The 10 most comfortable flats of 2024, tested by women who walk a lot

Everlane's leather Day Glove flat is an almost (but not quite) ballet slipper guaranteed to go with just about all your clothing, and it's a staple of nearly every style writer and editor on our team. We wrote up a full review after test-driving these flats, and they remain an all-time favorite. "Everlane's Day Glove flats are much more comfortable than any other flats I've tried," writes former deputy editor Malarie Gokey, "They actually fit my foot and move with me — not against me."

The leather molds to the foot, so not only will the flats last, they'll get more comfortable over time. The shoes also feature pull tabs, ventilation holes, and comfy insoles to eliminate some of the most common comfort-related issues flats pose. The Day Glove flats come in nine colors, including classics like black and white as well as some seasonal shades.

They cost $138, and while not inexpensive, it's a steal for shoes that will last you for as long as these do. Several of us have been wearing the same pair for years, with plenty of life in them left. — Sally Kaplan, excecutive editor, Insider Reviews

Read more in our full Everlane Day Glove review.

Rothy's flats are the choice for many modern working women because they take zero break-in time, have a sleek, mesh look, plus moisture-wicking breathability. One of our favorite versions, The Point II, has an upgraded "In Love Insole" with more cushioning around the toes and heels.

You'll feel the difference immediately after slipping your feet in; the flats are very light and flexible, with a bit of give, and there aren't any uncomfortable seams or edges. Rothy's also has them in a pointed-toe Mary Jane version, complete with the retrofitted In Love padding. If you have wide feet, though, we suggest going for a square-toe style because Rothy's toe boxes run narrow.

Rothy's was born out of the desire to repurpose wasteful, single-use plastics into something beautiful and practical. All of its knit shoes are made from 100% post-consumer plastic water bottles, which are hot washed, sterilized, then fused into a fiber that is knit into yarn. 

The insoles contain recycled foam, while the rubber soles are carbon-free. The adhesives used are non-toxic and vegan. Even the packaging is made from post-consumer recycled materials and is biodegradable.

The lofty challenge of reducing your impact on the planet feels more manageable when you start with the things you use in your everyday life. Thanks to Rothy's, the endeavor won't compromise style or comfort.

Keeping them in top shape is as easy as throwing them in the washing machine. After wearing them often (and you will because of their versatility), you might wonder if they'll actually hold up. But we've been wearing and washing our pairs for more than a year and they look and feel as good as they did on day one. — Connie Chen

To see more of our style editors' impressions, check out our full Rothy's flats review.

Allbirds is probably better known for its Silicon Valley uniform-mandated sneakers like the Wool Runners and Tree Runners. But when you don't want to wear sneakers but still need the same comfort and support, you're better off with its flats, the Tree Breezer.

These are the flats you'll want to pack in your suitcase because a) they're very light and you can fold them up to maximize packing space, and b) you can walk around in them all day long.

Quell any fears you have of hobbling through a walking tour or calling it an early night because your feet have become one giant blister. The Breezers have bouncy outsoles made from sugarcane and soft, odor-minimizing Merino wool-lined insoles. The knit collar wraps onto your foot securely, and the rest of the shoe's knit body is breathable and feels silky smooth against your skin. Plus, they're machine-washable, so they're easy to take care of even if you get them all grubby on your trip.

Since the style is more sleek and formal than Allbirds' other shoes, they won't look out of place in a dressier environment. Instead of packing multiple pairs of shoes, you can just bring your all-in-one Tree Breezer flats. If you don't have a chance to try them first before you board your flight, don't worry — most of the Insider Reviews team didn't need to break them in. — Connie Chen

Read more in our full Allbirds Tree Breezer review and our comparison between Allbirds vs Rothy's flats.

Everlane's Day Glove Flats may currently hold the top spot, but the Quince Italian Leather Glove Ballet Flats have proven to be an uncanny substitute (I've now been asked thrice whether these are from Everlane.)

