A typical nurse's day at work involves running and standing for long shifts in the hospital. At times, they may even find no chance to rest their feet during their shifts. A good pair of nursing shoes is an essential nursing gear to help them protect their feet and survive a day's work. Here's a list of the best New Balance shoes for nurses.
Why is New Balance a Great Brand of Shoes for Nurses?
New Balance Athletics is a reliable and well-known shoe brand that caters to both men and women. It offers various running and walking shoes that provide cushioning, motion control, support, and stability for specific everyday activity needs.
It is a brand that does not focus on celebrity endorsements but preferably on performance and technology; thus, the "Endorsed By No One" philosophy. New Balance is one brand that many nurses trust because it invests much in shoe research, design, and manufacture to deliver the best fit and performance.
Many people have been wearing New Balance shoes for quite some time, and it is a go-to brand of walkers and professionals like nurses. Time tested and proven; New Balance footwear is built on quality and advanced shoe technology.
Choosing The Right New Balance Shoes For Nurses
Finding the best New Balance shoes for nurses goes beyond the size and width of your feet. It is about finding the right shoe qualities in a nursing shoe that one can wear for long hours. A nurse should check for the following criteria to help them get the right nursing shoes.
1. Proper Fit
Properly fitting nursing shoes will feel just right and not too tight. It will also help prevent the occurrence of blisters and sores on your feet. If you are a nurse who has narrow feet, it is best to go down half-a-size from your standard sizing.
2. Non-Slip Sole
A slip resistant sole is also among the priority factors that nurses should consider when buying shoes for work. A nurse does a lot of running and quick turns around corridors. So, they need one that can protect them from accidental slips and falls. Choose one that has a thick rubber sole with good traction quality on a variety of surfaces.
3. Shock Absorption
Often, nurses would feel like they just run a marathon running medical errands in different hospital areas. Footwear equipped with a thick rubber sole with good shock absorption quality will aid them in these tasks. An adequately cushioned midsole could also help in shock absorption.
A thick slip-resistant rubber outsole that provides support and adequate cushioning can absorb the impact from walking and running. These features make you last long shifts and extra hours at work. It can also help prevent and reduce hip, knee, and ankle pain.
4. Wide Toebox
A nurse who suffers from bunions, blisters, and hammertoes should consider getting ones that have a wide toe box area. The New Balance brand has some shoe designs where you can choose from either wide or extra broader foot types.
5. Sweat and Odor-Resistant
Lightweight fabrics like mesh-knits are ideal for maintaining adequate airflow to keep the feet dry during work hours. However, you can still choose nursing shoes with leather or synthetic materials with perforated channels to allow breathability.
6. Padded and Removable Insoles
Adequate padding or removable padded insoles are also an essential factor. Removable paddings with moisture-prevention and antibacterial qualities are ideal for hygiene and protect you from bacterial and fungal infections.
7. Easy-to-Clean
Patient vomits, blood, water, and chemical spills are all too common scenarios for nurses at work. Avoid using shoes with mesh and cloth materials if you are assigned to the hospital's emergency room. If you are, you may opt for those made with leather or synthetic leather.
Other Helpful Tips when Buying the Right Nursing Shoes
1. Comfort Should Go Above Style
Nurses know well that shoes made solely for fashion will not serve their purpose in the hospital. Your performance at work will also largely depend on comfort. If you can, always opt for a running or walking shoe with both the comfort and style you prefer.
2. Choose Appropriate Shoes
Inquire and follow the hospital's clothing guidelines. Emergency departments usually require closed-toe nurse shoes and fully covered heels for protection and safety at work. You may opt to choose shoes that have neutral colors like black, white, blue, or gray.
3. Spare Shoes
Keep a pair of spare shoes or two to use as alternate work shoes. Remember to regularly check your shoes' for wear and tear signs, especially on the rubber sole, to avoid unnecessary accidents when on hospital duty.
Keep in mind that your feet are an essential asset to your job. If you need to give your feet some rest, take a few minutes to do so. You may ask someone to cover for your task in the meantime.
The 7 Best New Balance Shoes For Nurses
Choosing a high-quality pair of shoes like the New Balance brand will require some diligence and research. As a general rule, the higher the number, the more technology was decked onto a New Balance model. As nursing professionals are always busy and on the run, we made it relatively more manageable for you.
The best New Balance nursing shoes are often athletic shoes like trainers or running shoes. Most athletic shoes also provide the style and safety features that a nursing shoe should have. So below, we listed our top picks on the best New Balance shoes for nurses with comfort and performance on our minds.
