Why are danskos so good

Every single pair of Dansko nursing shoes is produced with comfort-focused materials and supportive features to help reduce pressure points when you're working on your feet all day. Dansko puts an emphasis on extensive testing to ensure that their shoes are as comfortable and hard-working as your favorite pair of nursing scrubs! Mark down your measurements and reference each brand's size chart to ensure that you get the perfect fit.

If you prefer things roomy, size up. If you like things more fitted, choose your true size. Besides the fact that they're some of the most comfortable nursing shoes on the scene, Danskos are also uniquely designed for the healthcare professional. That means they have features and specifications that help them excel in doctor's offices, hospitals, clinics and other healthcare environments. With all this comfort and practicality, you'd think that Dansko would have to compromise somewhere.

Fortunately, the company is big on producing stylish nursing shoes that don't take away from your personal look. Their nursing clogs feature a classic clog silhouette in your choice of an open or closed back. But Dansko nursing shoes have evolved in the past several years, and the company now offers many non-clog styles, including nursing Mary-Janes, sneakers and heels.

These shoes are similar to scrubs in that they come in an endless variety of colors and patterns to suit your day-to-day or special-occasion style.

For example, the popular Dansko Unisex Nursing Shoe comes in 14 unique colors and patterns, ranging from solid brown and black to brightly colored, kaleidoscopic prints. Dansko also produces a range of nursing sneakers and lace-up athletic shoes that combine comfort and practicality with sporty style. Another reason nurses love Dansko shoes is because the company operates on an ethical, eco-friendly model.

With two-thirds of the roof covered in plants, it's able to absorb up to 80 percent of rainwater to minimize runoff. Of course, the company also uses wind and solar power to minimize its carbon footprint. Not only that, but Dansko is percent employee-owned. In , the brand introduced a new employee stock ownership plan that put the company in the hands of Dansko employees.

That means that its employees are the sole owners, so to speak. Dansko believes this is a particularly ethical business model because it gives employees total control over their work environment and helps invigorate them to succeed in every aspect of the business. We know it can be difficult to know which type of Dansko shoes is most appropriate for your unique preferences and work environment. These healthcare-friendly kicks come in a wide variety of options and materials.

When shopping for nursing shoes in general, you should focus on a few important factors , including support, slip-resistance, weight, price and work function. Start here if you're looking for advice on which pair of Danskos to buy. We love the Dansko Pro XP collection as a reliable and versatile pair of nursing shoes.

These lightweight nursing clogs are always some of our nurses' favorite shoes because they feature comfortable, cushioned insteps and coring holes to reduce weight. Our selection of Dansko professional clogs includes open and closed heel styles with the same performance-enhancing features in a range of unique styles. As previously mentioned, Dansko nursing shoes come in a wide range of unique silhouettes. Not all are best for all applications. She promised they were going to offer better support.

They turned out to be life-changing. The iconic Dansko Professional Clogs. You definitely know what these shoes look like: bulbous toe shape, boxy fit, swollen cuff that runs across the foot, slightly curved outsole. The Dansko silhouette, which is modeled after the wooden clogs of Scandinavia, remains incredibly faithful to the traditional clogs that have been worn for centuries by the likes of Dutch farmers. While most people opt for the black or brown leather, Dansko Professional Clogs come in many different colors and finishes, including psychedelic prints , patent leather , and metallics this season, they even have a very on-trend embroidered version.

Ungraceful and kind of heavy, Danskos are one of the stiffest shoes on the market, with their hard rubbery heels and soles that rock forward instead of bending. My first fitting was a sensation in itself. With the guidance of a shoe salesman, I slipped my feet into a pair that he convinced me was my correct size. It felt too roomy inside the shoe; my toes were wiggling around all willy-nilly. Harmful Shoe Design Elements The following design elements are common inclusions in most clogs as well as in other types of dressier footwear.

The biggest problem with rigid soles, however, is that they hold your feet and toes in a compromised and deformed position for prolonged periods. Heel Elevation: Most clogs possess a design element called heel elevation that raises your heel above your forefoot. Heel elevation is problematic for several reasons. First, it destabilizes your inherently strong main foot arch your medial longitudinal arch.

