If the shoe fits … it still might not be the right fit for an NYC commute.
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it → fit → commute
Between rushing to catch the train, pounding the pavement and navigating mysterious sidewalk substances, it’s tricky to find footwear that’s comfortable, durable and (ideally) stylish enough for a day in the Big Apple.
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that → rush → Apple
So here at The Post, we put 15 shoes through their paces to find out which are truly commute-proof.
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which → put → paces
Whether you’re looking for practical sneakers or comfy heels (not an oxymoron, we promise), the below styles are a step above the rest.
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styles → look → rest
Even the suede options offer light water resistance
Durable lug sole
Great style-to-comfort ratio
Cons:
One of the priciest picks on the list
Commerce Reporter Miska Salemann finished the whole route without giving in to the temptation of taking a taxi or train — a feat made easier thanks to these luxe, suede Margaux boots.
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Salemann → offer → boots
In pursuit of shoe-testing glory (and a prize at the finish line), she even ran for part of the trek.
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she → test → trek
And while these aren’t actually designed for sprinting, it’s seriously impressive how well they held up.
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they → design → sprinting
“I thought the traction was fantastic,” she said.
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she → think → ?
“I didn’t slip once, even after putting them through pretty much everything an NYC sidewalk can throw at you — subway grates and plenty of cracked pavement.
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sidewalk → slip → pavement
They felt planted and solid underfoot, which was especially nice when moving quickly through crowded streets.
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which → feel → streets
But they’re not all comfort — they look chic, too.
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they → ’re → ?
Margaux’s emerged as a favorite among fashion editors, and the West Chelsea Boot is no exception.
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Boot → emerge → editors
In addition to Miska’s brown suede pick, it also comes in three other expensive-looking color options.
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it → come → options
Slight pleather smell when first unboxed, but it dissipates almost immediately
Minimal arch support and cushioning
Don’t want to foot the bill for a luxury option?
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support → unbox → option
Commerce Partnerships Manager Georgie Olmeda tested out these zip-up Steve Madden boots — which look strikingly similar to The Row’s $1,490 pair, for less than half the cost.
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which → test → cost
“They still felt somewhat comfortable after the 70 blocks it takes to get to Battery Park,” she said.
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she → feel → Park
“I walked comfortably for around 20 blocks before I started to feel rubbing on my left heel, and 35 blocks before the right heel joined in.”
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heel → walk → heel
The under-$130 shoes helped her come in second.
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her → help → ?
(“I was jumping into puddles, walking over cobblestones and weaving through hundreds of tourists and New Yorkers at high speeds,” she quipped.)
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she → jump → speeds
Blundstones are known for being water-resistant and extra durable.
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Blundstones → know → ?
But, as Commerce Reporter Erica Radol proved, they’re not just for rugged outings (or liberal arts college campuses) — they’re also stylish enough for an NYC commute.
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they → prove → commute
Erica made it two miles totally pain-free, saying, “It was truly impressive how I had zero blisters while nearly every other shoe tester I walked with did.”
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I → make → blisters
While she admitted they’re not the first pair she’d grab based on looks alone, they scored major comfort points.
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they → admit → points
“There’s nothing cute about wincing in pain,” she said.
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she → ’ → pain
Sr. Audience Optimization & Discovery Analyst Alana Bracken managed to make it six miles in these flats — including jogging a block — with shockingly little discomfort.
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Bracken → manage → discomfort
“For someone with extensive foot problems from years of dance injuries, I went into this walk a little concerned that my left foot would be hurting by the end,” she said.
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she → go → end
“I planned on stops and the occasional call to the first aid kit for Band-Aids and Advil.
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I → plan → Aids
Instead, I hustled all the way down to Battery Park while essentially only stopping for red lights.”
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I → hustle → lights
She found the style was not only comfy, but it also didn’t slide off her heel on stairs as some flats do.
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flats → find → stairs
“I’m absolutely in love with these flats,” she said.
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she → ’m → flats
While breaking them in, our tester experienced blisters and discomfort fairly quickly
From Jennifer Lopez to Sarah Jessica Parker, plenty of fashionable New Yorkers wear Reformation — so the brand’s ballet flats were a shoo-in (or should we say shoe-in?) for our testing.
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we → break → testing
While the Mary Jane design is chic and on-trend, Social Media Editor Brooke Matalon only made it 10 blocks before blisters started to form.
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blisters → make → ?
That said, she did appreciate that they had decent support and didn’t “feel like walking directly on the floor,” as many ballet flats do.
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flats → say → floor
All in all, we wouldn’t ditch these entirely — but they’re not our first choice for a commute that involves a ton of time on your feet.
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that → ditch → feet
“These are very cute and great for a dinner where you won’t be doing too much walking, unless you have the patience to break them in!” Brooke concluded.
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Brooke → do → them
Vivaia has also racked up legions of celebrity fans, from Katie Holmes to Pamela Anderson.
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Vivaia → rack → Anderson
But while these colorful Mary Janes looked great on, Commerce Reporter Nishka Dhawan tapped out early due to blisters.
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Dhawan → look → blisters
“I would wear these for a regular workday and for my regular commute, but I wouldn’t wear these to walk multiple blocks across a city,” she explained.
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she → wear → city
“We had to stuff tissues in my shoes just so I could make the subway ride.”
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I → have → ride
Our tester noted that they’re a bit narrow —size up if you have wider feet
Not as modern and fashion-forward as
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you → note → feet
…and 101 more, not listed.
The Aporia
