If you are a nurse, then your job is no walk in the park. Long hours, tiring night shifts, and emergency cases come with the territory. And let’s be honest. You’re certainly not getting rich by doing it all, and your salary most likely covers your basic bills. If you have high arches and aren’t wearing appropriate shoes for that condition, doing everything you have to do becomes ten times harder.
Why add stress to your back and neck during your shift by choosing shoes that aren’t supportive or comfortable? In less than five minutes, I’ll walk you through the five most comfortable shoes for nurses with high arches worth considering. But first, let’s take a look at what all the fuss is about.
A high arch is known as pes cavus in medical terms. Here, the foot arch stretches from the ball of the foot to the heel and is unusually high. Neurological disorders can cause cavus foot, but it is usually a structural deformity passed down through genetics.
Without further ado, the top three most comfortable shoes for nurses with high arches are:
- Best Overall Nursing Shoe for High Arches – Dansko Women’s Professional Clogs
- Runner Up Nursing Shoe for High Arches – Skechers Sure Track Slip-Resistant Shoe
- Alternative Nursing Shoe for High Arches – OOFOS Unisex OOCloog
Here’s the lowdown on the five most comfortable shoes for high arches.
5 Most Comfortable Shoes For Nurses with High Arches
Dansko Women’s Professional Clogs
Dansko is best known for its comfortable and supportive shoes, which typically appeal to healthcare professionals. The Dansko Women’s Professional Clog has been a favorite of doctors and nurses since the turn of the last century.
Dansko Women’s Professional Clog
This clog is designed to make your feet feel better, not worse. Its leather upper won’t rip or fray, and its padded collar prevents chafing and blisters. Moreover, it also has a polyurethane footbed that lets air circulate your foot, keeping it cool and preventing it from sweating or blistering.
And if that wasn’t enough, this clog boasts a shock-absorbing, rocker-bottom, slip-resistant outsole to help you survive those long hours on your feet.
Dansko clogs keep your arches feeling springy and supple, ideal for underpronators who experience too much stress on the balls and heels of their feet. Wearing arch-supporting shoes helps with the even distribution of force every time your feet hit the ground. This way, your feet won’t hurt as much, and your high arch won’t cause you much pain.
In addition, the American Podiatric Medical Association has given this shoe its seal of approval for promoting good foot health.
All models of Danko clogs feel clunky and stiff the first few times you wear them, but they’ll eventually become more comfortable when broken in. One word of caution, though: these clogs are supposed to appear stiff, not unbearably tight. If that’s the case with your new Danskos, you may consider returning them.
Dansko clogs tend to run large, so we recommend ordering a size smaller than the ones you usually wear.
Skechers Sure Track Slip-Resistant Shoe
Skechers is dedicated to providing their community with the most comfortable sneakers on the market. They’ve spent more than 40 years perfecting the fit of their shoes, and they want to pass that experience on to you.
Although Skechers Sure Track Slip-Resistant Shoes aren’t the most appealing footwear, they have several features that will work well for nurses with high arches who spend all day on their feet.
Skechers Work Sure Track – Trickel Women’s Shoes
The shoes’ insoles are covered with detachable memory foam, while their FlexSole midsoles provide optimal arch support and shock absorption. These features help relieve pressure on the ball and heel of your foot, so you can walk more briskly, run faster, and stand for long periods.
The Skechers Sure Track sneaker has a soft leather upper and rubber sole. It is slip-resistant, so it’s ideal for hospital nurses who work on slippery floors. A lace-up design offers more support for your feet, allowing you to be comfortable even on your busiest days.
If your feet are wider than average, we recommend getting a half size larger than your regular shoe size. These shoes have a relaxed fit, so they should not feel tight.
There’s some bad news, though: Some users reported that the shoes fell apart after a few months of use, and they would not recommend them to anyone. Notwithstanding, these are still worth considering because of the comfort they offer and their low price point.
Alegria Women’s Keli Professional
The Alegria comes with a polyurethane outsole that provides adequate traction and shock absorption as you move throughout the day. Its footbed is made of latex, cork, and memory foam—a combo of materials that lessen tension on your heel and central metatarsal.
Alegria Women’s Keli Professional
With a contoured footbed, foam padding, and exceptional arch support, it is hard to mistake the Alegria Women’s Keli Professional for anything but the high-quality shoe that it is. This shoe performs better when paired with a compression sock or thin stocking because its upper area fits snugly around your foot.
When you first slip these shoes on, you’ll be struck by how great they feel and how comfortable they are. And if you need a different size, the Alegria Footwear Size Guide will guide you to your perfect fit. If this particular color doesn’t suit you, feel free to explore other premium hues.
With their sleek design and noticeable difference from other footwear, one could say that these are definitely in a class of their own. But the downside of these shoes is that they tend to get dinged up pretty quickly.
Klogs Women’s Naples
If you’re looking for flexible and lightweight clogs, the Klogs Women’s Naples clogs are your ticket. They’re so flexible that you won’t even need to break them in, and they feature elastic bands that allow you to slip in and out of them with ease.
KLOGS Naples Leather Closed-Back Nursing Women’s Clogs
These shoes have everything you need to keep your feet healthy and comfortable. The leather uppers allow your feet to breathe, while the cushioned insoles promote proper arch support.
If you’re looking for something extra, you can even replace the insoles with medically prescribed orthotic insoles. The flexible polyurethane outsole absorbs shock satisfactorily, so you can walk on any terrain without compromising comfort or protection.
These clogs come in several styles and colors, so you’re sure to find a pair that fits your unique personality.
