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Best Flight Attendant Shoes For Comfort

Engineered with the ultimate cushion and comfort to support your feet during those long hours inflight and at terminal.

If you’re looking for the best flight attendant shoes to wear for your flights and layovers, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand that the long walks around the airport and the long shifts on your feet mean that you need shoes that are as resilient as you are. Moreover, you’ll need comfortable flight attendant shoes that will also fit well and provide the support you need.

While it might be tempting to just pick cute flight attendant shoes, it’s important that you put your foot health at the top of your priorities. You don’t want to come home with tired and sore legs, or extreme foot pain. Every KURU shoe begins with our unique, patented technology that supports your arches and absorbs shock so your bones don’t have to. This allows us to make the most comfortable shoes for flight attendants.

Top Features of Flight Attendant Shoes

Before making a purchase for a new pair of flight attendant shoes, take a moment to weigh the key factors that will enable your feet to withstand the rigors of standing for extended periods each day.

Comfort: Looking for the most comfortable flight attendant shoes will help tremendously, considering that flight attendants work very long shifts. It’s recommended that any shoes you wear should provide comfort at all times. This includes your work inflight and the long walks through the airport, so it can be a good idea to look for more than one pair of shoes that will serve a specific purpose.

Material: Depending on the airlines you’re working for, some will allow you to wear shoes that look like leather made from synthetic materials. If you’re allowed to wear them, leather shoes will be more durable than other types and mold to your feet over time.

Skid Resistant: A good pair of skid-resistant shoes for flight attendants should feature softer outsoles. These are important because they give a better level of resistance and friction compared to other kinds of shoes. As a result, they are a flight attendant’s go-to choice for work.

  • Woman wearing KURU ATOM athletic sneakers.

Workplace Foot Injuries

Find Out What Types of Safety or Ergonomic Hazards Flight Attendants Face That Can Lead to Foot Injuries.

No matter how long your flight is or how much you work on your feet, there might be times when you’re exposed to injuries. While you might not suffer from any major injuries, you might already suffer from minor injuries that you pass off as something you should expect from working as a flight attendant. It doesn’t matter how severe the injuries are, it’s best if you know what they are and how you can avoid them.

  • Heavy or tired legs
    This tends to happen as a result of hypermobility, or the excessive movement of the lower limbs. To protect yourself from this injury, be sure to wear supportive and good-fitting shoes and avoid wearing high heels when possible.
    Heavy or tired legs
  • Pain at the back of the heel
    This pain could move up to the lower muscle of the calf as a result of Achilles tendonitis, or the inflammation of the tendon that inserts into your heel. For these kinds of issues, look for shoes with a wedge, and perform exercises recommended by a physical therapist or a podiatrist.
    Pain at the back of the heel
  • Pain at the heel
    This could be the result of plantar fasciitis, so be sure to wear supportive shoes with small heels and good arches. You can also seek help from a podiatrist if the condition worsens.
    Pain at the heel
  • Pain from your lower back
    This may also worsen if you’re standing barefoot or wearing flat shoes, and could be the result of an early heel lift. A common condition in cabin crew, this condition may start after years of wearing high heel shoes. Be sure to wear a wedge shoe with small heels and seek advice from your podiatrist.
    Pain from your lower back

Air Transportation Industry Facts and Stats

We Take a Look at Some Facts and Stats You Might Not Have Known About Footwear Worn by Flight Attendants.

Most airlines require black shoes without any adornment, but the guidelines will usually vary from one company to another. While some airlines may be a bit more lenient with their shoe requirements, others don’t allow any margin of difference. Some airlines will allow red shoes for women and navy blue shoes for men to match their brand, but black is a universally accepted color.

Unfortunately, some airlines require women to wear heeled shoes — but you can always change back to a pair of more comfortable shoes before and after their scheduled shift. Moreover, female flight attendants can wear boots during the winter months.

Some airlines will also allow employees to wear flats when they’re wearing uniform pants instead of a dress or skirt.

Because flight attendants spend a great amount of time on their feet, it’s important to take care of their feet. Durable leather shoes are the perfect companion for flight attendants.

Foot Injury Prevention

Learn How to Best Protect Your Feet in the Air Transportation Industry.

Depending on your airline, you may only be allowed to wear a certain type of shoe—this will leave you with few options to choose from, especially if you wish to protect your feet from injuries.

Keep in mind that most airlines will generally follow similar rules, but they may have specific instructions for uniform standards. Thankfully, there are guidelines that you can follow that will allow you to stick to your company’s shoe standards while also taking care of your feet and letting them breathe.

  • Shoes when not inflight
    Shoes when not inflight: These need to be plain and leather, or look like leather, with closed toes, sides, and heels. The width and height of the shoe must not go over 3 inches when measured from the inside of the heel, while the heel height will need to be at least 1 inch. Hard sole shoes will need to be black and have a heel height of at least ¼ inch if worn with uniform pants. Most airlines won’t allow the use of mules, athletic shoes, clogs, or wedges, which is something to keep in mind.
    Shoes when not inflight
  • Inflight shoes
    At the very least, the heel will need to be ¼ inch, while following all the requirements already stated above.
    Inflight shoes
  • Boots
    When wearing boots, be sure that the heel won’t exceed 3 inches and that it doesn’t extend above your knee when worn with a dress or skirt. It should also be noted that straps, laces, buttons, and buckles aren’t permitted for boots. Similarly, rain boots and UGG boots aren’t allowed for inflight use.
    Boots

FAQs

  • What kind of shoes do flight attendants wear?

