How to make your Norwegian Constitution Day easier on your feet

May 17th is a long and lovely day. With a little preparation, it will also be easier on your feet.

May 17th is one of the best days of the year. There are flags, music, ice cream in hand, and people everywhere. It's also one of the longest days on your feet for many. Between the children's parade, the public parade, breakfast visits, and family celebrations, it easily becomes four to seven hours in dress shoes, much standing, and a good deal of walking on asphalt and cobblestones.

The goal of this guide is not to make you worry about your body. It's to give you some simple choices that will make the day easier, so you can participate all the way without lagging behind on your way home. A little support where you know you'll get tired is often all it takes.

A long day on your feet requires a little extra care

Most people walk or stand far more on May 17th than on a normal day. Getting up early, standing still while the parade passes, then off to breakfast and perhaps several visits throughout the day. Four to seven hours in dress shoes on asphalt or cobblestones is a completely different strain than an hour in soft sneakers on a soft path. In addition, festive attire is often tighter, traditional folk costume shoes and patent leather shoes are elegant but not always soft, and many choose shoes they only wear on this one day. The consequence is that ankles, calves, and knees work harder than they are used to, and this is where small choices make a big difference.

Ankle support and comfort

If your ankle often gets tired on long days, or if you've had a sprain in the past that still reminds you of its presence, a light ankle support can be a good choice for May 17th. It provides compression around the joint, warmth, and a feeling of contact that many find reassuring.

The Wear'N'Go Ankle Support is a soft, knitted sleeve with two silicone pads on the sides of the ankle and an open heel. It is approved as a medical device by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA-approved) and is designed to provide support and compression throughout the day without restricting your movement. Slim and discreet, it fits in most shoes.

A little compression around the ankle can make long days noticeably more comfortable.

Here's how Henning describes his use:

Henning describes exactly what people often want on May 17th. A little extra security around the ankle, but no bulky brace that takes over the entire movement.

Alf Egil uses it daily for a different reason:

If your ankle has been operated on before, or if you often feel a bit insecure about it, you probably recognize yourself in Alf Egil's description. That extra insurance is often what allows you to participate fully instead of sitting on the first available bench.

Do you want to compare different types of ankle support before choosing? Read our complete guide to ankle support for a thorough review of soft, lace-up, and rigid supports.

Suitable for those who want security around the ankle throughout May 17th: Give your ankle a more stable and secure day

Light calves when the day gets long

Many don't notice their ankles at all on May 17th; it's the calves that get heavy. This is a very common experience when you stand still a lot, especially on asphalt, and particularly if the day is warm. Blood and lymph easily accumulate in the calves and feet, resulting in that heavy, slightly aching feeling towards the afternoon.

Wear'N'Go Calf Compression Sleeves are an excellent tool for this. They are FDA-approved and provide even, graduated compression around the calf muscles. This helps improve circulation in the calves during long days, and many find that their legs feel less tired both during and after the day. Slim enough to fit under trousers, dresses, or tights without being noticeable, and you take them off when you get home.

Here's how Kristian describes his experience:

Kristian describes exactly the type of long and fragmented strain that May 17th brings. He also uses them on flights, hikes, and in everyday life because they alleviate the heavy feeling in his calves. The day isn't hard, but it's long, and that's where compression is most beneficial. You put them on in the morning, you don't think about them throughout the day, and you only notice the difference when you take them off in the evening.

Do you want to understand how compression actually works in the body? Read more about how compression works in our detailed explanation.

Suitable for those who often experience heavy or tired calves on long days: More comfort for your calves

Knee comfort for lots of walking

Your knees also work hard on May 17th. You walk downhill between home and the gathering place, up and down stairs to breakfast or visits, and stand still a lot between stages. For many, it's the combination of standing, walking, and some inclines that causes that slightly sore feeling around the knee by the end of the day.

The Wear'N'Go Knee Support is FDA-approved and provides compression, side stabilization, and a comfortable silicone ring around the kneecap. This helps improve knee comfort on long days with a lot of walking and can reduce the risk of the knee being overworked by a combination of asphalt, cobblestones, and dress shoes. Slim and discreet, so you can wear it under trousers or a dress.

