12 Best Tennis Shoes For Nurses
Full Review Guide

Cushion You Can Count On

These shoes are highly cushioned, and the 12 mm toe/heel offset brings total comfort and support for both gravel roads and hospital floors. The Brooks Ghost 12s can handle almost any surface, so if you need to walk through busy city streets to work, your feet will be heavily protected.

The shoes have a cult-like following in the running community. Many runners claim that the Brooks Ghost 12s are the perfect companion during long-distance runs and high-mileage training. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that many nurses are adding them to their arsenal of comfortable footwear.

Tennis shoes typically require a break-in phase, leaving your feet feeling sore or full of painful blisters. The Ghost 12s need absolutely no break-in, so you can start wearing them to work right out of the box.

Surprisingly Shock Absorbent

The color patterns on the outside of the shoes are slightly different than the 11s, but structurally speaking, the shoes are almost identical. Brooks uses a crash-pad system in the front sole for ultimate shock absorption. These shoes are great for keeping your feet comfortable, even if your legs are tired from prolonged walking or standing.

If you’re a nurse looking for an economical shoe built to last with a snug toe box, the Brooks Dyad Ghost 12’s might be the best choice.

A Shoe for Narrow Feet

New Balance has been continuously putting out comfortable footwear since 1906. They’ve been skyrocketing in popularity over the last decade, especially among nurses.

One common complaint about the New Balance 1365 tennis shoes is that they are on the narrow side. If you do decide to go with them, it’s probably wise to get a pair that’s a half size bigger and slightly wider than your regular shoes.

Designed with Active Users in Mind

When it comes to aesthetics, the New Balance 1365s are beautiful. You can choose between two color combinations: red/black and black/grey. New Balance makes their soles from rubber, which makes them feel quite comfortable and have a good bounce. The nylon overlay adds to its smooth design and minimizes wrinkles.

One notable feature of these shoes is that they’re specially designed to fit any arch, which is excellent news for those with high-arched feet.

New Balance has been working with top athletes for over a century. They continuously go the extra mile to make sure their shoes are comfortable, durable, and stylish for people with all kinds of feet. For nurses, the New Balances 1365s are worth looking into.

Ready to Wear

You don’t need to worry about breaking them in. With K-Swiss, you get serene comfort right out of the box. Usually, nurses need to change shoes every six months due to sole wear, but the Hypercourt Express tennis shoes should last at least a year of regular use.

With complex footwear technology and design elements, these tennis shoes do a great job of binding to your feet. You won’t feel any distance between your feet and the snug inner soles. K-Swiss is known for having a comfortable toe box and leaving a little extra room on the upper part of their shoes.

With that in mind, they are a bit roomy. If you do choose to go with the Hypercourt Express tennis shoes, make sure to select a size close to your regular “going out” shoes.

Durable Materials

They make the rubber outsole from the original K-Swiss Aosta 7.0 rubber. You’ll find this durable rubber in most of their tennis shoe designs. Also, the stay-laced design helps keep your shoes tied even if you’re making intense jolts or continually tripping over yourself. Then again, it’s no surprise considering the shoes are designed for intense tennis matches.

If you’re an infamous toe dragger, you don’t have to worry because K-Swiss includes a Durawrap material on the shoe’s toe side. This feature will protect the tip of your shoes from wear even with habitual toe dragging.

If your priorities are comfort, durability, and beautiful aesthetics, you should check out the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express tennis shoes. They offer outstanding shock absorption and are ideal shoes for nursing.

Perfect for Long Shifts

Asics adds the classic seamless gel cushioning to keep your feet comfortable and in-tact no matter how long you use them. This is great news for nurses who need extra support during a rigorous 12-hour shift. The robust rubber outsole is built to last and is suitable for almost all surfaces.

The Gel-Challenger 12 tennis shoes are an excellent option for nurses looking for sneakers that offer high-quality performance and a medium width.

The cushioning and comfort appear a bit minimalistic if you compare them to the Asics Gel-Resolution sneakers, but that isn’t necessarily bad. The stability and support are still optimal for long term use. For better ventilation, Asics uses a soft mesh on the upper part of the shoes to keep your feet cool throughout the day.

Light Weight and Breathable

Since the shoes are incredibly lightweight, they might offer a little too much flexibility. However, if you’re just using them to get around the hospital, you shouldn’t have any issues.

If you’re not looking for anything heavy-duty and want shoes that keep you light on your feet, the Gel-Challenger 12 sneakers by Asics might be a suitable option. They’re stylish, comfortable, and are an excellent value for money.

