I was born with bad feet, I wont go into detail but my father has them aswell. I do a lot to "service" them. So I have a Life time of experience when it comes to foot comfort and discomfort.
This next statement is insensitive but I'm serious: until the last 5 or so years the most comfortable shoes I ever wore were Nike's that I bought in early highschool, and they were the shoes that were made in the Sweat Shops. After they stopped being made in the sweat shops they just never felt the same. Those kids made one hell of a pair of comfy shoes.
Now I have discovered NEW BALANCE shoes, and they are a blessing. I have become a shoe whore of sorts. I have 8 pairs: I have 3 of the same for work, when 1 wears out, I'll start wearing the others, walking shoes, dress shoes, you get the picture. New balance uses a number system to rate there shoe comfort and support. THe higher the number the higher the comfort, support, and the price. I alway's buy 1000 or higher, I have 3 pairs of 1223's, and a pair of 1500's, I'm looking into a pair rated over 2000.
If looking into newbalance and want a good pair, don't be cheap, your feet/back are worth the extra money. Look for sale's, If your going to buy online you can get great deals, up to 60% off depending where and when you buy them. But I suggest you go to a store where they sell new balance and find your right size, there size's are alittle different from other company's.
My friends Larry and Bill alway's bought the cheapest shoes, payless/walmart. And there feet alway's hurt. He started out buying a pair rated at 5-600, and didn't notice much differece, I told him he had to buy shoe's rated at 1000 or more, of course spending $100-175 on shoes isn't his thing. But last I saw him he had some 1100's and he was really happy with them.
THIS IS A LONG POST, BUT I'M REALLY PASIONATE ABOUT FOOT COMFORT AND NEW BALANCE SHOES.