If you spend hours at a time on your feet, the wrong shoes can wreck your body. In fact, you're at risk for more than just achy joints and calves: "Unsupportive footwear for professions that require long periods of standing and walking can lead to inflammatory conditions — plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia — that may take months under a doctor's care to resolve," says Timothy Oldani, DPM, a podiatric surgeon with Missouri Foot and Ankle.
Whether you're a nurse, chef, restaurant server, construction worker, or someone who spends all day running errands and chasing kids, it's worth investing in comfortable shoes for standing all day. The right pair can make a world of difference on your long-term health.
To find the best shoes for standing all day, we had two testers wear 22 pairs of shoes across a mix of environments. Our favorite pairs prevented our feet from feeling tired and achy at the end of a long day, and eventually, they became our go-to shoes for stepping out.
How we tested the best shoes for standing all day
We wore each pair for at least three full days of standing in three to 10-hour stints. These shoes were tested working in a restaurant kitchen, construction site, and during landscaping shifts, as well as in places like outdoor concerts, museums, and airports. We stood on surfaces like uneven dirt, concrete sidewalks, and hardwood floors.
When testing shoes for specific parameters, such as non-slip properties or traction outdoors, we stood in each contender for five to 10 hours in applicable conditions.
They have every feature our podiatrists want to see. Brooks' Ghost 16 sneakers have everything podiatrists say is ideal for the best shoes for standing all day: lightweight cushioning, heel stability, a rigid sole, and a breathable mesh upper. Its insoles are removable if you need to add more arch support.
Importantly, they lace up. Priya Parthasarathy, DPM, Maryland-based podiatric surgeon with Foot Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, says lace-up shoes offer better support for standing all day compared to slip-ons.
They're comfortably cushioned, but firm enough for long shifts. Our chef tester wore these shoes over a dozen 10-hour kitchen shifts, and during long travel days.
Its DNA Loft v3 foam footbeds felt lightweight and slightly springy, but also firm enough to prevent joints from feeling fatigued eight hours into a shift. He raved about how much support they offer for the knees and lower back.
They're breathable, even in the waterproof version. Breathability is a key feature Dr. Oldani recommends for standing-all-day shoes. Heat and sweat puts you at and a greater risk for blisters, infections, or slipping around inside your shoe.
Our tester wore the waterproof Ghost 16 GTX sneakers during messy restaurant shifts and in drizzly weather. Their well-designed Gore-Tex membranes were effective at keeping his feet dry amid spills and splashes.
They're surprisingly comfy and incredibly lightweight. Over the past three years, I've worn these clogs for long travel days, running errands, concerts, and standing for over five hours during volunteer shifts. Despite being only $60, the Sorel Caribou Clogs are remarkably supportive and easy to wear. They're made with injection-molded EVA in every part of the shoe, and the material is firm but structured — enough to keep my high-arched feet from aching after long days.
They're waterproof with a grippy outsole. These clogs are my go-to shoes in the cold (aside from when I'm tromping through snow banks in winter boots) because they seal out moisture and are made with Sorel's Evertread, a high-traction rubber that delivers reliable grip on slippery surfaces. I wouldn't classify them as completely "non-slip," but they are definitely grabby enough for nurses who may need stability on slick hospital floors.
They're stylish. The nearly 2-inch platform on these clogs gives you a height boost and, while they are basically a huge block of rubber color, I get compliments on these clogs all the time when I wear them — to the point that I've had multiple people stop to ask what they are and say they're going to go buy them after I sing all of the above praises. There's even a luxury leather version designed by Proenza Schouler, though the collab is widely sold out.
They're not great in the heat. The one downside to these shoes is that they aren't breathable. Being clogs, they're very easy to slip your feet in and out of to catch a little air, but they do build up heat during humid summers to the point where I don't wear them from May to September.
They're made for spills and easy to clean. Our chef tester wore these on multiple 10+ hour standing kitchen shifts — including one at a very messy oyster station — and only had good things to report. These sneakers, which are part of the Crocs At Work collection, have a synthetic Nubuck overlay that's good at preventing spills from seeping inside, and it's very easy to wipe clean.
They're actually slip-resistant. Testing confirms: The Crocs Lock outsole is reliable at preventing a wipe out on slick kitchen floors.
They're comfortable and breathable. These sneakers are built with Croc's premium LiteRide footbed, which is why they're beloved among cooks, nurses, and other professionals who are on their feet all day. Our tester reported that his feet felt well-supported and free of aches after long shifts on hard kitchen floors. The lace-up sneakers are ideal for most restaurant workers who need ankle security as they pivot during busy shifts. Our tester also appreciated how breathable the upper material of these sneakers are, especially with their waterproofing overlay.
