It is a well-known fact that nurses make it to the list when working long hours on their feet. Standing hours on end lead the feet to suffer. But with the right support and cushioning, the best Alegria nursing shoes are a clear front runner compared to other brands.
Alegria by PG Lite enjoys a great reputation for having amazing yet comfortable medical footwear. It has even extended its reach outside the medical industry and has addressed similar concerns from teachers and other professionals who spend most of their time on their feet and look for comfort.
The secret to Alegria’s success lies in the unique footbed that begins with a Mild Rocker Outsole, followed by a combination of cork and memory foam layer, and topped off with a leather lining, hand-stitched with utmost care.
Why is Alegria Shoes a Great Brand for Nurses?
Alegria shoes provide the necessary support and comfort sought after by nurses in their shoes.
It is a brand that is American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) accepted. It means that the Alegria shoes you wear are recognized as beneficial to foot health and provide significant value to daily foot care.
The Alegria brand also has over two decades of experience in providing supportive design through its arch and heel that provides comfort and relieves the strain on legs, knees, hips, and back from the long hours a nurse usually spends on their feet.
It is available in casual wear, professional wear, sandals, clogs, wedges, heels, and boots.
Choosing the Right Pair For You
Choosing the right shoes for you may always seem like a difficult hurdle at first glance. But armed with the right information, shopping will become an easy and enjoyable task.
Below, we have prepared a quick list of important factors you will need to consider when purchasing the best Alegria shoes.
Take the time to assess which features help you out the most in your job. And find the best Alegria nursing shoes for you.
Non-slip
Slip-resistant shoes are an essential need in the workplace where the hospital floor is vulnerable to being chaotic with different fluids and spillage.
Slipping and falling at the most critical events could spell out a disaster that can affect not you but also to around you. Always look for shoes that have an outsole made of slip-resistant material to avoid getting into accidents.
Alegria nursing shoes are made of dual-density polyurethane outsoles that are not only soft but also non-slip. It has dented patterns on the bottom of the sole that help grip the floor and avoid unnecessary slips and slides.
Best of all, the polyurethane outsole is also non-marking, so the patterns underneath do not leave behind unsightly marks on the floor where you tread.
Foot Type and Support
It is also important to be aware of your foot type and the kind of arch you have. These things, when left unidentified and unaddressed, will eventually affect your overall posture and stability. Some overpronate, while others under pronate. There those with a larger foot width; others have a narrower width.
Alegria shoes are designed with a unique multilayer footbed that provides the support your feet need daily. Made from foam, cork, and topped with a leather sole lining, the signature footbed is ergonomically designed to naturally hug into the shape and width of your feet to give you the appropriate support while still giving you the comfort you need.
Design and Size
The design isn’t always just about the outside look but also the technical parts of the shoe.
Leather Upper
Pick a shoe that has an upper built to be breathable. The upper should not stick to the top of your feet, chafe them, nor bind them when worn.
Ankle Collar
Check to see if your ankles and the back of your heels rest comfortably on the shoe. The collar padding should feel comfortable and should not feel irritating and restrictive. If left unchecked, any discomfort will eventually affect your Achilles Tendon.
Heel Support
Look for a nursing shoe that helps your heel-to-toe transitions and allows for easy movement in the ankles. Left unchecked, this may lead to plantar fasciitis or swollen ligaments, which are a pain in the heels and feet.
Toe Box
This is an important part of your shoe. It helps keep the upper from touching your feet. Look for shoes that have a roomy toe box to let your toes splay and stretch. A toe box should also have enough width to accommodate different conditions like bunions.
Stitched vs Glued
A stitched sole is a sign of a high-quality shoe.
On the other hand, a glued sole costs less in production, but it creates a poorer seal and can degrade more easily over time.
Hand-stitching the soles together means the manufacturer poured the time to ensure that each sole is securely attached properly, giving it more durability than those mass-produced with glued soles.
Adjustable
Be on the lookout for shoes that have an adjustable way to secure your feet. Slip-on and clogs don't have shoelaces to tie your shoe securely.
The shoes Alegria has may not have laces, but they do have an adjustable hook and loop buckle flair.
With an adjustable buckle, you can adjust the shoe tighter or looser, relative to your needs. Also, check if a nurse is allowed to bring these kinds of shoes to work.
Durability
A nurse knows very well that no shoe can last a long time without suffering from wear and tear, especially if used daily.
Alegria shoes are designed to be worn while walking, so they'll last a long time. However, be prepared for the tread to eventually crumble if you spend a lot of time walking on particularly abrasive materials like concrete.
Stain-resistant
A nurse’s job can be quite messy, having medical maladies that lead to secretions, spillage, oozes, and more.
Wearing stain-resistant nursing shoes is important because it reduces cleaning time and gives your shoes a longer lifespan.
Stain-resistant shoes usually are made from leather and can be cleaned with an easy solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
Shock Absorption
The shoes should have a sole designed to lessen the shock when hitting the floor or other hard surfaces. The outsole should provide enough supportive cushioning to give your feet a comfortable step when walking without worrying about any pain.
Shock absorption also helps ease running. A nurse rendering duty at a hectic emergency floor wearing a shoe with shock absorption is a no-brainer.
Applied Technology
With gadgets and looming technologies slowly integrating into our everyday life, it is not a surprise for innovations to find their way into your nursing shoe.
