A lot of the popular nursing footwear designed for the workplace comes in a clog style. For nurses who don’t enjoy the feeling of clogs during a long shift, we have a great and functional alternative that we’ll be sharing with our Nurse Mates Align Velocity Review.
I received a pair of these shoes to test out and give you some personal experience and opinions. Read on to see my thoughts on this popular footwear.
About Nurse Mates
Nurse Mates focuses on specialized nursing footwear and accessories. Popular among nursing and doctor forums, Nurse Mates has often come up in our top recommendations for nurse bags, backpacks, and shoes.
From my experience, their products are well-designed and come at a pretty fair price point for the quality you’re getting.
Still a nursing student? Go to our NCLEX page.
Nurse Mates Align Velocity Shoes Review
Seen above with the Nurse Mates Ultimate Backpack (Read Our Review)
As I mentioned, for those who are seeking a nurse-specific shoe that doesn’t fit the classic clog mold, then the Nurse Mates Align Velocity shoe may be a great alternative. With a lace sneaker design, these shoes look and feel more like a high support orthopedic sneaker.
Let’s break out my experience with these sneakers by their design and material.
Align Velocity | Nursemates
Use code TPN20 for 20% off your Nurse Mates order.
- Lightweight
- Slip-proof
- Supportive enough for standing all day
- Can require a break-in period before wearing for a full shift
Design
Bungee-style laces
The first thing that I noticed with these sneakers are the bungee-style laces. These laces actually stretch so that you can slip these sneakers on and off but there is no tying these shoes ever.
This can be an amazing and convenient style design for nurses with normal-width or wide feet. I have narrow feet, however, and tend to tie my shoes pretty tight relative to other individuals, so the bungee option wasn’t the best fit for me. For those who have the same problem, then fear not – these shoes also come with a pair of traditional laces as well.
Orthotic Insert
These sneakers come with the Align corrective orthotic insert, so you will not need to purchase an additional shoe insert for comfortable wear all day. These inserts are removable, so you can always swap these out with your preferred or customized orthotics.
The purpose of these inserts is to help correct alignment, add stability and support, and reduce pressure on joints and tendons that can result from standing all day in long shifts.
The Nurse Mates site suggests “breaking in” these orthotic inserts by wearing them a few hours a day before actually wearing these sneakers for a full 12-hour shift.
Slip Resistant Bottom
If you look at the bottom of these sneakers, you’ll see that they add slip-resistant rubber to the outsole. This is always a key feature for nurse footwear when considering your safety in the workplace.
Lightweight
These are extremely lightweight sneakers, especially compared to clog designs. They don’t feel flimsy, providing stability and also shock absorbing outsoles.
Sizing
Thankfully, the Nurse Mates Align Velocity shoes come in wide widths as well as half-sizes, so you don’t have to sacrifice on sizing in order to get a pair.
Stain resistant upper
Designed to resist splashes, the stain resistant upper can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Fluid toe shields mean that your feet will not get wet.
Style
We chose the white color to review, since this is a popular choice among nurses, especially those seeking all white nursing shoes. If all white is not your thing, there are a lot of other fun color schemes and options to choose from on the Nurse Mates website.
Nurse Mates Align Velocity Shoes FAQ
Are Nurse Mates Align shoes supportive?
The Nurse Mates Align shoes are extremely supportive and include a flexible orthotic insole that assists proper alignment and additional stability.
Are Align shoes waterproof?
The Align shoes are waterproof and will keep your feet dry with moisture-wicking lining.
Are Nurse Mates Velocity Align shoes good for standing all day?
These shoes are great for long shifts but do require a break-in period before going into a 12-hour shift.
Do these shoes run big?
These shoes run pretty true to size and also come in half-sizes, so you can go with your normal shoe size.
Nurse Mates Align Velocity Reviews from Real Nurses
You can find Nurse Mates Align Velocity shoes on Amazon as well as at the Nurse Mates website. Here is a review on Amazon from a nurse who wore the shoes all day with comfort:
Cynthia B left a verified buyer review on the Nurse Mates site and still wears her first pair of Align Velocity around the house.
Alternatives to Nurse Mates Align Velocity Sneakers
Allbirds Tree Dashers
For those looking for a more sporty shoe option, you could consider the Allbirds Tree Dashers. These sneakers are super comfortable, do not require a break-in period, and have the added benefit of being eco-friendly.
Allbirds Tree Dashers 2
Incredibly comfortable and supportive tennis shoes made from renewable resources… plus they’re machine washable! Pairs perfectly with the Trino Sprinters - Low performance socks
Dansko Neena Black
If you’re seeking the same sort of style shoe as the Align Velocity but would prefer all leather, then you can opt for the Dansko Neena Black. There aren’t a lot of color options for this shoe, however.
Neena Black Leather | Dansko® Official Site
Comparable to the Align Velocity, these work shoes have the added benefit of uppers constructed of speciality leather.
Brooks Ghost
Here’s another popular sneaker among nurses. The Brooks Ghost running shoe has a neutral support type with a high amount of cushioning. They look great both in and out of the workplace and can certainly double as your go-to sneakers for your next workout.
For more of our top Brooks sneakers, read our full list of the best Brooks shoes for nurses.
Brooks Women's Ghost 15 Neutral Running Shoe
These soft shoes help stabilize your stride.
Final Thoughts on Nurse Mates Align Velocity Shoes
If you’re seeking supportive footwear that is slip proof and waterproof, then the Nurse Mates Align Velocity shoes may be a great option for you. Here are a few key takeaways from my time wearing and using these shoes:
- Bungee-style laces make easy slip on/off
- Slip resistant and stain resistant is key for the workplace
- All white options for nurses seeking this specific color scheme
- Supportive enough to be worn all day without fatigue
Align Velocity | Nursemates
Use code TPN20 for 20% off your Nurse Mates order.
- Lightweight
- Slip-proof
- Supportive enough for standing all day
- Can require a break-in period before wearing for a full shift