They're well-priced. I hear so many cooks complain about how the expensive, orthopedic non-slip shoes may be worth the price once, but with the stink and stains that come with months of service, they need cheaper shoes that can be easily replaced once they're trashed. The Crocs On the Clock Work Sneaker is easy to clean and rewear for longer, and at $70, they aren't too painful to replace when the time comes.
They're polished enough for front-of-house service. We decided to rank these sneakers just above the Crocs Bistro Work Clogs (which are worth an honorable mention) because they offer a more clean, understated look for servers and bartenders.
Best cushioning: Asics GEL-Nimbus 27
They have pillow-soft cushioning, yet with a more rigid structure. As someone whose knees become strained from hours of standing, I found the GEL-Nimbus 27s more nurturing than something like the Brooks Ghost 16s. That said, the GEL-Nimbus 27 have a firmer midsole (which helps to keep your foot from sliding around), and are rigid enough that they can't fold in half.
They don't get squishy after a few hours of wear. High-cushion shoes aren't always ideal for standing all day because the foam compresses over time, creating a sinking or muddy feeling. But the joint relief is worth it for some, and after testing the Asics GEL-Nimbus 27s for 100+ cumulative hours across international travel days, I can confirm this is a high-cushion sneaker that maintains its structure.
They're highly breathable, even in the heat. The jacquard mesh upper is both roomy and breathable, with plush sock liners that feel soft around the ankles. The ventilation and expandable space made these sneakers comfortable and cool after they'd been on my feet for 20+ hours on a long summer travel day to Copenhagen.
Best for walking: On Cloudtilt
Their soft-but-rigid cushioning stays springy after standing all day. I've tested a lot of different walking shoes, and the On Cloudtilts strikes a perfect balance between cushioned and supportive. On's signature technology, CloudTec, builds the midsole out of firm foam cutouts, or "clouds," to provide structured support. These clouds are organized in a sequential collapse pattern, so they compress gradually in away that offers just the right amount of give. This allows for better balance and disperses the impact of walking all day, thereby reducing fatigue in your legs.
The uppers feel super stretchy and breathable. The Cloudtilts use a knit upper made from 100% recycled polyester that feels more elastic and forgiving — especially if your feet tend to swell. It hugs your foot like a sock without trapping heat. One downside: The sock-like upper means you lose some structure and lateral stability, so it's not ideal if you pivot a lot on the job.
The secure laces are easy to slip on and off. Dr. Parthasarathy says she finds lace up shoes are more supportive for standing and walking all day compared to one-size-fits-all slip ons. That said, sometimes you want a shoe that slips on and off easily. I love that this lace system lets you tighten across the top of the foot as needed, but has enough stretch and a simple stopper knot so you can slip them off without having to untie and re-tie every time.
Best for working outdoors: Wolverine Overpass CarbonMax 6" Boot
They're proper work boots — durable, weather-ready, and grippy. Wolverine has been making work gear since the early 1900s, with a long-standing reputation for quality and durability. While my husband has torn through other boots within half a landscaping or construction season, this pair showed no wear-and-tear (besides dirt stains) after two and a half months of heavy use. These boots are made with premium waterproof leather, an abrasion-resistant toe, and a ContourWelt construction that feels both flexible and secure.
They have a composite safety toe. Wolverine's Overpass CarbonMax boots are made with a composite safety toe made from lightweight carbon fiber. This meets the ASTM standards for impact and compression, and feels more lightweight than steel-toed boots. Unlike steel, it also won't conduct heat or cold, making it a better choice for extreme weather. It's also thinner than traditional steel toes, giving your toes more wiggle room without sacrificing protection.
They're comfortable for standing on soil or concrete. These boots required zero break in time and were comfortable for an all-day shift right out the box. Their shock-absorbing midsoles and removable Ortholite footbeds minimized foot fatigue, even after standing on concrete or uneven ground for 8+ hours. They also have a slight lift in the heel to take the pressure off your foot tendons.
They're lightweight and breathable. Despite being incredibly durable and having that protective composite toe, these boots weigh just 1.63 pounds. And even though they're waterproof, they're still quite breathable thanks to a moisture-wicking mesh liner.
They're backed by a 30-day comfort guarantee. Wolverine offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don't find these boots comfortable once you've worn them on the job.
