Anti-Fatigue Foot Support Options For Standing Desk Users

Institutional ergonomic standards now demand back and neck support for PC and mobile computing. Sedentary computing solutions are also an emergent priority. Sit-to-stand desks address these issues. Hence, they’re likely to become ubiquitous. But as more people make the switch, new ergonomic problems will arise. For instance, after a month of using a standing desk, I discovered a need for good-quality foot support. Here are some of the best anti-fatigue foot support options for standing desk users.

A month into using a Secretlab Magnus Pro desk, my sit-to-stand ratio is around 40:60. Around 60% of the time, I’ve found standing with supported elbows while computing very comfortable.

Man using a standing desk with cheap house slippers — I stood several hours per day in cheap house slippers for a month before pain emerged.

For most of that time, I stood for 5-7 hours every day in either bare feet or cheap house slippers. After a month, the slipper soles wore down to nothing. Then, the bottom of my feet started to hurt. Soon after, my lower back tightened.

Dr. William Duncan, Southeast Physical Therapy — Rather than seeking relief for symptoms, Dr. Duncan (pictured) suggests addressing pain at its source.

Esports therapist Dr. William Duncan has this advice for gamers who experience pain: “Addressing issues begins by identifying the source of the problem.”

Plantar fasciitis from excessive standing — Standing for long periods without support leads to plantar fasciitis.

Since my slippers had worn out and the soles of my feet were sore, the source of my problem seemed clear: inadequate standing desk foot support.

Podiatry Basics For Standing Desk Users

The foot is one of the most complex parts of the human body. It has 26 bones that form two crossing arches that bear weight. Well-structured arches form a thick band of plantar fascia across the bottom of the foot.

Plantar Fasciitis explained — Flattened arches can throw the entire body out of a healthy alignment.

These arches give the feet a natural spring-like effect that promotes shock absorption⁽¹⁾. Weakened ones can throw the entire body out of alignment while standing.

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia gets overused. For example, by standing for long periods in cheap slippers. Without support for the arches, the plantar fascia stretches out.

That causes fallen arches. This condition causes heel pain and makes walking more difficult. It often affects people who stand for long periods of time without support.

Existing Anti Fatigue Foot Solutions

Existing foot solutions for standing desk users are variations of anti-fatigue mats. Here’s a summary:

Hard Plastic Anti-Fatigue Mats

On Amazon, there are several hard plastic models available like the Topo Comfort Mat ($119.00 on Amazon). Billed as a ‘not flat standing desk anti-fatigue mat’, it’s a piece of molded plastic with bumps.

Ergodriven standing desk anti-fatigue mat — Topo Comfort Standing Desk Anti Fatigue Mat.

This is designed to be used with shoes. The bumps are there to massage your arches. At a glance, this looked like a dreary option for my sore feet. First, hard plastic does not provide any cushioning for the soles of the feet.

Painful soles caused by a hard plastic foot mat — Standing in shoes all day on top of hard plastic seems like a painful long-term option.

Second, the hard plastic surface makes shoes a necessity. But what type of shoe? Without answering that question, hard plastic anti-fatigue ‘mats’ like the Topo seem unfeasible.

Watch this clip to see the Topo Mat in action:

Anti-Fatigue Compression Mats

The most popular alternative to hard plastic mats are dense compression ones. For instance, the Kangaroo Anti Fatigue Mat has 17,000+ Amazon reviews and a 4.5-star rating.

Kangaroo Anti-fatigue standing desk mat — Kangaroo 3/4″ Thick Anti-Fatigue Kitchen & Standing Desk Mat.

It looks like a more comfortable option than a hard plastic mat. It comes in various sizes and colors. The smallest 17″ x 24″ version costs $37.99 on Amazon. This clip shows its standing desk foot support effectiveness:

Alternative Anti Fatigue Foot Supports

Existing anti-fatigue standing desk foot solutions include hard plastic mats and compressive ones. Based on those facts, I decided to test out some alternative solutions.

Yoga & Exercise Mats: Poor Support

All desk workers should keep a yoga mat around for stretching breaks. I tried using mine as an anti-fatigue mat. It was an instant failure.

Closeup of yoga and exercise mat — Yoga and exercise mats provide poor anti-fatigue foot protection.

As soon as you stand on a yoga mat, it will compress flat under your body weight. As a result, the soles of your feet will press into a hard floor anyway.

I also tried an MDBuddy exercise mat stuffed with firm EPE foam. Its 1″ thick foam compressed unevenly under my body weight — not ideal. Even so, it felt a lot more comfortable under my feet than the yoga mat.

Timberland Sandals: Good Support

Timberland’s Garrison Trail Webbing Sandal has an EVA-blended foam footbed. It’s a hiking sandal designed for all warm-weather activities. Timberland hypes its soles as having anti-fatigue properties.

Man using Timberland's Garrison Trail Webbing Sandals at a standing desk — Timberland’s Garrison Trail Webbing Sandals provide good anti-fatigue support at a standing desk.

I’ve got a beach holiday coming up, so I bought these and tried them at my desk. I found the hype justified. There was no breaking-in period — as soon as I strapped them on, they felt awesome.

Timberland Garrison Trail Webbing Sandals — Garrison Trail Webbing Sandals also come in blue with tri-color trim.

As well, standing for several hours felt comfortable. The soles provide the right amount of compression for long standing sessions.

Timberland Garrison Trail Sandal on Amazon $70.71

Crocs Clogs: Great Support

The excellent anti-fatigue support provided by the Timberland sandals inspired me to look deeper. Which anti-fatigue shoes are popular among nurses? What kind of anti-fatigue shoes do line cooks wear? In both cases, Crocs came up most often.

