I walked a mile in over 70 popular heels to find out which pairs are actually the most comfortable

First of all, can I just say how impressed I am with Naturalizer? Over a decade ago, I remember following my grandmother into the store while she picked out loafers that you could tell were a podiatrist's dream. But now, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything like those orthopedic loafers on their site.

Instead, they've incorporated all the comfort that they're known for into shoes that are actually cute. So while the inside of the shoe might still be a podiatrist's dream, the outside will be trendy and chic — exemplified by the bestselling Joy Dress Sandal.

You can see how thick the padding is by just looking at it. The insole is contoured to the shape of your foot, which offers arch support and takes the pressure off the balls of your feet. The heel itself is a whopping three-and-a-half inches, but they absolutely do not feel that high when you have them on.

I knew that I needed to test these shoes because they have a whopping twenty-four thousand reviews on Amazon and four-and-a-half stars. People in the reviews rave about wearing these all night, walking miles in them, and how they feel like they cost way more than the under-$40 price tag.  Plus, they have nearly thirty colors available. 

After walking over a mile in them on one of the first warm days of the summer, I understand what the hype is about. The heel is a perfect everyday height and you can't beat the simplicity and versatility of the silhouette. Plus, they are absolutely everything that Amazon reviewers claim them to be — super affordable and very walkable. 

However, if you're committed to the single-strap silhouette and want shoes that will last you through every summer wedding you attend, I would still recommend our best overall pick, the Naturalizer Joy Dress Sandal. It has an almost identical silhouette, but the Naturalizer pair has far more footbed padding. Plus, the padding is brilliantly contoured to your foot. This Dream Paris pair is great for getting pretty comfy heels at a good price, but you might face some issues with the toe strap rubbing and your foot feeling fatigued if you're planning to wear these all the time. 

Slingbacks are the style of the season and there's no style more comfortable than this pick by Inez. It's available in a bunch of colors — and it comes in narrow, standard, and wide fits.

Inez is one of our favorite brands ever for comfortable heels — which is why you'll find a bunch of their shoes on this list. In our Inez review, we raved about the brand's commitment to only the highest quality of craftsmanship. They are made in Spain and have proprietary plush insoles, which you can absolutely tell make a huge difference. When you slip them on, you can feel immediately how they cradle your foot for maximum stability and comfort.

The Mia slingbacks, especially in the beautiful orchid color, got me tons and tons of compliments. I cannot recommend them enough.

If you're someone who works a corporate job and often wears formal office attire like suits, then you're absolutely going to need these pumps. Ally's shoes feel custom since they're available in four (yes, you heard right, four) different widths. And you can absolutely feel what a difference it makes to have a shoe in your exact size. 

I took Ally's fit finder quiz to nail down which width would fit me best and was blown away when I received the shoes. Inside, there are layers of padding that perfectly cradle the arch of my foot. And there's even toe box contouring to support the balls of your feet. Seriously, these have all the comfort bells and whistles that you could ask for. 

The only drawback of these is that they're a touch expensive, but compared to actual custom shoes these are a steal.

I wore Vivaia's lightweight wedge sandals to walk across miles of hot concrete, and the ventilated cushions were so plush that I forgot about the metatarsal pain I usually get from wearing heels. I also wore them around the pool, and the padding dries quickly after you slide into them with wet feet.

Plus, their non-slip soles make it safer to step through puddles.The stretchy knit strap caused some friction around my pinky toes when I was first breaking these in, but it subsided more and more with each wear. And while the toe area is flexible and soft, the rear is rigid for better stability.

I have narrow feet and wear a size US 8, and these fit me without sliding off. They have wide, stretchy straps to fit comfortably around feet of different widths and arches. If you feel your toe shape fits better in a square-toed sandal, Vivaia makes a similar wedge called the Laura. —Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor

Margaux makes an amazing selection of carefully designed comfortable heels. This one is a slightly higher version of their City Sandal — another winner when it comes to construction. But at a full three inches high, The Platform takes the cake for the best heel overall when it comes to combining height with walkability. 

There are lots of features that contribute to the comfort of this fabulous heel. First, it has five millimeters of cushioned padding on the sole that makes it feel like you're putting on a slipper. Plus, the toe straps form Margaux 's signature "X" which adds stability that you wouldn't get from a narrow, single strap. And finally, these shoes are handmade in Spain, meaning that there's a ton of effort focused on the construction of the shoes that you won't find in just any shoe made on an assembly line. 

Overall, I found these to be so walkable that I started using my pair as an everyday shoe — and not just the pair of cute heels that I only pull out for special occasions. In fact, I'm going to pack them for walking around and sightseeing when I'm in Italy, which is a huge testament to this heel's top spot as the most comfortable heel.

Make sure you check out Margaux's other shoes (like The Heel, a pump) for similarly stellar construction. We even reviewed Margaux's Demi Flats and loved those too. 

