Walk to Work Day: What Shoes to Wear

Mar 29 , 2022

Jhuti

Tags - Shoes to Wear to Work

Walk to Work Day is coming up soon and you'll want to be wearing the most comfortable shoes to last all day.

Like getting the right pair of running shoes is important, the same goes for shoes for walking to work.

As you may know from an all too painful personal experience, when walking any length of time in 'dress' shoes or old trainers, it can be excruciating!

Whether you work in an office environment, at the hospital, in retail, outdoors, hospitality - if you're on your feet all day, the right shoes that are supportive and a good fit can help turn a bad day into a much better one - no one wants tired, sore feet.

Keep reading to find out which shoes you should wear to Walk to Work Day and discover tips on finding the best shoes for working on your feet.

Why Do Your Feet Hurt After Work?

If you spend all day on your feet, you're no doubt familiar with the discomfort and agony that can result from doing so.

The weight of your body is being absorbed by the bottoms of your feet, putting pressure on specific regions of your feet that are in touch with - or attempt to make contact with - the ground.

Putting stress on your feet for extended periods of time might trigger pre-existing foot problems such as corns, calluses, or any other form of foot abnormality, but it can also cause ankle discomfort, back pain and general alignment issues.

However, the appropriate shoes have the ability to make a huge difference…

How to Choose Comfortable Shoes for Work

When choosing a pair of shoes to wear all day, look for the following features:

Size: there's a lot of variation among brands and designs, which means that we often get the wrong size - get your feet measured professionally to determine what your true size is
Arch Support: a good arch support can help distribute weight across the foot, reducing pressure on your arches
Cushioned Soles: like arch support, this will help to reduce impact on your feet, making them less likely to ache
Wide Toe Box: narrow-fitted shoes can be a pain when you're on your feet all day - literally. So you want to ensure there's plenty of room for foot splay
Good Grip: no matter if you're working indoors and outdoors, you need shoes with good grip to prevent any nasty trips or falls - especially when walking to work
Durable: shoes go through a lot so they need to be made out of durable materials so they're long lasting and less likely to wear-and-tear
Lightweight and Breathable: with walking to work then standing on your feet all day, they're without-a-doubt going to sweat, so get a breathable pair where moisture can escape

Walking to Work

The best walking shoes provide excellent stability, support arches, have cushioned soles, and are pleasant to wear for the duration of your walk.

Typically, a good place to start is with a trainer; however, if you walk to and from work or if your job requires you to stand on your feet for lengthy periods of time, a more fashionable trainer or shoe would be more appropriate.

However, choosing comfortable shoes should never have to mean compromising on style, and if you spend most of your day at work in an office, you want to feel as comfy as possible.

The answer?

Trainers in disguise!

These look and feel like shoes, but they're more like trainers in terms of how they fit and feel on your feet.

For women, a good example is the Skechers Wide Awake: a slip on trainer-like shoe. With a soft upper mesh fabric, overlaid with leather and memory foam insoles - they're perfect for walking and working during the day.

For men, these types of shoes are perfect for smart-casual work wear. For instance, the Josef Seibel Phil shoe is smart and functional: it has leather uppers and flexible, durable outsoles.

Working Outdoors

If you're working outside on your feet, you'll also want to think about whether the shoes are waterproof, ultra-durable, and provide adequate protection if your job involves heavy lifting or operating powered equipment.

Stopping Your Feet From Hurting After Work

There are a few things you can do to maintain your feet healthy while working, either to prevent them from hurting or relieve the discomfort after a long shift:

Insoles: insoles may assist by enhancing shock absorption and distributing your body weight more evenly across your foot. The more effectively an insole fits, the more beneficial it is. So talk to a specialist to find out whether insoles would be beneficial for you and to pick the suitable type
Stretch: when you spend all day on your feet, muscles can get stiff and painful. Try to take frequent breaks when possible to stretch and relieve foot and ankle discomfort. Downward-facing dog, runner's stretch, hero's pose, bound angle posture, and four different stretches that target the appropriate areas
Ice: at the end of a long day, soaking your feet in a bowl of ice water – as unpleasant as it may seem – will help to reduce swelling and discomfort. Soak them for 20 minutes and you'll notice an immediate difference

To find out more, get in touch today.

Now that you know what to look out for when choosing comfortable shoes for work, explore our full collection.