As a nurse, you spend most of your time on your feet. Most nurses spend more than half of their shifts either walking or standing, which usually leads to foot discomfort, fatigue and pain over time. To avoid foot pain and discomfort, it is important to wear comfortable nurse shoes at work. These shoes should be stable and provide adequate support all day or night long!
Guide to Buying Tennis Shoes for Nurses
There are a number of things you should keep in mind before buying sneakers for nurses. The most important considerations are:
High Quality, Lightweight Material
The material used to make a pair of nurse shoes is important as it determines its comfort. You also want a material that is lightweight. For durability and breathability, choose nurse shoes made of leather.
Shock Absorption
Your back, knees and feet are likely to hurt when you have to walk up and down hard surfaces for 10+ hours. Comfortable nurse shoes can help to absorb shock from the ground up. Chooses shoes that are made with thick rubber outsoles for traction and to absorb shocks.
Slip Resistant
Most nursing environments are characterized by liquids and spills. Therefore, it is important to select shoes that are slip-resistant. Wearing good slip-resistant shoes can greatly help to prevent slip injuries.
Adequate Arch Support
The best nurse sneakers will ensure you feel minimum fatigue or pain when on your feet. Look for a pair of shoes that offers arch support to help limit pronation and keep your feet from flattening out.
Protection
Nurses may have to work in places with heavy machinery or objects that can fall and hurt their feet. To keep your feet safe, choose nurse shoes that are closed on the front and upper side.
Best Tennis Shoes for Nurses
If you prefer sneakers to traditional nurse shoes, we have compiled the top 10 best tennis shoes for both male and female nurses. The shoes on this list are comfortable, stable and provide excellent stability on your ankle and back. Wearing these tennis shoes will help to prevent back, leg and foot pain.
1. Softwalk Vital
If you love Softwalk but are looking for something different from the slip-ons and clogs, you should check the Vital. These tennis shoes for nurses have the same performance as the Vantage.
The Oxford-style sneaker has a removable insole and is, therefore, one of the best shoes for nurses with plantar fasciitis that require their own orthotics. The shoes are also stain and slip resistant.
Key Features
- Has removal insoles
- The footbed has anti-microbial properties
- Padded collar and elastic goring on both sides
- Lightweight construction
- Slip resistant
2. Brooks Adrenaline
The Brooks Adrenaline nurse sneaker is available for both men and women. This shoe is recommended for nurses that overpronate and, therefore, need support. The shoe has excellent cushioning and is the best shoes for nurses with flat feet.
Key Features
- Blown rubber outsole delivers light cushioning and grip
- Has heel segmented crash pad that absorbs shock and ensures you have smoother transitions
- Has dual stability arch pods
- Made of BioMoGo DNA material (a blend of BioMoGo and Brooks DNA) that enables it to provide a dynamic ride
- Support enhanced by the Progressive Rollbar (PDRB)
- Removable foam insole
- Has breathable fabric lining
- The tongue and collar are padded
- The mesh has excellent aeration properties
- Comfortable cushion that is highly energizing
3. New Balance 1865
The New Balance 1865 is one of the best tennis shoes for nurses (both male and female) thanks to its medial and forefoot support that promotes stability. The excellent cushioning of the shoe will keep you going all day. The FantomFit skeletally engineered upper of the shoe makes it ultralight while providing great support and fit.
The New Balance 1865 is a unisex nurse shoe offers shock absorption and arch support for smoother steps.
Key Features
- Made in USA
- Weight: Approximately 9 oz.
- SBS Stabilizer provides extra cushioned support
- Rapid Rebound energy return
- No-sew material application
- Lightweight cushioned midsole
- FantomFit design
4. New Balance 990
The Men’s and Women’s New Balance 990 is made of pigskin and therefore lightweight.The nurse shoes have a mesh on the upper part that helps to keep your feet aerated. The New Balance 990 features ENCAP® midsole technology that makes it durable and provides maximum support.
Key Features
- Dual-density collar foam
- Maximum support and durability provided by ENCAP® midsole technology
- Blown rubber outsole
- The upper mesh is made of pigskin
- Made in the USA
See: Men’s Shoes
See: Women’s Shoes
5. Spira Walker
The Spira Walker is different from other sneakers for nurses that we have reviewed in this article. These shoes stand out for their superior WaveSpring Technology. The shoes feature lightweight springs that are placed in the forefoot and heel to provide extra support. When walking while wearing the shoes, the lightweight springs return the energy you use to step on the ground back to your feet, and in effect reduce fatigue and foot stress.
