Flight attendants reveal comfortable shoes they can rely on

This morning I traveled from the Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park to the new hotel, NH Collection New York Madison Avenue. I dropped off my luggage and walked west to the Neil Simon Theater to pick up my tickets. MJ the musical There I enjoyed a bird's eye view of the Big Apple before walking east on 42nd Street to Summit One Vanderbilt (I'll probably walk another 10,000 steps before noon tomorrow). Still, I didn't have to worry about my feet. I make them wear flight attendant-approved shoes.

In my book, why are flight attendants the next best thing after podiatrists? They're on their feet all day. Yesterday, I took a 16-hour flight from Auckland to JFK on Qantas. I have never seen a flight attendant sitting or leaning on the toilet. They were constantly standing and walking, and more importantly, they did it with gusto. What's their secret? It's not Red Bull (I've guzzled gallons and never grown a single feather, let alone wings). It's their shoes.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, airlines don't give flight attendants shoes along with their uniforms. Instead, flight attendants have to use trial and error to find the most comfortable and cutest shoes that comply with the airline's dress code. But thanks to word of mouth, flight attendants love to share best practices, and they usually succeed. result? Walking a mile in their shoes is not painful, but rather comfortable. I recently surveyed some flight attendants about which pairs they wear on trips, both for work and leisure. The results are as follows.

hoka bondi 8 sneakers

“It feels like walking on a yoga mat,” Fabian Flores, a United Airlines flight attendant, told me. He wears these APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) approved shoes. This is because “stability is important” and I like that I can wear them not only for training but also for sightseeing. What about his bonus chips? “Choose a white or off-white color to match any outfit.” On Zappos, he comes in 23 colors and has more than 2,700 five-star reviews. “I noticed that many nurses were wearing hokas,” wrote one shopper who spent two weeks visiting his mother. “I tried it because my feet were hurting and I loved it. I just got back from a two-week vacation and have been walking a lot more than usual and my feet are feeling great.”

NAOT Footwear Women's Argus Sneakers

Meanwhile, Katie Stork, who has been a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines for more than a decade, said not even a Louboutin can get between her and her favorite sneakers. “Not only is it easy and quick to put on and take off, it's extremely comfortable for walking around the airport and is breathable enough to keep you comfortable on long flights.” Despite its lace-up appearance, it's slip-on and knitted. Since it is made of fabric, it has a little stretch, which is useful when your feet get swollen. The removable footbed “contours” to your foot, and the padded cup prevents heel pain. NAOT is relatively new, with only one rating (but 5 stars) at the moment, but NAOT has been in business since 1942.

Dansko Women's Professional Clog Slip-on

Jennifer Vincenzo Marukas' mother didn't retire from her career as a flight attendant until she was 76 years old. These shoes were one of the reasons she was able to last so long. “While her crew walked around with sore feet, she was often twice their age, but she hobbled along.” Dansko's “Anti-Fatty Glocker Bottom” provides stability and a reinforced toe box for durability. Currently available in dozens of colors and styles. I had fun felt confetti in college and wore them all over New York City where I went to school. Over 70% of the reviews for this clog are perfect 5-star ratings, and most of them are from experts working in the field. “These shoes came in handy in medical school,” said one shopper. “When I travel, I find that I like wearing these shoes more than tennis shoes. When I fly, my feet swell and I have to keep fiddling with the laces to adjust them. This shoe It's easy to put on and take off, making it perfect for security checks.

Franco Sarto Women's Bocca Slip-On Loafers

After 35 years of service, Delta Flight Attendant Herman Ortiz can confidently say that rubber soles are the way to go. And Ortiz loves slip-ons. Designed in Italy, this women's loafer features a modest 1-inch heel, rounded toe, and 100% leather. She comes in 11 colors and has nearly 3,000 5-star ratings for her. “I've been a flight attendant for over 20 years and these are the only shoes that don't hurt my feet even after working 14+ hours a night on a plane,” the flight attendant wrote.

