How to Choose the Right Shoes For Work

If you work on your feet, your need to consider the footwear you pick to wear. Choosing the right shoes for work is essential for your overall health and comfort. The right shoes should provide adequate cushioning, support, and stability, while still being comfortable and stylish.

Our feet play a larger role in health than any of us probably think about on a daily basis. Over your lifetime you'll probably walk about 100,000 miles (or about 27 years of running 10km per day, if you're that ambitious) on those feet of yours.

Consider the type of work you do, the environment you work in, and other factors such as your individual foot shape when selecting shoes. If possible, try on shoes before you buy them to ensure they are the perfect fit for your feet. With the right work shoes, you can stay safe and productive while on the job.

It's better to treat them right. How do you do that, when you're working on your feet all day?

Walk a little further with us to find out.

Working Smart When Working on Your Feet

When you're working in a restaurant or working in construction, you have some special considerations. While people in both fields (sometimes also working both jobs at once) often wear good old tennis shoes to save cash, you'll probably be better off getting the right shoe for the right job.

You might be thinking "women used to work in diners in 1-inch pumps" and "guys used to do construction in leather oxfords" and you'd be right. But you have a choice. Your grandfather also probably told you: "Take care of your feet and your teeth and you'll live a long life," while having bunions and dentures.

Your choice to select a shoe type, based on your arch shape and stride, shouldn't be determined by what people did in the past. Want to know how to keep those feet healthy?

Be A Smart Shoe Shopper

Want some quick tips to know how to buy a shoe that's a good fit for your foot? First, you need to find your arch type (not your archetype). After that, you have to shop smart. How?

Look for shoes with good arch support. Choose shoes that fit the shape of your foot. A wide toe box will give your toes plenty of room to move.

Wear shoes that have a cushioning midsole and a flexible sole. And, lastly, when you shop for shoes, wear the same type of socks you plan to wear with the shoes. That way, you'll get an accurate fit.

Other considerations in choosing the right work shoes for you include:

• Keep a thumb's width between the tip of your big toe and the tip of the shoe
• Just like a snowboard boot, your heel shouldn't lift inside the shoe
• Price isn't an indicator of quality—try it out while standing for a while and walk around for at least 5 minutes
• Don't shop early in the day, since our feet swell by the evening—tight shoes cause foot damage
• Do the flex test, but be wary that a steel-toe shoe will probably be difficult to flex no matter what
• Try to get fitted by a professional, especially if there's someone who has done work you have. Try our sizing guide if you're unable to get to a professional.

Follow these guidelines and we're certain you'll find a good fit, just like Cinderella. So you have the shoe, what next?

Wear Those Shoes Right

Don't be lazy—always put on untied shoes, and untie them to take them off. Don't get fancy with the laces because shoes that are improperly laced will not support your foot.

The three ways to know to replace your shoes are:

• Visible wear
• You've been using them hard for three or four months
• You've run 500 miles or more in them

If you treat your shoes right, they'll treat your feet right, and your feet will treat you right. 6% of your muscles, 18% of your joints, and 25% of the bones in your body will thank you.

If it isn't quite right, it's okay. Insoles can help, and we'll help you find the right one.

Fancy Footwork

We've covered why taking care of your feet is going to take care of you. Buying the right shoes for your feet isn't just about glitz and glam, but about function, too. If you're able to shop smart, you'll keep comfortably working on your feet for many years to come.

Who doesn't want to be more comfortable? A smile is the most fashionable thing you can wear, after all—happy feet, happy face.

Did you have fun finding a friend for your feet? We had fun telling you.

Keep your feet happy, even when you're on the go with our fabulous products.