If you happen to like to remain cozy on the job (and your workplace doesn’t require fancy footwear), an excellent pair of kicks could be the right workhorse. When your common shoe rotation has misplaced its luster, it’s time to take a look at one of the best work sneakers so as to add to your Monday by Friday wardrobe.
Between SELF staffer favorites, on-line bestsellers, and even just a few Sneaker Award–winners, we’ve assembled fairly the listing. We’ve discovered chunky, sporty pairs; sensible, supportive strolling footwear; and (in fact) loads of goes-with-everything white sneakers. Come to consider it, it’s possible you’ll even wish to put on these outdoors of the workweek too.
Our prime picks
- Finest General: Cole Haan GrandPro Topspin Triple Strap
- Runner-Up: Lululemon Cityverse
- Most Timeless: Adidas Stan Smith
- Most Snug: Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Sneaker
- Finest Splurge: On Cloudmonster Hyper
- Finest Workplace-to-Fitness center Choice: Athleta Saysh One Sneaker
- Finest Samba Dupe: New Stability RC42
- Finest for Plantar Fasciitis: Vionic Stroll Strider Strolling Footwear
- Finest Funds: Vans Sport Low High Sneaker
- Finest Sporty: Asics Gel-NYC 2055 Sportstyle Sneakers
- Finest Excessive-High: Nike Blazer Mid ‘77
- Finest Colorways: Merrell Alpine 83 Sneaker Recraft
- Finest for Standing: Hoka Bondi SR
- Finest Slip-On: Gola Coaster Slip-On
On this article
How to decide on a cute pair of sneakers for work
Past in search of what works along with your explicit office, there are a pair key issues to remember when purchasing to your subsequent go-to pair of office-friendly sneakers.
- Assist: As SELF has beforehand reported, your sneakers ought to match the form of your foot with out permitting your arch to break down or forcing it into the next place than is pure. This can make the shoe simpler to put on for lengthy intervals of time (say, eight hours a day) and stop you from creating foot ache over time.
- Match: Whereas we’re with reference to your foot’s form, your footwear additionally have to accommodate the size of your toes. As Denisa Riera, DPM, a podiatry specialist with Hartford HealthCare at St. Vincent’s Medical Heart in Bridgeport, Connecticut, beforehand instructed SELF, there ought to be a thumb’s width of additional area on the entrance of the shoe so your toes can wiggle and unfold freely.
- Consolation: Work sneakers ought to really feel nearly as good by the top of the day as they do whenever you first put them on within the morning, so ensure your decide has sufficient padding to maintain you snug. That is principally a matter of non-public choice (some individuals just like the marshmallowy really feel of Hokas whereas others want rather less cushioning), however don’t go fully with out some type of shock absorption in your footwear—that’ll simply make it disagreeable to stroll round on arduous surfaces.
- Model: Store along with your favourite colours, developments, and types in thoughts to make sure your new footwear mesh nicely along with your present workwear and really feel like your style. Getting dressed for work isn’t at all times essentially the most thrilling a part of the day—however with a cool pair of sneaks, it doesn’t should be a complete drag.
The most effective work sneakers
Uninterested in loafers, clogs, and ballet flats? Take your decide from these top-rated, office-ready sneakers, which examine our packing containers for each type and performance.
Finest General: Cole Haan GrandPro Topspin Triple Strap
Execs
- Basic design
- Slight platform
- Straightforward to tighten to suit your foot
- Out there in office-friendly colorways
Cons
- Velcro is an acquired style
Fashionable, however removed from stuffy, the Sneaker Award–successful GrandPro Topspin Triple Strap sneaker from Cole Haan will elevate your customary 9-to-5 outfits relatively than costume them down. “They’re modern, trendy, and look nice on my toes,” our tester mentioned. “I believe they’re very elegant and excellent for whenever you wish to look extra polished.”
A barely lifted heel and unfussy Velcro straps hold these sneakers from wanting too fundamental, whereas their basic colorways (together with black, ivory, and white) are nicely inside work-appropriate bounds. Oh, and did we point out they’re snug too? Our testers wore them for hours at a time across the workplace, on canine walks, and whereas hanging out with pals with out lacking a step.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium and large | Supplies: Leather-based, artificial cloth, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), and rubber
Runner-Up: Lululemon Cityverse
Execs
- Streamlined design
- Very snug, even for lengthy intervals of time
Cons
- Would possibly look a bit of too fundamental for some
One other Sneaker Award–winner, Lululemon’s Cityverse is the non-flashy shoe your commutes want. We put it to the take a look at on daylong outings, together with a number of journeys to the workplace, and had been critically impressed by how cozy they had been your entire time. “In some way Lululemon made cool sneakers that really feel similar to super-cushiony trainers,” one tester mentioned. “My toes are simply so joyful after I put on them!”