Your Joints Will Thank You

The rubber outsole is incredibly durable and doesn’t wear quickly. MBT went out of their way to add some high-quality materials and fancy shoe technology to make these a sustainable pair of walking shoes. Generous support, strong shock absorption, and a durable outsole make this sneaker perfect for those long shifts.

Sometimes while on shift, you find yourself pivoting from left to right to fulfill the many requests you get from patients or doctors. MBT’s tennis shoes have a comfortable pivot strike area to make a transition into propulsion feel like you’re sliding on butter. You’ll find signature MBT Sensor Technology to protect your joints from wear and tear for the heels.

Better Foot Health

The air mesh upper portion allows your feet to breathe and keeps them cool and free from sweat. Ultimately, this kind of ventilation will protect your feet from fungal toe infections and other nasty conditions caused by excessive foot sweat. These sneakers were also recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association and approved for encouraging better foot health.

As far as appearance, the sneaker is pretty basic. If you’re looking for something more vibrant, you’re better off going with the New Balance 1865 or K-Swiss Hypercourt Express. With that in mind, having a conservative design at work might be better, considering some hospitals have strict dress codes for doctors and nurses.

Top-Quality Materials

Although Nike is superior in the word of running shoes, they aren’t perfect. The materials they use are comfortable and long-lasting. However, they don’t have a big enough toe box like most big-brand shoe designs. If you have wide feet, this might be an issue.

With that in mind, Nike does have an excellent track record for producing high-quality footwear. If you’re after something that’s going to last you 12+ months, you can’t go wrong with the Court Lite sneakers. Plus, if Nike’s expensive price tags usually turn you off, the Court Lites’ price is surprisingly reasonable.

Big Brand, Little Price

There are four main design options to choose from. Aesthetically speaking, these sneakers are a bit minimalist. You get the typical Nike swoosh along the side with a few basic colors such as black and white.

One notable thing about these sneakers is the extra layer of material around the toe area. This extra support works wonders against abrasions.

All-in-all, if you don’t want to risk going with a lesser-known brand, you can always play it safe and pick up the Court Lite sneakers by Nike. They will last you at least a year or two and aren’t ridiculously expensive like other Nike models.

Flexible, Shock Absorption

This sneaker does have a thicker outsole, which might decrease its flexibility, but if you need heavy-duty support, you’ll want an outsole that can take some damage.

Since these shoes are designed to help CrossFit athletes push off the floor, you can bet they have great shock absorption. The flat outsoles are optimal for nurses with flat feet. However, the toe box is large. While a large toe box seems appealing, the toe box of the Reebok Crossfit Nano 9 sneakers might decrease mobility when shuffling around the ward.

Tons of Designs

If appearance is one of your top priorities, you’re going to have a blast if you decide to go with these Reebok sneakers. You can choose between 29 different color combinations.

If you’re concerned about durability, there have been reports of the sidewalls peeling off after a few months of use. However, this is extremely rare and was reported by avid CrossFit athletes. There’s no reason why the Reebok CrossFit Nano 9 sneakers won’t last nurses longer than a year.

While these Reebok sneakers are more tailored towards fitness athletes, they make great shoes for nurses. If you’re after long-lasting support, comfort, and style, it might be worth checking them out.

Slip Resistant Comfort

The inner padding is snug and cushions your feet all day. Puma uses a synthetic leather upper for these shoes, which helps in the comfort department, but slightly lacks ventilation. If you were working outside in warm weather, these probably aren’t the most comfortable shoes, but inside the hospital, which is typically quite cold, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Puma’s Tazon 6 sneakers have a triangular rubber outsole. For a unique design, Puma uses a different color on the bottom. Rubber works as an excellent grip on most surfaces, so you can use these shoes in the hospital or when going to and from work. Since the shoes were originally designed for running trails and gravel roads, you can bet they are completely slip resistant.

Stable Support

The inner midsole is extremely stiff, which might limit your mobility. However, for nurses looking for more stability, this is the perfect sneaker. Puma uses an EVA dual density memory foam pod around the heel area for great support and ultimate shock absorption. With that in mind, the EVA foam tends to wear down over time. A strange aspect of the Puma Tazon 6 is that the cushioning doesn’t match the outsole in terms of strength. Many find the outside of the shoes is long-lasting, but the cushioning pods don’t last as long.

