Comfortable shoes for a nurse.

June 3, 2009 9:43 PM

ComfortFilter: Please help me find shoes for my mother.

My mother is a nurse who's on her feet 12 hours a day. She's in her 50s, and lately she's been complaining of sore feet and arthritic toes. She's also very tall (nearly 6 feet) and wears a size 12. For her birthday, I'd like to buy her some comfortable shoes that will decrease the amount of pain she's in by the end of the day.

Style-wise, she prefers clogs or slip-ons over sneakers, since her feet are big and wide. Other than that, style isn't an issue. I thought about getting her a pair of closed-toe Crocs, but I read they don't breathe and cause stinky feet.

Any suggestions?

posted by canadia to clothing, beauty, & fashion (13 comments total)

Check out Zappos. They have over 100 styles in size 12 D in their "comfort" category. The price includes free shipping and free returns so you can even order a couple of options, keep the best and send the rest back for a refund at no extra cost.
posted by metahawk at 9:57 PM on June 3, 2009

Some people with similar problems who have an otherwise difficult time fitting shoes swear by these: SAS Shoes. Of course she needs to try them on. They make all their shoes in narrow, medium and wide widths.
posted by flavor at 9:59 PM on June 3, 2009

Yeah crocs have some problems steer away from them -they are not as good for you. They have cause me an increase in food pain for the short time that I wore them. I recommend going to a real shoestore and getting fitted, while brands that ask.me offers may be of use - a real fitting will be even more useful.
posted by bigmusic at 10:05 PM on June 3, 2009

I haven't tried them myself, but I've heard that loads of people swear by Dansko clogs, especially people in Health Care who are on their feet all day.
posted by Dilemma at 10:38 PM on June 3, 2009

birkenstocks and danskos are great, loved by nurses and chefs, and they're made in different styles and with different materials so she can really pick. it really depends on her feet and what she likes to wear. if you can, take her somewhere she can try a bunch of them on!
posted by lia at 10:48 PM on June 3, 2009

I have several nurses in my family and they all swear by Danskos.
posted by lunasol at 11:00 PM on June 3, 2009

I am on my feet a lot too at work and I really love my Eccos. They're well made and comfortable, and last a long time.

One of the things I like best about Ecco is that they make several different shoe bases designed to fit different foot shapes. Once your mom finds the one that fits her foot shape, the sales person can bring her all the shoes in the store that fit that shape of foot by checking the pattern on the sole. It has made my shoe shopping trips a lot easier.

I think this is the third time I've recommended Eccos on AskMe, but I have no connection with the company, I swear! I just really like their shoes.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:26 AM on June 4, 2009

In addition to the already-mentioned Danskos, I was coming in specifically to recommend Eccos as well. I don't work on my feet but I bought a pair of Eccos for a recent vacation that involved almost constant walking, and I never felt the least amount of discomfort. They seem very well designed to support the foot, and they're far more comfortable than other "comfort" brands I've tried in the past like Borns and Birkenstock.

Clarks are also supposed to be comfortable, and I know people who adore them, but I haven't owned any to be able to recommend them personally.

It might also be a good idea for her to ask around among other nurses to get some specific recommendations. And I second the idea of taking her shoe shopping rather than choosing some for her. She really has to find the best fit for her feet.
posted by boomchicka at 4:08 AM on June 4, 2009

If her feet really hurt from the stress of walking and standing, a funny-looking but highly effective alternative is to buy shoes with great big springs on the heels. No, not the fake springs style from Nike, but big real steel springs. It's amazing how much the spring reduces the impact of your foot hitting the ground. There was a time when I had pretty bad plantar fasciitis and could not go for a walk around the block without my Z-coil shoes. They do come in all-white for nurses.
posted by Ery at 5:58 AM on June 4, 2009

Seconding Eccos, Danskos and Zappo's/Clark's, from a friend who's an RN. Clinics Nursing shoes are true classics, but she says the others are more comfortable.

Crocs don't last more than a handful of months (3-6 on avg) when the person wearing them is standing / walking for long periods. Here's an anectodal blog entry.
posted by zarq at 7:41 AM on June 4, 2009

Shoes with good, firm padding, like the cork in Birkenstocks, or the thick rubber of Danskos, are a big help. It absorbs some of the hardness of concrete hospital floors. You might also want to take her someplace to try shoes on and get a good fitting. With arthritis, her feet may have inflammation, and she may need a new size.
posted by theora55 at 8:59 AM on June 4, 2009

Thanks, everyone. There's a Birkenstock store a few miles from her house, so I may take her there next week for some fittings.
posted by canadia at 10:28 AM on June 4, 2009

Danskos have a good reputation, but be aware that the largest size they carry in women's styles is a 42. This is commonly regarded as equivalent to a US size 12, but in my experience, a 43 or 44 is more equivalent to a 12. (Of course Dansko has some unisex styles that go to larger sizes, since men like to wear them, too.)

You might consider browsing a web site that offers a variety of products related to foot health, such as footsmart.com. They have some selection in larger shoe sizes.

Finally, has she considered seeing a podiatrist? They might have some useful recommendations. Custom orthotics can make a world of difference. It gets pretty tricky to find shoes in a size 12 that also are deep enough to accommodate an orthotic, but some manufacturers (like Drew shoes) make shoes that work. Keywords like "removable insole" at Zappos, or "added depth" in a google search, will turn up other alternatives that might fit orthotics.
posted by Sublimity at 12:54 PM on June 4, 2009