If you like to stay comfy on the job (and your office doesn’t require fancy footwear), then a good pair of kicks can be the perfect workhorse. The best work sneakers are sleek and elevated, with great arch support and enough cushioning for a long day spent on your feet.
Between SELF staffer favorites, online bestsellers, and even a few SELF Sneaker Award winners, we’ve assembled quite the list. Here, you’ll find chunky, sporty pairs; practical, supportive walking shoes; and (of course) plenty of goes-with-everything white sneakers. Come to think of it, you may even want to wear these outside of the workweek too.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Cole Haan GrandPro Topspin Triple Strap, $160
- Runner-Up: Lululemon Cityverse, $138
- Most Timeless: Adidas Stan Smith, $100
- Best Budget Pick: Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Sneaker, $70
- Best Splurge: On Cloudmonster Hyper, $220
- Best Office-to-Gym Option: Saysh One Sneaker, $150
- Very Lightweight: New Balance RC42, $100
- Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Vionic Walk Strider Walking Shoes, $150
- Best for Walking: Naturalizer Medina Sneaker, $99
- Best with Arch Support: Adidas Gazelle Shoes, $100
- Best Sporty: Puma Speedcat OG Sneaker, $100
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Shop the best work sneakers
Tired of pinchy loafers, too-tall clogs, and flimsy ballet flats? Take your pick from these office-ready sneakers that check our boxes for both form and function.
Best Overall: Cole Haan GrandPro Topspin Triple Strap
Stylish, but far from stuffy, the Sneaker Award–winning GrandPro Topspin Triple Strap sneaker from Cole Haan will elevate your 9-to-5 outfits. “They’re sleek, modern, and look great on my feet,” our tester said. “I think they’re very classy and perfect for when you want to look more polished.”
A slightly lifted heel and unfussy Velcro straps keep these sneakers from looking too basic, while their classic colorways (including black, ivory, and white) are well within work-appropriate bounds. Oh, and did we mention they’re super comfortable? Our testers wore them for hours at a time around the office, on dog walks, and while hanging out with friends without missing a step.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium and wide | Materials: Leather, synthetic fabric, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), and rubber
Runner-Up: Lululemon Cityverse
Another Sneaker Award–winner, Lululemon’s Cityverse is the non-flashy shoe your commutes need. We put them to the test on daylong outings, including multiple trips to the office, and were seriously impressed by how comfy they were the entire time. “Somehow, Lululemon made cool sneakers that feel just like super-cushiony running shoes,” one tester said. “My feet are just so happy when I wear them!”
These aren’t necessarily the shoes you put on when you want to get noticed, but that’s kind of the point: “I don’t need to think about them at all once they’re on,” another tester added. And on especially busy days, who wants to be distracted by their shoes?
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Materials: Synthetic materials, foam, and rubber
Most Timeless: Adidas Stan Smith
If you know them, you probably already love them—and if you’ve never tried them, this might be your sign to go for it. The Adidas Stan Smiths, originally a court shoe (but now an everything shoe), have become iconic for good reason. “I have ones with the small pop of green, and they practically go with everything I wear,” one SELF tester says. “They’re also really comfortable when commuting and super easy to clean.”
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Materials: Leather, synthetic fabric, and rubber
Best Budget Pick: Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Sneaker
Believe the hype—our tester joined the chorus of TikTokers raving about Dr. Scholl’s chunky Time Off Sneakers almost as soon as she tried them on. “Right out of the box, these sneakers are unbelievably comfortable—they don’t rub or pinch at all, and I say this as someone who is incredibly blister-prone,” she says. She adds that their thick outsoles are surprisingly flexible and that the footbed has a nice, bouncy feel.
Plus—and most importantly, for our purpose here—their simple design makes them totally suitable for the office. “I’ve banished all my other everyday lifestyle sneakers to the back of my closet since I’ve gotten these,” she says. “They’re truly the only pair I want to wear (to work, to the park, out to dinner….)”
Sizes: US 5 to 13 | Widths: Medium and wide | Materials: Synthetic leather, synthetic fabric, or canvas (depending on the specific model); foam, and PU
Best Splurge: On Cloudmonster Hyper
Yes, this Sneaker Award–winner is technically a souped up, ultra-cushioned running shoe. But that didn’t stop one of our testers from making it part of her workweek rotation. “On’s sneakers are usually too firm for me, but this actually felt perfect. So much so that I wear these on my walks, to the office—pretty much everywhere I go,” she said.