Though I found it super comfortable on my typical-to-wide feet, some reviewers note that the heel area is a little wide for people with narrow feet. Also, there are reviewers who note that the ankle strap is a little bit loose. If that's an issue for you with these (or any shoe), I suggest getting a leather hole puncher to add extra holes for the buckle. I have one and use it on everything from purses to belts and more!

If you want heels that are actually comfortable, ask podiatrists. Frankie4 was founded by a team of podiatrists who created their proprietary footbed that is designed to offer support throughout the foot, help with alignment, and absorb shock to prevent foot fatigue. 

I have these in Camel Weave — and they're the perfect leg-lengthening flesh tone for me. These are one of the pairs that I wear the most often because of their manageable height, neutral color, and all-around comfort. I even paired them with silk pants and wore them to the airport, which is a huge testament to their walkability.

There's just something so nice about having a pair of heels like this. They're two inches high, so they give you a little bit of height without looking like stilts. The mule style is also so versatile and just casual enough. You can wear them to work, with jeans, on the beach with linen pants — anything goes with these shoes.

Mesh footwear is all the rage for summer 2024, and we rounded up the best mesh flats that we're seeing everywhere right now. But, as I mentioned above, I'm not really a flats girl. These slingbacks have a 1.5-inch heel that's just enough to give you a little boost. Plus, they have comfort features that most flats don't have — like an adjustable back strap and a curved footbed that provides arch support. 

I wore these all day on my birthday (paired with this leopard print Realisation Par dress, in case you're curious) and had not a single blister despite dancing the night away. I also love how the toe box has enough room in it so my toes don't get squished and sore.  

If you haven't heard about the miracle of clear heels, allow me to educate you. There are certain features of shoes that make your legs look shorter: an ankle strap cuts your leg off, and platforms don't create the leg-lengthening tippy-toe shape that traditional heels do. But clear heels are the holy grail of making your legs look like they go on for days. 

I've had these clear heels from Amazon for over two years and I take them out whenever I wear a cute minidress. They're comfortable enough that you can dance in them at night, but I wouldn't recommend wearing them for long walks since the repetitive motion can make the plastic cut into your feet. One mile was fine, but anything over that might be a little dicey. 

But for $40 Amazon shoes that I've had for years, they really do the trick. And don't just take my word for it — these shoes have six thousand reviews on Amazon and nearly five stars, with people in the comments amazed at how comfortable they are. 

One look on the inside of these pumps and you'll see why they're so comfortable. Vivaia's pressure relief insoles have padding exactly where you want it. Incredibly, there's extra cushioning on the area between your heel and ankle where blisters usually appear so there's no uncomfortable rubbing. The sole also has arch support, padding under the balls of your feet, and a shock-absorbent heel rebound. 

All of these bells and whistles combine to create a pump that you'll want to wear all day. In fact, these actually feel like wearing sneakers! I'm never afraid of wearing these out of the house, no matter how far I'm going to be walking. Plus, the nude color makes these almost disappear so that you can pair them with anything. 

Just note that if you're looking for the pressure relief insole, make sure you get the Melody Pro. The regular Melody is $20 less expensive and still has some features like the blister cushion, but it doesn't have all the comfort features of the Pro.

You may not think of a wooden platform as a candidate for the most comfortable heels, but these prove that the right bells and whistles can make even the least ergonomic-looking footwear into a sensible shoe.

The footbed is padded with a memory foam cushion, which is a game changer. Plus, the wood part is hollow so it won't be heavy on your feet when you walk, so you can capture the '70s vibe of chunky wooden shoes without any discomfort of wearing lumber on your feet. 

Each strap on this shoe — even the two that crisscross at the toes — is adjustable. It's so convenient and a great feature for people whose feet are slightly different widths! 

A note on fit: My slightly wider feet are right on the edge of being able to fit comfortably on the memory foam part of the shoe. If your feet are super wide, the adjustable straps might allow you to get them on your feet, but keep in mind that it might be uncomfortable to have the outer edges of your feet on the wooden border of the sole.

This is our second pick from Cole Haan for the most comfortable heels and for good reason. These are the perfect casual mule for spring and summer. Like lots of the picks on this list, the sole is cushioned — which makes all the difference when it comes to comfort. The fun straps start at your toes and go all the way up your foot — so you won't hear an annoying clop clop when you walk. Plus, the heel is the perfect Goldilocks height for lengthening your leg without being too high.

This comfortable heel is great for times when sneakers or Birkenstocks just won't cut it, but you don't want to have to pull out formal pumps or strappy stilettos. Pair them with jeans for brunch or wear them with a simple slip dress for rooftop happy hours. 

Plus, these are a great fit for feet that are atypical to slightly wide width. If you have feet that are significantly wider or narrower than normal, you might want to opt for a shoe with adjustable straps.

I got these shoes a few years ago and I keep coming back to them every time the weather is warm. Their original price is $109, but they're always on sale for around $50-$60. And for that price, these are an amazing buy that won't give you blisters or need time to break in.  In fact, they feel almost flat, so you won't get any pain in the balls of your feet. 

