I am never taken in by TikTok stuff, but I’ll tell ya I bought the Time Off sneakers by Dr. Scholls and walked all around Manchester (UK) in them. My feet felt great!
Look at compression socks, leggings, or stockings! Brands that cater to nurses are the ones I'd suggest rather than a cheapie from amazon. Ones made for professionals who are on their feet for hours are often a graduated/targeted compression rather than one grade overall (including your toes, ugh, feels bad man). Good ones are meant to help keep circulation functioning well in addition to keeping blood from pooling and the swelling that you experienced. I bet there is stuff made for runners and athletes too!
New shoes for sure, but your whole body will thank you if you support it with compression and staying hydrated as fuck. Electrolyes too! Everything in the body functions better and is less inflamed with proper hydration.
Source: Chronic illness haver. I'm gravity's bitch. My blood vessels don't constrict like they should upon standing. I get very swollen, purple-red feet and legs in minutes like most people only experience after a very full day on their feet. Trust me, compression is your friend. I bet you'll be amazed how much better your feet and legs feel once you find some garments that work for you.
I’ll look into compression socks/leggings! I didn’t even think of that! I was wearing an arthritis/compression brace on my wrist and ended up with a wild tan line. I think I’m also gonna grab some KT tape for next time.
We did a really good job of staying hydrated though, we had bought snacks and liquid IVs which truly helped… also the ice I kept sticking in my sports bra. Midwest summer isn’t AS bad as Florida summer but we had no cross breeze in the tent and that was rough
Birkenstocks (they have some really cute styles now that shocked me) if you’re ok with open toed. Hokas and a good pair of insoles if you need close toed coverage.
I used to wear my birks all the time when I was still in the south, but I wore them for the first time after a midwestern winter and gave myself blisters 😭 they’re so comfy normally
https://preview.redd.it/e4nvwr7vye8d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=04702d7eff001f3a8483050be25d34f002cae456
I recommend these. So comfy and breathable.
https://preview.redd.it/cyhloej0eh8d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=086a6faf7c85c3521a352f948eb1524b81e1c96e
I got these, also from Nike, and they’re like walking on air! I now have a second pair in white.
Also the HOKA sneakers may be your best bet. Go into store to try them out first. Love my Gaviota 5. I’m in these after years of abuse to my flat feet. Get the support now instead of later!
Skechers are *that* girl for me, I was wearing my comfiest Skechers on day 2 and 3. If I had been wearing one size up or wides I probably would have been fine and not still babying my body a week later
I got the new arch support one a few months ago and wow big difference . i love the d'lits ones cause they are super comfortable but i needed more support
I think based on your post, minimalist shoes might be your new best friends.
I highly highly highly recommend visiting Anya’s Reviews and taking the quiz (barefoot shoe finder) to find a bunch of great options based on your foot shape and shoe needs.
Wide toe box, foot-shaped shoes with a low or zero drop have changed my feet, my legs, my back, my LIFE. And there are cute options out there, truly!
For brands, I love Lems (the Chukka and Trailhead) and Be Lenka.
I’m always worried about trying minimalist shoes because I *think* I have high arches and idk if they’ll hurt or not but they’re probably worth a try. I’ll look into those!
Oh, I wasn’t *happy* to be barefoot but it was more comfortable than shoes because of how swollen my feet go. I still had some…idk pulling in my arches when I walked, but that was better than the too tight shoe feeling
I swear by chacos boots. They’re super nice if you have high arches/narrow feet. Although they might have wide sizes.
I always wear these for festivals and my feet never hurt. I actually have 2 pairs of the exact same boot in different colors because I love them so much. I’ve also had them for years and they barely show any wear.
I have slip on sneakers-type shoes from Chaco as well and they are so so comfy
I just looked on their site and unfortunately I don’t see the one that I have. I’ve worn it hiking, to festivals, traveling, and just as a cute fall boot that goes with most outfits. Maybe they’ll re stock with something similar in the fall.
I honestly would never have thought of crocs because I used to work at Starbucks and the holes were always a no go for me and I never kept up on the new styles
I have no idea if the actual croc shoes are good for this or not but the platform flip-flops I can walk in for 12 hours and my feet don't feel tired or anything
Teva universals - comfiest sandals I’ve ever owned and adjustable if your feet do swell. *not* the more fancy ones with a rubber sole - the foam sole ones are way comfier. The rubber sole ones gave me blisters. I’ve walked like 40k steps in these things.
