No longer simply reserved for jogging, trainers are some of the most versatile shoes out there. A good pair will work for the office paired with tailoring and take you onto the weekend with jeans and knitwear. A great pair? They’ll even work with slinky evening looks, suits and floral midi dresses.

Beneath the insole of the Nimbus 25, a dreamy realm unfolds. Sinking our feet into the silky and gigantic midsole felt almost therapeutic, with this caretaker exhibiting the best cushioning of the daily training scene. It might seem basic, but you’d be amazed by how many of us are hobbling about in the wrong sized shoes. Your toes should not be right at the end of the shoe, so they have plenty of room to move. If your feet are wide, never grin and bear a regular fit – it will only lead to agony.

Take a weight off your feet with the best shoes for anyone whose day involves a lot of standing

The Light sequel of the acclaimed Ultraboost series oozes comfort like no other daily trainer out there. It’s comfy from every angle, moving with the feet in seamless harmony from mile 1 to wherever the road leads. For all-day wear, we couldn’t think of any better walking shoes than Allbirds Tree Runners. When we are in this shoe, we don’t count the hours. Indoors and outdoors, work and leisure, on the ground and in a plane, we had the most awesome and pain-free experience with Tree Runners! But here’s the rub – pardon the pun. You need to break them in for about a month – yes a month – before they are comfortable. This means arming yourself with robust blister plasters and trusting that after this period of podiatric purgatory you’ll have boots that mould to your feet and can be worn all day, every day, in complete bliss. Another great thing about the On Cloud 5 Waterproof is the fact that its cushioning is well-balanced. We found it great for long walks, keeping our feet happy day in and day out. We took a deeper look into this in our lab by pressing our durometer against its midsole. The On Cloud 5 Waterproof’s midsole hardness of 30.4 HA is 10% firmer than that of the average walking shoe, putting it squarely on the balanced side of cushioning. It’s able to last for long hours without pain or fatigue.

This shoe has a sculpted midsole, curving inwards on the lateral side to provide more compression, and convex sculpting on the medial side, which provides a greater volume of foam. The stability tech is subtle, but effective. This means that the Gel-Kayano 30 is not just for overpronators. A small older study looking at whether waist training had an effect on weight loss was inconclusive. The researchers said that this was because the majority of the participants gave up wearing a corset due to discomfort. The fourth iteration has an all-new midsole, made with the new ReactX foam – which, according to Nike, gives you 13% more energy return compared with the standard Nike React foam –and also reduces the carbon footprint of the midsole by at least 43%. Shoes for standing all day should offer plenty of room for movement – your toes need to wiggle freely and there should be room for your feet to expand if the temperature rises. Fashion isn’t everything, but it’s worth noting how many celebrities and style mavens have strolled about in these, teaming them with everything from wide leg trousers to beach dresses.With none of the bells and whistles that supershoes now promise, what you get is a seamless ride with great grip and traction from the outsole on any surface. This is a good all-rounder for those who value simplicity – and want one shoe to do everything. With On’s signature CloudTec technology, a full-length carbon speedboard and new Helion HP hyperfoam, it’s undeniably a very good looking shoe. The upper consists of a single woven structure with On’s classic minimalist styling. Featuring one of the softest foams out there, this trainer has had quite a substantial redesign. It’s part of the new generation of stable, neutral shoes with lots of cushioning, and is designed for everyday easy runs. It’s also a great choice for new or low-mileage runners. Anyone who is on their feet all day – chefs, vets, hospital staff, parents of small children to name but a few of the people who rarely sit down – can vouch for the fact that decent shoes are the key to survival. Lightness and support don’t always come hand in hand but in a world where both exist in a walking shoe, On Cloudnova Form is our definitive top choice. It supports our feet perfectly, without being too aggressive and harsh. Also, our foot wellness absolutely felt catered in this shoe.