We Tested 24 Pairs of Walking Shoes, and These 10 Were Our Favorites

Hoka has quickly become a go-to name in walking shoes. Its Transport commuter shoes were created specifically for city dwellers, with a rugged outsole that grips sidewalks, streets, and grass alike. They’re great for a comfier trek to and from the office, or for a fitness walk around town. They also handle any scuffs, muck, or puddles the city throws at them like a champ. The high-quality materials are water- and abrasion-resistant, and we found that this less-porous material was much easier to clean than typical sneaker fabric.

In testing, we found these Hokas to be great shoes for light activity and everyday errands — but we also found that they’re best for walking, not running. Our feet adapted to these shoes very quickly. While they do have a roomier toe box than we’re used to, it didn’t end up causing any issues. “I’m still reaching for this pair after the testing period,” notes tester Lindsay Modglin. “I really like the lacing system and how easy they’ve been to keep clean.”

The Transport features the option of toggle laces or traditional laces (included), 360-degree reflectivity, and a molded polyurethane liner. Plus, they’ve earned the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance, meaning podiatrists have concluded that they promote foot health. If sustainability is a concern, know that several of the Transport’s plastic components are 100 percent recycled, its ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) midsole is made of 30 percent sugarcane, and the outsole uses 90 percent oil-free ingredients and 100 percent natural pigments.

These Asics Novablast shoes offer maximum cushioning for soft landings, impact absorption, and comfort on longer walks. In testing, these shoes were so comfortable that it felt like we were standing on a cloud. We loved the trampoline-inspired outsole design that provides a more responsive bounce-back. “From the first moment of walking: Wow! I felt like I was bouncing,” our tester, Raki Swanson, raved. “This is awesome, especially when running.”

After a week of running errands and daily fitness walks or runs, these shoes continued to deliver cushion, support, and bounce. They also came through during long periods of standing, as proven by Swanson’s ability to stand comfortably for 2.5 hours at a time while attending several hockey games. Her feet were never sore, she says, even though she has high arches.

While they took a while to break in, for the price and quality, we are convinced that the Novablast 4s are a solid investment. Swanson says that she plans to continue wearing them for her daily 2- to 3-mile walks. We also appreciated the aesthetic of this shoe, including its many color options. And at just under 8 ounces, they won’t weigh down your feet or your gym bag.

“Right away, these shoes felt extremely cushiony and comfortable,” notes tester Jana Pollack. “I was impressed by how soft and supportive they were.”

We found these shoes to be of high quality and great for walking. Pollack wore them for about 3 miles a day of casual walking around the neighborhood, and even up big hills, and says that her feet felt great. During our tests, our feet felt supported and almost like they were floating. The Yasus remained in very good shape, even after a lot of walking. We would recommend these shoes to anyone looking for a comfortable, supportive walking shoe. The only downside we found was some minor rubbing at the laces on one foot.

The shoe’s upper is made of breathable mesh, while the outsole is durable, high-abrasion rubber. To top it off, they’ve earned the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance, so you can feel confident that your arches will be supported mile after mile.

Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 shoes use a combination of foam and gel to create a thick, incredibly cushy sole that gives you a softer landing and a more responsive push-off. In testing, the grippy outer sole and extra-cushioned heel in particular felt great on pavement. When running or walking, they offered a bounce that helped propel us forward. They’re also relatively lightweight at around 9 ounces.

The soft and stretchy knit provides an adaptive fit, which tester Natasha Caleel says she appreciated. She notes that while the sole is quite thick, the shoes “hugged my feet well and were not heavy.” The stretchy tongue also made them easy to slip on, even with the laces tied. While we felt that these were excellent for standing, walking, and running, we found the sole to be too thick for strength training. In addition, the light-colored mesh upper got dirty easily, so we’d recommend buying the darker shades.

At least 75 percent of the shoe’s upper materials are made with recycled content, and the unique dyeing process reduces water usage and carbon emissions, compared with conventional methods. The shoes are available in a wide range of sizes, widths, and colors.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 is one of the few options we encountered that is available in regular, narrow, wide, and extra-wide widths. They’re also a great option for those prioritizing stability in a walking shoe. Intended as a support shoe, they’re more structured, rigid, and a little heavier than other options on this list, yet they still feel surprisingly springy and bouncy. Their GuideRails support system, which includes arch support, is meant for people with flat feet or overpronation (inward rolling) issues.

In testing, we popped them on and immediately went for a run, finding the shoes comfy right out of the box, with no discomfort, rubbing, or pain. After subsequently wearing them on long runs as well as hikes and neighborhood walks, we feel confident in recommending these shoes, which are supportive enough for both concrete and trails. We also think that they would be good for jobs that require lots of standing. “I have worn them on hour-long runs as well as for days spent hiking or walking. They are great! Very plush and bouncy,” says tester Mary Sauer.

Sauer notes that her knees normally get a twinge when she runs, but that didn’t happen with these shoes. They seem quite well constructed, sturdy, and high quality. Our only complaint is that they are a bit clunky and not especially attractive, though there are a ton of color options available.

With a stack height that ranges from 37 to 42 millimeters and an ultra-cushioned sole, super shock absorption is the name of the game with these Hokas. Many users swear by these shoes, saying they are the only ones they can comfortably wear as sufferers of plantar fasciitis. “I really like the cushion these shoes provide,” says Sauer. “I have pretty severe mechanical foot pain that impacts my entire foot, as well as localized heel pain, and these seem to help.”

