I Commute to NYC and Walk 10,000 Steps Each Time—These Shoes Help Me Do So

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

As someone who's commuted to NYC since college, I've become an expert at figuring out what shoes are actually comfortable. There have been too many instances where I've had blisters from running after a train or sore feet after a long day of work. It's been six years of making the trek from the suburbs to the city for me, and after falling prey to a lot of trendy yet painful shoes, I've finally narrowed my collection down to five styles I can always rely on.

My job also happens to be in fashion, so not only do I have to make sure these shoes are pain-free, but they also have to be stylish. If you're tired of your shoes leaving your feet feeling sore and blistered, you should take a look at the list below. If they can handle the amount of walking NYC requires, they can handle anything. (Trust me—and you can thank me later.)

Ballet Flats

I always considered ballet flats to be too "preppy" for my taste, but after wincing in way too many pairs of heels, I had to give them a shot. Now, my ballet flats are probably my most worn-out shoes. They're easy to quickly slide on, work for just about any occasion, and look great with everything. Mansur Gavriel and J.Crew make my favorites, but I'm dreaming of the Miu Miu and Loeffler Randall ones currently. 

Classic Sneakers

There's a reason why some items are considered classics—it's because they're so good we just can't seem to get rid of them. No matter how many trendy sneakers come out of the woodwork, you can always rely on classic styles from Reebok or Converse. I don't see them ever going out of style and above all, they're ridiculously comfortable. I don't care how old I get, I'll be wearing my converse on the regular. 

Fisherman Sandals

Truth be told, I've only hopped on the fisherman sandal trend lately, and I wish I did sooner. I'm not one that likes to wear open-toed sandals in the city (some do, and to each their own!) so I love that this style offers the look of a sandal but also has a closed-toe option. At first look, they may seem like they'd be comfortable, but after a few wears, I was proven wrong. They're like a more elevated and on-trend version of a gladiator sandal, and you should get on board.

Clogs

Clogs originally started out as a trendy item I was buying into for fun, but now they're a part of my regular shoe rotation. Stick to leather or padded ones, as the wooden versions offer zero support or cushioning. (I learned this the hard way.) 

Chunky Loafers

I'll be honest: Leather loafers take a bit of time to break in, but when you do, you'll realize it was very much worth the wait. I wore my Vagabond loafers so much that I actually ended up investing in a pair by Gucci and I already know they're going to be my number one most-worn shoes this fall. 

More Comfy Shoes Made for Walking

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Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.