3 Best Work Shoes in 2024
They say the early bird catches the worm. But what if your job is the kind that requires you to go places on foot for extended periods? From early morning till late in the afternoon? Yes, we know what you need, and they're none other than the best work shoes that we have personally experienced.
We've tested thoroughly these work shoes for your shopping convenience. We are crazy about the details, so we logged everything from aesthetics and price, how they performed on the softness and durability lab tests, to function and wearability!
How we test walking shoes
Coming up with a compelling selection of the finest shoes for work is effortful. Nevertheless, we take such a task seriously. Here's how we do it:
- To make our reviews as objective as possible, we buy work shoes using our own funds.
- We walk in these enduring kicks in various work environments to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.
- Moreover, we conduct multiple tests on them inside our lab. Since we do not like leaving any stones unturned, we split the shoes in half and even cut them into pieces! One of the parameters we measure is the midsole hardness, both at room and freezing temps. What we do is press our durometer against the midsole before and after sticking the shoes in our freezer for 20 minutes. We then compare the results and calculate how much the value changes in percentage. Through this, we identify if a shoe needs extra softening up during cold weather.
Best work shoes overall
What makes it the best?
Based on our intense scrutinization, the clear top dog in work walking shoes is the Hoka Bondi SR. Yes, being tireless for a whole day of busting our asses at work is great but what we especially loved about the shoe is the protection we got from various hazards. The whole time we tested the shoes, no fluke ever happened - no tripping, instability, wet feet, and unreliable quality.
Even if we spilled some liquid on the shoes, Bondi shielded our feet completely. We double-checked this in the lab and did the smoke test to verify its impermeability. The exiting smoke was almost non-existent compared to the amount that we pumped so we scored the breathability 1/5, proving how impassable the upper was.
We find moving hurriedly at work inevitable. Fortunately, with Bondi, this isn’t a big deal as it is so sticky that it made us surefooted 100% of the time. In our lab, we measured the hardness of the outsole at 73.1 HC. This isn’t only 3.7% softer than average but it’s also just the perfect degree for an outsole to clutch hard onto the floor, preventing any sliding on slippery areas.
Another fantastic thing about Bondi for work is its robustness. Pressing our Dremel tool to its upper made us realize how hard it is to penetrate and wear out the shoes, as our tool only tapered the material very slightly. However, we can’t vouch for Bondi in terms of lightness. We weighed it at 14.3 oz (404.0g), which is 50.5% heavier than average.
Pros
- Comfort is off-the-charts
- Extra thick cushioning for all-day support
- Smooth heel-to-toe transitions
- Alleviates foot discomfort (podiatrist approved)
- Stable for a neutral shoe
- Slip-resistant outsole
- Superior material quality
- Water-resistant leather upper
- Accommodating toebox
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Not breathable
Work shoes with the best comfort
What makes it the best?
Hoka Clifton LS offers the best comfort among all the best work shoes we personally experienced and lab-tested. With its insanely plush cushioning and stable platform, we feel surefooted and relaxed all day. We have no hesitations in bringing this to work daily because it’s made of high-quality and durable materials.
Clifton LS offers a generous 35.2/27.0 mm heel and forefoot stack. This leads to an 8.2 mm drop that protects our heels from landing impact and relieves the pressure off our Achilles. Our toe-offs feel extra smooth thanks to its slightly rockered structure.
On foot, the foam feels mind-blowingly comfortable without bottoming out. It’s soft enough to absorb impact and firm enough to provide a supportive ride. Our durometer confirms a balanced 21.3 HA. Further enhancing our surefootedness is the extremely vast landing platform. We saw one of the highest lab measurements at 122.8/95.5 mm in the heel and forefoot.
Clifton LS is built with robust materials that ensure longevity — such as suede and real leather in high-wear areas, and an above-average 80.5 HC outsole as per our durometer. It surpassed the average in our toebox (5/5) and heel padding (4/5) Dremel tests. Underfoot, we felt that the Durabrasion Rubber grips well on any indoor and outdoor surface.
Unfortunately, all the foam and resistant materials tipped the scales to a heavier 10.8 oz (305g) vs. the average 9.5 oz (269g) walking shoe.
Pros
- Very generously cushioned
- Smooth heel-to-toe transitions
- Wider-than-average and stable platform
- Exceptionally durable
- Secure foothold with no heel slips
- Excellent grip in various conditions
- Amazing in-shoe comfort
Cons
- Could be more breathable
- Heavier than average
Work shoes with the best arch support
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Unmatched stability and arch support
- Broadly recommended by podiatrists
- Incredible abrasion resistance and durability
- Thick and lasting cushioning
- Wide and steady platform
- Great for cold and drizzly days
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- True to size and fit
- Can match formal work attire
Cons
- Heavier than average
- Quite stiff, needs breaking on
- Lacks slip resistance on wet tiles
- Not breathable
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