7 Best Shoes For Nurses in 2024

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7 Best Shoes For Nurses in 2024
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Çocuk Pembe Sneaker. New Balance Shando Mens Running Shoes

Nurses are on their feet all day long. And without a proper pair of shoes, the feet and legs can feel strained. 

Support and comfort are the key elements of a great nurse’s shoe. However, there is a wide array of models that do just that. To help you, we have trimmed it down to the best shoes from different categories. We based our decision on the tests we carried out inside the lab and while wearing the shoes ourselves. We also made an all-embracing review so you could read all of our personal thoughts in an organized and comprehensible manner.

How we test walking shoes

We Zitron ourselves on giving out unbiased reviews. To do so, we rigidly follow these protocols: 

  • We buy the shoes using our own money. No sponsorships. No X-deals. We are as much consumers of these shoes as you are.
  • We test the shoes in actual walks and actual standing jobs and tasks. We also test them on different surfaces, but mostly on concrete and cement, like the ones in hospitals. We are a group of testers here, so our experiences are diverse. You’d know who reviewed that because we keep our author bios open.
  • We factor data and results from our lab tests. Additionally, we split the shoes in half to see all the layers and elements inside.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers | Best shoes for nurses overall

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In our search for the best shoe for nurses, we looked for something that goes above and beyond for long hours of continuous walking. From many hours of testing shoes in the lab and on our feet, we found the Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 Pale Ivory Sneakers Shoes DH4402-100 to be the perfect partner for dashing around from one hospital stop to the next or from one room to another. Its finely-tuned cushioning, lightweight build, and secure fit sealed the deal for us.

When we had it on foot, we felt like we could keep going on and on! We tested this further in our lab by pressing our durometer against its midsole. After doing this five times to ensure accuracy, we found that it is 4% firmer than the average midsole. This provides an amazing one-two punch of a sufficiently soft underfoot feel and a sufficiently stable platform for surefooted strides.

Something that also helps for long hours is the Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 Pale Ivory Sneakers Shoes DH4402-100’s lightweight build. Its weight of 8.4 oz (238g) is 9.9% lighter than that of the average shoe, which helps in keeping feet fresh.

Slipping off shoes is something that’s unwelcome, especially for nurses who are already in their groove. The great thing about the Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 Pale Ivory Sneakers Shoes DH4402-100 is that it secures feet well. The Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 Pale Ivory Sneakers Shoes DH4402-100 was able to embrace our feet so well that we never felt any fear of slipping out of it, mostly because of its fully gusseted tongue. If there are any other further concerns with regard to this dimension, the Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 Pale Ivory Sneakers Shoes DH4402-100 comes with tie-able shoelaces that can further improve its lock-in fit.

The Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 Pale Ivory Sneakers Shoes DH4402-100 may be too narrow for some. We measured its toebox width in the upper at 89.5 mm, which is a whole 6.7% narrower than that of the average walking shoe at 95.9 mm. We don’t recommend this shoe for those with wide feet.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Pros

  • Perfect for all-day wear
  • Unbelievably lightweight
  • Nike Cosmic Unity Team Basketball Shoe Black
  • Converse Chuck 70 Ox 162058C shoes
  • Very breathable
  • Super easy on-off
  • Great flexibility
  • The 5-piece range commemorates the sneakers 35th anniversary
  • Sustainable materials (44%)

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Cons

  • Bumper insulated sneakers
  • Lacks durability
  • Sneakers Stampa 3D
Full review of Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 Pale Ivory Sneakers Shoes DH4402-100

Shoes for nurses with the best in-shoe feel

On Cloudnova
88
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After putting nurses walking shoes under scrutiny, we found On Cloudnova as the one with the best in-shoe feel. Even at work, we felt at home in Cloudnova. Moreover, everything about it, from stability to underfoot comfort, is pure stellar!

We felt over the moon with Cloudnova’s amount of cushioning, especially around the heel. When we checked in the lab, we were blown away by the 15.5 mm heel-to-toe drop, which is 48% higher than average. Tired feet love this "support" after hours and hours of standing. Moreover, with Cloudnova, standing on concrete left us pain-free. Instead, we were at ease even after our shift was up. Back in the lab, our durometer displayed a 29.9 HA midsole firmness. We found that this 4% firmer than average midsole submerged our feet to optimum foam for hours of wear.

