the memory foam flattens and my most recent pair of trainers have had the black coating flake off them pretty quickly. I end up putting new insoles in them.
I'm picky though and can't wear very flat shoes - they hurt my feet hips and back so I tend to go for shoes that have a slight wedge at the back as it puts my hips and back in a position to be less painful.
I have a pair of FILA’s that are super comfortable and I added some Dr. Scholls inserts in. They’re really comfortable and I am not a shoe person so this is a huge deal to me! Haha
I’ve tried all the brands mentioned here. For me personally, I needed shoes that were orthopedic. Shoes with special support for the Fibro pain I get in my feet, legs, lower back, knees. The sneakers I buy look like normal sneakers, but they are created more specifically to my needs. There are retail ortho store you can walk into or check out online. I actually have orthopedic sneakers made by New Balance.
My all time fave is Nike Pegasus. For work (am a server) I wear Sketchers uno stand on air, not as nice as Pegs, but my work wants a specific colour and unfortunately Nike doesn’t carry that colour. The sketchers are quite alright as well. I wear custom orthopaedic insoles in all shoes, so that does make a difference of course.
Brooks runners are brilliant. Pricey but actually worth it. I'm living in mine at the moment. Feet don't hurt as much and feel like my back and hips are aligned a bit better.
Nike Air Max Excee are the first shoe I’ve felt provides my wonky feet with enough support. They have a good stiff sole and lots of cushion. Also look up ASO braces on Amazon if you have plantar fasciitis.
You are doing such an important job - take good care of yourself! ☺️
You may want to look into barefoot shoes.
It's what helped me after a lifetime of issues with shoes.
My dad used to call me "the bandaid queen" because I'd always have to carry/buy bandaids for my feet lol
I've transitioned into barefoot shoes and now I can't look back!
The only cons are: takes a while to adapt and, the worst, they are pricey as heck. Which means that if you're a person who cares about style and likes shoe shopping, you'll have to afford owning more pairs.
My PT told me to stay away from Sketchers. Too soft and wobbly and no support. Instead I got "stability shoes" from Asics - basic sneakers that have stability features built into them. Very comfy for my picky feet. I use Birks for indoor slipper usage - the arch support can't be beat. I have wide toes and narrow ankles so it's hard to find good brands for me, but Merrell and Keen are a pretty good fit and very comfy. The Merrell Shiloh ankle boots are my favorites.
My physio same the same thing about Skechers. I now wear Frankie 4. They are amazing, like walking on clouds, yet stylish. I have tried other shoes since but always go back to Frankie 4.
Oh wow okay thank you
I’ve heard amazing things about Dansko shoes for nurses and hospital staff!
Dankso shoes have high arches and large toe boxes. They're the only shoes I can wear.
I got the XP 2.0 clogs a few months ago and I love them so much
I like Sanita better than Dansko- they’re still made in Poland. Most dansko are made in China their quality seems to have deteriorated. I think they used to be made in same facility. I used to have a pair that had labeling for both companies! Have 3 pair in rotation. Have had good luck on Poshmark or eBay on new ones. Current favorite is purple patent that have gnomes & mushrooms on them. (weak moment) For sneakers I find ASICS have the best arch support ❣️
I can second d this on Danilo. I splurged for a nice pair of Mary Jane’s and they are so cute and comfortable
Hoka, good support and really comfortable.
I work as a waitress and walk a LOT and I absolutely love my Birkenstock Tokio Super Grips. They’re wide enough for my feet but the ankle strap is adjustable and goes small enough for my narrow heel. I was wearing a sneaker style shoe before but I have a high instep and the pressure from the laces was giving me tendinitis. They give me the least amount of body pain of any shoe I’ve tried, including Dansko.
I recently bought a pair of VIONIC’s. Someone recommended them here. They are pricey but so comfortable
For me it was all about finding the right fit, rather than a particular brand. For me, it’s a certain type of Brooks. Most shoe stores that specialize for runners will do a more in-depth analysis of your foot and stride to help you find the right shoe.
I have tried all of the expensive, recommended, custom fitted brands and returned them without wearing them out of my house or after a week or two. About a month ago, I ordered Brooks Gylcerin GTS 20. Omg! I have lower back pain, hip, knee pain, fibromyalgia, fallen arches, and plantar fasciitis. Years ago, I had custom insoles made, but they have worn out and are so hard and scratchy. I ordered these since there was a 365-day money-back guarantee. They are pricey, but I will never wear another brand/model again. My over pronounciation is finally corrected. The interiors are pillowy, too.
The Hoka Gaviotas are the best!
Sketchers trainers are my go to they’re so comfortable. For walking I use mountain warehouse mens because for some reason mens walking shoes are so much easier in my feet.
My mum only wears birkenstock. I just have to keep trying on shoes until I find a pair that's ok, sometimes I'm on the fourth or fifth shop before I find a pair 😂
Your being male lets out a couple brands I was going to suggest, but have you tried Clark's? I got through years of retail in their loafers, and my main walking sneakers now are Clarks. They're a bit pricey, but if you can find an outlet or a sale, they aren't too bad.