The sole, stacked high with foam, has a rocker design, which gently pushes you forward with each step. It’s a game-changer for days you’re running late (or running from meeting to meeting). When paired with trousers and a blazer, the Cloudmonster Hyper won’t look so performance-driven—instead, it’ll look like the coolest, comfiest shoe in the building.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Materials: Synthetic fabric, foam, and rubber
Best Office-to-Gym Option: Saysh One Sneaker
If you clock out and head straight to your workout, save some room in your gym bag by choosing these sleek sneaks. “I reach for these all the time—they don’t stick out at the office, but they’re also easy to wear while walking through Central Park or on the treadmill,” SELF’s senior commerce editor, Sarah Felbin, says. “I love that I can wear them directly from work to the gym without having to pack a spare pair of shoes.”
She’s had her pair for over a year, and hasn’t noticed much wear or stretching at all. They’re as comfortable as ever (not “too thick or squishy,” she says), and still support her high arches like a dream.
Sizes: US 5.5 to 11 | Widths: Medium | Materials: Synthetic suede, synthetic weave, and EVA
Very Lightweight: New Balance RC42
There’s no denying that Adidas Sambas make great office sneakers. But, at this rate, you could be stuck on their waitlist until retirement. Luckily, our commerce writer found a perfect—and far more accessible—alternative in New Balance’s RC24. She describes them as stylish, slim, and pretty much perfect for her everyday needs: “They’re comfortable for my NYC power walks and instantly elevate the look of my work, weekend, and gym outfits.”
In addition to their simple, casual-cool design, they’re blissfully easy to wear. Our writer reported zero break-in period out of the box and says they’ve only gotten comfier over time: “I can go through my whole work day without any pinching at my toes or rubbing on my ankles.”
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Materials: Suede, mesh, foam, and rubber
Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Vionic Walk Strider Walking Shoes
Podiatrists recommend Vionic shoes for a range of foot issues, including plantar fasciitis (which is most commonly characterized by sharp heel pain). The Walk Strider even has a seal of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), meaning podiatrists have confirmed that its design is beneficial for foot health. The Strider’s supportive, structured design should help take some pressure off your heels when you walk—and thus alleviate some of your plantar fasciitis pain.
SELF’s former commerce director, Abbey Stone, can vouch for how comfy they are firsthand: “I struggle with new shoes creating ‘hot spots’ and blisters by rubbing on my heels and the sides of my feet—I’m known to bust out the Band-Aids at my desk after commuting into the office. But the Vionic Walk Strider didn’t require any breaking-in time,” she says.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium | Materials: Leather, synthetic fabric, EVA, and rubber
Best for Walking: Naturalizer Medina Sneaker
I wasn’t expecting a bright green sneaker to be one of my most-worn shoes, but you’ll catch me in these at least once a week at work. They seem to go with everything and are mega-comfy. I made the bold choice to wear them for the first time while shopping in Manhattan, and the fact that my feet didn’t feel sore or have a single blister is when I knew I had found a special sneak.
When I wore them to the office for the first time, I got a handful of compliments—some people even thought they were Adidas Sambas at first glance. They definitely have that bright-color, slim-profile look to them that everyone is loving. And now, I’ve got my sights set on the sunny yellow pair.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Widths: Medium and wide | Materials: Synthetic rubber, suede, leather
Best with Arch Support: Adidas Gazelle Shoes
Felbin lives in this trendy Samba alternative: “My Gazelles really do go with everything—I wear them with jeans, dresses, and trousers,” she says. “I feel like the suede elevates them and makes them a little dressier than your average sneakers. And I love that Adidas is always releasing new, cute colorways!”
The best part? They’re not just cute—they’re supportive too. “I love how comfy they are, plus they have just the right amount of arch support for my high arches,” Felbin says. They’re even roomy enough for her wide feet.
Sizes: US 5 to 15 | Widths: Medium | Materials: Suede, synthetic leather, rubber
Best Sporty: Puma Speedcat OG Sneaker
If we could give these sneakers a nickname, it’d be “Sporty Spice.” Why? “I think they are the perfect pop to spice up my work outfits,” SELF associate social media manager, Katie Gunderman, says. “I have the pink ones, and they make any outfit with jeans or trousers look so much more fun!” They also have a slim, rounded look that reminds us of a soccer cleat (but cuter).
