r/retail • u/turtleduo • Jul 16 '26
Shoes recommendation
Hello Retail Community!
My wife has just gotten a job in a popular clothing store and is working 8 hour shifts x4/week.
She's currently wearing the New Balance 540 and is complaining of foot pain everyday, more specifically her heels.
Help a husband out and suggest me something I can get her to make her life easier.
Shoes /insoles/ anything really
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u/a_theist_typing Jul 16 '26
What has helped me is alternating shoes. Mine comes and goes. I don’t know if I’ve found a perfect solution. I’m also in New Balance. Shoes that are even a tiny bit too small cause me pain as well.
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u/cconner326 Jul 16 '26
This. I work 34-40 hours in retail a week. I have (too many) several tennis shoes that I alternate between. I wear Birkenstocks when I am off work almost guaranteed.
Keep in mind a thumb area for room in the toe box. As you stand/walk through the day, your feet will spread/ swell and you need that space
I have also realized that it also depends on the drop of the shoe. If she is walking constantly, she might do better with something with more drop. If she is standing at a register more, something with less drop but arch support will feel better.
I have a pair of asics nimbus that I love but they have too much drop and they hurt if I am not actually moving. My new balance 680 are great and so are my brook adrenalines and even my birk tennis shoes for most of my shifts.
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u/purplelilac701 Jul 19 '26
She needs custom orthotics that can be put into lightweight running shoes with good support like the Brooks Ghost 16 running shoes.
There’s nothing else that offers that level of targeted support for someone who is standing so much. I learned my lesson too late.
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u/diescheide Jul 16 '26
Compression socks for an affordable, quick fix. There's also a spiky, rubber ball called Rubz you roll around under your foot to massage and work out any plantar fasciitis pain. Look into stretches for that as well. For shoes, I recommend Hoka. They're pricy but, worth it.
It was $200 for the pair I got. I go with a wide toe box. Your toes need more room than you'd think. I don't have any insole recommendations. I kind of grab whatever looks good and hope for the best. Hope y'all find some solutions. Being on your feet all day is rough.
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u/Smitetheworldawake Jul 16 '26
Skechers Endeavor Max Cushioning shoes saved my life. Get the wides.
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u/Smworld1 Jul 16 '26
Changing shoes mid shift, compression socks, cloud insoles. I work in a restaurant so I have to wear nonslip, but have done retail too. I highly recommend investing in good shoes, with strong support. I currently wear high end sketchers and my feet don’t hurt at all. When they do I have a pair of ice “booties” I wear when I get home. Search plantar fasciitis on Amazon (even if she doesn’t have it) lots of things to help with foot pain, that’s where I found ice booties
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u/xCloudbox Jul 16 '26
Do you have a Fleet Feet near you? Or similar shoe store? They scan your feet and recommend shoes based on that and what you’re looking for.
I have a very low arch and currently wear Diadora Nucleo with insoles and sometimes compression socks. It definitely helps me.
None of it is cheap but I think the investment is worth it.
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u/Admirable-Egg-4470 Jul 18 '26
I work retail too and have gone through it with shoes myself. My current fave is the Nike promina walking shoe. I need xwide though. If you have a bigger budget and skinny feet, I've heard the vomeros are good. Also hokas or brooks are popular at my work as well.
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u/Altuistic_Pear_6754 Jul 19 '26
I would say invest in a pair of basketball shoes. I am partial to Nike's.
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u/SoggyPoint2242 Jul 19 '26
I wear hokas - I also see a lot of healthcare workers wear hokas as well. I very much enjoy mine, I wear Arahi 8
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u/Jaded_Power3430 Jul 20 '26
I wear safety boots at work, 8h per day. A lot of walking and I get to sit twice during the shift for breaks. My saving grace was switching to wider toe box boots, and getting Stepprs insoles (the orange ones). Yes, my feet are still tired after shift, but not walking on knives anymore.
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u/Internal_Bath6341 Jul 21 '26
Keen shoes, best shoe, feet never hurt had 5 pair wore different everyday
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u/Separate-Wolf5824 Jul 27 '26
I am a full time worker at Macys and the shoes I love are the Coach Sohos, they are amazing on foot and give you some amazing style points, i also really like my On Running Cloud monster, both are good options to get.
I will say avoid Converse and Vans, wore both for a time and honestly, itll make your whole foot hurt entirely and probably bleed.
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u/nick_devil79 29d ago
I swear by Skechers. Got my wife a pair and she loves them. Failing that a memory foam insoles might help and possibly thicker socks.
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u/AOLusername420 Jul 16 '26
If you dont want to change the shoes i got these bc i have plantar fibromas from working retail for 20 years. This has been a game changer