Alegria comes with a unique built-in pedometer in some of its shoes that you can access through your smartphone. It will not need any charging and will last the shoe's lifetime. It is a great assistance to a nurse who is also mindful of their total steps in a day, be it for exercise or not.
The 6 Best Alegria Shoes for Nurses
Without further ado, we have made a list below some of the best nursing shoes Alegria is known for.
1. Alegria Women's Paloma Flat
First on the list for a nurse to decide on is from the Mary Jane style.
The Mary Jane shoes are easy-to-wear shoes that give a classic and comfortable feel for everyday use. Mary Janes are timeless, and each pair features a fashionable ornamental hook and loop buckle closure that adds a unique appeal to the design.
These shoes have amazing arch support and a comfortable footbed with enough padding that even reaches the foot's ball. With such a soft insole, you won't feel sore even when standing for hours on end.
Every step feels like you are given a boost forward because of the Mild Rocker Outsole's curved shape. It is also lightweight and held secure by an adjustable Velcro strap.
They have a whopping 63 designs available for the Alegria Women's Paloma Flat, so take the time to choose which design suits your fancy. No matter the design, though, these Mary Jane shoes will still give you the same level of comfort and support unique to Alegria shoes.
2. Alegria Women's Classic Clog
If you are the type who prefers to wear something to slip on, then the Alegria Women's Classic Clog are great nursing shoes.
Each pair is handstitched and comes with a leather upper with a rounded toe box. The leather upper is stain resistant and comes in several stylish patterns and colors.
With Alegria Classic Clog, you will appreciate the memory foam footbed, the arch support, the stability, and the light yet secure feeling of a well-designed Mild Rocker outsole that brings a natural gait with every step.
On top of that, the insole is removable and can be replaced for personal preferences or custom orthotic requirements.
3. Alegria Joleen Women's Shoe
The Alegria Joleen Women's Shoe is a professional shoe that is modeled after the classic oxford style.
These are styled more subdued than the previous ones, focusing on a more business casual look. Still, there are a total of seventeen different stylish options to enjoy.
Signature to the Alegria brand, the shoes are a perfect fit, with just enough room on the toe box. The removable footbed is a combination of cork and memory foam. The padded heel collar will hug around the heels and ankles to avoid slipping.
The insoles are made from a suede leather that allows for breathable everyday wear.
The Alegria Joleen Shoe has a slip-resistant outsole to avoid any untoward mishaps when worn at work. It also non-marking, which is the best shoes to wear indoors.
Lastly, as part of the professional look, the Alegria Joleen Shoes features a light, slim and clean silhouette that nurses will surely love.
4. Alegria Women's Debra Slip-On
The Alegria Women's Debra shoe loses the hook and loop buckle closure and uses a double elastic gore instead, making it easier to slip them on and off.
The heel is lifted to provide arch support, while the combination of memory foam and cork insole allows for the removable footbed to shape around your foot for a secure and stable fit.
It is touted to be great for nurses and other professionals in a similar industry wherein walking constantly is a regular feat. On top of that, as the outsoles are still clog-style, every step is poised to help you with an easy heel-to-toe transition without exerting too much energy.
There close to forty stylish patterns and designs available for the Alegria Debra shoes. There is even a plain white option perfect for the registered nurse to wear for the job.
5. Traq by Alegria Qool Women's Smart Walking Shoe
Traq by Alegria Shoes are a stunning new concept that brings technology into their classic and comfortable shoes built for support.
With a unique Q-chip technology with a built-in pedometer you can connect to your smartphone, the Traq is definitely something out of the ordinary. Alegria boasts that the attached pedometer chip will never need any charging in its lifetime.
Built more like a sneaker than the classic clog, it veers away from its leather style and replaces it with a cooling, breathable Dream Knit fabric upper. It also has a knit band around the ankles for added comfort and support.
Alegria's removable footbed is still present in this shoe. It also has a slip-resistant sole with arch support, shock absorption, and non-marking features. Its eleven available brilliant designs will suit your fancy.
There is also a similar version for men.
6. Alegria Schuster for Men
The Alegria Schuster is a mix of casual and professional shoes perfect for everyday use.
It features a unique design to push the heel cap down to the insole to wear as an open-back clog or leave it up as a slip-on loafer.
The Alegria Schuster has a stain-resistant leather upper that provides comfort for cleaning with a simple wipe from a cloth. It also keeps its signature removable footbed from a combination of cork, latex, and memory foam.
This is a great set of Alegria shoes to wear at work with its slip-resistant, non-marking polyurethane outsole where a slight accident could affect the entire floor.
The Alegria Schuster Shoes for men provide superior arch support and comfort for nurses.
Final Thoughts
After everything is said and considered, you still find yourself more lost than before, don't worry. We will help you out.
We feel the best Alegria shoes for nurses is the Women's Classic Clog to start with from the six we shortlisted for you to choose from. You get tough leather with a roomy round toe box. It has an adjustable buckle strap with a soft signature footbed that gives comfort and support, shock absorption, and a curved rocker outsole for a supportive gait a nurse needs in their shoes.
It comes in a stain-resistant classic casual design and professional look that you can use for work or outside.
The final decision rests with you. Choose which one you think is the best Alegria nursing shoes and let your feet enjoy paramount comfort at work.