Along with several other dupes we've tried in our Quince review, the Day Glove-lookalikes sold out almost as soon as they became available. Upon first inspection, they are practically indistinguishable from the real thing. They even have the same pull-tabs and perforations around the inner arches to help ventilate the shoe — which is good, because the leather can and will make your feet sweat. The leather has only some give, so if you have extra wide feet, I'd skip these. It's also worth noting that Quince doesn't offer them in narrow or half sizes, but Everlane does. I wear a size 8 and these have a nearly true-to-size fit that lean a tad small. The top seam felt a bit tight at first, but it quickly softened.

I found Quince's Glove flats to likewise have zero break-in time — as soon as I slipped them on, they felt like wearing soft leather slippers. I like how much traction their rubber soles have compared to other flats I've tried, and their Ortholite insoles cradle my high arches. 

The material is 100% Italian cow Nappa leather and made in Shenzhen, China, while Everlane claims their Day Glove is made in Santa Maria a Monte, Italy. The key distinction Quince makes on their site is that their version is less than half the price of Everlane's, so if you're looking for an affordable alternative to a cult favorite, this is the right pair. I'll be curious to see if they hold up for as long as two years, as the Day Gloves did for Sally. — Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor, Insider Reviews

Ballet flats look deceptively simple. You know if you're reading this guide that it's hard to get the fit just right — some pairs gape, while others rely on uncomfortable heel elastics to stay on your foot. 

You won't encounter this problem with Margaux. It makes flats in a large range of sizes (from 3 through 14), including half sizes. Instead of suggesting you size up or down for wide and narrow feet, the company ensures fit precision by offering each size in Narrow, Medium, and Wide widths. There's also a made-to-order option for a truly custom fit. 

The Demi Flat from Margaux is a simple and elegant ballet flat. Senior editor Sally Kaplan, who has tried both Medium and Wide pairs of the flat, realized, "With all the walking I do, my feet end up swelling a bit, and the wide pair is more comfortable for long days out."

They feature plush foam padding to give your foot some support, as well as a small heel so you're not walking completely flat on the ground. The bow at the top of the shoe is adjustable in case you want to give your foot even more breathing room. 

You can get the flats in two luxuriously soft and flexible materials, Italian suede or Italian Napa leather, which each come in a small selection of colors that show off the materials beautifully.

Though they're more expensive than average at $245 a pair, the way we see it, it's better to own one pair of really well-made flats than five pairs of fun ones that fall apart quickly. — Connie Chen

Read our full Margaux Demi Flat review to hear more specifics about why we love them. 

One of the most common orthopedic conditions is sore arches. The Carla flat remedies those pains with ample arch support, yet still maintains a sleek silhouette. Naturalizer belongs to the same brand family as Dr. Scholl's and boasts some of the most comfortable heels we've tested. Its Carla flat, part of the brand's "27 Edit," is meant to be as comfortable as grandma's orthos without the chunky rubber sole.

This flat contours the foot with a U-shaped topline, square toe, and subtle half-inch padded heel. Inside, they're cushioned beneath the arches and heel cups. Even though the leather gave me heel blisters at first, I found them easy to step into and pull on with their rear tabs. Eventually the leather softens, and they start to wear more like slippers. Naturalizer offers this flat in hard-to-find sizes and wide fits for a custom-made feel. — Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor

Our team has a running collection of Everlane reviews of everything from their bathing suits to totes. We're especially impressed by these ballet flats, crafted from super-soft Italian leather with pull-tabs on the heels and two holes on the side for ventilation. They've also got a bit of a heel, a functional rubber outsole, a functional tie bow, and a cushioned insole that makes them comparable to another of our favorite flats, the Day Glove.

"There's a tiny bit of padding in the shoe that makes them feel more like a loafer than a flat. I may even like these more than the original!" — Sally Kaplan, executive editor

Read more in our full Everlane Day Ballet Flat review.

There's something to be said for splurging on a really gorgeous pair of designer heels that you only wear on special occasions, but honestly, I've always felt that it makes more sense to spend that money on a practical pair you'll get more wear out of. A beautiful ballet flat that'll never go out of style is exactly the kind of shoe that deserves the designer treatment.

