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Let’s get one thing straight: Nurses are real-life superheroes, tasked with providing essential medical care while, oftentimes, being overworked and underpaid. If you or someone you love is a nurse — fluent in terms like “PITA,” “The Q-Word,” and “Code Brown” — nothing could be a more thoughtful gift for the miracle worker in question than a supportive, comfortable, and actually flattering pair of shoes to carry them, or your very own self, through all those rounds, chart updates, rushed lunch breaks, blood draws, and patient consultations.
Studies have shown that nurses walk an average of five miles during a 12-hour shift and a bit over three miles in an eight-hour one. What this means? You should treat shopping for the best nurse shoes just as seriously as you would browsing the internet for long-distance walking shoes or running sneakers to wear to an upcoming 5K — honing in on specs like high traction (hospital floors get slippery!); impressive shock absorption for standing on hard surfaces; an easy-to-clean exterior should your patient, well, we’ll spare you the details; and mighty arch support to prevent foot pain from crawling up to your back and ruining your at-home R&R.
To curate this list of the best shoes for nurses worth buying online, we thoroughly consulted the nurses in our lives and paid attention to the ones who shared their footwear opinions on Reddit. Our team also dove deep into dedicated nursing categories found on the websites of companies like Hoka and Crocs: reading reviews, looking at average ratings, and checking if the products could be classified as “frequently returned” (as a nurse, you shouldn’t be wasting your time with return labels).
Courtesy Canva, Reddit
Common shoe brands shouted out by nurses include On, Hoka, Dansko (“highly recommended by a coworker and to be worn with compression socks,” a Reddit user shares), and Skechers (particularly its steel-toe slip-ons). “I hate getting my toes smashed by stretcher wheels, and some beds require using your toes to lift up the locks,” one nurse explains online, justifying her loyalty to Skechers’ lineup of work shoes.
As a good rule of thumb, you’d be wise to look for women’s nursing shoes that are podiatrist-approved and lack openings on the upper — forbidding less-than-pleasant fluids from creeping in. This is precisely why most styles in Crocs’ “Comfortable Nurse Shoes and Clogs” section are completely smooth and free from the ventilation ports people have come to associate with the brand. Fear not, though: Should you choose to go the Crocs route, Jibbitz personalization is still possible on the shoes’ straps (and we urge you not to sleep on the oh-so-relevant Jibbitz Healthcare Five-Pack, generating compliments from patients and colleagues alike).
Without further ado, the best nurse shoes for women who stand on their feet all day, whether you’re working in L&D, the ICU, or the pediatric ward.
One last tip: Before you enter your credit card information, see if a given shoe destination offers healthcare discounts. Crocs, Hoka, On, and Skechers all do, and we’ll be rounding up even more ways to get rewarded for your sacrifices at the end of this article.
Cheers to prioritizing both your feet and your wallet, just like you prioritize the needs of so many others.
best overall
On Cloudnova Form 2 Shoe
On calls its Cloudnova Form 2 a “lifestyle sneaker built on running technology,” and once you break down all the features at play here, it’s easy to see why. The shoe’s 119-millimeter platform prides itself on giving wearers all-day stability: a must when you’re juggling dozens of patients and have to dash from room to room to stay on top of it all. That midsole, powered by Zero-Gravity innovation, also deserves credit for doling out superior, plush cushioning (it’s On’s most sustainable midsole, to make matters better). The label has recently updated the heel hold in this model to secure greater balance — another win for nurses everywhere — and promises optimal breathability via the sneaker’s woven and wipeable upper.
Running-grade comfort off the track is exactly what you’ll be getting by shopping the Cloudnova Form 2, and, at Footwear News, we’re big proponents of shoes that sit at the intersection of the performance-ready and the style-forward. Grab the bestseller in the pictured Black/Ivory, and thank us later. Hospitals, after all, can get messy.
What reviewers say: “Great everyday sneaker. This is my second pair. They definitely help my feet when standing all day at my job.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
best clog
Dansko XP 2.0 Clog
The circa-1990 brand Dansko was directly inspired by the pivotal role clogs have played in Danish culture since time immemorial. Fueled by components like anatomically contoured footbeds and rocker bottoms made for smooth transitions, Dansko’s line has clinched the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Approval and is also a mainstay on the shoe racks of medical professionals across the country (not to mention chefs and even teachers).
The XP 2.0 Clog is a great entry point into Dansko’s beloved roster of offerings. Its leather composition requires only soap, water, and a cloth to erase the pesky stains that arise during your shift, and that roomy toe box will grant you ample wiggle room. A slip-resistant rubber outsole, meanwhile, will work overtime to keep you upright, and the removable footbed (which can easily be swapped for an orthotic insole of choice) comes equipped with Natural Arch technology. True to the name, it lets your arches stay lifted and comfy, utilizing memory foam for softer footfalls down long hallways.