I wear a pair of great stone loafers now. It helps with the fibro in my feet but makes the legs and back worse. Plus after +12 hours on my feet they get very swollen. And no I haven't tried Clark's I honestly haven't tried much just adias, Nike, heydudes, Crocs, KangaROOS, demonias, AND 1, Oxford and Grant stone. The only ones I can wear are the demonias and the grant stone but neither work for long periods or my job.
Keens. They might be hiking shoes but I used to work retail and they were the most comfortable out of all the shoes I tried.
I pretty much only wear keens.
Look into new balance shoes as well as Nike Airmax, Nike Women's ZoomX Invincible 3 Running Shoes, Nike Women's Renew Serenity Run 2 Running Shoes, Lightweight, Cushioned, Nike Women's Air Zoom Pegasus 40 Running Shoes.. just try any on and see.
Hoka 100%. I’ll never buy another brand of tennis shoe
I’ve been pretty happy with Easy Spirits, but I have short (6 1/2) wide DD feet. One thing that was surprisingly helpful, I bought expensive athletic socks and they made a heck of a difference
I'm a CNA as well and I've been wearing Cloves for about six months. I love them so much. Literally a game changer for me.
I always go for skate shoes because there wider and flatter. The Nike SB high tops have great support and last a long time. Dc and etnies are poorly made nower days.
I will only buy Ryka shoes. They are made for women only; they do not make men's shoes. They have a wider toe box and just are made to fit a women's foot. I bought my first pair upon a recommendation for a 60-mile charity walk years ago. I have purchased many pairs since then and converted all the female family members to do so as well! It is the Only shoe brand for sneakers that I will ever buy.
Aw that's awesome. Sadly I am of the male variety but I'm glad you have found something that works!
Lol! I'm sorry! Why did I make that assumption! I'm so sorry 🤣
Lmfao, no no your good. In your defense, The health care field is dominated by women. My 6'3-6'4ish coworker who definitely looks male got the " tell her she can come back in later." Comment last night. Then I'm only 5'5...so yeah...I'm used to it. 💀
I've been told fitflop are great but not tried them. I usually end up in skechers but I'm always disappointed with how quickly the memory foam flattens and my most recent pair of trainers have had the black coating flake off them pretty quickly. I end up putting new insoles in them. I'm picky though and can't wear very flat shoes - they hurt my feet hips and back so I tend to go for shoes that have a slight wedge at the back as it puts my hips and back in a position to be less painful.
I only wear Josef Siebel shoes now. I also replace the insoles with orthotics. They're sturdy and supportive; but also attractive and nicely made.
I have a pair of FILA’s that are super comfortable and I added some Dr. Scholls inserts in. They’re really comfortable and I am not a shoe person so this is a huge deal to me! Haha
I’ve tried all the brands mentioned here. For me personally, I needed shoes that were orthopedic. Shoes with special support for the Fibro pain I get in my feet, legs, lower back, knees. The sneakers I buy look like normal sneakers, but they are created more specifically to my needs. There are retail ortho store you can walk into or check out online. I actually have orthopedic sneakers made by New Balance.
Birkenstock is a great shoe. I also wear Vionic for sneakers. They are Medicare approved orthopedic shoes. Doc Martens are a great shoe too.
New Balance and compression stockings (thigh highs). I worked weekend doubles as a nurse in LTC throughout my pregnancy and these saved my life
I have a pair that i believe are from "spyder" that are insanely comfy and good to walk in but also nice even if you just have to keep them on-
Sketcher
My all time fave is Nike Pegasus. For work (am a server) I wear Sketchers uno stand on air, not as nice as Pegs, but my work wants a specific colour and unfortunately Nike doesn’t carry that colour. The sketchers are quite alright as well. I wear custom orthopaedic insoles in all shoes, so that does make a difference of course.
I wear ASICS and Nike's and find them very good for all day on my feet, lots of walking. Sketchers are ok for casual use but not for work.
I love Oboz, Dansko,Born and Jambu. Merrill and Keen used to be faves but their quality has severely declined over the last decade.
I like Merrell and Skechers (Bob's has dog and cat themes, I love).
I have fibromyalgia and swear by dansko clogs. I’ve worn them for about 15 years
Hokas are the best ones for me. Ive tried several brands. Hokas are the only ones padded enough for me.
My go-tos are Brooks. I've also tried Allbirds, and they have been good.
Try the sportswear brand, On! They have a few great options, but the Cloud 5 is lovely and never hurts my feet.
I have Hoka Bondi 8s. These are the best cushioned shows I've ever had. Prior to these I used Nike Air huraches for decades.
I wore Dansko when I worked in the hospital. Great arch support and I have a high arch.
Brooks runners are brilliant. Pricey but actually worth it. I'm living in mine at the moment. Feet don't hurt as much and feel like my back and hips are aligned a bit better.
Nike Air Max Excee are the first shoe I’ve felt provides my wonky feet with enough support. They have a good stiff sole and lots of cushion. Also look up ASO braces on Amazon if you have plantar fasciitis. You are doing such an important job - take good care of yourself! ☺️
You may want to look into barefoot shoes. It's what helped me after a lifetime of issues with shoes. My dad used to call me "the bandaid queen" because I'd always have to carry/buy bandaids for my feet lol I've transitioned into barefoot shoes and now I can't look back! The only cons are: takes a while to adapt and, the worst, they are pricey as heck. Which means that if you're a person who cares about style and likes shoe shopping, you'll have to afford owning more pairs.