1. New Balance Fuelcell Propel for Women
New Balance Fuelcell Propel trainer is the ideal shoes for women nurses looking for comfort and great value for money. These shoes are equipped with generous cushioning for day-to-day walking and running activities and a superb choice for nursing shoes.
These New Balance shoes offer the best lightweight cushioning support and comfort women nurses are looking for, combined with bounce and responsiveness.
Although the midsole does not have the Fresh Foam technology, it is still optimally cushioned like the EVA foam. The shoes' midsole is also propulsive enough to handle all-day-long wear. This soft midsole technology allows you to perform any activity with ease.
The mesh upper is made with a lightweight and thin embroidered material that is breathable and dries up quickly. It also has a synthetic leather toe bumper overlay extending over the forefoot. The toe foot area is a bit roomy and is ideal for women nurses who suffer from bunions, hammertoes, and other forefoot problems.
On the midfoot area, there is reflective stitching called Trace Fiber that makes the shoe securely fit. Fuelcell's technology also gives you an improved energy return from the nitrogen-injected TPU foam.
The slip-resistant rubber outsole solidly features a Ndurance carbon rubber sole with three lugged patterns sectioned at the heels, forefoot, and the outer edge.
Propel's midsole and outsole geometry ensure even cushioning, traction, and an even spread of wear and tear. The shoes' sole feature makes it a great New Balance shoe for wet and dry weather and many different surface types.
This pair of shoes is a true-to-size fit. The heel cup offers a heel-to-toe drop of 6mm that ensures no heel slippage, making it is ideal for experienced runners. The tongue also stays in place, and the semi-stretch laces are easy to adjust.
Overall, these are great New Balance shoes for women nurses as it offers a lot of value for their price. It is also a great buy in terms of the versatility and support that your feet need.
2. New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v10 for Women
The Fresh Foam 1080v10 is a great New Balance shoe for women nurses looking for maximum cushioning comfort and durability. It has a plush comfort that can compare to Nike's Vomero 14.
New Balance 1080 Version 10 was reworked from its previous versions. This running shoe boasts of its Fresh Foam X technology that is sturdy, supportive, and has the softest cushioning among its prior versions.
It also has an eye-catching rocker shape design that will satisfy women nurses looking for stylish nursing shoes. This rocker shape is not only for aesthetics but also for bounce and responsiveness. There is also a reflective design on the midfoot, making it ideal for wearing at night or in the dark.
New Balance's Ultra Heel technology has a heel drop of 8mm and is designed for optimum heel cup support. It curves away from the Achilles tendon for comfortable wear and fit and locks the rearfoot. This running shoe also has stable arch support making it ideal for women nurses with pronation problems.
The mesh upper is made with stretchy, light, and soft fabric that is better than Nike's fly knit. It has a roomy toebox area and is an excellent shoe choice for those with wide feet. It is a great all-around shoe that is made with premium materials.
The Fresh Foam technology on the midsole is now full-length and softer than its predecessors. This soft-foamed midsole allows nurses to be less tired and prevent foot discomforts even after long hours of wear.
The insoles are made steady during any activity as it has a non-slip Strobel lining under it.
The rubber outsole is not flat and has five separate lug sections. Also, the slip-resistant grooves on the rubber sole are designed for traction purposes.
The shoe's tongue is also padded and attached to the upper's sides to ensure it will not slide.
3. New Balance Men's Made in Us 990v5 Sneaker
The New Balance 990 V5 is the ideal day wear or casual work shoe for men who also love short or long runs. The design features iteration from New balance 990's classic and timeless appearance combined with the latest shoe technology updates.
New Balance's shoes offer excellent cushioning support, stability, and protection for nurses with flat feet or plantar fasciitis problems.
These technology-packed running shoes are made with premium, high-quality materials that guarantee superior comfort, making them a running shoe that nurses could wear all day long. It is also made durable with tight stitchings and shoe panelings.
The upper is made with suede and with breathable mesh material. This shoe features a soft-cushioned ENCAP midsole that makes it comfortable to wear in any activity.
The midsole is encapsulated by a polyutherane shell material that helps keep the foam in shape over time. It has a dual density collar foam that offers superior support to the ankles. It has a heel-to-toe drop of approximately 12mm.
The slip-resistant rubber outsole unit is made with Ndurance material and a blown rubber compound.
The shoe's fitting is slightly larger in length and compared to other running shoes. It is wise to get a half-size smaller to achieve a cozy fit.