Second, it places excessive pressure on the ball of your foot and the many important structures located in this part of your foot e. And third, it increases your likelihood of an ankle sprain , as an elevated heel is less stable and rolls more freely from side to side than a heel that is flat on the ground. A foot-healthy shoe has a completely flat sole from heel to toe. Tapering Toe Boxes: Toe box taper —and the wedge-like position it forces your toes into—is a major problem associated with most conventional shoes, including clogs.

A truly foot-healthy shoe possesses a toe box that allows your toes to splay properly, the way nature intended. Toe Spring: Toe spring is another major design flaw built into most conventional footwear, including clogs. Toe spring, also known as toe ramping, is a design element that elevates your toes above your forefoot. When combined with heel elevation, toe spring effectively inverts your main foot arch, destabilizing your arch and putting excessive pressure on the ball of your foot.

The rigid toe spring built into most clogs holds or immobilizes your toes in an unnatural, extended position, which contributes to foot tendon imbalances and tight toe extensor muscles over time. Tight toe extensor muscles and tendons can cause various toe deformities, a problem collectively known as crooked toes.

Foot-healthy footwear possesses the following key characteristics: A lightweight design that lets your foot move naturally A flexible sole that can be easily bent or twisted in multiple directions A completely flat support platform from heel to toe to enable natural arch support A toe box that is wide at the ball of the foot and then gets even wider toward the ends of your toes instead of getting narrower One of the first steps in preventing or addressing common foot problems is to adopt foot-healthy footwear.

Foot-Healthy Dress Shoes Finding footwear especially for women that's both foot-healthy and attractive by society's standards for the workplace and for formal use is very challenging. In the meantime, here are a few of our favorite, dressier options that are currently featured on the Natural Footgear site: Ahinsa Ananda Barefoot Ballet Flat for Women This comfortable, Mary Jane-style minimalist shoe has one of the most generous toe boxes of any women's shoe we've ever seen, and its super flexible sole ensures that your foot can become strong on its own.

Walking barefoot decreases loading on the lower extremity joints in knee osteoarthritis. Sep; 54 9 : Disclaimer: The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment.

Read full disclaimer here. Tweet Like Pin Post. Want to Improve Your Foot Health? Essential Footgear:. Correct Toes Original. Pedag Metatarsal Pads. Men's Lems Nine2five Black. Men's Lems Nine2five Mocha. Read more. April 20, Peter. I have read the article about clogs with great interest. April 20, Natural Footgear. Hi, Peter, Thank you for your message. Kind Regards, Andrew Potter. August 03, Diane. August 11, Natural Footgear. Greetings, Diane, Thank you for your post. Kind regards, Sarah K.

August 02, Victoria. August 02, Natural Footgear. Hi, Victoria, Thank you for your sharing your story. A first approach that many people have found helpful is to adopt Correct Toes as part of a daily foot care routine: www.

A lot of folks with similar considerations have found that Lems Primal 2 shoes are an excellent starting point for postsurgical foot rehabilitation: www. February 13, Becky.

February 13, Natural Footgear. Hi, Becky, Thank you for your question! We totally understand the foot-healthy work shoe dilemma. October 19, Debbie. October 19, Natural Footgear. Hi, Debbie, Thank you for your comment and questions. Kind regards, Marty Hughes, DC. February 21, Perri Maysen. For starters, the Dansko Professional Clogs provide much-needed comfort thanks to a range of features, including a roomy toe box, a contoured midsole, a padded instep and shock absorption in the outsole.

The shoe's protective heel counter also helps heels move up and down comfortably, and the "anti-fatigue" rocker bottom adds all-day support. The clog features a comfortable two-inch heel and even boasts the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance.

Podiatrist Dr. Emily Splichal told Shop TODAY the clogs are a great option for nurses and anyone else who's on their feet for extended periods of time. Doing this day after day increases the risk for musculoskeletal fatigue," she explained. Splichal also cited the clog's slight heel-toe drop and stiff forefront rocker, and explained that both design features take tension off the calves and feet. Jan Sanko has been a registered nurse for 34 years, and swears by Dankso clogs , but admits that she didn't give much thought to her footwear early on in her career.

I have a picture of me in high top sneakers from years ago," she said. After hearing other health care workers rave about the shoes over the years, Sanko learned what all the hype was about when she stepped into hers.