Best Shoes for Standing All Day 

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best shoes for standing all day are, then I recommend the Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot as the best pair for men and the Skechers BOBS Women’s Bobs Plush-Peace & Love as the best pair for women.

If you have a job that keeps you on your toes all day in a literal sense, then you need to be extra careful about the type of shoes you use. Nurses, assembly line operators and salesmen know about the many issues that come up when you spend too much time on your feet, including varicose veins, muscle fatigue and lower back pain.

This is why I’ve hand-picked some great options for your feet. You’ll find some of the best shoes for standing all day, along with some useful tips about picking the right shoes for your feet.

The best shoes for standing all day are:

• Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot
• Skechers BOBS Women’s Plush-Peace & Love
• New Balance Men’s MW577 Walking Shoe
• Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes
• Grasshoppers Women’s Windham Slip-On Flat

How to Pick the Best Shoes for Standing All Day

These are the main shoe factors to make standing up all day much more bearable:

• Breathability.
• Padding and cushioning.
• Outsole quality.
• Heel and arch support.
• Weight.
• Durability.

Breathability

If you’ve noticed that your socks or feet have started to stink by the end of the day, it probably means that your shoes aren’t very breathable. This refers to the in-built ventilation system within your shoes that allows for proper air circulation.

It’s vital that you pick up a pair of shoes that offer enough ventilation for your feet. This allows your feet to stay cool and also ensures that any moisture generated can be evaporated over time.

Shoes that are lined with cotton and viscose usually offer the highest levels of breathability. A shoe can be considered breathable if it absorbs moisture and allows it to escape, all the while retaining some water repellency.

Padding and Cushioning

The padding and cushioning of your shoes directly dictate the level of comfort you’ll experience while staying on your feet for extended periods. If your footwear is well-padded and cushioned, it’ll offer a good resting surface for your feet. 

Insoles can be purchased separately in case you aren’t happy with the standard ones when you buy your shoes. You can also opt for gel inserts as they aren’t only extremely comfortable, but they also leave your feet feeling fresh and cool after a long day.

Outsole Quality

Slips and falls are one of the biggest causes of work-related injuries, and this usually occurs because of a poor-quality outsole. It’s crucial to purchase shoes with slip-resistant outsoles to ensure your safety and well-being in the long run. 

The grip of a shoe is a key element to consider when picking a pair for work. Try and pick high-traction, shock-absorbing outsoles to ensure that you dispense minimum energy while moving from one location to another.

The most common types of material used in outsoles are rubber and leather. The former offers better grip and flexibility, while the latter provides greater breathability and resistance.

Heel and Arch Support

When you spend a lot of time on your feet, you tend to exert maximum stress on the ligaments and tendons of the plantar fascia. It can also lead to more serious issues, such as blood pooling, vein inflammation and varicose veins.

The effects of wearing improper footwear are known to be especially bad when it comes to women as there are more cases of women wearing ill-fitting shoes. Arch and heel support are crucial when it comes to avoiding such serious injuries.

For me, wearing flat soles, in particular, has always been the worst choice of shoe when I’m on my feet for extended periods. Don’t fall into the trap of buying flat shoes that look comfortable. Make sure there’s a healthy degree of arch support to prevent any stress from radiating into your feet.

Weight

The weight of your footwear plays a massive role in your comfort levels across the day. Shoes that aren’t made using lightweight materials tend to compound stress over time. This means that, by the end of the day, your feet will feel twice as heavy even when you’re taking the same strides.

Suede and canvas are excellent materials to consider if your priority is owning shoes with a negligible amount of weight. Also, try to avoid picking shoes with hefty toe caps, unless you work in construction.

Durability

Even if you’re just standing around in your shoes and aren’t walking from one location to another, it still takes a toll on your shoes, let alone your feet. This is why it’s important to look at picking up shoes with a high level of durability.

When you walk, the stress is somewhat evenly distributed across the surface of your shoes. Standing still, however, places a majority of the stress on certain parts of your shoes based on your posture, and this leads to greater degradation over time.

It, therefore, makes sense that you consider the materials being used in your shoes before you purchase. It’s best to pick up shoes that use durable materials, such as leather, synthetics or rubber, to help sustain excessive strain in the long run.

Best Shoes for Standing All Day Reviewed

Here are my top selections that are comfortable enough to be worn all day.

1. Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot

I consider these as the toughest pair of comfortable footwear in the market today. The Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot is an excellent pair of rugged boots that are made from leather and rubber to provide you with an equal level of comfort and durability.

