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Walking: Most of us do it without giving it much thought, whether weโre taking the dog out, running errands, or just meandering around the neighborhood. We donโt spend much time thinking about the shoes we wear, until, of course, we make the mistake of spending an entire day tooling around town and end up with unhappy feet. Walking shoes include boots and sandals, as well as athletic style shoes. There are dressier styles, so you donโt have to tie yourself to a pair of trainers or sneakers. Here are our top walking shoe picks that will keep your feet comfortable and supportive all day long, no matter the situation or environment.
These Dansko low boots may seem an odd choice for a โbest walking shoesโ accolade but, as a person with knee issues and high arches whose second career as a film and television pattern maker and costume designer involves a good deal of walking and standing, these are one my top footwear choices. Iโm a longtime Dansko fan because of the dual density EVA foam bed and excellent support featured in all their shoe styles. These short boots are no exception. Plus, they go well with everything from jeans to flowy dresses to smart trousers. This means I can wear them while shopping, standing over my cutting table, running from fitting to fitting, and into meetings with producer types. If a pair of boots was ever made for walking, itโs these.
For more walking shoes for women check The Best Walking Shoes for Women: 10 Comfortable Options to Suit Your Style
The plush cushioning of these shoes makes them exceptionally supportive and comfortable. You might even feel as if youโre floating through your day. They fit snugly around the ankle and heel while offering ample room in the toe area. Theyโre also impressively water-repellent with a grippy tread, so even getting caught out in the rain wonโt cramp your style.
For more walking shoes for men check The Best Walking Shoes for Men: Whatโs Right for Your Feet?
With its dual foam midsole and contoured heel collar, the Lululemon Chargefeel 2 wraps around your feet like a second skin. You put them on and almost forget youโre wearing anything at all on your feet. Itโs one of my favorite pairs of shoes for running errands in my neighborhood or spending hours on a layover.
Hoka is a brand that comes up over and over when talking about comfortable walking shoes. The Clifton 9 features a compression-molded EVA midsole that absorbs shock while also providing enough cushion to give your step a little bounce. It earned two spots on our list because of its comfort, cushioning, lightness, and versatilityโmaking it the shoe of choice for everything from treadmill walking and jogging to wandering around a new-to-you cobblestoned city.
The Fuelcell midsole cushioning of New Balanceโs 990 V6 provides a propulsive feel that gives each step a little more oomph which, letโs face it, many of us could use. The good thing is, these shoes are classically stylish enough to wear everyday. The iconic New Balance logo overlays โflow from heel to toe across the mesh underlay,โ which is designer lingo for โthese shoes look as good as they feel.โ
What we donโt like:
Iโve been wearing Nike shoes since the 1980s, back when I used to run 25-35 miles a weekโand it was always in a pair of Nikes. These days, my knees have more of a say in how long and often Iโm able to run, but theyโre still partial to Nikes when it comes to walking (or even hiking). The Pegasus model has been around for years and this latest version is just as cushiony and bouncy as its predecessors. They deliver a wonderful โoff the groundโ feel as you move through your day whether or not that involves running.
With excellent cushioning and shock absorption, the Asics Gel Venture is a great choice for walking on pavement as well as gravel and woody trails (as long as theyโre not too rocky) at a very reasonable price point. The gel cushioning throughout the midsole provides support and easily absorbs bumps from uneven terrain, especially in the heel area. They also feature a breathable mesh upper, adequate wiggle room in the toe box, and an outsole with notable traction, even when the ground is wet.
The Bondi SR is the most cushioned shoe Hoka offers. Made from water-resistant leather with an EVA midsole and grippy rubber on the bottom, theyโre an ideal workplace and all-day shoe for everyone, especially those that suffer from plantar fasciitisโone of the reasons they have an American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance.
While it may be a bit surprising to see a pair of clogs (as opposed to sneakers) earn our โbest walking and standing all dayโ label, the Dansko Professional clog is no ordinary pair. Theyโre a popular shoe among medical professionals who spend hours a day on their feet, and youโll see why when you slip them on. They feature a protective heel counter that provides the lateral support you need while also allowing your heel to move freely vertically. Plus, they have a supportive, contoured footbed with a sturdy sole that supports your feet through days that require long periods of standing.