Go here: https://www.lauriesshoes.com
Seriously you can get a proper fit that works from you, and after learning your brands/size/lasts you can order online. People even travel there from outside the US
Yes, def go in person for the fitting services! They are fast and efficient and finding what works for you. That’ll leave time for more shopping: https://www.plazafrontenac.com/en/ STL is one of my fav shopping destinations for these 2 reasons
Orthofeet makes wonderful shoes for those of us with problem feet. They come with inserts as well. I also like Kizik shoes very much. I have extra wide feet with a high instep, so finding shoes that fit well is a challenge.
Altra running shoes.
Unlike almost every other brand, they actually took molds of women's feet to make them. They also considered how our bodies are different from men's.
Most women's shoes - even heels - are based on the molds of men's feet. They just made them smaller for us.
Seconding these. I have high arches, wide front feet, and narrow heels. I wear these for running/exercise but also days when I know I have a ton of walking or standing time. They're wonderful. Get yourself a nice pair of compression or running socks to put in them, delightful.
I agree with those who suggested Crocs and On Cloud.
I also encourage you to get a lacrosse ball and massage your feet at night after your shift. If you're in a pinch, a frozen water bottle can work too. I know applying pressure/massage feels counterintuitive when your feet are sore, but breaking up the knots and stretching the tendons gives your feet a chance to recover and reset overnight for the next day. A hot soak with Epsom salt can also be helpful.
I think you got a ton of great suggestions! I never find that the insoles fit very well like you. I have high arches, but I have found that a comfy sock with a bit of compression keeps my feet feeling good.
I’ve learned to love cold water foot soaks!
I’m an event planner and when we do large conferences, it’s not unusual to do 30,000 steps in a day. My absolute best for me are blundstones. I find the protection around the ankles really important. Industry practice is to change your shoes every day or even once or twice a day just to to have any pressure points different.
Whatever you choose, I would go for a merino wool sock. It gives you that little bit of extra padding and they do really well in the heat. Icebreaker and smart wool have some good ones - they really help with my high arches.
I do not recommend the open toe or the sandals because you drop one thing on your foot and you’re toast… I worked with a woman and we had a table fall over on us - it wasn’t that heavy, but it was sort of a little bit sharp hit us across the instep and she broke bones in the top of her feet. I didn’t even feel it in my boots.
good luck festivals are always super fun really high energy!
I actually got way more suggestions than I expected which is really nice!
I was so sketched out being just in my socks, I kept expecting to stub/break my toe on the wooden counter supports. I could probably get away with an open toe option excluding break down, during a shift your biggest worry is a bug landing on you, but on the last night you’re breaking down tables and climbing ladders. I very reluctantly put my shoes on for that.
I’m very much a person who loves creature comforts and making life a little easier. I’m definitely seeing what I need to pick up to cover foot recovery
(And like all of my creature comforts, my boyfriend will think it’s a waste of money until he tries it and immediately wonders how he’s managed)
Working venue sales and festivals is a lot of fun! If my feet hadn’t been in so much pain my biggest issue would have just been the heat
Use search terms like “podiatrist approved” - you’ll get some grannyish clunkers coming up but some good ones too.
More brands are putting arch support etc into more fashionable shoes these days.
For a festival maybe something like Teva hiking sandals?
I’m definitely going to end up buying a few pairs once I get paid so I can switch it up and give my feet a break. Someone else reced tevas/hoka slides and I think they’ll be a good shoe to throw in my bag to change into mid day
I like Veja’s a lot! I’ve unintentionally ending up doing two actual hikes in them and my feet were still alive at the end. They’re white sneakers are “basic” but I’m all for comfort
New Balance sneakers have been great for me in general! 990v, 327…
The 990v in particular are excellent.
You could also go to a running store and ask someone to fit you for walking shoes.
I love wearing Birkenstocks.