These aren’t essentially the footwear you placed on whenever you wish to get seen, however that’s type of the purpose: “I don’t want to consider them in any respect as soon as they’re on,” one other tester wrote of their assessment. And on particularly busy days, who desires to be distracted by their footwear?
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial supplies, foam, and rubber
Most Timeless: Adidas Stan Smith
Execs
- By no means going out of favor
- Straightforward to spot-clean
Cons
- Not very breathable, in keeping with Zappos reviewers
If you already know them, you in all probability already love them—and if you happen to’ve by no means tried them, this could be your signal to go for it: The Adidas Stan Smiths, initially a courtroom shoe however now an all the things shoe, have develop into iconic for good purpose. “I’ve ones with the small pop of inexperienced, and so they virtually go along with all the things I put on,” one tester who reviewed the footwear for SELF tells us. “They’re additionally actually snug when commuting and tremendous simple to scrub.”
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Leather-based, artificial cloth, and rubber
Most Snug: Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Sneaker
Execs
- Extraordinarily soft and comfy
- No break-in interval
- Underneath $75
Cons
Imagine the hype—our tester joined the refrain of TikTokers raving concerning the chunky Time Off Sneakers just about as quickly as she tried them on: “Proper out of the field, these sneakers are unbelievably snug—they don’t rub or pinch in any respect, and I say this as somebody who’s extremely blister-prone.” She provides that their thick outsoles are surprisingly versatile and that the footbed has a pleasant, bouncy really feel.
Plus—and most significantly for our functions right here—their easy design makes them completely appropriate for the workplace. “I’ve banished all my different on a regular basis way of life sneakers to the again of my closet since I’ve gotten these,” she says. “They’re really the one pair I wish to put on (to work, to the park, out to dinner….)”
Sizes: US 5 to 13 | Widths: Medium and large | Supplies: Artificial leather-based, artificial cloth, or canvas (relying on the particular mannequin); foam, and PU
Finest Splurge: On Cloudmonster Hyper
Execs
- Closely cushioned
- Cool athletic type
Cons
Sure, this Sneaker Award–winner is technically a souped up, ultra-cushioned operating shoe, however that didn’t cease considered one of our testers from making it a part of her workweek rotation: “On’s sneakers are normally too agency for me, however this truly felt excellent. A lot in order that I put on these on my walks, to the workplace—just about in all places I am going.” The only, stacked excessive with foam, has a forward-rolling design, which makes your foot’s transition from heel to toe simpler and your stride extra fluid. Because of this, your toes will really feel cushioned but energized (you already know, on the off likelihood you’re operating late).
When paired with trousers or a midi costume, the Cloudmonster Hyper gained’t look so performance-driven—as an alternative it’ll seem like the good, comfiest shoe within the constructing.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial cloth, foam, and rubber
Finest Workplace-to-Fitness center Choice: Athleta Saysh One Sneaker
Execs
- Simply-right degree of cushioning
- No break-in interval
- Supportive
Cons
- Laces are likely to tighten and may have loosening all through the day
If you happen to clock out and head straight to your exercise, it can save you some room in your health club bag by selecting these modern sneaks. “I attain for these on a regular basis—they don’t stick out on the workplace however they’re additionally simple to put on whereas strolling by Central Park or on the treadmill,” one SELF editor says. “I like that I can put on them instantly from work to the health club with out having to pack a spare pair of footwear.”
She’s had her pair for over a yr and hasn’t seen a lot put on or stretching in any respect. They’re as snug as ever (not “too thick or squishy,” she says), and nonetheless help her excessive arches like a dream.
Sizes: US 5.5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Supplies: Artificial suede, artificial weave, and EVA
Finest Samba Dupe: New Stability RC42
Execs
- Versatile
- Snug out of the field
- True to measurement
Cons
There’s no denying that Adidas Sambas make nice workplace sneakers, however at this charge, you possibly can be caught on their waitlist till retirement. Fortunately, our commerce author discovered an ideal—and much more accessible—various in New Stability’s casual-cool RC24. She describes them as fashionable, slim, versatile, and just about excellent for her on a regular basis wants: “They’re snug for my NYC energy walks and immediately elevate the look of my work, weekend, and health club outfits.”