Iโve always been more of a boot person than a sneaker person when it comes to everyday footwear and exploring new places. With shock absorption soles, Blundstone boots are a perfect alternative to the sneaker scene. Thereโs virtually no break-in period and, while theyโre obviously not as light as many of the sneaker options, theyโre not clunky or heavy either. Iโve worn mine during long days of museum hopping and neighborhood exploring all over Europe and my feet were always comfortable. And I looked rather stylish.
Made from eco-friendly leather, the Kuru Roam offers a classic, understated shoe style with excellent cushioning, a dynamic flexing sole, and support to protect your joints. The Kurusole features a design with a cushy heel pad that hugs your heels and a built-in insole that delivers arch support. We like that they donโt look like your typical athletic shoe. In fact, youโll likely get lots of compliments on your stylish and cute shoes when wearing them.
Designed for maximum arch support, these shoes from Aetrex help to keep your joints properly aligned (something my chronic runnerโs knee appreciates). Aetrex shoes differ from other brands with their removable insole that positions the high point of its arch support farther back on the footbed nearer your ankle, which is more in line with how the bones of your foot are shaped.
The Fresh Foam X 1080s offer a nice, wide fit that allows your toes some wiggle room while helping prevent the formation of blisters and bunions with a snug fit around the ankle area. The upper is made from a breathable fabric that reduces moisture accumulation (which is also a plus when preventing blisters). Thereโs also a plush foam midsole that provides excellent cushioning. Shopping tip: New Balance made our list of the best running shoe brandsโand their Fresh Foam X 1080 model is one of their most popular shoes.
Featuring a midsole made with a lightweight, responsive foam (PWRRUN PB foam), these shoes from Saucony almost feel as if theyโre gently propelling you forward with each stepโthanks to the propulsive nature of the foam. They also have an EVA frame that molds around your footโs unique shape. This helps your feet settle deeper into the shoe, making for a cradle-like cushioned fit.
To choose the best walking shoes we spent a good deal of time researching and reading reviews from experts as well as consumers. Iโm also a pretty active person who lives in a major city so most things I do involves walking. My second career (aside from journalism) entails significant periods of standing and long days that often include a lot of walking. Iโve worn the majority of the shoe picks included here personally and found them comfortable and supportive for my complaining knees and occasional foot pain.
A good pair of walking shoes will fit right out of the box without any need for breaking them in. Beyond that, pay attention to the following features.
Most walking shoes come equipped with a well cushioned, shock absorbing foam midsole. Many use EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) for this purpose which provides a plush, soft base under your feet. Shoes that are more running oriented than walking often use even lighter weight materials for cushioning that have some propulsion or bounce.
Walking shoes should feel stable. Your feet shouldnโt wobble around when theyโre in them. That said, extra space in the toe box will allow your toes to spread out naturally as you walk which is ultimately more stable. If you overpronate or have plantar fasciitis issues, look for a shoe with arch support and a midsole that mimics the shape of the bottom of your foot.
You donโt want your favorite pair of walking shoes wearing out over just a couple months. You also want them to look good. After all, youโll be less inclined to wear them if you think theyโre unattractive. Good breathability is also a feature to look for that helps keep your feet from getting too sweaty while out walking for hours at a time.
Walking shoes are designed for all-day comfort, so you can wear them as many hours a day as you want. If your job involves a lot of standing and moving from place to place (such as a doctor or nurse in a hospital), youโll probably find wearing your walking shoes for the duration the most comfortable option.
In general, walking shoes should be on the light side to help mitigate fatigue when wearing them for many hours at a time. Most of the shoes on this list weigh very little; the heaviest are the Danskos and the Blundstones.
Absolutely. The best running shoes work just as well for walking. The only thing to look out for is using a pair of running shoes geared toward eliciting faster paces. (This is true whether youโre shopping for running shoes for men or running shoes for women.) These shoes are often constructed with a more aggressive rocker shape on the sole which provides more propulsion than some people will find comfortable when just walking. You want to make sure that youโre not altering your natural gait by wearing shoes with technology not suited to your needs.
Generally, the rule of thumb is to replace walking shoes every 400 to 500 miles or 6 to 8 months, whichever comes first. If youโre walking over rough terrain or carrying heavy loads your shoes could wear out more quickly. Check your shoes regularly for wear and tear signs such as holes or a worn down sole or heel.
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