THE MOST COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES FOR COUNTING ALL YOUR STEPS
It’s important to have a good, comfortable pair of shoes for your everyday life. Whether you’re prone to taking a brisk morning jaunt or simply spend the whole day on your feet, many running shoes provide the kind of padding and support that help to keep you moving. The best walking shoes are lightweight, breathable, and well-cushioned. When picking out a pair of running shoes for everyday life, we look for daily trainers, which are designed to help you pound the pavement day after day.
Best Walking Shoes
- Best Overall: Hoka Clifton 9
- Best Value: Asics GT-1000 12
- Best for All-Day Wear: lululemon Chargefeel 2
- Best Arch Support: Aetrex Chase
- Best Female-Specific Fit: Rykä Devotion X
- Best for Fitness Walking: Skechers Go Walk Speed Walker
- Best for Wide Feet: Altra Provision 8
- Best Cushioning: Diadora Mythos Blueshield Vigore
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The Expert (Michael Charboneau): I became a runner in middle school and have covered running and outdoor gear for years, both on-staff at Runner’s World and as a freelance journalist for InsideHook, Men’s Journal, and other outlets. I’ve written about shoes extensively, and have firsthand experience trying out models from a range of brands. In addition to drawing on my own experience, I also tested several pairs of walking shoes to get a better sense of the tech and features in them, and how they differ from running shoes.
The Expert (Dan Roe): As a former test manager and test editor at Runner’s World, I’ve tested dozens of different running shoes for long distances, short distances, racing, trail running, and more. I also helped manage the Runner’s World wear-test program, gathering data from scores of real runners about what makes a running shoe great. In my former life, I was an NCAA Division I cross-country runner, and you can still find me walk-jogging around my neighborhood.
What to Consider in a Pair of Walking Shoes
Walking is a low-impact activity. It puts less stress on your joints and muscles than high-impact exercises like running. That doesn’t mean that walking can’t feel like a workout. You put a lot of pressure on your feet and legs as you walk around every day. If you walk a lot, particularly as a form of exercise, you should find walking shoes that fit well and support you.
Cushioning
Most walking shoes are well-cushioned with relatively thick midsoles and plenty of shock-absorbing foam. Many of them, including the Dansko Pace and Hoka Clifton, use the same ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam to pad their midsoles that you find in many modern running shoes. If you like a soft, plush feel underfoot, look for this as it's great material.
Some running-derived walking shoes like the Saucony Tempus, which didn't make our roundup but is still an excellent choice, feature newer cushioning materials that are lighter and more responsive than EVA. The Tempus has Saucony’s lightweight polyether block amide (PEBA)-based “Pwrrun PB” foam, which gives the Tempus a bouncy, propulsive feel.
If you’re walking for exercise or prefer a shoe with a peppy, energetic feel that helps you maintain a brisk pace, look for walking shoes with more advanced cushioning foams. You might also consider trying a pair of running shoes.
Stability
A good walking shoe should feel stable without any wobbling. Look for shoes with wide soles, especially in the forefoot—the added space gives your toes room to splay with each step and creates a more stable platform for your feet. The Rykä Devotion X features an especially wide, stable sole design.
If you overpronate or struggle with specific foot issues like plantar fasciitis, choose a shoe with more robust support features like a medial post, which adds a layer of firmer foam to the inside edge of the shoe that keeps your foot aligned as you walk, or an arch support footbed, where the insole is shaped to match the bottom of your foot and bolster your arch. The Aetrex Chase is a great example of this type of stability-focused walking shoe.
You can also look for shoes that have earned the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance, which have been independently verified by APMA testers and found to promote foot health. Several of our recommendations, including the Aetrex Chase and Hoka Clifton, have earned the award.
Well-Made Uppers
A walking shoe's upper should be breathable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing (or at least blend in with a variety of outfits). Good breathability will keep your feet from getting hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable, even after walking for many hours.
Durability is important, too: You’ll likely wear walking shoes frequently so they should be able to withstand day-to-day wear and tear. We recommend mesh uppers, which offer a good balance between breathability (the open spaces in the mesh promote good airflow) and strong, durable construction.
Finally, a note on upper aesthetics: Although it might seem superfluous, make sure to pick a shoe with an upper design and color that you like and that works with your everyday wardrobe. You won’t wear them as much if you don’t like how you look.
How We Selected The Best Walking Shoes
To pick the best walking shoes, we researched the shoe lineups of major shoe brands, as well as a few lesser-known ones, like Rykä. We spoke with brand reps to learn more about what models are best suited for walking. We also tried on samples of various walking shoes and tested them on easy hiking trails, power walks around our neighborhoods (often with kids and dogs in tow), and plodding up and down stairs at home.
For the few picks we haven’t tested personally, we read professional reviews from several publications and checked forums to find the walking shoes that the running and walking communities are excited about.
Using all that info, we narrowed it down to the selection of shoes below. There’s no such thing as a single perfect walking shoe for everyone, so we aimed to include a variety of options to suit all kinds of walkers. Whether you’re walking for fitness or just running errands, you can feel confident lacing any of these up.
