Alyssa Grabinski is a senior shopping writer at PEOPLE covering celebrity fashion and beauty. Since working in the industry, she's tried, tested, or purchased more than a dozen pairs of shoes, including ballet flats, loafers, and Mary Janes.
Up until about two years ago, I hadn't touched a pair of ballet flats since starring in my middle school's production of Alice In Wonderland. And I was A-okay keeping it that way since they never seemed all that comfortable to begin with. Which, in retrospect, makes sense -- kids don't need as much arch support or fancy, shmancy cushioning.
But once celebrities like Katie Holmes, Meghan Markle, and Jennifer Lawrence made them cool (?) -- yes, cool -- again, I realized I needed not just any pair, but really, truly comfortable flats. And since our line of work allows us to experiment in the name of shoes, we had over two dozen testers try out a pair, or two, or three, to find those that wouldn't break the bank or, at least, our feet. Ahead, the shoes that went the distance.
Sizes: 5-11, half sizes included | Widths: Standard and wide | Design Details: Machine washable, flexible knit material, and features an adjustable strap
The Vivaia Margot Square-Toe Mary Jane flats are the best of the best: They are "as comfortable as some sneakers," "so breathable and airy," and caused no pain for our blister-prone tester. The support was ample enough to prevent sores while running around the city for hours at a time (and they kept her feet dry during a rainstorm, looking almost fresh out of the box afterward).
The strap also deserves its praise: It's completely customizable, so you can stick the buckle prong in anywhere and it'll stay. In other words, you don't have to choose between one of six pre-determined slots to secure the buckle. (We also tested and loved these pointed-toe flats from the celeb-worn brand if you prefer a strapless pair.)
Sizes: 33.5-45 (U.S. 3.5-14), half sizes included | Widths: Medium, narrow, and wide | Design Details: 5mm of padding, bow details, and Italian leather
The Margaux The Demi flats proved our sneaker-prone tester wrong "in the very best way." The shoes, which range from $255 to $345, only caused slight rubbing for the first wear, but then shaped themselves to her feet, thanks to the Italian leather. After wearing the flats for up to eight hours, her feet "felt hugged and supported for the most part" minus a minimal amount of fatigue near her arches. And the bow isn't just for show: For all but two of the color options, it can be untied and tightened to make the shoe fit more snugly, which was used to our tester’s benefit.
Sizes: 5-12, half sizes included | Widths: Standard and wide | Design Details: Rubber soles and metal finishes
We also threw the (more affordable!) Aerosoles Big Bet Flat Heel into the testing pool, and it did swimmingly well. Our tester, who can't go without decent cushioning thanks to foot surgery a decade ago, gave them a five out of five in the comfort department. They only complained about the rigidness at the top back of the shoe, though that area eventually softened over time. The arches weren't the most supportive, but they gripped the ground well and were breathable enough for summer-to-fall wear.
Sizes: 6-12, half sizes included | Widths: Standard widths only | Design Details: Knit fabric, round-toe silhouette, and machine washable
Our tester is a huge fan of Allbirds flats, even owning multiple colors, and yet, she almost saw these Frank Mully Ballet Flats as their equal. She even had two different colors at her disposal -- her mother was convinced to get a pair too -- so her evaluation was extremely informed: Her pair was still comfortable though less supportive than her mother’s whose were “as sturdy [and] padded” as the more expensive brand. They also passed our towel wringing test (see more on that below).
Sizes: 5-13, half sizes included | Widths: Standard widths only | Design Details: Machine washable, made from recycled plastic bottles, and features grippy nubs on the soles
Though the best-selling Rothy's The Driver flats were "flexible" and "quite bendy" (characteristics that usually signify less arch support), they were surprisingly comfortable, according to our tester. During periods of wear, there was no "overheating, sweating, blisters or pressure points;" however, they were slightly bothersome near the top of her feet. Because of this, she prefers to wear them on days with a lower step count -- for days at the office or eating out at a restaurant, two things our tester actually did while wearing the flats.
Sizes: 4-13, half sizes included | Widths: Standard widths only | Design Details: Distinguishable Tory Burch logos; fold in half; made to stretch
Put the word "designer" in front of "shoes," and you're probably thinking: Oof, those are going to huuuuurt. Luckily, not the Tory Burch Minnie Travel Ballet Flats! Our tester, who has never owned a pair of flats, was able to chase her two-year-old around, run errands, and more in these flats that felt like “nothing” was even on her feet. Blisters and pinching were nonexistent, and the shoes were wearable from the first day of testing. The middle of the shoes were a little bendy; however; that’s intended -- this pair is actually made to fold in half.
Sizes: 5-11, half sizes included | Widths: Standard widths only | Design Details: Closed-toe sandal; water-resistant leather; shock-absorption for more support
Another tester went to work with the Nisolo Huarache Sandals and had much to say about the support, design, and breathability of the two-in-one shoe style. The "solid" and "firm" soles fell somewhere in the middle in terms of support: "I could still feel the ground, but it didn't feel like my feet were pounding the pavement." The quality of the materials, however, seemed to match the brand's description, and the weave design allowed peak airflow. They caused a few toe and heel blisters, so they may not be a go-to walking shoe, but perhaps a new work shoe.
Aside from our testers, many PEOPLE staffers have also found themselves wearing comfortable flats from Jeffrey Campbell, Madewell, and Birkenstock. Our recommendations are as follows.
We also wanted to shout out these middle-ranking pairs that weren't our top, top picks but still deserve some recognition. The Allbirds Tree Breezer flats didn't need to be broken in, but weren't as breezy as our tester thought they'd be. And though pricey, the Margaux The Wrap Sandals are "easily number one in my quest of finding chic lace-up flats that don't hurt you," said another tester. Additionally, under-$150 pairs from M.Gemi, Amazon, and Everlane also all made the cut for their "super impressive" traction, affordable price, and flexibility respectively.
To find the most comfortable flats on the market, we put dozens of pairs through the ringer. But before taking them out for a spin in the real world, testers first wore them at home for a full hour. This was the designated break-in period before the official test began. From there, they were required to wear them at least twice for a minimum of two hours during a two-week period.
They jotted down their observations in the process, including notes on the materials, sizing, and more. We also had them attempt to fold the shoes in half, as well as manipulate the shape to mimic the wringing of a dish towel. This helped evaluate the level of arch support in each pair of flats --the less they moved,the more supportive they should have been.
If you still don't think flats are for you, we understand -- everyone has their own definition of comfort. That said, we've tried nearly every style of shoe you can think of, and these are great places to start looking for that perfect Cinderella pair. Heels, sneakers, and slides included.