Constantly bending our feet while walking in Cloudnova didn’t strain us at all – thanks to its 29.9N resistance to bending, which is 2.6% less stiff than average! Our only gripe is the foot ventilation. Although it is moderately breathable, as evidenced by our smoke test, we prefer something with superb airflow for hotter environments. We think this would matter the most for travel or wilderness nurses, so we advise them to seek more breathable pairs than Cloudnova.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Pros

  • Perfect for all-day wear
  • Great travel shoe
  • Attractive design
  • Salomon XA Lite GTX Mens Trail Running Shoes
  • Fits well straight from the box
  • High quality
  • 10% recycled materials

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Cons

  • Pricey
  • Sole catches debris
  • Mid-cut is not for everyone
Full review of On Cloudnova

Best shoes for nurses with a sock-like fit

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Being a nurse is such a back-breaking and feet-killing job. With that being said, we tested for waking shoes that can keep up with the challenge and pressure of being on the feet all day. The one that comfortably conformed to our feet and was an exquisite pleasure for prolonged use is the Skechers GO WALK 6, making it also the best with a sock-like feel.

Thanks to the stretchy upper of the shoe, the material hugged our feet very nicely without feeling so compressed. One of the test results in our lab also established the same thing. We measured the widest section in the toebox and our caliper read 98 mm, which sits around the 97.9 mm standard and gives us enough room for our toes.

GO WALK 6 not only feels sock-like against our feet but also in terms of weight. We got a low weight of 8.78 oz (249g), which is 2.8% when set side by side with the average. Moreover, walking feels effortless with this pair. That is why, we aren’t surprised when it easily caved in when we folded the shoe using our digital force gauge. The tool reflected 12.9N, which means it’s 28.3% more flexible than most walking shoes.

However, this is not something overpronators can wear, especially since we broke down the shoe and there isn’t any stabilizing element inside. We advise nurses with foot issues to seek more supportive pairs of shoes.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Pros

  • Pillow-like comfort
  • Yalealf Sneakers SHSNYALE02560MS22 Deep Navy 161
  • Amazingly lightweight
  • Ralph Lauren Thompson Logo Printed Slip-on Men S Shoe
  • Air Jordan 1 Mid SE "Metallic Gold" sneakers
  • Easy on and off
  • Super flexible
  • Very affordable

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Cons

  • Not breathable
  • Outsole lacks durability
Full review of Skechers GO WALK 6

Best slip-resistant shoes for nurses

Hoka Bondi SR
85
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We scrutinized walking shoes and the one that absolutely deserved the title of best slip-resistant shoes for nurses is Hoka Bondi SR. Being on our feet all day, standing, walking, and working - these are some of the demands faced by Bondi when we were testing them out. Amazingly enough, Bondi never slowed us down with stumbling accidents and weariness. Instead, we became unstoppable with every work shift!

We weartested Bondi on various surfaces and we noticed that it’s especially grippy on polished floors. We then justified this in our lab using our durometer. We pushed it against the outsole and it flashed 73.1 HC, which is 3.7% softer than average. This implied that the outsole latches onto smooth surfaces powerfully.

After 12 hours of wear, we remained as comfortable as we felt on hour one. In our lab, we inspected the midsole and once again used our durometer to know its level of hardness. Our tool recorded 20.4 HA, which is much softer than average by 27.7%. In our walks, this translated to a lovely underfoot plushness all throughout the day.

Another perk is the waterproofness of Bondi. We observed its upper under our microscope and discovered that no ventilation hole was present. While this afforded us moisture-free feet, it didn’t save us from being sweaty as it isn’t breathable. Therefore, we do not recommend wearing this shoe during humid weather.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Pros

  • Comfort is off-the-charts
  • Extra thick cushioning for all-day support
  • Sneaker Classic 70202-5 Yellow
  • Alleviates foot anguish (podiatrist approved)
  • Blaze chunky low top sneakers
  • Slip-resistant outsole
  • Superior material quality
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  • Accommodating toebox

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Cons

  • adidas X Football Boots
  • Not breathable
Full review of Hoka Bondi SR

Best budget shoes for nurses

Skechers Summits
91
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Frequent overtime and spending long hours on foot is no joke, which is why we tested walking shoes for the nurses out there to try. The pair that left the strongest impression with budget considered is the Skechers Summits. For an economical price of $65, which is 26.6% more competitive than most, this is totally a can’t-miss offer as it kept our feet at ease even after wearing it for an entire day.

