Stilettos, wedges , platforms , kitten heels —I love 'em all. But can we, in the Year of Our Lord 2024, stop pretending like we're cool with being in excruciating pain by the end of the night? Or, even worse, act like it's normal to want to take a pair of heels off the second you put 'em on? Not fun. Thankfully, there are plenty of comfortable high heels that don't require you to sacrifice your precious toes, arches, and ankles.
Dr. Robert K. Lee , board-certified podiatric surgeon and chief of podiatric surgery at the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center , says some common injuries from wearing heels include ankle sprains, bunions, tailor's bunions, or hammertoes from narrow toe boxes, as well as metatarsalgia, which is essentially pain in the ball of your foot from the increased pressure.
Yeeeesh. I'll pass, thanks! Instead, look for certain features that ensure for a smoother heel-wearing experience. For example, platforms put "less pressure on the forefoot when walking," according to Dr.
Lee. Also, heels with wider bases "provide more stability when walking and reduce risk of twisting the ankle," and open-toed designs "don't apply that same pressure to the toes" as closed-toe styles, so they're a little better comfort-wise. We know it can be overwhelming to find a heel that’s both chic AND comfy—luckily, we’ve found the most comfortable heels out there.
For example...
Wave goodbye to achy, sore feet and say hello to your new fave heels! For more heavenly shoes that won't hurt your feet, from mules to platforms to kitten heels, keep scrolling..