Here's how Malin describes her experience:

Malin uses it when descending mountains, but the principle is the same on May 17th. It's the long, fragmented strain that often tires the knee, not the intensity itself. A light knee support takes the edge off the strain, so you can last all day without aching in the evening.

Suitable for those who often feel their knees after long days of standing and walking: Support for long days on your feet

When support isn't the whole solution

Some people feel that their ankle isn't just tired, but also a bit unstable. It sometimes twists, or feels insecure on uneven surfaces. If this sounds familiar, and especially if you've had repeated sprains, then your ankle often needs more help than just a support sleeve can provide.

That's where the Wear'N'Go Ankle Trainer comes in. It's a CE-marked Class 1 ankle trainer that you wear during normal everyday walking. It has adjustable resistance on the inside of the ankle. When the resistance is on the inside, the muscles on the outside have to work a little extra with each step, and it's this consistent activation that, over time, contributes to a stronger and more stable ankle.

The Ankle Trainer trains the ankle while you walk in everyday life, and is intended for the weeks before or after a long day like May 17th.

Important: The Ankle Trainer is not an ankle support and is not designed to provide support throughout a long May 17th day. It is a training tool for everyday walking before or after the day. If you use it in the weeks around May 17th, it can help make your ankle stronger and more stable over time. On the day itself, the Ankle Support is the right choice for your ankle.

Here's how Julian describes his experience over time:

What Julian describes, a gradual strengthening through normal everyday walking, is precisely the point of the Ankle Trainer. It's not something one feels immediately, but something the ankle achieves over time. Do you want to understand when to use ankle support and when to use an ankle trainer? How to choose between support and rehabilitation explains how the two are related.

Suitable for those who want to build a stronger and more stable ankle in everyday life: Make training easier in everyday life

Listen to your body throughout the day

The most important thing on the day itself isn't the product you're wearing. It's actually listening to what your body tells you. If you feel your ankle starting to ache, your knee becoming sore, or your calves getting heavy, it's a signal that it's time for a short break. Sit down, take stock, walk around a bit. It often passes on its own as long as you don't push through increasing pain. A good trick is to plan your breaks in advance: a visit to family, a cup of coffee, a bench along the way. When breaks are built into the day, May 17th becomes much easier on your feet.

However, if you feel clear swelling in your ankle, severe pain that prevents you from walking, or that you cannot properly bear weight on your foot, it's best to seek help. This applies regardless of what festive day it is.

How to choose the right product for May 17th

Start with the complaint you know best. Many only experience one of these, and then the choice is straightforward. Others experience a bit of several, and in that case, it might be wise to use more than one.

All three supports can be used simultaneously. If you find that your ankle, calves, and knee usually get tired, the combination of ankle support under your sock, calf compression on your calf, and knee support under your trousers is a simple way to give your entire leg a little extra support and comfort.

Frequently asked questions

How can I make my feet hurt less on May 17th?

Shoes you've broken in, planned breaks, varied standing and walking times, and support or compression where you know it gets tired, are the four most helpful measures. Choose the spot on your leg where you first feel it, and start there.

What helps with heavy calves when standing for a long time?

Calf compression, good shoes, and frequent short breaks help best. A little movement between periods of standing still evens out the heavy feeling in the calves.

Should I use an ankle brace on May 17th?

Yes, if your ankle often feels weak, tired, or unstable with a lot of walking. A soft ankle brace provides compression and light support throughout the day, and fits in most dress shoes.

Can I use Ankle Trainer on May 17th?

Yes, but not as a brace; Ankle Trainer is not an ankle brace and is not designed to provide support throughout a long May 17th day. It is better suited for everyday training before or after the day.

What kind of shoes are best on May 17th?

Shoes you've worn before, that fit well and don't pinch. Bunad shoes and patent leather shoes should be tested several times before the actual day, so your feet are used to them.

What do I do if my ankle starts to ache along the way?

Take a break, slow down, and avoid pushing through increasing pain. Seek help if you experience clear swelling, severe pain, or are unable to put weight on your foot.

Can knee support be useful on long days with a lot of walking?

Yes, knee support is relevant if you often feel strain or discomfort around the knee when standing and walking for long periods. It provides compression and lateral stabilization without restricting movement.