BALA Shoes Review By Nurses 2021
Just a few months ago BALA Shoes sold out within the first week of their debut launch with over $1M in pre-sales. Proof that nurses have been longing for a high-quality shoe made specifically for their busy lifestyle.
No more clunky clogs or sneakers that are (traditionally) designed for a men’s foot - BALA Shoes are revolutionizing the space of shoes designed especially for nurses.
So, what makes BALA shoes so different? From being co-developed by actual nurses, to focusing on the female foot morphology (since over 94% of nurses are female), to unique safety and design features - BALA shoes put nurse’s needs first. Through this nurse-centric approach they have developed a shoe that nurses love, read on to find out more!
Designed for Nurses:
From the initial design to ongoing iterations - BALA shoes not only enlisted the help of real nurses in their initial design, but they continue to test and collect feedback from nurses who wear the shoes to work every day. Furthermore, it’s important for nurse shoes to address all sorts of foot characteristics from plantar fasciitis, wide feet/footbeds, arch support, heel pain, and flat feet.
- The best of clogs and running shoes- BALA Twelves combines the best of clogs and running shoes for an optimal shoe designed specifically around a nurse’s twelve-hour shift.
- Nurses co-developed the shoes - Experienced footwear professionals paired up with tens of thousands of nurses to co-develop this shoe from scratch.
- Her-First design - BALA is one of the only sneakers, to begin with, female foot morphology as a base for the shape, leading to unparalleled fit.
Advanced Comfort and Support:
Nurses face real health problems such as heel pain and back pain from enduring years of prolonged periods of standing, running, sprinting on their feet. BALA took this fact into serious consideration when designing their shoes for optimal comfort, support, durability, and strong insoles. They have special features that are made specifically for nurses.
- The HRS Cushioning System evenly distributes weight across the entire bed of the shoe to decrease pressure points, sore feet, and achy bodies.
- The “Arch M-Brace” sock liner provides ample support while still allowing the arch to activate-- critical for foot strength and health during long shifts.
Unique Safety Features:
Safety concerns are part of the territory when you work in healthcare. A good pair of shoes must be slip-resistant/non-slip to help nurses stop suddenly on wet floors. And even better shoes should also be water-resistant/liquid repelling for all those times nurses are splashed with bodily fluids.
- ShiftShield is an innovative fluid-resistant and flexible outer layer on BALA shoes.
- The KnitFit bootie gives the foot a comfortable and snug hug, decreasing slippage within the shoe and allowing for 360-degree support-- important for those sudden sprints to codes or bed alarms.
- Code Grip provides silent traction on hospital floors, great for when there are spills on the floor or when the nurse wants to sneak in and out of a room at night.
All of that sounds really amazing. But, we were still a little skeptical here at Nurse.org. So, in true Nurse.org fashion, we decided to go ahead and put BALA shoes to a test of our own - on the feet of 4 nurses at work.
Read on to see the reviews from real nurses who tested BALA Twelves during their long shifts at hospitals all around the country.
Items in this article may include affiliate links and nurse.org will get a small percentage of the sales.
Nurse Brittany Greaves
Overall rating: 4
Brittany is a PICU nurse with 8 years of experience. She has Plantar Fasciitis and wore her BALA Twelves to work for a full week. Follow her on Instagram @catchbrittifyoucan
Buy BALA Twelves starting at $130
BALA Shoe Review
Scale: 5=Best, 1=Worst
Q&A
Do you have any foot, ankle, or other medical conditions that usually influence your shoe purchase?
“Plantar Fasciitis and ankle issues”
What shoes do you usually wear to work and why?
“Alegria, Nike, Adidas, Oofos”
How long are you usually at work during a typical shift?
“12 hours”
What do you like about BALA shoes?
“The durability encompasses slip-resistant, style, and support all in one shoe!”
What do you dislike about BALA shoes?
“A little bulky/chunky (i understand for support) but they look like modern orthopedic shoes.”
Is there anything else you think nurses should know about BALA shoes?
“It's a new shoe contender!”
Would you recommend them to a coworker?
“Yes”
Buy BALA Twelves starting at $130
Get 15% OFF for Nurses Month! Use code NURSESMONTH
Nurse Laura Zurczak
Overall rating: 5
Laura is a TELE/PCU nurse with 7 years of experience. She has no known foot or ankle problems and wore her BALA Twelves to work for 3 weeks straight. Follow her on Instagram @Laurazee06
Buy BALA Twelves starting at $130
BALA Shoe Review
Scale: 5=Best, 1=Worst
Q&A
Do you have any foot, ankle, or other medical conditions that usually influence your shoe purchase?