I have them in the nude color and they're a perfect neutral that will give you a little bit of height no matter what you're wearing. And the outfits you can wear with these ultra-neutral shoes are endless. They'll pair just as well with a pair of linen pants for brunch as they will with a maxi dress for a summer wedding. 

The only thing that I wish these shoes had is a slightly wider toe strap. The one on these shoes is a little bit narrow, which leaves something wanting when it comes to stability.

At nearly four inches with a three-inch pitch, these shoes look a little intimidating — but don't let that fool you. They're super lightweight, with a cushioned insole and a thick strap that wraps around your ankle for stability. 

When I wore them for the first time, I was blown away by the construction. This is a true stiletto heel. And yet, I didn't feel any of the discomfort of basically walking around on my tippy-toes for hours. 

It's a little on the pricier side, but it's a perfect choice for a wedding — whether it be yours or one you're attending as a guest. It has the rare combination of being a classic, formal stiletto while also being a shoe that you can dance in all night. 

Just not that when I first tried this, I had buckled it too loosely around my ankle. It felt much less comfortable because my foot was wiggling around too much. Make sure you fasten these on tightly (even tighter than you think you need to) for the best fit.

Frankie4 is an Australian brand founded by podiatrists and focused on all-day comfort. The secret is their proprietary footbed that doesn't just focus on arch support, but also cradles the ball of your foot. When you put on a Frankie4 shoe, you can definitely feel the difference a great footbed can make.

But these definitely don't look like orthopedic shoes. The Juliett II is a beautiful sling that comes in tan and black. The pointed toe and open back are elegant without feeling too stuffy, so you can wear them to work and then to dinner. In fact, these would pair just as well with a great suit as they would with a flowy summer dress. 

And Frankie4 doesn't just make comfortable heels. They also make sneakers and flats with the same proprietary footbed that I wish all my shoes had. 

I got a 7 in these shoes, which is my normal size, but they're just a little too big. I would suggest going down a half size.

This is a great heel for dressing down on the weekend or dressing up for a formal event. If you're getting it for a wedding or summer gala, make sure you check out the sparkly versions that are flecked with gold.

Like most of this list, this heel has —you guessed it — a cushioned sole. One thing I really love about these shoes is how flexible the sole is. There isn't any stiffness or rigidity that can make a heel really hard to break in. Plus, the block heel is flared so you get lots of stability. 

These are perfect for wearing right out of the box. If you're looking for a great basic block heel, this is it. 

But if you've ever noticed that your foot is on the thicker side, this shoe may not be for you since the toe straps don't have a lot of give. Thicker feet can happen if your foot muscles are super developed from sports like running or you have a swollen foot because of an injury. So if this applies to you, it's best to opt for a shoe with an adjustable toe strap.

We reviewed Sarah Flint's Emma pump before and had amazing things to say about the padded footbed, the flexible lining, and the light weight. But since the Emma is a secure block heel, I decided to put a shoe that was a little more risky to the test. I tried Sarah Flint's Perfect Pump in the 85 mm version, which has an ultra-high and narrow stiletto heel. 

When you look at the footbed, you can see the unique padding that offers arch support and toe cushioning. And when you put the shoe on, you can feel how it cradles your feet. 

When I first put these on, I felt a little bit of pain. But as I started to break them in, I could feel the shoe molding to my feet more. And while these might not be the most comfortable shoes on this list, they are one of the most impressive. There's no platform on these, so you'll have to bear the brunt of the whole three-inch pitch yourself. And making these comfortable enough to wear while still maintaining the silhouette of a traditional, high-heeled pump is no small feat. For what they are, it's nothing short of a triumph.

These might be the most elegant pair of shoes I own. If you're someone who has to dress up a lot for work, these are absolutely the shoes you want for running around to meetings and commuting at the end of the day. 

Even celebrities like Meghan Markle love these comfortable heels. 

Fit notes: How comfortable this heel is for you depends on how well your feet fit the mold of the cushioned footbed. I also tried the block heel along with this shoe, and the arch of my foot was too high to sit comfortably on the footbed. As a result, my foot kept slipping out of place so I got lots of blisters. I think that the pump fit me a lot better because the closed toe forced my foot to stay in the right place. Unfortunately, the only thing you can do to make sure your foot fits the mold and stays in place is to test it for yourself. Just make sure that you return it within 21 days if it doesn't work for you.

Inez is a brand that focuses just as much on construction as it does on style. We tested a bunch of Inez's heels — and nearly all of them are winners. But this platform heeled boot was a huge standout for me. It's a full four inches high and yet it's incredibly stable, super walkable, and guaranteed to get you more than a few compliments. I've been wearing these near constantly for the past few months and have had no pain at all from them. For my full thoughts on how great these are, see our full Inez review where we get into detail about our favorite picks from the brand. 

I think the reason why I feel like these are so stable despite being four inches is because my foot fills out the shoe perfectly. As I've mentioned before, my feet are on the wider end of typical. If you have narrow feet, you may have to wear thick socks with these to achieve the same stability.