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Tired of carrying her shoes to work, we've tested some of the new breed of 'comfort heels' to see if it's really possible to trot easily from door to desk...
ME+EM Occasion Slingback in Tan
Tester: Jackie Annesley, editor
Heel height: 2.4 inches (but they don't feel that high)
Walkability: After walking to a breakfast meeting, I cantered around in them all day, including a walk to get lunch. However, my 2.5-mile trip to work? For that I wear my FitFlop flatform sandals.
Comfort factor: The soft nappa-leather strap is thicker around the ankle for support, the heel is solid and the suede lining is butter soft. They're a bit flappy going down four flights of stairs but no plasters were required.
Rating: 4/5 (one mark taken off for the big price!)
Sole Bliss Audrey Slingback in Cream
Tester: Sarah Vine, columnist
Heel height: 2.5 inches
Walkability: They might look like shoes you'd wear to shop on Bond Street, but they have the soul (and sole) of a trainer. They made my giant feet look passable, the leather wrapped my foot enough to give support without discomfort or bulging. I have bad knees and stairs can be irksome, but in these I was fine.
Comfort factor: I wore them to dinner at a friend's. I'm usually in bed by ten, but the hour came and went and I found myself cutting a rug.
Rating: 5/5
Kurt Geiger Maddison Mule in Orange
Tester: Hope Palmer, fashion assistant
Heel height: 2.4 inches
Walkability: I wore these with socks as I refuse to get my toes out on the Tube. They slowed my fast walking pace, but the real issue was the clacking as I tottered down the escalator. I wore them all day, though.
Comfort factor: The socks helped. When worn barefoot these could rub. I would say they are better for milling around at events.
Rating: 3.5/5
& Other Stories Leather Sandals in Green
Tester: Marianne Jones, features director
Heel height: 1.6 inches
Walkability: I haven't worn heels since the Noughties and I have a bad back, so this was trauma-inducing. My commute takes 90 minutes, including stairs, Overground and Underground. Ten minutes in, I felt a niggle and then my right foot turned red.
Comfort factor: They have a padded insole, and a sturdy, low heel. But they're not for me.
Rating: 3/5 (great for non-sensitive types, just not me)
H&M Bow-Front Court Shoes
Tester: Ffiôn Griffiths, fashion bookings editor
Heel height: 1.3 inches
Walkability: Unfortunately, these lasted only 75 per cent of my commute. We survived stairs and escalators together but were defeated by the final trek from the station.
Comfort factor: Sore heels and pinched toes do not make for a happy journey.
Rating: 2/5
Asos Wedge Thong Sandal in Black
Tester: Jessica Carroll, junior style editor
Heel height: Almost 2 inches
Walkability: Surprisingly good, but I did walk slower than normal – one wrong step and I'd roll an ankle.
Comfort factor: I have worn thong sandals that rub within seconds. I wore these all day with no irritation.
Rating: 4/5
Michael Kors Metallic Loretta Sandals
Tester: Sophie Dearden-Howell, fashion director
Heel height: 2 inches
Walkability: They have no built-in fastening so I was amazed they stayed on so easily during a long bike ride.
Comfort factor: Unbelievably comfy, thanks to cushioning for the ball of your foot. After wearing them all day I had not one blister. Sometimes investing in a more expensive item really can be worth it.
Rating: 5/5
Phase Eight Leather Block Heels in Silver
Tester: Alice Robertson, deputy beauty editor
Heel height: 2.2 inches
Walkability: Easy, thanks to the chunky block heel. The only problem was running for a bus in a slingback: I felt they were about to fly off.
Comfort factor: Heel height is great. Everything else? Not so much. My toes felt like they were in a vice for the day, and I got a blister on my middle toe.
Rating: 3/5
Bobbies Suki Slingbacks in Mocha Dots
Tester: Charlotte Vossen, deputy digital editor
Heel height: 1.8 inches
Walkability: The mid-height spool heel (a slight hourglass shape) not only looks stylish but gives you balance. But you will have to yank the slingback strap occasionally.
Comfort factor: There's cushioning in the heel, which is appreciated, but the real plot twist is the heel caps: noise-cancelling and shock-resistant. Normally, slingbacks announce your presence, but these? Practically silent.
Rating: 4/5
Nomasei Gattaca Pumps in Patent Black
Tester: Rosie Green, assistant editor, beauty
Heel height: 3.2 inches
Walkability: This new brand is on a mission to create chic yet comfy shoes. I wore these for two working days, including on stairs. I did swap to flats to commute. I'm not mad.
Comfort factor: They were as comfy as my go-to flats.
Rating: 5/5
Hobbs Cleo Courts in Warm Ivory
Tester: Hannah Skelley, fashion editor
Heel height: 2.8 inches
Walkability: Thanks to the high vamp (front of the shoe), I had a whale of a time. Running down a flight of stairs to the Tube? No probs. And I made a point of racing through the office lobby to catch the lift.
Comfort factor: By the end of the day, my right little toe felt a bit sorry for itself. But really, I could have gone again. They felt classy. Hobbs, we just need more colours.
Rating: 4/5
Marks & Spencer Satin Slip On Mules in Blue
Tester: Tracey Lea Sayer, head of social channel
Heel height: 1.9 inches
Walkability: These have a whiff of Balenciaga about them for only 40 quid! My commute includes a car journey, a train and a Tube and they comfortably stayed on for all modes of transport.
Comfort factor: The heel gives a slight boost without feeling like I was tottering around and they have clever Insolia technology, which helps to take the pressure off the balls of your feet.
Rating: 5/5
Nobody's Child Chunky 70s Platform Heels in Tan
Tester: Kanika Banwait, social lead
Heel height: 3.1 inches.
Walkability: The base is sturdy enough to tackle most terrains, from grass to gravel.
Comfort factor: I favour a wide fit and these allowed plenty of space. The commute was easy, but after a 20-minute stroll at lunch I had a blister. They do have a cushioned base, so are fine for standing around in.
Rating: 4/5
Dune Manifesting in Black
Tester: Natasha Tomalin-Hall, creative director
Heel height: 2.6 inches
Walkability: As these are chunky and have a platform, they are the perfect commuter shoe. I had to run for the train while carrying a holdall and managed to not trip over. I call that a win.
Comfort factor: They are padded at the front to cushion the ball of your foot, but the strap is too loose for my slender ankle.
Rating: 4/5
The Fold Saturnia Snake-Embossed Leather Heels in Grey
Tester: Sophie Hines, lifestyle director
Heel height: 1.8 inches
Walkability: These are more walkable than I anticipated. The heel is a sturdy block and a reasonable height. They also have good foot coverage so they don't flop off as you're trotting along.
Comfort factor: The extra tab of leather at the heel means no rubbing.
Rating: 4/5
