Although comfort is key to all footwear, they are especially vital when it comes to high heels. We all know that feeling of slipping off your heels after a long night and feeling as though your feet will need two weeks of bed rest to recover from all the cramping and toe-pinching. However, it doesn’t need to be that way. Comfortable high heels are hard to find, but they’re definitely out there if you search for them and keep an eye out for some key features. Of course, they can’t be compared to your cushioned running shoes, but for a full-day event, they will suffice. There are some particular features of a high heel to look out when seeking a comfortable pair.

Insole
The insole is the proverbial foundation of the entire shoe. The sock liner lays on top of the insole, which is then fused to the midsole, and finally the outsole. A firm insole will give good structure to a shoe and increase its stability and durability, but it will also increase the weight of the overall product and be less comfortable.

A softer insole might be more comfortable, but that comes at the expense of stability and durability. We tried to balance these weights when evaluating our products, but each reader and wearer are different, so be aware of this trade-off.

Outsole
The outsole, or more simply, the sole of the shoe, makes direct contact with the ground and therefore supports the entire foot and body when in motion. Needless to say, a poorly-constructed outsole will lead to discomfort, slipping, and foot or another bodily injury. For this reason, many manufacturers use materials that are water-, weather-, heat-, and impact-resistant.

Depending on the type of footwear, one will often see outsoles made from natural or synthetic materials, such as PVC, EVA, rubber, and leather. Each of these has their advantages, depending on the shoe’s purpose; however, as a general rule, they each are resistant to the factors mentioned above. They are also flexible enough to support a proper foot cycle when in motion, but they are not so flexible that they feel like a pair of socks.

If you know you’re going to be standing or walking a lot, it’s best to keep the heel of your shoes low. Especially if you’re on the shorter side, you may be tempted to reach for the sky-high platform heels that, although able to elongate the legs and give your height a boost, can be a nightmare for walking. The ideal heel height is from one to three inches, where maximum comfort and ease is provided for walking and standing. Less stress is put on the ankles, knees, and lower back, which prevents fatigue and will keep you feeling energized and comfortable for much longer.

However, they just don’t have the same look, and may not be suitable for the event you’re planning on attending. Although heels that are around four inches put stress on the joints, they are okay if you’re not going to be on your feet for too long. So long as you have the proper size, they should be alright for a wedding or a night out with friends.

When it comes to five- or six-inch heels, however, it’s a different story. These are very difficult to walk in and can often cause foot fatigue and strain, even putting strain on your lower back in the long term. They should not be worn for walking or standing and should be limited to only a few hours of wear.

No matter how stylish, how unique, or how eye-catching a pair of heels is, you won’t be able to wear them with confidence if they aren’t of the right size. Even though strappy heels are adjustable, you should still take care to find the perfect size so that you can get maximum comfort and ease when walking.

The most important step is, of course, to measure your foot and to determine your shoe size. There are plenty of charts online that tell you your shoe size, but if you’re in a shoe store, the store may the tools you’ll need to measure your foot. Then, pick the shoe size that corresponds to your foot size.

However, some manufacturers make shoes that are sized up or down, meaning they may be half a size or so larger or smaller than the typical shoe of that size. If you’re buying online and can’t see their sizing for yourself, we recommend you take a look at customer reviews. Customers will often state whether the shoe was true to size, and you can take their advice to choose your pair.

Once you have your high heels or are trying them out in a store, you can determine whether the size is correct. When you wear them when standing, the heel of the shoe should fit snuggly against the heel of your foot. If there is space, it should not be more than around three-quarters of a centimeter. A bit of room can be good because your foot is likely to swell a little if you’ll be walking or standing them for a long time, and extra room will be able to accommodate that swelling.

If you wear heels on a regular basis, chances are you’ve already formed a preference for either closed- or open- toe heels. However, if you’re getting bored of your style and are looking to change it up a bit, or if you’d like to expand your shoe variety, consider getting the type that you don’t normally reach for. As always, there are pros and cons to both that you should take into consideration.

Open-toe heels have a fun and playful look that is great for less formal occasions such as parties. The most obvious advantage of there is that you get to show off your pedicure, which may not get a chance to see the light o day otherwise. Open-toe heels are most suitable for warmer weather such as in spring or summer. They are great when paired with skirts and dresses to top off an adorable outfit. However, one potential downside is that if your shoes are slightly big, your toes may feel as though they are sliding out from the open toe when walking too much. This happens most often with sky-high heels and stilettos because the elevated heel prompts your entire foot to slide forward when walking or standing for long periods of time.

Closed-toe heels, on the other hand, are more modest and professional. They can really add to a look of maturity that you would want to have when in an office environment or at a formal occasion such as a wedding. However, depending on the style and color, some could also be dressed down if need be. Although they won’t allow you to show off your new pedicure, the advantage is that your toes won’t slide forward as much. However, this means they are prone to toe-pinching, which is not a problem with open-toe heels. This is because your toe would slide forward nonetheless when walking and would drive into the narrow toe of the shoe, causing discomfort. This is especially true for heels with a pointy toe design.

A third design is the peep toe, which has only recently become popular. This design is exactly as the name states: it shows only a peep of the toes and are somewhere between closed- and open-toe. They can be dressed up or down, but are more suitable for casual occasions. Again, you may feel as though the toes are thrusting out from the opening if your shoes are a bit large, but you will not get that toe-pinching feeling as with closed-toe heels.

In general, open-toe heels are fun, informal, but should not be too roomy. Closed toe heels can be formal or versatile, but are less suitable for walking or standing for too long. If you really want the best of both worlds, consider peep-toe heels. With this in mind, you can choose the design that will best suit your conditions.

To assess each of the products on our list for durability, we not only read through thousands of customer reviews on our recommended products, but we also looked for some of the hallmarks of quality construction. From brand name reputation to their initial smell out of the box, there are a few ways of identifying a well-built, made-to-last product.

The Details
A zipper that doesn’t zip or snaps? Poor threading technique? A smelly, chemical residue on the shoe when you open the box? All these details were looked for an evaluated when assigning a score for durability.

Materials
Certain materials last longer than others, even if that comes at the expense of a higher score in the “comfort” criterion. Materials that are synthetic, thicker and firmer tend to score higher on durability.

Product Purpose
A shoe made for running and high-impact sports will not likely last as long as a good pair of general activity shoes, and that’s okay. Being aware of the shoe’s purpose is critical for you as a reader and for us as a reviewer. Although shoes that will last longer score higher on this criterion, you might also see high scores to shoes with a more limited durability, if that product was specifically designed for certain purposes that involve high-impact and high-stress motions. We take into account the type of shoes you are trying to purchase when assigning scores to shoes in this criterion.

Brand Name
A product is a promise made, but a brand is a promise kept. A brand name is often a signal of quality and consistency in construction and durability from product to product. Although there are always exceptions to this rule, quite often brands that perform continue to perform. Brand names on our list tend to score higher in the durability score.