They’re about one size larger than regular clogs, so it’s best to get a pair that’s no more than one size smaller than your usual shoe size. However, they should fit loosely, giving you plenty of room to wiggle your toes.
Unlike Dansko clogs, which are thick and sturdy, these are thinner, more flexible, and softer on the inside. But, unfortunately, Klogs Naples don’t offer sufficient arch support for people with high arches.
Unfortunately, customers have reported problems with the quality and durability of these clogs. They say that they (the clogs) are not as durable as Dansko’s, which also cost a similar amount of money, but begin ripping after only a few months of use.
OOFOS Unisex OOCloog
OOFOS Unisex OOCloog may only come in a limited range of colors, but its lightweight design secures its spot among the most comfortable shoes for nurses with high arches.
OOFOS Unisex OOCloog Lightweight Recovery Shoes
OOFOS clogs are not just a pair of shoes; they are also a great conversation starter. Wearers can brag about the company’s effort in making them, which is visible through the shoes’ impressive quality.
In addition, this footwear can withstand a lot of wear and tear, making it a long-lasting investment. If you’re looking for the a nursing shoe that is simple yet effective, then you should try OOFOS out!
The foam used in making these clogs is durable and acts as a water vapor barrier to prevent moisture from penetrating the footwear.
The OOFOS Unisex OOCloog has a soft rubber sole, which provides superior traction in slippery areas such as hospitals. It is also machine-washable, so even if you take it on many adventures, a quick spin in the washing machine will restore it to its original sparkle.
Important Points Nurses Should Know About Shoes for High Arches
The foot’s arch is a crucial component of the skeletal structure, found between the heel and the ball, formed by a series of small bones supported by ligaments and tendons. Typically, this arch should be shaped like an upward curve.
Of course, there is a situation whereby the arch doesn’t “arch” at all. This condition is medically recognized as flat feet or fallen arch.
On the flip side, the foot arch may curve way higher than it should. While flat feet come with problems, high arches cause unbearable discomfort.
High-arched nurses should ensure the shoes they wear have wide toe boxes and come with orthotic insoles. And since stability and support are pivotal to comfort on the job, nurses should look for shoes with sturdy outsoles and plenty of cushioning.
High arches may be painful on their own, but they can also be a causative factor of other foot conditions, such as:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Claw toe
- Metatarsalgia
- Hammertoe
High arches may be painful on their own, but they can also be a causative factor of other foot conditions, such as:
How To Choose The Best Nursing Shoes for High Arches?
Choosing the right shoes can be difficult. With so many types of shoes available and many factors to consider, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
If you have high arches, however, you need special kinds of shoes to support your feet—especially if you’re on your feet all day working as a nurse. Here are some features to nudge you in the right direction:
Comfort
When buying shoes for nurses with high-arched feet, comfort should be your number one priority. If you don’t wear comfortable shoes, you’ll feel exhausted by the end of the day.
Nursing shoes must be comfortable and flexible. They should have enough space to accommodate your toes and heels—which means they shouldn’t be too loose or tight.
The shoes’ cushioning, shock absorption, and softness all play an important role in ensuring your feet are as comfortable as possible.
Durability
It can be frustrating when a high-priced pair of shoes you bought to relieve the symptoms of foot discomfort lasts only a short time. But if you take good care of your shoes and wear the right socks, they can last longer than you expect.
Nursing shoes must be durable, provide excellent support and feature high-grade materials. They should also have thickset outsoles that can endure long hours of vigorous daily use without losing their slip-resistant abilities.
Flexibility
Most comfortable shoes for nurses with high arches offer optimal protection, but they shouldn’t compromise flexibility. Shoes that are too firm will prevent you from performing your duties efficiently.
Conversely, too-soft shoes end up stressing your foot muscles and aggravating your pain. If any shoes make you feel like you’re walking on jelly or climbing a rocky mountain when wearing them, it’s high time you got a different, better pair.
Some recommended nursing shoes may feel stiffer than regular flats because of their extra support features.
Fit
People with high arches are often plagued by this problem. Getting shoes that fit you well is crucial, but sometimes you need to order half or whole sizes larger than your actual shoe size to ensure your toes have enough wiggle room.
Finding the right shoes that fit your feet is like a Cinderella story. But if you lay hold on shoes that support your fore and rear feet, comfort and relief will be yours all day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which shoes are recommended for people with high arches?
Two of the most comfortable shoes for nurses with high arches are Dansko Professional Clogs and Skechers Women’s Sure Track Slip Resistant Sneakers. They are known for their superb slip resistance, high quality, versatility, and affordability.
How do I know if I have high arch feet?
One of the fastest ways to find out if you have high arch feet is to visit a shoe store that offers digital foot scanning technology.
This technology can determine your size, arch type, and weight distribution in minutes, and it’s used in more than 5,000 locations worldwide.
Can I customize a pair of shoes to fit my high-arched feet?
For people with high arches, finding the perfect pair of shoes can be a daunting task. Today, many brands offer footwear specially tailored to the contours of high-arched feet.
These shoes often have removable gel inserts that allow you to customize their fit according to your pressure points.
Another solution for high-arch-induced foot pain is custom orthotics: these devices sustain the long foot arch and pad the area behind the ball of the foot to relieve pressure from that spot.
How do you take care of your footwear?
Taking care of your shoes will allow them to last longer. The leather ones, however, need extra attention. It’s best to clean them with a dry or damp cloth.
Clogs are the easiest of shoes to maintain: They can be washed with any detergent, and they dry quickly.
Summary
So, when buying the most comfortable shoes for nurses with high arches, it’s pretty essential to understand your foot type and what kind of arch support you need. And if you want to make sure that the shoes you pick are high quality, don’t forget to check out our reviews!