Our Full Walking Shoe Reviews
It’s rare to find a shoe that’s comfortable and cushioned enough for walking and light enough on the foot to feel good while running—but the Hoka Clifton nails that balance. The latest version, the Clifton 9, features even more midsole foam than its predecessor—the stack height increased by 3mm—but it’s actually lighter than before.
The compression-molded EVA midsole offers good shock absorption at any pace, and it’s tuned for responsiveness, so you get some extra bounce in your step. Combined with Hoka’s Early Stage Meta-Rocker design, where the sole curves upward under the balls of your feet, the Clifton 9 promotes a peppy step that encourages smooth strides while running or walking.
Rubber placements on the outsole boost the shoe’s longevity, so it should handle high-mileage training and everyday errands with aplomb. It’s also earned the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association. A comfy, capable shoe, the Clifton 9 stands out from other walking shoes because of its unmatched versatility: It’s a go-to for everything from casual wear to your weekday morning jog.
During an era of historic inflation, finding a quality running and walking shoe like the Asics GT-1000 12 for $100 truly feels like a steal. The latest version brings back the EVA foam midsole from its predecessor, as well as the gel pod in the heel for a more cushioned step. It’s not Asics’ thickest or softest midsole, but an Ortholite sockliner adds enough softness to keep it comfortable for a long day of dashing, strolling, and getting around.
New to the GT-1000 12, an updated midsole guides your step using Asics’ LiteTruss system, which adds a firm layer of foam to reduce torsional flexibility (twisting). It gives overpronators the support they need through the midfoot, without overpowering your gait if you’re a neutral walker.
It also features a new engineered mesh upper with a tighter weave in the midsole and toe box to keep your foot stable and a more breathable weave elsewhere to ventilate your feet. Plus, with 11 colorways available, there’s a shoe to match everyone’s walking wardrobe.
Though it’s best known for its yoga pants, lululemon has successfully broken into the running space sponsoring athletes like Colleen Quigley and Nikki Hiltz. Its shoes include the daily trainer Blissfeel 2, which we’ve compared to the likes of the Nike Pegasus and Brooks Ghost.
The lululemon Chargefeel 2 serves as both a running and cross-training shoe, but we’d actually call it a triple threat: Our testers have worn the shoe outside of the gym and traversed through their day at a slower pace. As it turns out, the Chargefeel 2 is an ideal walking shoe, due in part to its dual-foam midsole. Its knit upper has a contoured cut heel collar that fits like a second skin. The shoe was specifically designed for a woman’s foot and is available in women’s sizing only.
Aetrex shoes are designed to provide maximum arch support and promote proper joint alignment, and they come in a variety of styles for men and women. If you deal with issues like plantar fasciitis or pain in your heels or arches—or you just like a highly supportive shoe—the Chase may be very helpful.
It offers a thick wedge of midsole foam so you get plenty of cushioning, but the main highlight is the footbed: Aetrex’s unique removable insole places the “peak” of the arch support farther back than other brands’ footbed designs (it’s in line with your ankle rather than the middle of your foot). This mirrors the bone structure of the foot, so you get targeted arch support exactly where you need it.
Walking in the Chases felt a little stiff at first for Charboneau. The beveled heel and flat outsole created a blocky sensation when walking (likely because I tend to land on my heels). After just a couple walks, though, the shoes broke in a bit and felt softer, and the insoles delivered a supportive, foot-cradling feel that really boosted my arches. The upper was soft and accommodating, and I appreciated the minimalist, low-key look, which made them easier to style. The Chase only comes in men’s sizes, but women can get the same arch support from Aetrex’ very similar Danika sneaker.
Rykä stands out from other brands by creating shoes designed specifically for women’s feet. The Devotion X is a revamped version of one of the company’s top models, and it’s a great pick for active days and fitness walking.
This APMA-certified shoe pairs Rykä’s responsive Re-Zorb cushioning foam in the forefoot and heel with a traditional EVA foam for plenty of energy return and reliable shock absorption. Inside, an anatomically shaped insole cradles the bottom of your foot, supporting the heel and arch to keep your feet and joints aligned as you move.
Unlike insoles in other shoes, it’s designed to match the structure of women’s bodies—female quadriceps muscles are angled differently than men’s, which gives women a different stance and foot landing pattern than men. (The insole is also removable, so you can swap in your own orthotics if you have them).
A wide toe box also adds some stability and creates room for your toes to splay, and a narrower heel is designed to provide a more secure fit around female feet. The breathable mesh upper keeps your feet from overheating, and generous rubber placements on the outsole ensure you have plenty of grip across surfaces and good durability for high-mileage wear.
Although other walking shoes offer comfy insoles and supportive cushioning, the Devotion X rises above the rest for its singular focus on female biomechanics, and the result is a supremely comfortable shoe for women.
As its name implies, the Go Walk Speed Walker is designed specifically to increase your walking pace which makes it a great choice for fitness walking. During Charboneau's testing, he really appreciated the smooth, balanced ride of this shoe.
