Flight attendants reveal their comfortable shoes

This morning I made it from the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park to my new hotel, the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue. I left my luggage, then walked west to the Neil Simon Theater to pick up my tickets for MJ The Musical before walking east on 42nd Street to reach Summit One Vanderbilt, where I enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the Big Apple (where I’ll likely log another 10,000 steps before lunch tomorrow). I wasn’t worried about my legs though. I treated them to flight attendant approved shoes.

Why are flight attendants the next best thing to orthopedists in my book? They are on their feet all day. Yesterday I flew a 16 hour Qantas flight from Auckland to JFK. I have never seen any of the flight attendants sit or even lean on the toilet. They were always standing or walking, and more importantly, they enjoyed it. Their secret? It’s not Red Bull (I’ve drank gallons and never grown a single feather, let alone wings). These are their shoes.

Unfortunately or fortunately, airlines do not give flight attendants shoes with their uniforms. Instead, flight attendants have to use trial and error to find the most comfortable and cute shoes that adhere to their airlines’ dress codes. But thanks to word of mouth — flight attendants love to share best practices — they usually succeed. The result? Walking a mile in their shoes isn’t painful, it’s actually enjoyable. I recently polled a few flight attendants to see which pair(s) they wear for travel, both for work and leisure, and below are the results.

Hoka Bondi 8 Trainers

“They feel like walking on a yoga mat,” Faviane Flores, a United flight attendant, told me. He packs these APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) approved shoes because “consolidation is key” and he likes being able to wear them both for sightseeing and for workouts. His bonus tip? “Choose a white or off-white color that goes with all your outfits.” At Zappos, they come in 23 colors and have more than 2,700 five-star ratings. “I noticed a lot of nurses wearing Hoka,” wrote one shopper who spent two weeks with her mother. “My feet hurt so I tried them on… and I loved them. I’ve just come back from a two-week holiday, I’ve been walking a lot more than normal and my legs feel great.’

NAOT Footwear Women’s Argus Sneakers

Meanwhile, Katie Stork, a Southwest flight attendant for more than a decade, told me that not even a pair of Louboutins can come between her and her favorite sneakers. “They’re easy and quick to remove, and they’re super comfortable for walking through airports and breathable to keep you on your feet on long flights.” Despite the lacey look, they slip on and the knit fabric means they’re slightly stretchy. which is helpful when your feet swell. A removable footbed “shapes” your foot, and padded cups protect your heels from injury. Although they are relatively new and only have one rating (albeit five stars) so far, NAOT has been in business since 1942.

Women’s professional slip-on clogs

Jennifer’s mother Vincenzo McLucas didn’t retire from her flight attendant career until she was 76 years old. Those shoes were one of the reasons it lasted so long. “Her crewmates would be reeling in their sore feet, and she – often twice their age – would be fighting straight through.” Dansko’s anti-fatigue sole helps with stability, and a reinforced toe box is great for endurance. They are currently available in dozens of colors and styles. I had fun felt confetti back in college and carried them all over New York where I went to school. More than 70 percent of this clog’s ratings are perfect five-star ratings, with most coming from foot professionals. “These shoes served me well in medical school,” said one buyer. “When I travel, I’ve noticed that I prefer to wear these rather than tennis shoes. My feet swell up on the plane and I constantly have to twist my shoelaces to adjust them. These shoes are great during security, quick on, quick on.”

Franco Sarto Women’s Bocca Slip-on Loafers

After 35 years of service, Delta flight attendant Herman Ortiz can confidently say rubber soles are the way to go. And Ortiz likes to wear shoes. This particular Italian-designed pair of loafers for women features a sensible 1-inch heel, rounded toe, and 100 percent leather. It comes in 11 colors and has nearly 3,000 five-star ratings. “I’ve been a flight attendant for over 20 years and these are the only shoes that don’t kill my feet after 14+ hours of night work on a plane,” wrote the flight attendant.