Key Features
- The insoles are removable
- Has padded collars
- The footbed has anti-microbial properties
- Good traction and slip-resistant
- The upper side is made of leather or nylon
- Lightweight and stable
6. MBT Colorado
Another great pair of tennis shoes for nurses is the MBT Colorado. These uniquely designed shoes are comfortable for walking, which is what you will be doing during those 10+ hour shifts. The shoes help to straighten your back and legs and improve your posture while walking.
The Women’s MBT Colorado shoes have removable insoles that you can substitute for the orthotic insoles you prefer.
Key Features
- Minimal overlays and seams help to prevent blisters
- The upper synthetic part makes the feet comfortable
- Has a gentle rocker that makes it easy for your foot to transition through the gait cycle
- The midsole offer Pivot Axis that makes the mid-foot surface stable
- The insoles can be removed and replaces with your preferred orthotic insoles
- Durable suede leather used to make the upper part
7. Dansko Emma
If you are looking for comfortable shoes for nurses, the Dansko Emma would not disappoint you. These tennis shoes are lightweight and a perfect alternative to mules and clogs. The shoes sport a leather lace-up that looks great in any hospital or clinic environment.
The nurse shoes have a removable, contoured footbed made of memory foam. The footbed provides arch support to ensure you are comfortable all day long.
Key Features
- Upper part is made of durable leather
- Lightweight and slip-resistant
- The footbed has anti-microbial properties
- Arch support and removable insole
- Soft textile linings
8. Brooks Dyad
You can wear the Brooks Dyad for up to 12 hours without feeling uncomfortable. This is the best shoe for nurses with flat feet. The lightweight shoe has plenty of grooves and is flexible. The shoe has dual-pod construction and a segmented crash pad that provides adequate support.
These nurse shoes offer great cushioning for wearers who are flat-footed. The Brooks is one of the best tennis shoes for nurses for its technology, removable insoles and cushioned memory foam.
Key Features
- Blown rubber outsole
- Heel Segmented crash pad shock absorbs shocks to ensure smooth transitions
- Dual stability arch pods
- Removable foam insole
- Breathable fabric lining
- Padded tongue and collar
- Synthetic mesh that absorbs moisture
- High energizing cushioning
- Neutral to under-pronation
See: Men’s Shoes
See: Women’s Shoes
9. New Balance 847
The New Balance 847 is a unisex nurse sneaker that is comfortable and made for nurses with wide feet. The walking shoe has motion control and feature premium foams that keep your underfoot and heel comfortable all day.
The nurse shoe has a full-length ABZORB midsole for comfort and a strobe board and PU insert for the best step. There’s also the ROLLBAR that takes walking to the next level. The shock absorption, technology and wide with of the New Balance 847 makes it the best shoes for nurses with wide feet.
Key Features
- Outsole made of rubber
- Exceptional shock absorption through the ABZORB cushioning in the midfoot
- Durable outsole made of N-Durance rubber compound
- Synthetic mesh upper
- ROLLBAR with Medial & Lateral TPU Posts for motion control
- Superior breathability, comfort, and odor resistance made possible by the ortholite foam insert
- LIGHTNING DRY liner keeps the feet dry and comfort
10. MBT Sport
The MBT Sport is a good pair of walking shoes especially if you are after comfort. The shoes help to keep your legs and back straight and, in turn, improve your posture when walking.
The MBT tennis shoes have a unique Sensor Technology and Pivot Axis that helps to keep you on balance all through the day. The unique rocker on this pair makes it one of the best tennis shoes for nurses available on the market.
Key Features
- Has a gentle rocker that smoothens transition through the gait cycle
- The midsole offer Pivot Axis that helps to stabilize the mid-foot surface
- The upper part is made of synthetic leather finish
- The insoles are removable
Where to Buy Tennis Shoes for Nurses
The best place to buy tennis shoes for nurses is at Amazon. The online retail giant carries a wide range of nurse sneakers by different brands. The best thing is you can know more about a pair of shoes by checking what other nurses are saying about it in the reviews.
Search Tennis Shoes for Nurses on Amazon
The above are our top picks for the best sneakers for nurses. Which shoes do you wear during your shift?