It’s a typical goal to reach 10,000 steps in a day for fitness. But it’s a totally different story to clock in your daily steps several times over in a day – especially if it was done at work! For nurses this is a reality that they have to face every day. It is a great thing that Brooks Shoes offers plenty of great footwear. We've prepared a list of the best brooks shoes for nurses to help them choose the right fit for them and their busy schedules.
Being a nurse is rewarding, but it requires a lot out of you. Nurses have to stay on their feet to attend to several patients for a number of hours on end. This a reason why nurses are prone to suffer from conditions that involve not only the feet but also the ankle and the back. That’s why it’s important to carefully pick the right running shoe for nurses.
That said, it's better to look out for sneakers that are built for the busy nurses that are always on the go.
Why is Brooks Such a Great Brand of Shoes for Nurses?
Brooks shoes have a long history of comfortable, lightweight, and sturdy shoes built with the athlete within you in mind. It is constantly developing, with research and insight coming from wearers themselves which help a variety of users, much like the nurses that need to use special shoes.
Brooks shoes are ready to support the taxing demands of being a nurse with several innovations that cater to the various requirements coming from the hustle and bustle typical of a busy workday in the hospital.
Wearing something from home to hospital, while addressing any or all of the needs a nurse requires from their trusty pair of shoes equates to having a blissful workday.
Choosing the Right Brooks Shoes for You
With so much time spent upright and running around the hospital, not just any and every pair of running shoes will work.
Picking the wrong pair of shoes may lead to sore, swollen, and tired feet. Uneven weight distribution in a running shoe may lead to heel pain.
These pains may sound common and are usually brushed off as all in a day’s work. But having to experience these pains as a constant will definitely wear anybody down. It will also lead to further complications down the line if left unaddressed.
Try putting these factors into consideration first to get a more solid idea of the type of shoe you think is best for you when choosing shoes for nursing:
1. Size
Do away with the concept of buying smaller sizes with the intent to break-in. Tight shoes cause blisters, bunions, and blacken the toenails. Avoid also coming with an assumed size. Always ask to get fitted to understand the appropriate feel and fit of a perfect shoe. Take the time to assess the fit and how comfortable your feet are while a pair is worn. Imagine having to stay with that feeling for hours on end.
2. Design and Structure
Not only pertaining to the aesthetics but consider also checking for these designs in your selection:
3. Arch Support
The feet give a large contribution to the body’s alignment and balance. If the feet are not correctly positioned, the nurse is likely to feel awkward and feel damage around the other areas of the body.
Bad arch support will exacerbate bad conditions like sprained ankles, tight calves, and knee, hip, and back pain.
4. Shock Absorption
The midsole should be designed to lessen shock on impact. It should provide cushioning, and possess a crash pad that disperses the weight of a stride and returns the energy that is the spring in your step.
5. Slip Resistant
It is a standard to be on the lookout for shoes that provide grip and traction, letting you avoid accidents in sliding and falling on either wet, oily, and slippery surfaces. This greatly helps during duties where the hospital floor is messed with various liquids organic and otherwise. Slipping will not only cause personal injuries but will also cause inconvenience to others within range. So instead of being just careful, look out for anti-slipping innovations on the shoe.
Understanding the Technology
With Brooks shoes, there are a variety of technologies added to their shoes to accommodate all types of runners and users – including heavy use. Select from their running shoe technology and find the best Brooks shoes for nurses.
1. For Support and Stability
Brooks shoes boast a revolutionary support technology that is designed to guide the foot to keep the knee stable and in motion, lessening excessive knee movement. It's something comparable to attaching training wheels on bikes, or bumper rails on bowling lanes.
This innovation allows the feet and the knee centered and in preferred motion with every stride. This helps keep every step balanced, avoiding trips and knee-related injuries due to uneven steps.
2. Double the Cushion
An impressive innovation that Brooks shoes have is something they call “DNA Loft” technology that makes their midsoles lightweight and comfortable, without compromising durability.
Additional cushions on shoes usually lead to additional weight too. But with the right mixture of ethyl vinyl acetate, air, and rubber, every Brooks shoe is promised to have the same feeling from the first moment it is worn, all the way to last the life of the shoe.