4. New Balance 1300
This modernized classic New Balance shoe, whose design debuted in 1984, is ideal for nurses who prioritize both fashion and comfort. New Balance 1300 is a trendy shoe made of leather and breathable mesh.
It utilizes New Balance's ENCAP midsole technology for enhanced durability. Injection-molded EVA foam was embedded into the shoe's midsole to give better-cushioning support.
It features a plastic heel clip for stability and heel-locking.
It is available in attractive color options that range from simple to striking. You will find one that matches your unique style and personality.
5. New Balance Fresh Foam Roav V1 Sneaker for Men
These New Balance Fresh Foam Roav V1 running shoes are ideal for nurses who need strong arch support, comfort, and responsiveness.
The mesh upper is made with thin, lightweight, and breathable one-piece knit fabric. The mesh-knit material is flexible and can accommodate a wide range of foot shapes and types.
It is a lightweight shoe that offers a full-length soft foam midsole with New Balance's Fresh Foam technology. This technology on the midsole features high-quality cushioning that will make you feel comfortable even for more extended wearing periods.
The cushioning and the rubber soles even give you an extra inch of height. These shoes also come with a removable insole to provide additional plush comfort.
The slip-resistant rubber outsole is made with Ndurance rubber that is designed for grip and durability.
It boasts of a striking Ultra Heel counter that looks unique and locks your heels firmly inside the shoes. The heel counter has an accordion-like design that is aesthetically appealing. This footwear has a traditional lace-up feature that stays in place so you won't have a problem doing your laces all the time.
It has a true-to-size fit, but for a snug fit, you may want to go one size down.
Fresh Foam Roav V1 has a trendy and unique design. It is also available in 55 color options that nurses can wear inside and outside their hospital duty.
Overall, it is a very comfortable running shoes that nurses can wear for long shifts. It is also an ideal running or walking shoe that is also great for gym activities.
6. New Balance 410v6 Trail Runner for Men
This trail running shoe is a perfect balance of cushioning and durability and is ideal for active male nurses. It is made with a combination of mesh and synthetic leather, which are both high-quality materials.
It has a thick All-Terrain Tread sole that provides an excellent grip and traction on any surface. Also, it is equipped with the ACTEVA outsole, which is highly compressive, resistant. The rubber outsole has systematically-positioned pods and deep grooves at the bottom for traction on wet surfaces.
It has a good quality midsole that is very light compared to other running shoes. This soft midsole feature makes it perfect for nurses who want lightweight and comfortable shoes.
The upper mesh materials are thin and entirely breathable.
The 410 V6 trail runner runs a bit small, so you should get one size larger than your original size. It is also best for nurses with narrower feet.
This cushioning shoe is best for nurses with neutral gait or those who tend to put a strain on their ankles.
Aside from its pocket-friendly price, it also sports a simple sneaker-style design that you could wear either with your scrubs or jeans.
7. New Balance 608 V5 Cross Trainer
These New Balance 608v5 training shoes offer a combination of cushioning and compression resistance. The shoes provide a cushioning covering all angles and a memory foam removable shoe insert for added comfort.
The upper is made from water-resistant premium leather material and will suit nurses stationed in an emergency or operating room.
These shoes offer a dual midsole technology to deliver cushioning, the IMEVA and ABZORB. It also utilizes an EVA foam footbed and an internal shank between the midsole and footbed for additional cushioning.
It has a dual density collar foam for ankle support and irritation prevention along the area as well.
Having lace-up closure will ensure non-slippage. Its rubber sole has deep flex grooves that cover the soles full-length for better grip and traction.
Conclusion
With the right New Balance shoes, nurses do not need to suffer from discomforts arising from flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and other foot problems. The great news is that many New Balance shoes for nurses could easily be your choice as comfortable working or walking shoes. And our top pick for the best New Balance shoes is New Balance Fuelcell Propel.
New Balance's Propel is a lightweight shoe with the right amount of cushioning to support a nurse's feet all day long. It is an excellent shoe for nurses because the mesh upper material used is very breathable and can keep your feet dry.
As nurses are always up and about running medical errands, a heel-to-toe transition is essential. These shoes live up to this requirement and also absorb impacts well enough. This impact-absorbing quality makes it the best shoes for nurses who are active and always on the go.
The deep flex grooves on the slip resistant sole are also helpful in performing inside slippery hospital floors. These grooves are sectioned strategically on the forefoot, heel, and outer edge, nurses, are ensured of a good grip at all times.
These features make the New Balance Propel an easy yet superior pick as the best New Balance shoes for nurses.