ECCO Men’s New Jersey Slip On Loafers

Personally, Ortiz wears these ECCO slip-on loafers. “My flights are long-haul, usually between 9am and 5pm, so comfort is important,” he told me. They’re made of full-grain leather, have a heel of 1.25 inches, and feature Ortiz’s favorite: rubber soles. Many of the more than 2,000 five-star ratings come from professionals who work all day on their feet. “They took me through three trade shows over three consecutive weekends,” recalls one satisfied shopper, who says they’re their go-to shoes for travel because, in addition to being comfortable, “they look classy enough, to wear them with a suit or dress down with a pair of jeans.

Clarks Men’s Whiddon Loafers

When it comes to elegant shoes, Flores doesn’t sugar coat them. “They can often be uncomfortable,” he admitted, before telling me he prefers Clarks when he’s working. “They’re affordable, durable, and the laceless slip-on design makes them incredibly travel-friendly.” They come in four colorways, all featuring Clarks’ removable OrthoLite footbed that minimizes impact and wicks away moisture. They have more than 1,000 five-star ratings, including this five-star review from another flight attendant who wears them daily, praising their “perfect fit.”

Soda Top Shoes Jaber Boot Boot

When it comes to career choices, Alison Uno chose to follow in the footsteps of her flight attendant mother. She’s been serving Hawaiian Airlines passengers for almost 20 years now and has a lot of opinions when it comes to footwear. When she wears pants while traveling, she prefers a pair of boots like these faux leather ankle boots with a nice chunky heel. They are surprisingly light for being so sturdy and have a 2.5 inch heel. Choose from nine colors and know that since they’re slip-on, they’re perfect for going through TSA. Many of the 2,300 five-star ratings are for a short introduction period and are overwhelmingly positive. “Day two: I hit 20,000 steps and could keep going,” reads a review titled “Cute and durable.”

Dream Pairs Women’s Chunky Heel Over The Knee Boots

Come winter, you’ll find Storck rocking this look. “The low heel makes them comfortable for long days at work and travel,” she told me, before admitting that she also wears them outside of work. This particular pair has a 2.5 inch heel and features a soft lining and faux leather insole. The zipper makes them easy to put on and take off. They’re currently available in seven colors, and more than a few of the nearly 3,500 five-star ratings come from flight attendants. “Comfortable and elegant,” describes one flight attendant who appreciates all the compliments she receives on these shoes. “They really are a dream couple,” they said.

Women’s LifeStride Rozz Mary Jane Shoes

In the summer, Storck usually wears these best-selling (they have more than 3,600 five-star ratings) Mary Jane pumps from LifeStride. “Block heels help increase the surface area your foot exerts pressure on, making them comfortable enough to be on your feet for hours at a time,” she explained to me. Her favorite heels so far feature a 2-inch heel, faux leather upper, rounded toe, and adjustable buckle strap. Plus, they come in medium and wide widths in three colors. “I can wear these for a three-day commute and not have foot pain or fatigue like so many other shoes,” writes one flight attendant, who says they’re also her favorite after trying “literally dozens and dozens of different types of shoes.”

Emslie Lulin Clarks Women’s Shoes

When Uno wears her uniform, which includes a knee-length skirt, she opts for these practical 100 percent Mary Jane shoes. They are made of leather and feature Clarks signature “OrthoLite cushioning”. With a 2.16 inch heel, they make your legs look longer and give you extra height, but aren’t so high that you risk twisting your ankle. Many of their 1,100 five-star ratings come from flight attendants. “Love these,” wrote a flight attendant in training, who said, “Now everyone in my class has ordered a pair, too.”

Women’s Rockport Total Motion 75mm Pointed Toe Pumps

Siobhan Grogan, a flight attendant for JetBlue, tried her fair share of Clarks and Naturalizers (two brands beloved by flight attendants) before settling on this 3-inch pair of heels, which she told me “hit the spot.” Specifically, she said, “I have high arches and I can walk through airports in these shoes and on planes all day, sometimes 12 hours, and these heels are the best” On Amazon, they are available in 20 different colors and materials including leather, suede and faux snakeskin. Many of the 530 five-star ratings praise the removable cushioned insole. “It’s like walking in slippers,” summed up one flight attendant who describes herself as a “self-proclaimed full-time fashionista.”

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