This is an all-weather pair that’s built for punishment and can take a lot more wear and tear when compared to other boots on the market.

A low-heeled design helps provide ample cushion and support for your feet across a wide range of surfaces. They also have a semi-formal look, which means that they can be worn for work or social occasions.

This shoe is available in sizes 6.5 through 14.

Pros

• Made of real leather with intelligent use of rubber in places.
• Incredibly supportive design.
• Highly durable and perfect for the long haul.
• Rubber soles for flexibility.
• Semi-formal look.

Cons

• It takes some time to break into these shoes.

2. Skechers Bobs Women’s Plush-Peace & Love

A slip-on design makes it extremely easy to wear and take off these shoes at will. Also, the use of a memory-foam-based insole provides ample comfort and shock absorption for your feet. 

These shoes are perfect for ladies who spend too much time on their feet, either on the move or in a single location. The exterior fabric allows the shoe to stretch to perfectly match the contours of your feet. 

A synthetic sole helps prevent any injuries that may occur when you step on a jagged surface, while the arch pillow used in the insole helps keep you comfortable and prevents any accidental slips. 

The breathability of these shoes could be slightly better, but they make up for it by being incredibly easy to wash and clean. 

These shoes are available from sizes 5 to 11.

Pros

• Easy slip-on design.
• Synthetic soles help prevent any injuries.
• Arch pillow in the insole prevents accidental slips.

Cons

• Breathability could be better.

3. New Balance Men’s MW577 Walking Shoe

This is one of the most comfortable pair of shoes thanks to a perfectly designed midsole made entirely out of polyurethane. This adds greater support and padding to the entirety of your feet and all your movements.

You’ll also find plenty of padding around the tongue and collar of this model to reduce friction between the materials and your feet during extended use. Even the outsole is strong and durable and offers enough traction to deal with wet floors.

The extra-layered midsole and a single-color design make this a shoe for multiple occasions. The lack of a mesh in the design means that you can count on these shoes for protection against water, rain and high humidity.

You can find these shoes in sizes 7 through 15.

Pros

• Plenty of padding for maximum comfort.
• Highly durable.
• Capable of blocking out water and humidity.
• Perfectly designed midsole with ample cushioning.

Cons

• Can be squeaky during the first few days.

4. Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes

This Brooks pair is a great selection when you spend a lot of time on your feet, as they offer an excellent level of support and an impressive underfoot grip. This allows you to stand or walk for extended periods without trapping any heat against your feet.

The use of soft, synthetic soles offers you extra protection against rough edges or rocks you may step on in your line of work. They are, however, quite light to prevent you from feeling any extra weight on your feet while you go about your day.

Another unique design feature is the MC Pod configuration, which supports your feet while you walk and prevents any excessive strain on your muscles. It also uses an HPR Green outsole, which provides extra traction on wet or slippery surfaces.

This model is available from size 7 to 15.

Pros

• Strong underfoot grip.
• Soft synthetic soles.
• MC Pod configuration.
• HPR Green outsole improves traction on wet surfaces.

Cons

• Not suitable for people with wide feet.

5. Grasshoppers Women’s Windham Slip-On Flat

This is another slip-on model selected, especially for women who have active jobs and need the right support for their feet. It has a removable insole that can be replaced with one that perfectly fits your needs. 

Grasshoppers has also customized the insides by offering an enhanced, dual-layer memory foam sock liner. It has antimicrobial properties that prevent any odors from leaking out. It also has fantastic arch support that allows you to spend an entire day on your feet with relative ease.

These shoes are also durable due to the use of fabric. This also means your feet won’t overheat when standing all day, so they can be used indoors and outdoors comfortably.

You can find these shoes in sizes 5.5 to 11.

Pros

• Removable insole.
• Designed to prevent odors or excessive sweating.
• Great arch support.
• Ideal for indoor and outdoor use.

Cons

• The toe box runs a little narrow.

The Last Stride

The importance of wearing proper footwear cannot be understated, especially when you have an active lifestyle. Our poor feet have to bear the entire brunt of our body’s weight, not to mention deal with the damages caused by any abnormal walking styles or poor posture.

The least we can do is to support our feet by picking the right pair of shoes. In my experience, the Clarks Men’s Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot is a great choice for men who have to deal with a wide range of environments, either while standing still or when they’re on the move. These shoes are durable and are perfect for the long haul.

A great choice for women who spend a lot of time on their feet is the Skechers Women’s Bobs Plush-Peace & Love pair. They’re comfortable, easy to wear and take off and offer plenty of support for your feet.