Comfortable Shoes Reviewed

Although they can’t literally work miracles, comfort shoes provide benefits such as better padding, relief on pressure points, wider soles & toe boxes, and better support that improve your walking experience.

If you have any medical condition that makes walking uncomfortable, NAOT shoes may come to the rescue with special construction that can help make walking easy again. While they can’t necessarily work miracles, they do provide the wearer with benefits such as additional padding, observation of pressure points, wider soles and better support that improve the walking experience.

See the NAOT Petunia clog

Sometimes referred to as “orthopedic,” comfort shoes are produced by a wide variety of manufacturers, such as Dr. Scholl’s, MBT shoes and even New Balance. In some cases, they are geared toward specific conditions that consumers might be dealing with, such as diabetes, while in some, they are designed for the average consumer who might need some extra protection against the rigors of walking.

For example, we introduced Arcopedico sandals back in 1999 in our store, they are one of the most popular manufacturers of comfort shoes, and they provide options in a wide variety of styles, colors and widths. Their most notable feature is the polyurethane outsole, which helps absorb the impact of every footfall while providing additional traction to avoid slipping and falling. Other companies use similar materials for shock absorption and traction.

You’ll also find that Euro comfort shoes provide more room for the wearer, making it easier to prevent injuries to the foot. Dansko, for example, produces occupational comfort shoes that have Thermoplastic toe boxes that simultaneously provide the toes with more room and provide reinforcement for the shoe itself. Dansko clogs also uses PVC for the inner frame, which protects the entire foot without sacrificing flexibility.

Dansko Sonja clog

Soft materials such as gel, memory foam and leather are the cornerstones of comfort shoes, as they allow the foot to move freely regardless of the speed or gait at which the wearer walks. In many cases, these materials are combined with reinforcements, such as the PVC in the Dansko footwear, providing support for the moments when you need it most. Some are also made with different variations of canvas, which is both breathable and durable.

Dr. Scholl’s also provides innovative designs in comfort shoes, such as their mary janes, which have cushy memory foam insoles for shock absorption as well as suede leather uppers for maximum flexibility while walking.

And finally, clogs are the latest style in comfort shoes, and are preferable to many closed-toe versions because of their ability to breathe. In years past, comfort shoes were often considered ugly and were easily identifiable, but now manufacturers are focusing on style as much as function. Clogs often have adjustable heels that allow for swelling and other changes to the foot during the day, and are sometimes just as comfortable as your standard walking shoe.