Gordon Ramsey and kitchen staff wearing Crocs — Crocs are standard-issue for chefs and kitchen staff who spend long periods standing.

Crocs first emerged in 2001 as weird-looking clogs made from proprietary Croslite foam. They’re easy to clean, lightweight, and durable. They also have insanely comfortable footbeds designed to support long periods of standing.

Crocs clogs for health care workers — Crocs are popular among healthcare workers who spend long periods standing.

During the 2020 pandemic, Crocs went mainstream. Then, overwhelmed frontline workers worldwide adopted them en masse⁽²⁾.

Bad Bunny special edition Crocs — Bad Bunny’s special edition glow-in-the-dark Crocs sold out in 16 minutes.

Since then, enthusiasm for these shoes has spilled well beyond the healthcare sector. These days, the company’s limited edition collabs (Grateful Dead, Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, etc) sell out in minutes.

Crocs Literide: Ultimate Standing Desk Shoe?

With so much anti-fatigue hype around Crocs, I had to try them out for this article. So I picked up a pair of Crocs Literide clogs. LiteRide is the next iteration of the iconic Crocs foam. It’s 40% softer and 25% lighter than Classic Croslite foam.

Crocs Literide clogs used at a standing desk — These Crocs Literide clogs provide excellent standing support for long periods.

In announcing the tech, a Crocs VP noted a big change in the work-from-home era⁽³⁾. “We’re witnessing a shift from comfort being a ‘nice-to-have’ to a consumer ‘must-have.”

To that end, Literide is for “consumers who want to feel comfortable all day.” It’s also for those “who simply want a stylish complement to their athleisure wear.”

Standing desk user wearing Crocs Lightride shoes for anti-fatigue support — Crocs Literide shoes provide excellent comfort and support for standing desk users.

After a week of using my Crocs, I was convinced: they’re legit. My Literides are comfortable, breathable, and easy to slip on and off. Most importantly, the footbeds provide excellent support while standing at a desk for long hours.

UPDATE: seven months after first writing this article, my Crocs + gel heel inserts have remained essential. This clip shows six reasons why Crocs + heel inserts are best for standing desk users. See for yourself:

Crocs LiteRide Clogs on Amazon Price not available

Crocs + Heel Inserts: Excellent Support

As much as I enjoyed standing in Crocs, I felt that something was still missing. After a tour of some podiatry websites, I found heel inserts a recurring theme.

Dr. Scholl’s heel inserts — Heel inserts provide additional support for people who stand all day.

According to Dr. Scholls⁽⁴⁾, these help to “control abnormal foot motion and lessen the stress of everyday activities on your heel.”

Specifically, inserts reduce stress on the heel while standing. An elevated heel cushions the force felt by the Achilles tendon. That prevents flattened arches. Based on that information, I bought a pair of off-brand gel inserts for $35.

Crocs with gel heel inserts — Add heel inserts to your Crocs for an extra level of standing support.

The inserts have made a noticeable difference! It produces a slightly elevated heel. That reduces the temptation to tilt my hips off-center. As a result, standing straight feels a bit easier.

Tweak: Extra-Large Crocs With Heel Inserts

After a few days of using heel inserts, my Crocs started feeling a bit snug. To complete this test, I bought a second pair of slightly larger Literide Crocs.

XL Crocs filled with a heel insert — To ensure enough room for heel inserts, I bought a slightly larger pair of Crocs than my feet needed.

Slightly oversized Crocs with heel inserts added = an excellent fit. So far, I’ve found this method the most comfortable and supportive.

Crocs Literide recommendation for standing desk users — Crocs Literide shoes provide excellent comfort and support for standing desk users.

After a few days, my foot pain vanished. Slight postural misalignments I’d recently developed also ironed out. After that, everything was excellent.

Crocs LiteRide Clogs on Amazon Price not available

For heel insert options, browse the Dr. Scholl’s Store on Amazon.

Standing Shoes + Inserts = Anti-Fatigue

What’s the best anti-fatigue foot support option for standing desk users? In my experience, it’s a good pair of standing shoes — stacked with high-quality heel inserts.

Best anti-fatigue foot support for standing desk users — Heel inserts + a good pair of standing shoes = excellent standing desk support.

Based on the hype — and my own experiences — Crocs are an excellent option. Birkenstock is another name that stands out. Since the 1930s, its legendary footbed has taken comfortable, healthy standing to an elite level.

Birkenstock shoe footbed sole — Birkenstock’s incredible footbed makes you feel as if you’re standing in sand.

The Birkenstock footbed is designed to make you feel like you were standing in sand⁽⁵⁾. That promotes long periods of comfortable standing support. To ensure precise foot ergonomics, its extra-deep heel cup keeps the heel bone firmly in its natural position.

Birkenstock footbeds also have a pronounced heel mold that negates the need for inserts. Its built-in support activates calf muscles while improving gait and coordination.

Birkenstock Men's, Arizona Birko Flor Sandal - Regular Width — Birkenstock Arizona Birko Flor Sandal for men.

Given these facts, which is better for standing desk users: Crocs or Birkenstocks? Hospital and kitchen staff prefer Crocs because they’re easy to clean. But in a work-from-home setting, a pair of supple Arizona Birko Flor Sandals seems a comfier, more luxurious option.

Arizona Birko Flor Sandal on Amazon $108.00

For more premium standing desk shoe options, browse the Birkenstock Store on Amazon.