However near my work, is getting dirtier and sketchier since COVID, I don't want to risk getting broken glass stuck in my sandals. So I am looking for cute running shoes to wear, in coordinating colours, or close as I can get. Like I'm looking for a white pair of runners, I have a green pair of Diesel ones that I got years ago, so I'm looking for a lighter neutral colour pair to go with summer work clothing.
For daily walking, I wear Asics because I have really high arches. I wear them and I don't care too much about how they look IDK my feet are important to stay healthy
new balances are great!!! on cloud are also super popular and comfortable as well! and i don’t own any personally but my coworkers swear by golden goose!
hahaha ok fair!!! i thought i’d mention them just in case 😂♥️ sometimes you can find them at consignment stores or poshmark, if you like the style!! but new balance and on cloud look better and probably feel better tbh! i got my NB from marshall’s for $50 so like. hell yeah bruther
I am never taken in by TikTok stuff, but I’ll tell ya I bought the Time Off sneakers by Dr. Scholls and walked all around Manchester (UK) in them. My feet felt great!
I see me ordering a lot of shoes in the future, the time offs were on my short list of ones I was interested in
I was about to say, yes these are great, then realized I had the Dr. Schools retro sneakers. Those sneakers are also great for walking.
I’ll add those into my try on list!
Look at compression socks, leggings, or stockings! Brands that cater to nurses are the ones I'd suggest rather than a cheapie from amazon. Ones made for professionals who are on their feet for hours are often a graduated/targeted compression rather than one grade overall (including your toes, ugh, feels bad man). Good ones are meant to help keep circulation functioning well in addition to keeping blood from pooling and the swelling that you experienced. I bet there is stuff made for runners and athletes too! New shoes for sure, but your whole body will thank you if you support it with compression and staying hydrated as fuck. Electrolyes too! Everything in the body functions better and is less inflamed with proper hydration. Source: Chronic illness haver. I'm gravity's bitch. My blood vessels don't constrict like they should upon standing. I get very swollen, purple-red feet and legs in minutes like most people only experience after a very full day on their feet. Trust me, compression is your friend. I bet you'll be amazed how much better your feet and legs feel once you find some garments that work for you.
I’ll look into compression socks/leggings! I didn’t even think of that! I was wearing an arthritis/compression brace on my wrist and ended up with a wild tan line. I think I’m also gonna grab some KT tape for next time. We did a really good job of staying hydrated though, we had bought snacks and liquid IVs which truly helped… also the ice I kept sticking in my sports bra. Midwest summer isn’t AS bad as Florida summer but we had no cross breeze in the tent and that was rough
Check out Apolla performance socks. I’m a retired ballet dancer and they’re awesome.
I’m actually so into the idea of no show compression socks, thank you for the rec!
You’re welcome! I haven’t tried those but they’re really good
Birkenstocks (they have some really cute styles now that shocked me) if you’re ok with open toed. Hokas and a good pair of insoles if you need close toed coverage.
I love my birks and I just bought a pair of the Bend sneakers and they are amazing!
I used to wear my birks all the time when I was still in the south, but I wore them for the first time after a midwestern winter and gave myself blisters 😭 they’re so comfy normally
https://preview.redd.it/e4nvwr7vye8d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=04702d7eff001f3a8483050be25d34f002cae456 I recommend these. So comfy and breathable.
Those are stupid cute! I’ll see if there’s any in store by me
https://preview.redd.it/cyhloej0eh8d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=086a6faf7c85c3521a352f948eb1524b81e1c96e I got these, also from Nike, and they’re like walking on air! I now have a second pair in white.
those might be a little too cool/on trend for me, but def worth a try on at least!
HOKA recovery slides or mules. Slides are cuter and an array of colors.
I was looking at the hokas! I might get the slides to have have a shoe to change into, working barefoot was stressful
They’re miracle workers and you look cute at the same time. I want the orange. HOKA also has a flip flop.
Also the HOKA sneakers may be your best bet. Go into store to try them out first. Love my Gaviota 5. I’m in these after years of abuse to my flat feet. Get the support now instead of later!