The Tazon 6 tennis shoes are a viable option for nurses looking for something comfortable that they can wear throughout the day. If you’re looking for something more flexible, you’re better off going with the Brooks Dyad Ghost 12 or K-Swiss Hypercourt Express. However, Puma is a reputable brand who seldom disappoints with their footwear.

Ultra-Soft

The most memorable feature about these sneakers has to be the exceptionally soft cushioning around the midsole. They use EVA foam that helps keep your feet comfy without wearing down or flattening throughout the day. A pair of Bondi 6 sneakers provides great support around the heel, which ultimately protects your feet from painful conditions, such as plantar fasciitis.

The signature Hoka Meta-Rocker technology is designed to provide additional support to your knees and lower back as you take every step.

Unique Designs

Although color doesn’t add to the shoe’s overall performance, it’s still nice to know that you have a ton of designs to choose from. Hoka is typically known for its unique color patterns. With all these options, it will be difficult not to find a style that beautifully matches your scrubs.

With so much stiffness and stability, you would think that these shoes wouldn’t be suitable for long-term use. However, Bondi 6 sneakers contain extremely breathable materials. They even have a wide toe box, so nurses with wider feet don’t need to worry about your toes feeling like they’re in a sardine box.

All-in-all these are great shoes for nurses who are keen for comfort and are looking for something stylish. There’s a version for both men and women, which have a wide range of sizes.

Extra Padding, Extra Comfortable

The GEL cushioning technology is exactly what you need for walking around the hospital for hours at a time. It’s this kind of cushioning that makes the Asics Gel-Dedicate sneakers on of the best tennis shoes for nurses. They provide an extra layer of padding, which will give you that extra support when walking on your feet all day.

Although the Gel-Dedicate tennis shoes have dual density padding, they’re still quite flexible. The shoes are designed for tennis players, so the thick cushioning won’t inhibit your natural movements.

If you’re worried about hot and sweaty feet, these Asics shoes have a single panel ventilation design that encourages airflow and offers optimal breathability.

No More Aches and Pains

Walking around the hospital for hours can take a toll on your feet and even cause foot corns or plantar fasciitis. The shock-absorbing and slip resistant material eliminates muscle soreness and provides complete arch support, protecting both your heels and soles. Nurses need to be flexible, so the plastic bridge insert helps keep your balance and, at the same time, allows you to easily maneuver around obstacles and keep on track.

For style, the signature Asics white and green design looks great with scrubs. Also, this is the only pair of shoes on this list that has a platform heel.

They aren’t the cheapest shoes for nurses on the market, but you’ll get what you pay for in terms of comfort and durability.

A Seamless Fit

For starters, when it comes to stability, the Work N Cushion sneakers are right on the money. Reebok incorporates its signature Kwik design, which aids with balance and mobility. Combine that with a durable leather upper, and you’ve got yourself the seamless fit you’re likely after. The majority of the stability comes from the leather upper and Reebok’s Kwik lacing design. Also, you’ll find an oily slip resistant inner sole for additional stability.

Simply Durable

This isn’t the fanciest pair of shoes, but then again, Reebok isn’t famous for its vibrant designs. The Reebok Work N Cushion model does exactly what it’s intended to do: provide you with a long-lasting tennis shoe that makes being on your feet for long hours tolerable.

Reebok is a reputable brand in the running shoe realm. They’re known to only release durable sneakers, and never seem to disappoint. For this pair, you’ve got comfort, durability, and support all in one conservative design. These are great shoes for nursing or general day wear.

Popular Around the Ward

Adidas needs no introduction. They are a leading brand that creates high-level sporting goods and footwear found worldwide. Their Ultra Boost running shoe isn’t just for runners. You’ll find numerous nurses rocking these kicks around the hospital ward. It’s no surprise that these running shoes are a nurse’s favorite considering the quality and comfort they provide.

The durable inner soles allow you to walk miles upon miles without worrying about flattening memory foam material. On the upper, you’ll find a breathable soft mesh that prevents your feet from getting soaked and sweat, and ultimately keep them free of fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.

Fewer Blisters

There’s a low cut around the heel that works wonder for reducing the risk of blisters. The material around the ankle grips your skin tight but doesn’t cause any discomfort.

What makes this one of the best shoes for nurses is the additional support around the heels. As a nurse, you’re constantly walking or standing throughout the day. If you’re looking for a tried and trusted brand and durable materials that won’t wear down after a few months, the Adidas Ultra Boost might be the best running shoes for the job.