ER doctors, nurses, and anyone with a job that requires standing all day need shoes that provide support and comfort.
Spending 12 hours or more standing and walking puts a tremendous amount of stress on your feet and joints. Without a supportive pair of shoes, you may develop pain in the joints or arches of your feet.
Comfort is also important for spending hours standing. After about six hours, the cushioning in your shoes compress, limiting the benefits of a soft footbed.
The options below provide the perfect solution for hospital workers, retail workers, bank tellers, and anyone that spends most of the day on their feet.
Dansko XP 2.0 Clogs for Women
At the top of the list is a pair of clogs from Dansko. The Women’s Pro XP Clogs feature 100% leather material, rubber soles, and thick heels.
You get a stable platform measuring about 0.75-inches and a 1.5-inch heel.
These are slip-on shoes, as with the other options in this round-up. You can simply slide them on and not worry about sore feet for the rest of the day.
The bottoms of the shoes include anti-fatigue rockers. This allows you to shift your weight without putting as much stress on your feet.
The Dansko Clogs also come in a few different styles. Along with solid black, the shoes are available in various prints and colors.
Pros
- Roomy toe box
- Optimal support and cushioning
- Slip-on design with anti-fatigue rocker bottoms
Cons
- One of the more expensive choices
The Dansko Women’s Pro XP Clogs are a popular choice in the ER, thanks to the thick rubber sole with an anti-fatigue rocker bottom.
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Skechers for Work Men’s Flex Advantage Mcallen Food Service Shoe
The Skechers for Work Mcallen Slip-on Shoes include many helpful features for those that stand all day. For more comfort, the shoes have padded collars and memory foam insoles.
While many slip-on shoes are lightweight and unsupportive, this pair has thicker mesh fabric upper material and a thick, synthetic sole with proper arch support.
The toe box is roomy while the width offers a medium fit, helping to create a looser fit around the forefoot. This places less stress on your feet when standing all day.
These shoes also come with a soft fabric shoe lining. Your feet should feel wrapped in comfort, even at the end of a long shift.
To keep you from sliding around, the bottoms of the shoes have slip-resistant outsoles with superior grip.
Pros
- Slip-resistant outsole
- Includes a memory foam insole
- Features a spacious toe box
Cons
- Some of the sizes are expensive
These slip-on shoes from Skechers give men a lightweight and supportive option to prevent sore feet in the hospital.
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Naturalizer Women’s Marianne Loafer
Another slip-on pair of shoes, the Marianne Sneaker from Naturalizer is less bulky compared to the clogs. These slip-on sneakers also have a lower heel and real leather.
These shoes are best suited for those that dislike the extra padding found in clogs or standard walking shoes. The material is lightweight and stripped of additional cushioning.
You simply get a flexible outsole connected to a breathable upper.
These shoes also run a little big. When buying a pair, you may want to consider selecting one size smaller compared to your standard size.
You can choose from a variety of colors and patterns to suit your taste if your hospital allows funky designs. Naturalizer also offers several solid colors, including white and black.
Pros
- Flatter midsole for those with anatomically flat feet
- Breathable fabric upper materials
- Available in a wide range of colors
Cons
- Not the most supportive option
The Marianne sneaker is incredibly lightweight and suitable for those with flat feet, but does not offer a lot of support.
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Nurse Mates – Womens – Meredith
As the name suggests, these shoes are designed for use in the hospital. The design is plain and available in solid white or black. While the design is bland, it includes comfortable materials and padding to support your feet throughout the day.
These shoes were made specifically for nurses and hospital staff. The interior of the shoes features thick sturdy steel shanks for superior arch support. The exterior includes a lightweight rubber outsole with inserts to improve slip resistance.
For extra cushioning, the Dove Slip-on Loafers also have removable EVA insoles. While these shoes include lots of padding, they remain very lightweight. This pair of shoes weighs just 1.6 ounces.
The only drawback is the lack of breathable material. By the end of the day, your feet may become a little sweaty.