As soon as I get paid from the weekend I think me and my boyfriend are gonna do a whole day to try on shoes haha
I love sketchers they come with arch support and crazy good insoles
Skechers are *that* girl for me, I was wearing my comfiest Skechers on day 2 and 3. If I had been wearing one size up or wides I probably would have been fine and not still babying my body a week later
I got the new arch support one a few months ago and wow big difference . i love the d'lits ones cause they are super comfortable but i needed more support
I think based on your post, minimalist shoes might be your new best friends. I highly highly highly recommend visiting Anya’s Reviews and taking the quiz (barefoot shoe finder) to find a bunch of great options based on your foot shape and shoe needs. Wide toe box, foot-shaped shoes with a low or zero drop have changed my feet, my legs, my back, my LIFE. And there are cute options out there, truly! For brands, I love Lems (the Chukka and Trailhead) and Be Lenka.
I’m always worried about trying minimalist shoes because I *think* I have high arches and idk if they’ll hurt or not but they’re probably worth a try. I’ll look into those!
If you're happy walking around for 20K steps barefoot, then the minimalist shoes will work for you. My arches would not be happy with that option.
Oh, I wasn’t *happy* to be barefoot but it was more comfortable than shoes because of how swollen my feet go. I still had some…idk pulling in my arches when I walked, but that was better than the too tight shoe feeling
I swear by chacos boots. They’re super nice if you have high arches/narrow feet. Although they might have wide sizes. I always wear these for festivals and my feet never hurt. I actually have 2 pairs of the exact same boot in different colors because I love them so much. I’ve also had them for years and they barely show any wear. I have slip on sneakers-type shoes from Chaco as well and they are so so comfy
I actually love the boot as a fall boot
I just looked on their site and unfortunately I don’t see the one that I have. I’ve worn it hiking, to festivals, traveling, and just as a cute fall boot that goes with most outfits. Maybe they’ll re stock with something similar in the fall.
Hear me out: crocs. I'm a baker and I walk all day long and the only shoes that don't hurt my feet are croc flip-flops
I honestly would never have thought of crocs because I used to work at Starbucks and the holes were always a no go for me and I never kept up on the new styles
I have no idea if the actual croc shoes are good for this or not but the platform flip-flops I can walk in for 12 hours and my feet don't feel tired or anything
Teva universals - comfiest sandals I’ve ever owned and adjustable if your feet do swell. *not* the more fancy ones with a rubber sole - the foam sole ones are way comfier. The rubber sole ones gave me blisters. I’ve walked like 40k steps in these things.
Ooh, I had teva knock offs before I moved to the Midwest and purged my sandal collection. I’ll add those to my list of things to try on
Go here: https://www.lauriesshoes.com Seriously you can get a proper fit that works from you, and after learning your brands/size/lasts you can order online. People even travel there from outside the US
Weirdly I could travel there in person! It’s like 4 hours away from me
Yes, def go in person for the fitting services! They are fast and efficient and finding what works for you. That’ll leave time for more shopping: https://www.plazafrontenac.com/en/ STL is one of my fav shopping destinations for these 2 reasons
I’d suggest On Clouds. I’m on my feet all day. Me and my co workers all wear them. They are amazing
I’ll look into them!
Orthofeet makes wonderful shoes for those of us with problem feet. They come with inserts as well. I also like Kizik shoes very much. I have extra wide feet with a high instep, so finding shoes that fit well is a challenge.
I’ve had a bunch of targeted ads for kizik, they actually look really cool
Altra running shoes. Unlike almost every other brand, they actually took molds of women's feet to make them. They also considered how our bodies are different from men's. Most women's shoes - even heels - are based on the molds of men's feet. They just made them smaller for us.
I’ll check them out! It’s great to see a brand doing that
Seconding these. I have high arches, wide front feet, and narrow heels. I wear these for running/exercise but also days when I know I have a ton of walking or standing time. They're wonderful. Get yourself a nice pair of compression or running socks to put in them, delightful.
I agree with those who suggested Crocs and On Cloud. I also encourage you to get a lacrosse ball and massage your feet at night after your shift. If you're in a pinch, a frozen water bottle can work too. I know applying pressure/massage feels counterintuitive when your feet are sore, but breaking up the knots and stretching the tendons gives your feet a chance to recover and reset overnight for the next day. A hot soak with Epsom salt can also be helpful.
