Comfort shoes mean different things to different people. Gone are the days when you had one pair of dress shoes and one pair of athletic shoes--nowadays shoes are designed and marketed for every conceivable occasion and activity. It's not uncommon to have a pair of shoes for playing tennis, another for jogging, and another pair of athletic-looking shoes that you'd never even think of using for athletic purposes.

People like their feet to be comfortable, and shoe designers have responded with countless varieties of multi-purpose comfort shoes. You can now find dress shoes that employ the same space-age cushion technology that was previously only available in running shoes. So when you're out on the town and racing to catch a cab, you might just have a leg up on the competition!

Athletic Comfort Shoes

Ever since Nike started the shoe revolution with their patented "Air" cushion technology, the world of sneakers (also known as "tennis shoes") has never been the same. Rival athletic shoe companies compete for the best performance technology. The result is not only shoes that allow you to go faster but that also create a wide range of options for every consumer. Arch support and cushioned heels are making sneakers more comfortable than ever, which is why a lot of people are wearing them all the time.

Depending on your style, you may or may not want to be wearing sneakers at every moment of the day. In some fashion sets you almost have to--basketball sneakers and skateboard shoes are very popular all-purpose choices for certain age groups. These people are lucky since it's hip for them to be wearing comfort shoes all the time.

For those of you who don't want to look like you just stepped off the athletic field, new lines of retro-looking athletic comfort shoes are a terrific solution. These shoes look like sneakers, but they're intended for more casual purposes. Brands like Puma, Reebok, and Adidas offer a wide range of casual sneakers that you can even wear out to a club.

Casual and Dress Comfort Shoes

For more conservative styles, there has also been an explosion in recent years of comfortable dress and casual shoes. Now you don't have to wear athletic shoes to take advantage of advanced comfort technology. Casual and dress shoe companies have been just as rigorous in developing comfort shoes that feel great on your feet all day long.

The popularity of comfort shoes has even lead to big changes in shoes that we'd never think could be comfortable. Several boutique women's shoe designers are developing high heeled shoes that are surprisingly comfortable. This will come as a great relief to women who love looking great but hate the downside of uncomfortable stilettos.

One surprising aspect of the comfort shoe market has been the exploding popularity in recent years of very traditional shoe designs. Clogs are all the rage these days, and despite their simple construction and stiff soles, people who are on their feet all day will attest that these are some of the best shoes you can wear. This puts an interesting twist on the idea that comfortable shoes can only be made with the use of new technology.