As a nurse who spends 12+ hours a day on my feet in a busy emergency room, I know first-hand the importance of a good pair of shoes. My calves ache and arches scream by the end of each frantic shift spent rushing between patients.
I recently tested out the BALA Twelves after hearing rave reviews from fellow nurses. I‘ve tried everything from Dansko clogs to New Balance sneakers over my 7 years in nursing, but could never find that magic combo of comfort, support and stability.
The husband and wife team behind BALA set out in 2020 to engineer the perfect nursing shoe after recognizing how poorly traditional options performed. They recruited top designers from Nike and other leading athletic brands to focus their innovative talents.
In this review, I‘ll provide my experience with BALA‘s key features like arch support, traction, fluid resistance and overall comfort. After wearing the Twelves for over 2 months across 50+ shifts in the emergency department, I‘m happy to report they live up to the hype.
How I Evaluated the BALA Twelves
As a seasoned nurse and shoe expert (thanks to testing literally hundreds of options over my career), I developed a rigorous testing methodology before judging the BALA Twelves.
I evaluated them across 8 key criteria:
- Fit & Sizing: Do they run true-to-size? Are they accommodating for wider feet?
- Materials & Durability: How do the materials hold up to fluids and constant activity?
- Traction & Stability: Do they grip hospital floors well? How is lateral stability?
- Cushioning & Shock Absorption: Is there ample cushioning for comfort? Does it absorb impact well?
- Arch Support: Does they provide adequate arch support even for high arches?
- Style & Design: How stylish are they? Do they come in multiple colorways?
- Value for Money: How does the $150 price tag compare to alternatives?
- Overall Comfort: Most importantly, how comfortable are they for long shifts?
I‘ll cover each of these factors in detail throughout this BALA shoes review. First up – sizing and fit.
BALA Twelves Review: Fit & Sizing
After testing both my regular shoe size and half a size up, I found the BALA Twelves run true to size. I typically wear a size 8.5 in athletic sneakers from brands like Brooks, New Balance and Saucony. The size 8.5 BALAs fit me perfectly.
I‘d recommend ordering your regular size unless you have especially wide or swollen feet. In that case, consider sizing up a half or full size. The knit upper material does stretch to accommodate wider feet better than leather or mesh nursing clogs.
In terms of dimensions, here is the sizing breakdown:
| Size | Length Inches | Width Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 9.4 | 3.74 |
| 7 | 9.6 | 3.86 |
| 8 | 9.8 | 3.98 |
| 9 | 10.0 | 4.10 |
| 10 | 10.2 | 4.21 |
| 11 | 10.4 | 4.33 |
| 12 | 10.6 | 4.45 |
Now that we‘ve got fit and dimensions covered, let‘s move onto materials and durability.
BALA Nursing Shoe Review: Materials & Durability
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