We think Mansur Gavriel's Dream Ballerinas are the absolute best designer flats out there. The $395 price tag isn't so unreasonable when compared to flats from brands like Chanel ($750+) or Louboutin ($500+), and the comfort rivals that of Everlane's Day flat, our best-overall pick on this list. 

The lambskin leather is buttery soft and the insoles provide enough cushion that the flats wear almost like a loafer. The bow on the shoe is actually functional, so you can use it to tighten or loosen the opening. The bottom of the shoe has just enough traction that I feel comfortable on slippery tile surfaces, which can't be said for other slick-bottomed designer pairs I've ultimately passed over. Ultimately, these flats have it all. And even after having tested every other pair of flats on this list, I can confidently say these are worth the cost.

As far as sizing goes, I am usually somewhere in between a 7.5 and 8, and I ordered a size 38 (the European equivalent of an 8). Mansur Gavriel's site says to order a full size up from your usual size, but in my experience, it's better to opt for either your true size or one half size up if you sometimes find your true size to be tight in other brands. — Sally Kaplan

Mary Janes have seen a sharp uptick in the wake of the coquette trend, but this sophisticated version has a square toe that adds more dimension to the classic silhouette. The Margot Mary Janes are extremely comfortable. I took these on a long walk over concrete and sustained zero blisters while breaking them in.

I also compared Rothy's original Mary Janes to Vivaia's, and while both brands claim to take a sustainable approach to women's footwear, I preferred Vivaia's attention to detail in their design. Plus, they're less expensive. They run slightly wide, but because their strap is adjustable, it won't pose any issue to people with narrow feet like mine. 

I learned the hard way that this pair isn't ideal for wearing in heavy rain, but the breathable material is thankfully machine washable. The flexible upper is made from upcycled water bottles, and they're easy to fold up and pack in a tote bag. — Gabrielle Chase

Read more in our full Vivaia shoes review. 

The ultimate testament to these Frankie4 slingbacks comes from a harrowing tale of me spotting the bus about to leave the station and high-tailing it while wearing them (I made it just in time!). My first reaction was to marvel at how soft the foam lining on their interior feels, but the fact that I can sprint in these is high praise for the podiatrists who helped design them.

This pair comes with gel forefoot cushions you can insert if you're prone to metatarsal pain. Their low flatform heel and slingback gives them a bit more structure than a typical flat, but they're worth mentioning in this guide because they're so easy to slide in and wear for hours, as any pair of good flats should be. — Gabrielle Chase

As style editors, we're subject to a constant rotation of new shoes each season, which we test by breaking them in for at least two weeks at a time. This means walking on concrete, up and down busy subway staircases, and through a range of weather conditions. We've gone through several boxes of Band-Aids in the process, but it means we can recommend the best flats for women who prioritize comfort.

We narrow down our test subjects by sourcing from brands that take design notes from medical professionals. Instead of a trend-focused selection process, we pay attention to what shoes podiatrists recommend, including brands like Naturalizer and Frankie4. Others we've tested and loved have proven themselves to be durable and timeless for years, therefore increasing their value as an investment-worthy pair of shoes.

Measure for your true size. Flats are an intimate category of footwear, since they're typically worn without socks. Take your best fitting shoes and check out where they're made. This will inform your knowledge of how different countries size up or down in comparison and help you find the closest match. 

Assess your shape. Whatever your silhouette, the shape of the flats you wear can make or break the fit, even if the length is correct. Notice the curve of your toes and try to find flats that won't squish them or leave gaps. Some toes are squared off, some rounded, others come to a point at the second toe. Your best chance at the right fit will depend on how your flats resemble your shape. 

Know where to wear. If you're shopping for a one-night-only kind of flat versus an everyday pair, or if you're in a climate that relies on temperature-controlled materials, consider how your new flats will hold up. Your mode of transport when commuting to your destination also plays a part. Walking on asphalt to the office will have a different lasting effect on a pair of flats than stepping out of a limo once you've reached the function.