The removable insole creates a soft step-in feel and offers good arch support, and the combo of a HyperBurst midsole and an embedded plate at the forefoot creates a springy sensation in each step. The sole of the shoe also has a slight rocker shape, and together with the bouncy foam and the shoe’s relatively low weight, it encourages smooth, brisk strides. The outsole features Goodyear rubber around the forefoot and heel—I never had any issues with grip, and the shoe felt stable during jaunts around my neighborhood.
My only gripe: The toe box is somewhat narrow, and during testing, the upper tended to crimp and slightly pinch the big toe on my left foot. Overall, though, I really enjoyed wearing this model, and if you’re looking for a speedy walking shoe that’ll help you get your steps in, the Go Walk Speed Walker is definitely worth a try.
Altra running shoes tend to run especially wide, with an anatomically correct shape that doesn’t cram your toes into a pointy forefoot. In addition, three of its models come in extra-wide sizes, making Altra an essential brand for runners with wide feet.
We specifically like Provision 8 because it gives you lots of padding. There’s more than an inch of foam cushioning and outsole rubber beneath your feet, so you won’t be wanting for plushness or dealing with hotspots after a long day of urban trekking. Altra’s proprietary “Ego” midsole foam compound provides above-average energy return, delivering an energetic ride as you transfer from heel to toe. And like any great walking shoe, its engineered mesh upper keeps your foot planted and ventilated within the shoe.
The Provision 8 also stabilizes your steps with raised sides called “GuideRails,” which keep your ankles from collapsing inward due to excessive overpronation. Unlike traditional stability shoes, which put a chunk of high-density foam beneath the arch to hold your foot in place, this approach caters to both overpronators and runners with a more neutral stride—the GuideRails fade into the background when you don’t need them.
Before you run out and buy a pair, though, you should keep in mind that all of Altra’s shoes have no heel-to-toe drop which means the heel and forefoot are at the same height. According to Altra, this mimics your natural stride. Zero-drop shoes require your foot and ankle to develop strength and flexibility, which may be healthier in the long run—or over a few months of daily use for walking. It isn’t for everyone, though, so prepare to spend time adjusting, and keep your old shoes just in case they aren’t a good fit.
The Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore 2 is as plush as it is stylish. These luxurious sneakers offer an uncanny combination of comfort, stability and energy return. Few shoe designs give you all three: Soft, stable shoes typically feel sluggish on your feet, like walking in wet sand. While the Mythos Blushield Vigore does pay a weight penalty for its padding—the men’s shoe weighs in at 11.5 ounces, and the women’s comes in at 9.2 ounces—its elaston EVA footbed is thick, plush and springy, so your foot sinks in at touchdown and helps you spring back at toe-off.
A soft, chunky midsole sits beneath the footbed, and Diadora’s TRX stability system controls all that foam by separating the forefoot from the heel counter. Together with a soft and snug-fitting engineered mesh upper, the Mythos Blushield Vigore’s combination of plushness and stability makes you want to head out for a walk.
Q+A With Running Shoe Expert Michael Charboneau
When should I wear walking shoes?
Walking shoes are ideal footwear for a variety of scenarios. They’re great for fitness, but also a dependable pair of shoes for everyday life. If you have to spend a full day on your feet—standing all day at work, running errands, traveling—the padding can help you feel light on your feet. In other words, walking shoes are not just a fitness gear item—they can be part of your everyday footwear rotation, too.
Do trail shoes make good walking shoes?
Trail shoes are great for walking, but they’re specifically made for walking on unpaved paths. Trail shoes with lugged outsoles, which have small protrusions that dig into soft ground, will help you get better traction on dirt and rocks. Likewise, many trail shoes have built-in rock plates to keep roots and debris from poking up into your feet.
While I almost always wear trail shoes for hiking, I wouldn’t necessarily buy a pair to replace my walking shoes. The burly outsoles add weight, and the lugs can sometimes press up into your feet when walking on hard surfaces like pavement. If your daily walk takes you across the city or the suburbs, you’re better off with walking or road running shoes.
What is shoe “drop?”
Drop refers to the difference between the height of the heel and the forefoot in a pair of shoes. Shoe companies make the heel taller than the forefoot to cushion it as you touch down. A taller heel also minimizes how much energy and effort you use to take each step, reducing fatigue and allowing you to walk for longer distances. Most walking and running shoes have a drop somewhere between 6mm and 10mm.
However, by demanding less from your feet than a totally flat shoe, shoes with high drop can mask deficits in strength and flexibility that can lead to injury if left unchecked. For that reason, brands like Hoka and Altra make specialty shoes with little or no drop to help runners build strength in their feet. If that sounds like something you want to try, keep in mind that switching to zero-drop shoes comes with a bit of a learning curve. Don’t throw out your old shoes, and give yourself time to adjust.
You’ve most likely been running in shoes with 8mm to 12mm of drop your entire life, so progress gradually if you’re making the switch to low or no drop.
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