3. A Spring in Every Step
With every cushioned step, the next thing to look forward to is the spring it gives back. With DNA AMP technology, as the foot hits the midsoles, it simply absorbs the impact and returns the energy giving you that bouncy, springy step with every stride.
About 50-60% returned energy is the market standard, with the DNA AMP technology, an impressive 70% energy is returned.
4. Segmented Crash-Pad
The Segmented Crash Pad, shaped like a caterpillar, is a midsole made up of separate, but completely incorporated shock absorbers.
With every stride, the crash pads work together to ensure just the right amount of cushion and heel to toe transition for optimized output.
5. Light, Breathable and Waterproof
Consider everything above, plus the lightweight, breathable mesh upper, and waterproof material, along with wonderful knit aesthetics, and you have the best Brooks shoes for nurses.
6. Environmentally Friendly
The BioMogo is entirely eco-friendly and fully bio-degradable due to its unique formulation. Standard EVA foam takes a millennium to degrade, whereas BioMogo only takes 20 years.
What is more outstanding is the fact that BioMogo is not patented. It is a technology open and shared with other manufacturers to push for going green.
Best Brooks Shoes for Nurses
1. Brooks Ghost 13
The Ghost 13 is a reliable and stable trainer for daily use. Available in different colors, the Ghost 13 comes in a dimpled lateral cushion built with the DNA Loft technology extending all over the midsole. Extra foam is added on the heel for better shock absorption, allowing for a smooth heel to toe transition with every stride.
Its sleek design has an engineered breathable mesh upper that gives a hugged and stretchy feel when worn. It’s a well-ventilated structure that guarantees the most air circulation possible.
Built with lightweight materials, the Ghost 13 is a comfortable wear nurses might enjoy. Ghost 13 remains one of the most stable trainers in the market, with a midsole that guards the foot to keep the foot centered at all times.
The outsole is made of two rubbers, DNA Loft on the lateral, and BioMogo on the medial, with DNA Loft being the newer technology between the two. As such, it is a combination of both hard and soft rubber soles that make strides feel like walking on clouds no matter how your heel lands every time.
This pair has a wide range of aesthetic presentation as it comes in a dozen color combinations, from a bright neon color to subdued blacks, grays, or whites. You can pick whichever color best fits your scrub suit’s colors.
The Ghost13 is a running shoe available for men and women.
2. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
The upper of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is made with an Engineered Air Mesh that provides a hugged fit while keeping a breathable and airy pampered structure when worn.
It is also great stability support, boasting its GuideRails technology on the midsole. This technology keeps the foot in place, reducing its excessive movement for a stable step.
The GuideRails technology has a holistic approach that extends its support not only to the feet but also to the knees that are prone to injury.
The shoe is supported with DNA Loft that extends beyond the heel and onto the forefoot, contributing to a smooth stride. Combined with BioMogo DNA as a cushioning foam, the Adrenaline GTS 21 is secured for stability.
It has high arch support that returns energy, needing less oxygen when you tread. High arch support also aids pressure off the shins and lessens unnecessary rotation in the ankle.
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 offers an overall comfortable and springy experience that is a snug fit and effective support.
This Brooks shoe is available for both men and women and comes in different colors nurses will enjoy choosing from.
3. Brooks Ravenna 11
This Brooks shoe is first and foremost light. Built for speed, this running shoe is made without having to sacrifice springy support. It has a trimmed one-piece upper mesh for the economy of movement, focused on speed.
The Brooks Ravenna 11 is a great pair for nurses in more active duty in and around the ER. It's for a quicker pace, with every stride important to get from one point to the other.
Built for quick transitions from heel to toe with the Midfoot Transition Zone, the Brooks Ravenna 11 is also partnered with a BioMogo DNA midsole cushion to help you put that buoyant lift to work on your speed. The medium arch support is great for overpronation, with equally flexible support in the cushion.
The rubber outsole sets a rebounding comfort that does away with added weight – keeping the shoe light as possible.
Overall, the Brooks Ravenna 11 is a lightweight, durable running shoe with great traction and slip-resistant for nurses needing that extra spring and speed.
