Working a job that requires walking all day long can take a toll on your feet. We know what it’s like to work in a healthcare field; it’s easy to get blisters or calluses or develop flat feet. You’re on your feet for hours on end, running from one patient to the next, and your feet begin to ache. It just gets worse as the day goes on.
- Best Overall Men’s Shoes For Nurses with Flat Feet – Dansko Men’s Professional Clog
- Runner-up Men’s Shoes For Nurses with Flat Feet – ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes
- Best Alternative Men’s Shoes For Nurses with Flat Feet – Crocs Unisex Specialist II Clog
Check out this selection of five men’s nursing shoes for flat feet, and find exactly the pair you need at the price you want.
Best Shoes for (Male) Nurses with Flat Feet
There are obviously plenty of shoes that you can potentially choose from, but as I mentioned before, if you have flat feet, you want proper support especially when your profession keeps you on your feet and on the move most of the day. Here are my top picks!
Dansko Men’s Professional Clog
If you’re constantly slipping off the back of the shoe, or having to pause mid-step, so you don’t completely lose your balance, Dansko Men’s Professional Clog is the perfect blend of comfort and stability for men with flat feet.
This nursing shoe for flat feet offers superior comfort and support in a stylish clog that you can wear in hospitals and at home. The polyurethane sole reduces torque, while the PU inner frame provides stability and balance. It’s made of durable leather uppers and will last for years to come. The padded instep collar cushions your foot all day long, while the 2″ heel adds an extra boost of comfort.
The advanced upper construction means your foot is covered with breathable leather combined with the patented PU inner frame that reduces torque and provides stability. They have padding in the ankle collar to keep your feet safe and a platform of 0.75 inches—perfect for navigating long hallways or tricky staircases while providing your foot support without adding extra weight or clunkiness.
Best of all? When you come home from a long day on your feet, just wash them with a soapy cloth or sponge, and they’ll be ready for the next day.
If you’ve been considering making the switch from sneakers to clogs but were worried they’d be too clunky. In that case, Dansko Men’s Professional Clog is a must-have addition to any nurse’s wardrobe, creating the perfect blend of comfort and professional style!
Crocs Unisex-Adult Men’s and Women’s Specialist II Clog
If you do a lot of running around and standing, you know that you need a comfortable pair of shoes. Crocs Unisex Specialist II Clog is the perfect shoe to wear at work. The thick construction for toe protection (made specifically with nurses in mind) offers extra cushioning and shock-absorbing properties, great for standing and walking for long hours.
This nursing shoe for flat feet features a contoured footbed that offers heel support, while nubbed foam footbeds provide a massage-like experience. A thick construction gives your toes protection against spills, giving you the comfort you need during your most extended shifts.
Crocs Unisex Specialist II Clog features ergonomic support for your arches and toes and our unique Crocs Comfort™ engineering, giving you all-day comfort. These clogs are made with an ethylene-vinyl acetate sole that’s lightweight, so it’s easy to lift yourself and down a hospital bed without straining your back. What’s more, they’re waterproof, so they won’t fall apart if they get wet—which means less time spent cleaning them.
These comfy shoes are available in sizes 5-14, so they’ll fit a wide variety of feet. You’ll love these roomy fits, but we recommend ordering a size down from your usual shoe size.
If you’ve been looking for a pair of work clogs to provide the support you need to get through a long day or night on your feet, look no further than the Crocs Specialist II Clog. They’re comfortable, and they’re easy to clean, and standing in them for a few minutes makes you feel like you’re at a spa!
New Balance Men’s 623 V3 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer
Any long-time nurse will tell you that your feet can take a beating on the job, especially if you have flat feet or issues with pronation. You need a shoe that will hold up for those long shifts and keep you comfortable. The New Balance Men’s 623 V3 is a reliable, stylish nursing shoe for flat feet that’s great for work, but you can also wear it on your days off!
It has a 10 mm drop (which is kind of like an inch) between the heel and the ball of your foot, which is essential if you’re on your feet all day. The EVA foam footbed cushions your feet while the internal midsole shank ensures optimal support and structure. The E100% leather upper prevents irritation and allows your feet to breathe as you work long shifts.
The insole is made with a lightweight EVA foam material to conform to your foot’s natural shape, giving you more comfort than a rigid insole would. The outsoles have rubber traction pods for grip and slip resistance when walking on wet surfaces or when it’s raining outside.
New Balance Men’s 623 V3 offers tons of support and cushioning, so you can spend all day walking around without feeling exhausted and worsening your flat feet. With this kind of comfort, you’ll be able to focus on your patients instead of how tired your feet are. Plus, they look excellent with scrubs.
If you’re looking for a new pair of shoes that are built for long shifts on your feet, New Balance Men’s 623 V3 is the one for you!
ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes
Nurses with flat feet need athletic shoes to keep up with their busy schedules and activities, but finding the right pair of shoes could be more challenging. Fortunately, ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes are made for all your needs. This nursing shoe for flat feet delivers a combination of stability and shock absorption along with increased breathability.
The ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes are made with an engineered mesh upper that provides extra stability and added ventilation. Plus, FlyteFoam Propel Technology helps provide bounce back and responsiveness no matter the distance, so you can go from run to walk without having to adjust your stride.