    While it’s true that many airlines will require their flight attendants to wear heels wherever they’re in uniform, this can change when not inside the aircraft. Depending on the company, you may be able to slip into flight attendant comfort shoes when walking around the airport. Moreover, some airlines are less stringent and allow flight attendants to change into flats inside the cabin of aircraft to help them stay safe during flights.

  • What are the best shoes for flight attendants?

    Because flight attendants have to be able to stand and work for hours, possibly in heels, there are a few important factors that they need to consider when selecting the perfect shoe for them. This includes the amount of comfort a shoe provides, the material it’s made out of, and whether or not it’s skid-resistant. It’s also best to buy more than one pair, so you can assign a pair to a specific purpose, such as inflight shoes and shoes for non-flight needs.

  • How do I know which shoe to buy? Which is best for me?

    The best shoe for you will depend on your unique foot type and the style you’re looking for.

    The best shoes for men and women alike offer adequate arch support and cushion. Whether you’re looking for bright blue shoes, dark blue shoes, or white shoes with blue accents, KURUs line of pain-relieving footwear help alleviate foot pain symptoms for all-day comfort.

  • Are your shoes considered orthopedic shoes?

    While our shoes are not currently considered orthopedic by a medical standard, we have received thousands of positive reviews from customers who say their KURU shoes with good arch support helped reduce or eliminate their pain—from plantar fasciitis to bunions.

    Each of our shoes feature a wide toe box, superior arch support, shock absorption and patented heel technology, engineered for pain relief.

  • How is the arch support of KURU shoes?

    KURU shoes deliver excellent arch support without the need for thick inserts or expensive, custom orthotics.

    Superior arch support starts with our patented KURUSOLE technology, which delivers natural cushioning and dynamically hugs your heel with every step. Every foot is unique, and our ULTIMATE INSOLES adapt to fit your needs by using your own body heat to custom-mold to the shape of your feet over time.

    The corrective nature of our superior arch support is designed to neutralize your weight distribution and place your foot in the best anatomical position. This support can take some getting used to. We suggest slowly breaking in your new shoes over the course of 2–3 weeks.

Three Layers of Support

At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.

Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.

  • 1

    KURUSOLE

  • 2

    KURUCLOUD

  • 3

    ULTIMATE INSOLE

  • How KURU brings relief

    KURUSOLE

    Our patented KURUSOLE plate can reduce foot pain, redirect stress, and encourage a healthy gait. It also features a unique design that cups the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step, where it provides superior support that helps protect and preserve the heel’s fat pad. As a result, it guides your body to a more natural alignment, which guarantees personalized comfort that can’t be replicated.

Our Secret

Animated GIF showing KURUSOLE tech in KURU shoes vs. typical flat interiors for plantar fasciitis pain.
Why Others Love KURU

Why Others Love KURU

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So far so good!I am currently in the break-in period for my Atom sneakers. I got the Black color which is nice. I love that these shoes seem orthopedic but are also stylish! So, I have wide feet that are on the flatter end of the spectrum. The width of the Atom shoe is perfect for my wide feet and I have room to wiggle my toes. The arch is higher than what I’m used to, so let’s see how that bodes for my knees over the next couple weeks. I will say, the Insole could be more cushioned. It’s a little firm for my needs (I have Achilles tendinitis so I’ve noticed a more gel/soft insole helps reduce pain) but I’m hoping the break-in period changes the hardness of the insole. I’m excited to try these shoes out and am currently on an airplane flight wearing them- so far so good!”

Wide Footed Lady

Very comfortable. I bought a pair for my wife and she loves them. So, I decided to give these a go. I will admit it took some getting used to. At first my heel in only the right shoe kept slipping and I felt like there was very little arch support. However, I grew up having to wear arch supports in my shoes, so most standard insoles don’t feel normal to me. Once I put my orthopedic insoles in they felt much better. Where I notice these really shining is when you have been at a mall or someplace that requires a lot of walking and standing. These were comfortable and allowed me to keep going. After years of walking around on carrier flight decks, my feet have seen better days and these helped. Will be looking to add a light weight pair for summer so I can caddy for my daughter’s golf tournaments.”

Ordiedaddy

The most comfortable footwear I own. I bought these for my long days on my feet working at the airport!! Lot’s of moving and running these are incredible.”

 

Rachel E

Best work shoes I’ve owned! I work in the airline industry and stand on concrete most of my day. I’ve gone through all the big top end boot brands over the years (thorogood, red wing, danner) and have to say none of them have been as comfortable at the end of the day as these Kuru Kinetics. They are my favorite shoes by far! My only complaint is that they don’t come in a dark brown color as well.”

Hawaiian AMT

Happy Heel spur! I’ve had the ATOM shoes for several weeks now. They seem to be very good with my heel spur not being pressed upon but at the same time offering the support I need. We recently flew to Colorado and walking on the airport concrete floors usually creates a lot of inflammation. My feet did great! Thank you so much ATOM!”

KK Dolan

Recommended Shoes for Flight Attendants

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