8 Comfortable Ballet Flats You Can Actually Walk In

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

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Ballet flats look cute but can be brutal on your feet if you’re doing anything more than standing. Here are eight pairs with arch support and padding that you can comfortably walk in.

Lucky Brand Emmie

Zappos

Available in more than 20 colors and patterns, the Emmie ballet flats are sure to suit any personal style. Choose from a leather or fabric upper, both of which top off a lightly padded footbed and flexible rubber sole.

Skechers Cleo

Stand out from the crowd in these unique shoes from Skechers. The Cleo ballet flat has a delicate scalloped detail and is made from a comfortable and easy-to-clean woven knit fabric. A trademarked Air Cooled Memory Foam cushioned insole offers protection and keeps sweat at bay.

Hush Puppies Chaste Ballet

Hush Puppies’ Chaste Ballet flats are designed to mold to your foot for a custom fit. Combined with an elasticized, anti-slip collar, these shoes will feel like they’re made for you. The Chaste flats come in leather, suede, or studded fabric versions, all of which are lined on the inside with a breathable material to keep you dry and blister-free.

Naturalizer Brittany

Naturalizer’s Brittany ballet flats aren’t quite so flat—they’re hiding a secret 1.25-inch hidden wedge to give you a little bit of extra lift. The extra height doesn’t detract from the comfort level of these slip-ons, thanks to the patented N5 Contour technology that tops arch support with dual-density cushioning.

Cole Haan Tali Bow Ballet

You have no excuse not to pack Cole Haan’s Tali Bow ballet flats. They weigh in at just six ounces per shoe and can be compressed nearly flat to fit into even the tightest of carry-ons. An adorable leather bow with a gold-finished center adds extra flair to these flats.

Clarks Grace Lily

If you’ve worn a pair of Clarks, you know this footwear brand is all about comfort. Clarks builds the brand’s trademarked Cushion Plus technology into the footbed of the Grace Lily ballet flats for shoes that are worth walking in.

Tory Burch Minnie Travel Ballet Flat

Zappos’ customers love the Tory Burch Minnie Travel Ballet Flat, with more than 175 reviewers giving these shoes five stars. The consensus: These ballet flats live up to their “slipper-like feel” claim.

Aerosoles Martha Stewart Town Car

Looking for a bit more security from your ballet flats? Aerosoles’ Martha Stewart Town Car shoes have an ankle strap with a buckle and zipper closure to keep these on your feet without sliding around. The flats feature a Diamond Flex rubber sole that uses a unique pattern to move any friction away from the feet, so you can walk comfortably for longer.

Style Picks to Wear With Flats

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Women’s Day Time Style Pick to Wear with Flats

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Women’s Outfit to Wear with Flats

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Women’s Outfit to Wear with Flats

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Caroline Morse Teel loves ballet flats for easy packing. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for style and travel photos from around the world.

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