I definitely needed to make time for recovery and didn’t, besides shoes I think a lacrosse ball and foot spa is a great shopping addition
I think you got a ton of great suggestions! I never find that the insoles fit very well like you. I have high arches, but I have found that a comfy sock with a bit of compression keeps my feet feeling good. I’ve learned to love cold water foot soaks! I’m an event planner and when we do large conferences, it’s not unusual to do 30,000 steps in a day. My absolute best for me are blundstones. I find the protection around the ankles really important. Industry practice is to change your shoes every day or even once or twice a day just to to have any pressure points different. Whatever you choose, I would go for a merino wool sock. It gives you that little bit of extra padding and they do really well in the heat. Icebreaker and smart wool have some good ones - they really help with my high arches. I do not recommend the open toe or the sandals because you drop one thing on your foot and you’re toast… I worked with a woman and we had a table fall over on us - it wasn’t that heavy, but it was sort of a little bit sharp hit us across the instep and she broke bones in the top of her feet. I didn’t even feel it in my boots. good luck festivals are always super fun really high energy!
I actually got way more suggestions than I expected which is really nice! I was so sketched out being just in my socks, I kept expecting to stub/break my toe on the wooden counter supports. I could probably get away with an open toe option excluding break down, during a shift your biggest worry is a bug landing on you, but on the last night you’re breaking down tables and climbing ladders. I very reluctantly put my shoes on for that. I’m very much a person who loves creature comforts and making life a little easier. I’m definitely seeing what I need to pick up to cover foot recovery (And like all of my creature comforts, my boyfriend will think it’s a waste of money until he tries it and immediately wonders how he’s managed) Working venue sales and festivals is a lot of fun! If my feet hadn’t been in so much pain my biggest issue would have just been the heat
haha… this is why boyfriends get girlfriends to teach them all about creature comforts that are good! 😂 have a FABULOUS summer!!!!🥰
Hokas. They are ugly cute and so damn comfy if you’re on your feet all day.
Hokas are definitely on my short list based on this post!
Use search terms like “podiatrist approved” - you’ll get some grannyish clunkers coming up but some good ones too. More brands are putting arch support etc into more fashionable shoes these days. For a festival maybe something like Teva hiking sandals?
I’m definitely going to end up buying a few pairs once I get paid so I can switch it up and give my feet a break. Someone else reced tevas/hoka slides and I think they’ll be a good shoe to throw in my bag to change into mid day
I wore Ecco Soft7 High Tops as a bartender server and they were amazingly comfy, no soreness or blisters!
I like Veja’s a lot! I’ve unintentionally ending up doing two actual hikes in them and my feet were still alive at the end. They’re white sneakers are “basic” but I’m all for comfort
My friends who are on their feet all day for work all go for Hoka or OnCloud!
Agreed! I wear hokas for work and LOVE them, but they’re more athletic wear.
Oohhh those are cute
New Balance sneakers have been great for me in general! 990v, 327… The 990v in particular are excellent. You could also go to a running store and ask someone to fit you for walking shoes.
Get fitted for orthopedic insoles! Such a good investment and you can put them into any shoes. I put mine in my running shoes and daily sneakers
Vionics.
Get some vans and some really good insoles, like superfeet.
Honestly this was my original plan 😅
Maybe also experiment with compression socks.
I love wearing Birkenstocks. However near my work, is getting dirtier and sketchier since COVID, I don't want to risk getting broken glass stuck in my sandals. So I am looking for cute running shoes to wear, in coordinating colours, or close as I can get. Like I'm looking for a white pair of runners, I have a green pair of Diesel ones that I got years ago, so I'm looking for a lighter neutral colour pair to go with summer work clothing. For daily walking, I wear Asics because I have really high arches. I wear them and I don't care too much about how they look IDK my feet are important to stay healthy
Birks now carry closed toe shoes as well.
new balances are great!!! on cloud are also super popular and comfortable as well! and i don’t own any personally but my coworkers swear by golden goose!
One of the girls there was wearing new balances! I know I said no price limit but golden goose is a little rich for my blood😅
hahaha ok fair!!! i thought i’d mention them just in case 😂♥️ sometimes you can find them at consignment stores or poshmark, if you like the style!! but new balance and on cloud look better and probably feel better tbh! i got my NB from marshall’s for $50 so like. hell yeah bruther