Dynamic DuoMax Support System is designed specifically for men with flat feet, which can cause issues with pronation (the foot rolls inward when standing or walking). This technology helps keep your feet in alignment, so discomfort is at a minimum. It also keeps your stride solid and stable at all times, crucial when you’re carrying heavy patient files and supplies from one ward to another.
The cushioned foam sole provides shock absorption during impact and allows movement in multiple planes as the foot transitions through the gait cycle.
ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes are the perfect combination of comfort, support, stability, and ventilation for the busy running nurse who wants to get where he needs to go fast!
Brooks Men’s Ghost 12 Running Shoe
If you’re searching for a lightweight shoe with tons of cushioning and a smooth ride, the Brooks Men’s Ghost 12 is the one for you. This nursing shoe for flat feet has all the support and grip needed to stay comfortable while on the job and keep you lightweight and agile.
The Brooks Men’s Ghost 12 Running shoe cushioning is crafted from BioMoGo DNA, a dual-density midsole foam that offers softness and stability. The cushioned sole absorbs impact as you land on each step, then springs back up to meet you as you push off again. This responsive cushioning is designed to provide comfort for flat feet through every stride while still offering enough support for working out and running on hard surfaces.
No matter where your foot falls, the Segmented Crash Pad will cushion every step and stride for a smooth heel-to-toe transition. Thanks to stretch and structure, modern mesh and 3D Fit Print almost vanish on your foot.
The Brooks Ghost 12 Running Shoes have excellent cushioning that works together to provide just the right amount of softness under your foot without sacrificing responsiveness or durability. Yet it feels lighter than ever before!
Frequently Asked Questions
As a nurse, why is it essential to wear the right shoe?
If you’re flat-footed, your foot may roll inward or outward when you walk, which can cause you to stumble or trip. This can be particularly dangerous for nurses because they often have to move quickly from patient to patient.
Make sure you’re wearing shoes with a rigid sole that is thin enough to fit between your toes when you walk. For extra support, look for insoles with shock-absorbing properties—that way, your feet won’t sway inward or outward while you move around the ward.
What are the risks of flat feet as a nurse?
The most significant risk for nurses who have flat feet is balancing one foot when performing tasks like checking a patient’s blood pressure or inserting a catheter. If your flat feet don’t support your body weight properly, you can damage your metatarsal bones, which are located in your foot, and be prone to foot infections and other health issues.
The long-term risks associated with flat feet are also significant. Wearing shoes without proper arch support can lead to back and joint problems over time—for example, scoliosis in women who wear high heels over 15 years. Some studies show that people with flat feet are more at risk for developing knee osteoarthritis and plantar fasciitis. Having flat feet can also lead to bunions and hammertoes.
How to prevent flat feet from worsening?
If you have flat feet and you aren’t getting enough support from your shoes, you could end up with tendonitis—a painful inflammation of the tendons in your feet and ankles. That pain can prevent you from doing your job as a nurse!
To avoid all these complications, you could try special inserts for your shoes that help make your arches pop back into shape. Insoles can also help reduce the strain on your feet.
Also, wearing supportive shoes with proper arch support can improve your overall health and performance.
What to consider when looking for nursing shoes for flat feet?
You’ve probably heard that nurses are supposed to wear sneaker-style shoes with plenty of room in the toe area. But it’s still hard to find a good pair that fits well and is comfortable. A few things you should look for when shopping for nursing shoes are:
Ergonomic fit
When nurses wear shoes with an ergonomic fit, though, they reduce the pressure on their feet and can keep going for hours without pain or discomfort.
To determine whether a pair of shoes has an ergonomic fit, look at the arch support, as well as the shoe’s overall structure. Shoes that feature solid arch support will help distribute weight across your foot more evenly, reducing the odds of pain in any one area. The overall structure of the shoe should also be flexible enough to allow you to move freely.
Plenty of room in the toe area
Flat feet are often the first sign of overpronation. When your foot has a higher arch, it allows the bones in your feet to roll inward and balance properly. However, flat feet prevent your bones from naturally moving inwards, which increases the risk of injury in other parts of your body.
Plenty of room in the toe area is essential for nursing shoes if you have flat feet because it gives your toes more room to splay out when walking. This ensures that your toes can make natural adjustments as needed during movement and accommodate for changes in terrain.
Flexible sole with shock absorption
Flexible soles are essential in nursing shoes because they reduce shock by up to 40%, necessary when you have flat feet. And flexible soles give you extra shock absorption in the ball of your foot and heel, making standing and walking around more manageable and less painful.
Best men’s shoes for nurses with flat feet, final thoughts…
The bottom line is that choosing the right nursing shoes can make all the difference in your comfort while at work. Be sure to discuss your options with a physician before making a purchase and look at some of the best recommendations we have outlined here. That way, you can enjoy your new pair of nurse shoes for many years without discomfort!
Again, here is our top picks for Best Men’s Shoes for Nurses with Flat Feet…
- Best Overall Men’s Shoe For Nurses with Flat Feet – Dansko Men’s Professional Clog
- Runner-up Men’s Shoe For Nurses with Flat Feet – ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes
- Best Alternative Men’s Shoe For Nurses with Flat Feet – Crocs Unisex Specialist II Clog