The 18 Most Comfortable Heels That You Can Actually Walk In All Day
Importantly, they’re all also cute and wearable.
Image from Nisolo
by The Candidly Team
Have you ever taken apart a high heel? Truly broken them down to their studs? Unless you’re a cobbler, we guess not. But if you do, this is what you’ll likely find:
Yes, that’s a literal metal shank. It’s what we stand on for hours on end. Cozy, right?! Not that we needed it, but here’s our definitive proof that heels are a torture device designed by the devil himself.
And yet.
Does anything make us feel like we can conquer the world more than slipping on a pair of shoes that props us up and gives us gorgeous, lengthening height? Our legs become miles long. Our butt appears more pert. Our outfits all magically come together. We start walking upright again, as if hunching over a computer all day hasn’t permanently ruined our posture.
TL;DR: We hate wearing heels almost as much as we love seeing ourselves in them. So we rounded up 18 pairs of heels that are the best of both worlds.
And listen, shoes (especially those with heels) are one of a very short list of items we give ourselves permission to invest in. This is simply because they are the thing we wear the most but also that do the most for us, literally carrying us and our entire look. Plus, if we added up the many, many shoes we buy that wear away and hurt our feet instead of buying one classic pair we love forever, we figure it all evens out.
That said, here are the glorious heels that topped our list both for form and for function, regardless of price.
1. The Best Heeled Sandal
Nisolo Stella Go-To Block Heel Sandal
Why we love it: The perfect heel for all things casual or dressy, and you can walk in them for hours with literally ZERO foot pain.
Price: $170
2. The Best Round-Toe
Why we love it: If wearing a pointed toe makes you feel like you’re in clown shoes, these rounded-toe pumps are a classic. Also, apart from maybe a sneaker, they might be the most comfortable shoe (that’s right we said shoe, not heel) we currently own.
Price: $295
3. The Stunning Slip On
Why we love it: Possibly the prettiest shape we’ve seen. The black is a staple but the french vanilla is amazing with all the lighter colored dresses we’re wearing to every spring and summer wedding/ event.
Price: $135
4. The Slip-On Wedge-spadrille
J. Crew Canvas Espadrille Wedges
Why we love it: There’s something so timelessly chic about this style. It’s the shoe Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly would have worn on vacation. And yet, to this day, we’d happily slip these on with all our skirts and ankle jeans and trot them off to every brunch, picnic, and sunset stroll we’re attending. All the while, our feet feel wildly comfortable and supported. Naturally.
Price: $59.50
5. the Chicest, Most Cushioned Commuter Heel
Vivaia Julie Round-Toe Chunky Heels
Why we love it: A deeply cozy block heel that’s sustainably made and ingeniously designed to make you feel like you’re striding on a literal cloud all day long. But also, maybe the classiest looking shoe on this list.
Price: $119
6. The boots That Make Your Legs Go On For Miles
Why we love it: The chicest, most comfortable everyday ankle boots, well here you are. They come in 4 perfect, neutral hues (we’re kinda wild about bone). They’re also wildly on sale, so pounce!
Price: $99 - $250
7. The Fancy Shoe That Don’t Kill Your Feet
Why we love it: If you’re looking for a classic, special occasion shoe with ARCH SUPPORT, she’s your girl. We won’t bore you with a whole backstory, but Inez is a brand founded on the principle of creating pain-free, cloud-like shoes that don’t skimp on being drop dead gorgeous. And they just keep delivering on this promise. We love the sparkle for event stuff, but the black is a staple we can turn to all the time. Even with jeans.
Price: $258
8. The Best Work Pump
Why we love it: This is the single most classic heel shape, so you might as well invest in a pair you enjoy wearing. City streets? Cobblestones? No match.
Would look stellar with anything on THIS list.
Price: $328
9. The Gloriously Stretchy Spring Boots
Why we love it: Here’s a theme you’ll see a lot on this list—block heels. They just offer a level of support we can’t live without now that we’re old and tired and unwilling to suffer at our own hand (or foot!) But this stretchy, breathable material is something altogether new. It makes wearing boots feel like lightweight slippers. And the cream color is amazing for warmer months.
Price: $150
10. The Best Budget Pumps
Why we love it: Again with the block heel and an elegant round toe. Hard to believe these are from Aerosoles when you see them but not when you feel them. Heaven!
Price: $80
11. The Most Gorgeous, Minimalist Flatforms
Why we love it: Pure, glorious, cushioned support, and we stillllll get the skinny little straps. Ancient Greek Sandals are doing something truly special here, my friends. They ain’t cheap, but because of the craftsmanship and because they’re the only sandals we care to wear with all our spring and summer outfits for all of time, we’re willing to invest a bit more. We figure we’ll have that cost per wear down to 57 cents in no time.
Price: $295
12. The Block Sandals That Balance Every Outfit
Aerosoles Cosmos Platform Sandal
Why we love it: These incredibly walkable platform sandals will be your go-to. Equally as cute with all your jeans as with a flowy dress from Amazon.
Price: $135
13. The Exquisite Espadrille
Boden Cassie Espadrille Wedges
Why we love it: Fine, this one’s a bit of a cheat because wedge heels are already infinitely more comfortable than a stiletto. But if it ain’t broke, right? Especially perfect with any of THESE ultra-flattering dresses for curvy gals.
Price: $120
14. The Ideal Transitional Sandals With A Twist
Everlane The Glove Mule in ReKnit
Why we love it: Looks-wise, these are the spitting image of the shoes worn as part of THIS iconic look (#2 on the list). Comfort-wise, the block heel ensures us that endless support, while the stretchy material molds to your foot without an inkling of constriction. Perfect especially for wider feet.
Price: $110
15. The Elegant Low Heel
Everlane The Italian Leather Day Heel
Why we love it: We love that these Everlane gems have the classic sensibility of a ballet flat with the flattering effect of a heel. They’re high enough to look chic (and, quite frankly, to make us look longer) but low enough to be something we can shuffle around in all day without a single complaint (at least as far as our feet are concerned). And they look especially incredible with any of THESE ultra-flattering jeans.
Price: $175
16. The Party Heels
Loeffler Randall Camellia Knotted Sandals
Why we love it: If you’ve been seeing these shoes everywhere, then you’re probably tired of looking at them. We get it. But there’s a reason they’re everywhere; people actually enjoy wearing them. So much so, they buy them in multiple colors. Speaking of which, the gold is a must for versatility, but that powder blue…
Wear them to every wedding with one of THESE.
Price: $395
17. The Kitten Heels That Are Actually Cute
Dream Pairs Moda Low Heel D'Orsay Pointed Toe Pumps
Why we love it: Kitten heels are sort of…cute again? Those of us who are afraid of heights need to start somewhere, and that somewhere is here.
Price: $39-$55
18. The Nude Sandals For Every Skin Tone
Why we love it: Another insanely comfortable block heeled sandal. This one in a simple, strappy style that goes with everything. And quite possibly one of the best selection of nude hues we’ve seen.
Price: $110
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
We have to eat.
