Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Shoes for Standing All Day
Updated on November 04, 2024
Shop the best shoes for standing all day
Standing all day can take a toll on your feet, legs, and back, leading to fatigue, pain, and even long-term health issues. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, retail worker, or someone who spends hours on their feet, the right shoes can make all the difference in how you feel at the end of the day. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to find the best shoes for standing all day and help you regain comfort, energy, and freedom from foot pain.
Why Standing All Day Hurts
Standing for prolonged periods without supportive footwear can lead to several painful conditions:
- Foot Pain and Plantar Fasciitis: Constant pressure on your feet can overstretch the plantar fascia, leading to pain, especially around the heel.
- Joint Strain: Prolonged standing places stress on the joints, particularly in the knees and lower back.
- Fatigue and Discomfort: Unsupported feet can make you feel more tired, affecting your productivity and well-being.
The good news is that the right shoes can alleviate or even prevent these issues by offering support, cushioning, and stability where you need it most.
Key Features to Look for in Shoes for Standing All Day
When choosing shoes for extended wear, consider these core features to ensure lasting comfort:
Shoe Care Tips for Longevity
Once you’ve found supportive shoes, taking care of them will help maintain their comfort and durability over time. Here are some essential shoe care practices:
- Rotate Your Shoes: Wearing the same pair every day can lead to quicker wear. By alternating between two or more pairs, you allow each to dry out, retain their shape, and last longer.
- Pro Tip: Protect your KURU standing shoes from wet conditions with a preventative spritz of KURU SHIELD, our proprietary blend of shoe protector spray. This water-repellent layer works on all shoe materials and helps safeguard your footwear from the elements.
- Use Insoles for Added Support: If you need more cushioning or arch support, adding quality insoles can extend the life of your shoes while enhancing comfort. Insoles absorb shock and keep your shoes feeling fresher, even with daily wear.
- Clean and Condition Regularly: Follow material-specific cleaning tips to keep your shoes in top shape. Conditioning leather shoes prevents cracking and maintains suppleness, while a gentle wash keeps mesh shoes looking and feeling fresh.
- Pro Tip: Refresh your KURUs with our KURU Shoe Cleaning Kit. Equipped with an all-material shoe cleaner, cleaning brush and microfiber cloth, this kit helps your shoes last.
- Replace When Needed: Even well-cared-for shoes won’t last indefinitely. Plan to replace them every 6-12 months if worn daily or sooner if you notice loss of support or wear.
With proper care, your shoes will provide the support you need, helping you stay comfortable on your feet for the long haul.
FAQs
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What type of shoes are good for standing all day?
Shoes that are best for standing all day should have a wide toe box, shock-absorbing cushioned footbed, and strong arch support. These features help to distribute body weight evenly, reduce foot pressure, and provide lasting comfort.
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Are running shoes good for standing all day?
Running shoes can be a better option than flat shoes, as they offer some support and cushioning. However, they are designed with extra shock absorption at specific impact points in the heel and forefoot, which isn’t necessary for standing. For standing or walking all day, shoes with even cushioning, high-quality arch support, and full-foot shock absorption are generally more suitable for preventing foot fatigue and discomfort.
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Can I use custom orthotics with KURU shoes?
Due to the anatomical shape of the KURUSOLE, custom orthotics with a rounded heel fit best inside our shoes.
If the underside of the custom orthotic (the part that sits on the footbed) is squared off, then it may not fit into our deep heel cup—which is rounded like your foot.
That said, many of our customers tell us the KURUSOLE technology offers better support and stability than they expected, and they don't need to wear their custom orthotics with KURU shoes.
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I just received a pair of your shoes and my feet are sore/hurt after wearing them. Why is that?
Some customers experience tenderness when they first start wearing a new pair of KURUs. That’s ok! Your body may need time to adjust to the new levels of anatomical support you experience with our patented KURUSOLE technology. Our shoes are also designed to mold to your unique foot shape, which takes a bit of a break-in period.
To help mitigate this, we suggest you follow our break-in procedure, including wearing your KURUs for a couple hours per day around the house in the first couple of weeks as they break in and form to your foot.
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Are your shoes considered orthopedic shoes?
Even though KURU shoes were not initially intended to be orthopedic shoes, thousands of our customers say they experience relief from various foot conditions—including bunions!
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Choosing Shoes by Profession
Each profession has unique requirements when it comes to footwear, so consider how these might impact your choice of shoes:
Finding the Right Fit
Ensuring a proper fit can make even the most supportive shoes feel better. Follow these tips to get the perfect size:
Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
- 1
KURUSOLE
...Show LessOur patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This superior support helps protect and preserve the heel’s fat pad and guide your body to a more natural alignment.
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This superior support helps protect and preserve the heel’s fat pad and guide your body to a more natural alignment.
- 2
KURUCLOUD
...Show LessWhen you want to stand all day with less pain, shock absorption is a must. Our KURUCLOUD base layer features lightweight EVA foam that helps absorb impact to your joints, ligaments, and bones, even when you put plenty of mileage in.
When you want to stand all day with less pain, shock absorption is a must. Our KURUCLOUD base layer features lightweight EVA foam that helps absorb impact to your joints, ligaments, and bones, even when you put plenty of mileage in.
- 3
ULTIMATE INSOLE
...Show LessThe top layer in KURU’s technology trio, our ULTIMATE INSOLES feature premium arch support and cushion for the entire sole of your foot. Made of 5mm of durable polyurethane foam, these insoles form to your feet to support your plantar fascia and your arch.
The top layer in KURU’s technology trio, our ULTIMATE INSOLES feature premium arch support and cushion for the entire sole of your foot. Made of 5mm of durable polyurethane foam, these insoles form to your feet to support your plantar fascia and your arch.
KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This superior support helps protect and preserve the heel’s fat pad and guide your body to a more natural alignment.
Our Secret
Our Secret
Our secret sauce? Our patented solution to heel pain relief, KURUSOLE.
Unlike anything else, KURUSOLE’s responsive technology dynamically flexes with each step to hug and protect your heels.
The curved, heel-cupping design protects the body’s natural cushioning system—the heel pad—so your feet stay happy and healthy in the most comfortable shoes.
5 stars for pain relief! This is my go-to shoe.
Lindsay C.
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