Personal Finance / Best Nikes
It’s no secret that nurses spend a lot of time on their feet. So having the right work shoes ensures that you stay comfortable for those long, 12-hour shifts. Nikes are a standard go-to athletic shoe that many nurses choose to wear to work. There are seemingly endless Nike designs, so keep reading to find out some of our favorites.
- Nike Zoom Pulse White
- Nike In Season TR 9
- Nike Downshifter 11 Sneaker
- Nike Flex Trainer
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36
- Nike Free RN Flyknit
- Nike Air Monarch IV
1. Nike Zoom Pulse White
If you’re looking for a classic white nursing shoe with a modern design, look no further than the Nike Zoom Pulse. With a flexible, supportive, and durable design these Nikes are ideal for long shifts spent on your feet. This slip-on shoe is free from laces and easy to take on and off. They’re also made from a durable material that is easy to clean and maintain.
- Feel: Flexible and supportive
- Durability: Durable, water-resistant material
- Styles: Slip-on design, multiple color options
Cost: $120
Where to buy: nike.com, Amazon
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2. Nike In Season TR 9
This pair of Nikes features a rubber strap around the top that offers added support and comfort. With a lightweight, breathable mesh design these shoes are flexible and comfortable. They make great work shoes because they have a strong rubber tread and durable mesh.
- Feel: These shoes feel stable and supportive with lace-up closure and a stretchy rubber strap that fits around the foot.
- Durability: The quality and durability of these shoes are discussed often in the reviews. They work well for long shifts and last a long time.
- Styles: These shoes are only available in black and white on the Nike website but there are a variety of different colors on Amazon. They have a stylish and trendy appearance.
Cost: $75
Where to buy: nike.com, Amazon
3. Nike Downshifter 11 Sneaker
These lightweight sneakers are supportive, comfortable, and durable. They are made with a mesh material and a rubber sole. The flexible sole moves with your feet for a natural type of comfort. These shoes have a neutral and simple style, making them great everyday work shoes.
- Feel: Natural, flexible and lightweight.
- Durability: Running many miles in these shoes may not stand the test of time, but wearing them for day-to-day walking (like that which you’ll be doing at work) is perfectly feasible.
- Styles: These are available in a variety of different colors including neutrals such as tan, white, gray, and black.
Cost: $55
Where to buy: nike.com, Amazon
4. Nike Flex Trainer
The Nike Flex Trainer is designed to offer flexibility and traction–two features that are ideal for nursing work shoes. The strong gripping sole works well for walking on sleek hospital floors and the mesh material is lightweight and comfortable. These shoes apparently work well for narrow and flat footed individuals.
- Feel: These shoes fit well around the foot with a more snug fit. They are also made with a lightweight material that makes movement easy.
- Durability: Comfortable and supportive for all day wear.
- Styles: They are available in a variety of color options ranging from neutrals all the way to bright pink.
Cost: $70
Where to buy: nike.com, Amazon
5. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36
These supportive sneakers have a thick sole and they are designed to offer responsiveness and stability. The durable outsole will help ensure that you get plenty of use out of these shoes before needing to replace them.
- Feel: Supportive and responsive to movement.
- Durability: Many athletes who use these shoes for strenuous exercise report that they last a while. So, when used for work they’re likely to last even longer since you’ll mainly be walking and standing in them.
- Styles: These shoes are available in many different bright and funky color combinations.
Cost: $90
Where to buy: nike.com, Amazon
6. Nike Free RN Flyknit
The Nike Free RN are the perfect lightweight work shoe, with a fitted mesh design and a lightweight thinner sole. These shoes are supportive and flexible.
- Feel: These Nikes feel snug around the foot and the material and sole are lightweight.
- Durability: The thick mesh material is durable and easily washable.
- Styles: These shoes have a classic and simple design. They are available in black or white.
Cost: $120
Where to buy: nike.com, Amazon
7. Nike Air Monarch IV
These well-cushioned men’s sneakers are made from durable leather and a solid rubber sole. The leather top of these sneakers makes them safe and practical for a nurse.
- Feel: These shoes definitely have a bulkier appearance when compared with some of the others but they still have a soft and supportive feel.
- Durability: The leather top and thick sole give these sneakers a highly durable design.
- Styles: As stated above, these sneakers have a bulkier style, but some people prefer that look. They come in a variety of different black, white, and gray combinations.
Cost: $75
Where to buy: nike.com, Amazon
What’s important for nurses when choosing Nikes and nursing shoes?
When sifting through all of the different options for Nikes for nurses, you’ll want to focus on a few key features, including comfort, utility, and slip resistance.
- Comfort: This should be your top priority when it comes to selecting a pair of Nikes to wear to your nursing job. Uncomfortable shoes are more than problematic when you’re working 12 hours at a time.
- Utility: Consider what type of features matter most to you in a work shoe. Are you needing more arch support? A narrower fit?
- Slip resistance: Hospital floors are sleek and you never know when you’re going to be speed walking or running unexpectedly. So having slip-resistant soles is super important to prevent a fall.
Next steps
Did you know that some shoe companies offer shoe discounts for nurses? This is great, assuming that you may end up going through a couple of pairs of sneakers before you land on your perfect work shoe. So make sure to check out any nurse-specific sales or nurse’s week freebies before making your final decision.
Some Nike styles may require you to size up or down, depending on the fit. Once your shoes do arrive, be sure to test them out before wearing them to work for a full shift. There may be a short “breaking in” period required before you’re comfortable wearing your new shoes for a full 12-hour shift.