4. Brooks Glycerin 18
The Brooks Glycerin 18 sets apart from its other contemporaries with its high cushion functionality.
This highly successful running shoe has a mesh upper with a 3D Fit Print technology and uses a double jacquard mesh. It gives the foot a secure hold and a light, breezy feeling throughout the day.
The breathability and versatility of this material are supreme. With this adaptability, the shoe does very well on a regular basis and can be worn as part of the shoes nurses pair with their uniforms. This pair of shoes is still very lightweight and is fitted with a rubber outsole that is slip-resistant.
As the latest and best iteration from a successful set of running shoes, the Glycerin 18 has a softer upper that stretches smoother with the foot and feels much less restrictive throughout.
You would certainly enjoy them if you're on the lookout for a high cushion neutral trainer as your choice of a nurses shoe.
5. Brooks Transcend 7
The Transcend 7 also uses the Brooks Guiderail System, a firmer, midsole material that lifts up and basically holds the middle and back of your feet. On sore legs and muscles, getting your gait tapped softly into place is a welcome innovation.
It is made with an engineered mesh that is breathable, supportive, and easy on the foot. There is enough coverage in the 3D printed crosshatching around the midfoot that does away with any unnecessary overlays.
The toe box makes for a decent splay of your toes. And although it seems narrow, it offers plenty of a stretch for wide feet.
On top of that, the DNA Loft adjusts nicely to the movement of the foot and keeps an adequate cushioning constant the entire day. Its combination of comfort and convenient support make for an excellent performance wherever worn.
The Brooks Transcend 7 is a reasonably adaptive running shoe in design and is a perfect choice for nurses that require traction without it being obstructive or too firm. It is stable and easy to stroll around and do life in.
This neutral running shoe is the best pick for nurses looking for a well-cushioned, lightweight, and comfortable running shoe.
6. Brooks Revel 4
This is an entry for nurses who are also looking for attractive styles. Its newly redesigned Fit Knit mesh upper is secure and striking with prints like a cheetah and solid colors. This pair of shoes are definitely going to look awesome.
While the outside of the toe box and around the heel is more structured and thicker, the upper is still light, breathable, and open.
The Revel 4 comes with BioMoGo DNA cushioning that dynamically adapts to your rhythm, pace, and weight to distribute the impact and injury away from your body when running.
The cuff of the heel is appropriately padded, and the tongue is plush and stays in place while you're running.
The Brooks Revel 4 is considered the “energized” type. Unlike the Ghost or the Glycerin, this pair of running shoes is focused on that quicker heel to toe transition through an updated arrow-point pattern in the rubber sole.
Thanks to the BioMogo and Green Rubber outsole technology, the Brooks Revel 4 gives a responsive, springy gait.
The Revel 4 by Brooks shows a casual style with performance-oriented components that blurs the lines between mode and function.
In Summary
After all the careful consideration and selection from a wonderful set of available Brooks Shoes readily present in the market and online, if you still find yourself unable to choose, it is okay.
Take your time and try them all out. Read some more. Check for further reviews. Try the Shoe Finder on Brooks shoes’ website, which might narrow down your choices a little bit more.
It is important to take your time in choosing what you think is the best shoes for you to use as a nurse. It all depends on what kind of support you need during your daily routine at work and home.
Circling back to the suggested list, here is a quick go-to guide for the best Brooks shoes for nurses:
Just always go back to what type of support do you specifically need while you’re at work. As a nurse, how do you think a specific pair is going to be of use to you. Is it something you need for running? Does it need a thick rubber sole?
Are you on the lookout for stability or cushion?
Nonetheless, there is always a perfect pair waiting for you at Brooks Shoes. Just dig in deep and for sure, you will find the right shoes for nurse needs.
Personal Pick
If anything, as a personal pick, the Brooks Glycerin 18 is on top of the list. With its high cushion support, the feeling of walking on clouds with every step is such a welcome dream come true.
The casual colors also blend well with the neutral colored shirts usually worn every regular day. Its sleek fit and design are nothing to scoff at too.
And so, as a personal suggestion, try out the Brooks Glycerin 18 and feel the difference when wearing the best brooks shoes for nurses.