The plush soles provide a cloud-like feel, although the exaggerated lift, which added about an inch to our height, took some getting used to. (These 9s are even taller than the Bondi 8s.) But once we adjusted, we really appreciated the added shock absorption. We also liked that they can accommodate custom orthotics and have a breathable mesh and cotton upper.

We found the shoes to be high-quality and high-performing; they held up well after a week of heavy use. Sauer notes that she plans to continue using them for exercise and everyday wear. The only change we’d make is to add a pull tab on the back to make them easier to slip on. And while there are a decent number of color options, only three are available in the extra-wide width.

Many modern walking sneakers feature tall soles for extra bounce and cushioning, but this can feel unstable when doing strength training or other types of exercise to complement your walking routine.

These Lululemon Blissfeel 2 shoes have a 30 millimeter heel stack, keeping you low to the ground while offering reliable support. The streamlined soles look deceptively thin and are surprisingly comfy.

“I am accustomed to sneakers that have thicker soles to give me the arch and knee-pain support that I need, so when I saw the small sole on this shoe, I was prepared for it to be uncomfortable and pain-inducing. I was wrong,” says our tester, LaKeisha Fleming. “I walked for almost an hour in these shoes, and they felt great. No arch pain, and no knee pain. I can’t say it enough: These shoes were so surprisingly comfortable.”

We loved how the snug middle section made our feet feel stabilized. The shoes were comfortable right out of the box — so much so that we almost forgot they were brand-new. We found them easy to put on and take off, thanks to the reinforced heel that keeps the shoe from bending if you just slip it on without untying it. The shoes still looked new after the testing period, proving their ability to withstand constant walking and workouts.

Fleming reports that she would happily buy these shoes again. Plus, if you’re not happy with them, the brand offers a full refund within the 30-day trial period.

At around $60 or less for most color and size combinations, these Skechers Go Walk Flex Alani slip-on shoes offer significant savings, compared with most other walking shoes on the market. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort. These were supportive and comfy during our daily 2- to 5-mile walks, weekly errands, and even a trip to Ikea, which is a long day of walking and standing.

They were so lightweight, we forgot to change into slippers after coming home from our first outing with them. They instantly felt comfortable, with no break-in period. “I forgot I had them on, which is how I want to feel after a long day on my feet,” says our tester, Julia Childs Heyl, MSW.

One of our favorite aspects of these Skechers was how easy they were to slip on and off, making them perfect for running out the door in a hurry. “I have a newborn, so getting out of the house can be hectic,” notes Heyl. “I appreciate that I can just throw these on without having to sit down and lace or unlace them.”

The shoes feature air-cooled soles, a breathable mesh upper, and responsive cushioning. Our tester’s mild bunions weren’t irritated at all by these shoes. The materials do feel a little cheap, and they aren’t the cutest options out there, but after putting them to work for a week, there were no signs of wear.

Orthofeet Kita shoes are fully hands-free when slipping them on and off, with a stiff yet plush shoehorn-like heel and stretchy upper materials. This is a major perk, allowing you to tie them once and then simply step in and out from then on. Kitas are designed to relieve many types of foot and heel pain, and during testing we found that these shoes provided more ankle structure and stability than other ones we tried. Tester Olivia Campbell had been experiencing heel pain with her previous shoes (Asics Gel Contend 7s), but she had no pain wearing these.

The shoes only took a couple of wears to get used to, and they seem well-made and long-lasting. They feature grippy, slip-resistant outsoles, water-repellant fabric, anatomical arch support for proper alignment, and a mild ergonomic rocker sole with multilayer cushioning. Fully customizable for a wide range of foot shapes, the shoes come with fitting spacers that can be placed under the orthotic insole to create the perfect fit. Also included are removable arch boosters, and the shoes can accommodate other medical insoles.

Campbell has continued to wear these as her everyday sneakers after the testing period, and they are holding up well and remain comfortable, cushy, and supportive. Our only complaint is that the pretty light-blue color got dirty very easily, and they were graying within one wear, so we’d recommend the darker colors. Also, they aren’t super fashionable, but for convenience and comfort, the Kitas were a clear favorite.

Planning a vacation that involves a lot of walking and standing, such as a trip to a theme park or a city break? Or perhaps you want a pair of sneakers you can wear while exploring a new place and hitting the hotel treadmill? We think these Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore 2s would be just the thing. Whether we were fitness walking, running errands, or standing for long periods, we found these shoes to be comfortable and supportive. Plus, the stretchy laces make them easy to get on and off.

The flexible cushioned soles are sturdy on the outside but soft on the inside. “When I first put my foot in the shoe, I remember thinking it felt ‘pillowy,’” Fleming notes. “At times, I forgot I was wearing new shoes.” They’re meant for running, and the cushion stack isn’t overly high, making them more versatile for a wide variety of activities. A lower stack makes them appropriate for strength training, walking, fitness classes, and other workouts that require more stability.

Fleming also notes that she sometimes experiences knee pain and sciatic nerve issues when walking. Following a brief period of adjustment, her feet and knees didn’t ache after wearing these shoes. She says that she would have liked a little more arch support, but she never felt like her arches were falling. She also liked how secure her ankles felt.

The materials seem high-quality, and we appreciated the reinforced areas near the toes and heel that enhance durability. The shoes held up very well with regular use and wear. We also liked the look of these shoes, although the white areas started to look dirty and stained after just a few days.