Pros
- Includes lots of cushioning
- Padding provides a snug fit
- Available in wide sizes
Cons
- Not as breathable compared to other options
These shoes should keep your feet cushioned all day thanks to the thick removable EVA insole and multiple layers of cushioning.
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INiceslipper Unisex Chef Shoes Non-Slip Safety Shoes Oil Water Resistant Casual Flat Shoes
If the Dansko clogs are out of your price range, take a closer look at the Unisex Chef Shoes from INiceslipper. These clogs cost much less and include some of the same features.
As with the more expensive option, the Unisex Safety Shoes have thick rubber outsoles with rocker bottoms to support the natural movement of your feet. You also get a spacious toe box to ensure your feet remain properly aligned inside the shoes.
Another useful feature is the flexible air vents located on the inner sides of the shoes. The air vents remain covered until you decide to puncture them with a pen or knife to increase breathability.
This is also a unisex pair of shoes, providing a plain design that any gender can wear with comfort. Unfortunately, the interior does not include the most comfortable footbed. You may want to add a separate insert to boost the comfort of these budget shoes.
Pros
- Unisex design for men or women
- Includes optional air vents on the sides
- Incredibly affordable price
Cons
- Footbed lacks cushioning
If you are strapped for cash, the Unisex Chef Safety Shoes provide the best budget shoes for ER doctors.
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Buyer’s Guide for Finding the Best Shoes for ER Doctors
ER doctors and hospital workers need shoes that provide support. A supportive arch and heel help your feet maintain their natural curve when standing for hours at a time.
However, the best shoes for ER doctors include more than just support. You should also look for these features:
- Wide fits or wide toe boxes
- Ample cushioning in the midsole
- Breathable materials
- Slip-resistant outsole
- Slip-on, laces, or Velcro straps
Wide fits or wide toe boxes
When you spend all day on your feet, it helps to have a wider shoe. A wide fit or a wide toe box helps ease pressure on the feet.
A wider shoe also allows the muscles, tendons, and joints in your feet to fully extend in their natural positions.
Ample cushioning in the midsole
Comfortable shoes should also have a cushioned midsole or insert that supports the forefoot and heel. When standing or walking, you shift your weight between the ball of the foot and heel.
Without padding, the arch of your foot unnaturally collapses, increasing the risk of overpronation and flat feet.
Breathable materials
Look for shoes that allow your feet to remain cool and dry. The upper portions of the shoe should contain breathable materials, such as mesh or synthetic layers.
Slip-resistant outsole
Bodily fluids or cleaning supplies can make the tile flooring in hospitals very slippery. To remain upright, find shoes with slip-resistant outsoles.
Luckily, most sneakers, including the shoes reviewed above, contain rubber outsoles with grooves for traction.
Slip-on, laces, or Velcro straps
You also need to choose between slip-on, lacing systems, and Velcro straps. Slip-on shoes are convenient.
Unfortunately, they may not provide a snug fit or optimal support for the upper foot. The best slip-on has elastic or additional padding around the opening to help keep your feet from sliding out of the shoes.
Lacing systems and Velcro straps allow you to tighten or loosen the upper portion of the shoes to achieve the perfect fit.
Along with the details discussed, pay attention to the overall quality of the shoes. When you stand for hours at a time, your shoes wear faster.
Spending more on a premium pair of shoes is often more cost-effective in the long run.
Conclusion
Standing for eight hours or more at a time adds stress and strain to your feet. Wearing the shoes increases the stress, which may also lead to pain in your knees, hips, and back.
ER doctors should look for comfortable shoes with wide outsoles, spacious uppers, and cushioned midsoles, such as the five shoes reviewed above.
The Dansko Clogs stand out as the top choice, but the other options should also help keep your feet comfortable during a long shift. For more flexibility, try the Marianne Sneaker.
If you need more cushioning, the Nurse Mates and Skechers shoes have you covered. For the least expensive option, go with the Unisex Safety Shoes.
As a final tip, make sure the shoes fit properly. None of the previous features matter without a good fit.