“No.”
What shoes do you usually wear to work and why?
“Asics, Brooks, or Nike with ankle socks. I wear these brands mostly for comfort or style>”
How long are you usually at work during a typical shift?
“12 hours”
What do you like about BALA shoes?
“Comfort! Super comfortable for my feet. I could wear them all day and no complaints. I never had to adjust or remove. I also love the color I purchased. The grey is fun and versatile, yet the water-resistant design makes me worry-free at work and all the spills.”
What do you dislike about BALA shoes?
“Probably the sizing, I’m always a 7.5 in running shoes and the 7 fit me perfectly with this shoe. Secondly, the design/pattern is slightly different from what I’ve seen in past sneaker brands, but it’s something I got used to.”
Is there anything else you think nurses should know about BALA shoes?
“No.”
Would you recommend them to a coworker?
“Yes.”
Nurse Alice Benjamin
Overall Rating: 5
Nurse Alice Benjamin, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C works as a Nurse Practitioner and has 24 years of experience. She has flat feet and often has trouble finding shoes in her size. She wore her BALA twelves to work for 2 weeks and didn’t need to remove them or change shoes. Follow her on Instagram @asknursealice
BALA Shoe Review
Scale: 5=Best, 1=Worst
Q&A
Do you have any foot, ankle, or other medical conditions that usually influence your shoe purchase?
“Flat feet and they are large (size 10 in women)”
What shoes do you usually wear to work and why?
“Clogs or various tennis shoes”
How long are you usually at work during a typical shift?
“12 hours”
What do you like about BALA shoes?
“I liked the snug fit and feel of the shoe most.”
What do you dislike about BALA shoes?
“Nothing. I love my BALA shoes!”
Is there anything else you think nurses should know about BALA shoes?
“They're cute and comfortable. As a nurse who has to respond and move quickly, I felt like I had shoes that could keep up with the physical demands of my work while not hurting my feet.”
Would you recommend them to a coworker?
“Yes”
Buy BALA Twelves starting at $130
Nurse Cathy Chao
Overall rating: 3
Nurse Cathy is an ICU nurse with 5 years of experience. She has wide feet and wore her BALA Twelves to work for 6 days. Follow her on Instagram @nursechao
Buy BALA Twelves starting at $130
BALA Shoe Review
Scale: 5=Best, 1=Worst
Q&A
Do you have any foot, ankle, or other medical conditions that usually influence your shoe purchase?
“Wide feet”
What shoes do you usually wear to work and why?
“Adidas Ultraboost (black) have been the shoes I've been wearing for the last 2 years! I wear these because they have a lot of cushions and accommodate my wide feet!”
How long are you usually at work during a typical shift?
“12 hours”
What do you like about BALA shoes?
“I really liked how easy to clean they are, they are really stylish, and have a lot of cushions.”
What do you dislike about BALA shoes?
“They are not easy to slip on, so putting them on takes slightly longer than I'm used to. And the backs of the shoes rubbed the back of my heels a bit.”
Is there anything else you think nurses should know about BALA shoes?
“The shoe is very durable and held up during my long shifts!”
Would you recommend them to a coworker?
“Yes.”
Buy BALA Twelves starting at $130
More Nurse Reviews of BALA Shoes:
- “W-O-W! As an RN with chronic pain and a history of spinal fractures, I have searched high and low for shoes that are comfortable and help me get through my shifts. Balas do even more than that! Insanely comfortable, stylish, easy to clean, water-resistant, slip-proof, SO WORTH the price! I feel so supported! I tell anyone who will listen about these, oh and I bought all three colors. Easy to say you have a customer for life!” Heather L
- “Overall the best shoes for work I've ever worn. On my feet in the OR everyday and these are game-changers.” -Sarah M
- “Literally this is the first shoe that I have been able to make it through a 4 day stretch with no pain or soreness.” Andrea P
- “By far the most comfortable work shoes I’ve owned. Usually, my feet ache and throb by the end of the shift but after the first day of wearing them, they didn’t hurt. They aren’t squeaky when I walk and are super easy to clean.” Alejandra E