ECCO Men's New Jersey Slip-on Loafers

Personally, Ortiz loves these slip-on ECCO loafers. “My flights are usually long haul, between 9 and 17 hours, so comfort is important,” he told me. Made from full-grain leather, they have a 1.25-inch heel and a rubber sole, an Ortiz favorite. Many of his more than 2,000 5-star reviews come from professionals who work on their feet all day. “These shoes allowed him to attend three trade shows in three consecutive weekends,” recalls one satisfied shopper, adding that the shoes are his “go-to” shoes for travel. That's what I said. The reason for this is, in addition to being comfortable, “they also look classy enough to wear together.” You can wear a suit or dress it down with jeans. ”

Clarks Men's Whiddon Step Loafers

When it comes to dress shoes, Flores doesn't skimp. “It’s often unpleasant,” he admits, before telling me that he prefers Clarks while he works. “It's affordable, durable, and has a lace-free slip-on design that makes it very travel-friendly.” Available in four colors, all feature Clarks' removable signature OrthoLite footbed, which provides a shock-proof design. Minimize and wick away moisture. The company has more than 1,000 His 5-star reviews, including this one from another flight attendant who wears them every day, praising the “perfect fit” .

Soda Top Shoes Jaber Ankle Boots

When choosing a career, Alison Uno chose to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a flight attendant. She has been serving Hawaiian Airlines travelers for nearly 20 years and has a lot of opinions when it comes to her shoes. When she wears pants during her travels, she prefers boots like these faux leather ankle boots with nice chunky heels. Despite being very durable and having a 2.5 inch heel, they are surprisingly lightweight. Available in 9 colors. Slip-on makes her perfect for passing through TSA. Many of her 2,300 five-star reviews mention a short run-in and are overwhelmingly positive. “Day 2: Walked 20,000 steps and I feel like I can keep going,” reads a review titled “Cute and Durable.”

[ドリームペア]Ladies chunky heel boots over knee high

Storck can be seen rocking this look in the winter. “The chunky heel keeps me comfortable during long hours at work and when I travel,” she tells me, confessing that she also wears the shoes outside of work. This special pair has a 2.5-inch heel and features a soft faux fur lining and insole. The zipper makes it easy to put on and take off. He is now available in seven colors, and many of his approximately 3,500 five-star reviews are from flight attendants. One flight attendant appreciates the compliments about the shoes: “They're comfortable and classy.” “This is truly a dream boot,” they said.

LifeStride Women's Rozz Mary Jane Pumps

In the summer, Storck usually wears LifeStride's best-selling (with over 3,600 five-star reviews) Mary Jane pumps. “Block heels help increase the surface area that puts pressure on your feet, providing a comfortable fit for hours of wear,” she explained to me. Her favorite heels feature a 2-inch heel, synthetic leather upper, rounded toe, and adjustable buckle straps. Additionally, both medium and wide widths come in her three colors. “She wears these on a three-day trip for work and her feet don't get sore or tired like many other shoes,” one flight attendant wrote. shoes. ”

Clarks Women's M3 Lulin Pump

When Uno wears a uniform that includes a knee-length skirt, she opts for these practical 100 percent Mary Jane pumps. It's made of leather and features Clarks' signature shock-absorbing OrthoLite footbed. The 2.16-inch heels make your legs look longer and taller, but not so high that you risk twisting your ankle. Many of his 1,100 five-star reviews are from flight attendants. “I love these,” wrote one flight attendant-in-training, adding, “Everyone in my class has now ordered a pair.”

Rockport Women's Total Motion 75mm Pointed Toe Pumps

Siobhan Grogan, a flight attendant for JetBlue Airways, tried her fair share of Clarks and Naturalizer (two brands beloved by flight attendants) before finally landing on these 3-inch heels. , this is said to have been “hit.” Specifically, she said, “I have high insteps, so I can walk all day, sometimes 12 hours, in airports and on airplanes in these shoes. These heels are awesome.” Amazon has 20 different colors and materials. Leather, suede, faux snakeskin and more. Many of the 530 5-star reviews praise the removable padded insole. A flight attendant who calls herself a “full-time fashionista” summed it up: “It's like walking around in slippers.”

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