One less thing to worry about in Summits is having to carry a load on the feet. Substantiating this is our digital scale, which shows that the shoe bears a weight of 6.95 oz (197g). Being 23% lighter, this made walking a delight.

Speaking of delightful walks, we never have to force our heel-to-toe shifts in Summits, on account of its pliability. In our lab, we tested the shoe’s flexibility and found that it effortlessly yielded with a 6.6N force. This is 63.3% lower than the average, signifying that it’s also 63.3% more flexible.

The bad news is because of this, we couldn’t recommend this to nurses who need extra supportive shoes. Additionally, we observed that this shoe did not have torsional resistance when we twisted it, which indicated an absence of rigidity for support. We suggest searching for other bolstering pairs if you strictly require stability.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Pros

  • New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers
  • Super lightweight
  • Easy to put on and off
  • Very affordable
  • Highly flexible
  • Ralph Lauren Thompson Logo Printed Slip-on Men S Shoe
  • The Zitron of wearing a fair production sneaker

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Exposed foam wears out fast
  • Memory Foam doesn't last long
Full review of Skechers Summits

Best lightweight shoes for nurses

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In our quest for the lightweight and prime walking shoe for nurses, Skechers GOwalk Joy rules without contest. It is exceptionally well-suited for extended hours of duty and constant roaming because of its deluxe level of cushioning despite its imperceptible weight.

The reading on our digital scale upon which we set the Gowalk Joy on it is 6.17 oz (175g). Being 31.7% lower than the average weight of walking shoes, we certainly felt liberated from any slowing down and burden during our walks. Even so, the foam still felt packed and cushiony. We corroborated this by gauging the stack height with our caliper. The heel is 32.7 mm and the forefoot is 23.2 mm, beating their averages by 4.5% and 10.5% and accommodating us with fantastic comfort.

The indisputable plushness of the shoe also manifested when we pressed our durometer to the midsole. It revealed a 19.4 HC value, which implied that it’s 23% softer than the others. However, for nurses whose feet tend to easily sweat, we can’t promise that there will be no moisture buildup in Gowalk Joy, especially since it didn’t perform well in our breathability test. With the shoe injected with smoke, we closely monitored and assessed the smoke that vented out of the upper, which we then quantified to be 2/5. Our advice? Go for pairs with more ventilation holes.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Pros

  • Very easy to put on and off
  • Fits the foot closely
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Well-cushioned for all-day wear
  • Marshmallowy plush sole
  • Highly flexible
  • Xero Shoes Z-Trail
  • Minimal design

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Cons

  • Lace up shoes
  • Poor sole durability
  • Not supportive
  • Slippery on wet
Full review of Skechers GO WALK Joy

Shoes for nurses with the best arch support

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PUMA X-RAY Square Iridescent Women's Sneakers in Blue Coral Silver’s name already screams arch support but upon testing, we confirmed what an excellently supportive walking shoe it is. Its comfort and support left us satisfied all day long which is why we found it best especially for nurses. 

Boasting heel and forefoot stack heights of 39.2 mm and 24 mm, the Arch Fit 2.0 exceeded the other walking shoes we measured by 21.4% and 10.6%. This surplus of stack height alleviated the pressure in our heels plus it mitigated shock every time we landed our feet. The great thing about the midsole is it's also 30.4 HA firm based on our durometer. This means that it’s 21.1% harder than average and it’s ideal for preventing excessive foot rolling.

PUMA X-RAY Square Iridescent Women's Sneakers in Blue Coral Silver might be over the top in arch support but not in breathability. With our smoke test, we found that its upper is not capable of permitting much air to pass through. We only rated its breathability a 2/5. If you wish for something that is more well-ventilated, pick other pairs.

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Pros

  • Amazing support for overpronation
  • Puma Cruise Rider Lace Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers 380680-02
  • Tons of cushioning
  • Nike Womens WMNS Air Max Verona Light Orewood Brown Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CZ8685-131
  • Perfect for all-day wear
  • Padded and cozy interiors
  • True to size and fit

New Nike Dunk Low WMNS Easter DD1872-100 Womens Sneakers Cons

  • Very poor breathability
  • Lacks durability
Full review of PUMA X-RAY Square Iridescent Women's Sneakers in Blue Coral Silver
Author
Laci
Laci
Laci is a contemporary dancer turned shoe aficionado. She is the most knowledgeable person when it comes to athletic shoes, size conversions and details people nitpick about footwear. She keeps the CerbeShops content gears turning 24/7. And she walks 20miles/week.