How to Find Comfortable Shoes for Standing All Day

Buying Guide

If you spend most of the day on your feet, make sure your footwear keeps you comfortable and supported with the right features and cushioning.

Last updated: 12 March 2024
3 min read
The Best Shoes for Standing All Day

If your job or your active lifestyle has you on your feet all day long, make sure your shoes are well-equipped to keep you comfortable and supported. Research has shown that prolonged standing at work can be associated with fatigue, discomfort and lower back and leg pain, but the positive news is that good shoes can help. Whether you're standing still for hours a day or moving around and getting lots of steps in, here's what you need to know about picking high-quality footwear that's built to withstand your busy, active days.

For Cushioning: Nike React Foam

When you're considering shoes that will help keep your feet pain-free while you're standing upright all day, cushioning is critical. Not only can good cushioning add a plush, bouncy spring to your step, but it also helps absorb shock whenever your foot hits the ground. For cushioning that's as soft as it is supportive, opt for Nike React foam. Nike React is Nike's most responsive cushioning innovation that is 11 percent softer and offers 13 percent more energy return than Nike's previous softest and bounciest cushioning. And an added bonus: it's also more durable and lightweight. Nike has a range of different footwear styles made with Nike React foam, including laceless options like the Nike React Phantom Run Flyknit for seamless on-and-off access.

For Breathability: Nike Flyknit

No one likes the feeling of sweaty, smelly feet after a long day, so choosing footwear that's breathable is key. To avoid trapping moisture and sweat inside your shoe, look for features that allow for better air circulation, like Nike Flyknit—a breathable, lightweight and supportive fabric used in the upper of many Nike footwear styles. Inspired by common feedback from runners, Nike engineered Nike Flyknit to fit and stretch like a sock, while maintaining the support and durability for performance. And speaking of socks, another way to avoid sweaty feet is with a pair of moisture-wicking socks that wick sweat away, helping to limit odour-causing bacteria and keep your feet feeling fresh. With the right air circulation, your feet will feel more comfortable, no matter how hard you work them.

For Any Shoe: Proper Fit

Beyond the top-quality cushioning and supportive, breathable materials that make up a shoe, one major component of comfort is fit. A shoe that's too tight might not only feel uncomfortable, it can also cause pinching, rubbing or blisters in certain areas of your foot. To find the right fit, check out Nike's guide for measuring foot size. Pro tip: when you're trying on a new pair of shoes, make sure you go at the end of the day when your foot is largest in size, having swelled up throughout the day, and wear the same socks you're likely to wear with the shoes, especially if they're a thicker pair of socks. Once you get your new pair of shoes, check the fit again. Take them for a walk or wear them around the house before committing to an all-day outing in them. Your feet will thank you later.

Originally published: 17 February 2022

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