The company dubbed the XP 2.0 its “#1 occupational shoe,” so it’s really no surprise why the most trend-aligned iterations (think sardine print) keep selling out… almost as fast as you can find a vein.
What reviewers say: “I absolutely LOVE the print of these clogs! My first pair of Dansko clogs, and it will be hard to beat. My feet finally relaxed and let the clog do the work. No mashed toes or hitting the front of the clog. Great paired with compression socks as well.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $170
pair with:
Figs Compression Socks
Price upon publish date of this article: $32
most cushioning
Hoka Bondi 9 Shoe
Ideal for putting a smile on the face of your favorite MD, this fun-loving, color-happy Hoka shoe is also an overachiever when it comes to functionality. The Bondi 9 is frequently recognized by nurses as their footwear nonnegotiable — boasting an exaggerated stack height that paves the way for unbeatable cushioning; new, premium foam for a cloudlike feel; and Durabrasion rubber that stands up to wear and tear just as commendably as you stand up to stress. Podiatrist-vetted, the sneaker promotes foot health and accommodates a diverse range of foot anatomies (you can snag it in Wide or even Extra Wide, for instance).
We like that amidst all of these technical bells and whistles, Hoka’s Bondi 9 doesn’t sacrifice good looks, racking up aesthetic points with that gradient color scheme, 3D molded collar, and reflective accents.
What reviewers say: “I work in healthcare and am on my feet a lot. These shoes are great for that. My legs and feet are not achy at all. Love them!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $175
best slip-on
Skechers Slip-ins Work Slip-Resistant Carbix Shoe
All hail Skechers’ Slip-ins with a reinforced toe for maximizing workplace safety (need we remind you that you’re handling a lot of sharp objects?). This pick made our roundup because of its under-$100 price, no-tie lace design, air-cooled memory foam for waving the aches and the sweat away, as well as, of course, Carbon Nano nonmetallic safety toe that won’t add any extra weight to your walk.
Per Skechers, “wet, dry, oily, and greasy surfaces” have nothing on this stepper, and its interplay of the synthetic and the mesh on the upper guarantees enough visual intricacy to complement your finest scrubs.
Seemingly unending days at work might have you fantasizing about crashing down on a pillow, but if you don’t have time to catch a quick nap in an empty on-call room, Skechers’ Heel Pillow (which keeps your foot from sliding around or slipping out) is the next best thing.
What reviewers say: “I thought that the steel toe might change the size and comfort of the shoe. However, you can’t even tell it’s there. Very well-made shoe with slip-resistant bottoms.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $89.99
most lightweight
Crocs Classic Work Clog
Think of Crocs’ Classic Work Clog as the filled-in version of the Crocs clogs you’ve come to know and love over the years. Sans those instantly recognizable holes, the shoe is made specifically with “food service, hospitality, and healthcare workers” in mind — pampering nurses with the unfussy and practical footwear solution they’ve long been craving. No matter if you don it in Sport or Relaxed mode, the Work Clog will absolutely deliver with an anti-slip tread, waterproof makeup, surprising durability for something so lightweight, and Crocs’ signature, 360-degree comfort.
Its interior is dotted by tiny, foot-contouring bumps that will contribute to a sensation of groundedness in the thick of your most demanding moments. To level up the nurse shoe’s slew of primary colors, team it up with personality-laden, printed socks (bonus points if they compress the foot to curb EOD swelling).
What reviewers say: “I work at a plasma center, and these are great because they’re non-porous, slip-resistant, comfortable, and quick to put on.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $41.24
Best Nurse Discounts on Shoes
Adidas: After verifying their employment on ID.me, nurses can get a discount of up to 30 percent at Adidas.
Asics: After becoming a OneASICS member and verifying their employment with SheerID, nurses can get a 25-percent-off discount on qualifying, full-priced footwear.
Brooks: With free membership in Brooks’ Community Heroes Ambassador Program and ID.me verification, nurses can receive a 25-percent discount across eligible items.
Crocs: Healthcare workers get 25 percent off select Crocs styles, following ID.me verification.
Hoka: Hoka is offering a 15-percent-off deal on full-priced shoes to members of the medical community. It will be applied at checkout once your credentials are verified on ID.me.
New Balance: Verify your medical affiliation on ID.me and get 15 percent off your purchase at New Balance (limit of one code per customer every 30 days).
Nike: Nike’s giving a 10-percent discount on most of its online products to eligible first responders and medical professionals in the U.S. Complete your verification via SheerID, here.
On: On Running also utilizes ID.me to check discount eligibility for nurses. Once approved, you’ll be privy to a single-use code (typically for 15 percent off online purchases).
Reebok: Reebok is coming in hot with one of the most generous nurse discounts — a whole 30 percent off select items, with verification happening at checkout.
Skechers: At Skechers, healthcare workers will get an additional 10-percent-off stackable markdown on all promotions and offers after ID.me verification.
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, wrote about tentpole sales, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on occupation-specific footwear, like the top nurse shoes for women.
