Sorry, Sneakers—Gen Zers Swear They Can Walk 20K+ Steps in NYC With These Ballet Flats
New York City is the ultimate testing ground for comfortable shoes. You can go from easy pavement to cobblestone and uneven sidewalks in seconds and have to be ready for everything. A TikTok user was preparing for a trip to NYC, and she went to the app to ask users for unfiltered, unsponsored thoughts on what ballet flats she should buy for the trip. With plans to walk up to 20,000+ steps a day and outfits that required something a bit more than a sneaker, she meant serious business. I stumbled across the video and had to report on my findings because I couldn’t help but notice several styles I hadn’t even considered for myself.
I am loyal to my Oura Ring step-count goal and truly won’t let myself end the night without getting to at least 10K steps. Even if it means heading out after dark and staying up later than usual. I’m not alone. Walking has become a trend in the wellness space, and most of my friends are also dedicated to hitting that goal. While I love a pair of sneakers, I wanted to explore what else is out there, so here are the ballet flats I’m now considering purchasing after reading those TikTok comments.
If you have a fashion-first mindset when it comes to planning your shoes for some time spent in NYC, you’ll love to hear that Dolce Vita passed the step-count test for some of these enthusiastic walkers. They might require just a bit of breaking in before hitting 20K, but they’ll do the trick.
If walking is truly your sport, you should be the first to know that Adidas and other popular sportswear brands have taken their stance on ballet flats, transitioning their most popular sneaker styles into a ballet-flat silhouette. Think the comfort of a sneaker with the style notes of a chic flat.
This was one of the most buzzed-about styles in this comment section with hundreds of likes echoing the sentiments of the user who mentioned them first. For an Eastside cool-girl look, slip into these.
Puma is another brand that has reinvented its most popular sneakers into a ballet-flat format in the best of ways. This feminine take on sneakers is dutifully noted as one worth trying. Add ruffled socks to truly tap into the aesthetic.
I can echo the sentiment from this commenter because any pair of shoes I’ve bought from Sam Edelman magically has a comfort and ease to it that I simply can’t describe. Aa a New Yorker, any time I have a high-step-count day, I lean on these and find myself wearing them on repeat.
Rothy’s is known for scientifically proven, comfortable shoes. Their eco-friendly and built for miles. Since its shoes are a woven style, they fit more like a sweater on your feet than a traditional pair of flats that you might encounter.
Another pair that I own and swear by—I tell everyone that the Greta Mary Jane flat is a must. It forms to the foot and breaks in easily. I walked the 45 minutes home from work in them yesterday, and you’d think I was in sneakers.
Another knit style that’s worth considering for your shoe collection is by Vivaia. I’ve shopped this brand and tend to go for it when I am planning to go to a concert or event that has me on my feet all day. You won’t regret it.
