The Top 12 Walking Shoes: Thoroughly Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

In This Article

Walking into the New Year feeling a bit apprehensive? Put one foot in front of the other and you got this! Building healthy habits is something we always cheer on, so if this 2025 you're looking to amp up your step count, we got you. So we're here to stray you from the wrong walking shoes, which cause plenty of foot pain and knock your entire body out of alignment, from your feet to your spine. “While sometimes price and quality don’t correlate, there are instances that they do,” says Diana Levin Valencia, D.P.M., a podiatrist based in New York City. “A good pair of walking shoes will prevent injury and pain, and last a long time, thus keeping us walking pain-free longer.”

To help you find the best walking shoes, we got to stepping. Over the course of a month, we examined and tested 33 pairs of walking shoes, judging each pair on fit, comfort, stability, responsiveness, cushioning, quality, and value. These walking shoes met our high standards for comfy, supporting footwear.

Sizes: 5-12 | Width: Standard | Midsole drop: Unlisted | Weight: 9.2 oz.

This lace-up, road-running shoe happens to be a pretty phenomenal walking shoe, too. Even when walking several thousand steps a day, and dealing with foot issues like bunions, the shoes continued to be comfortable and breezy through every hour. With responsiveness that feels altogether smooth and whisper-light fabric that provides amazing breathability, the bonus is that these shoes stretch, allowing for plenty of free movement. Another pro is that these are Adidas’s lightest Ultraboost shoes ever, making for shoes that will feel like little airy clouds on your feet.

Sizes: 5-12 | Width: Standard | Midsole drop: 8mm | Weight: 8.2 oz

If you're looking for a stability shoe that'll essentially lock your foot into the exact position it needs to be in for a healthy stride while walking, look no further. These Sauconys have support from your toes to your heel, and will lock your foot into proper position no matter where you're walking. The sole grip is fantastic on slippery surfaces during rain, or gravel roads for trail hikes.

Sizes: 5-13 | Width: Standard | Midsole drop: Unlisted | Weight: 7 oz.

Yes, the brand that you religiously wore as a young'un is back for the adult set, and this time, Skechers is making a well-designed walking shoe that is affordable to boot. Rendered in breathable mesh with a cooling insole, vegan materials, and lightweight cushioning, these shoes are highly responsive, which will put a nice spring in your step. We enjoyed the high level of comfort that came with these shoes, provided by the generous padding around the heel and cushion that absorbs tons of shock.

Sizes: 5-12 | Width: Standard, wide | Midsole drop: 10 mm | Weight: 8.7 oz.

Along with the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, we like that these Ryka shoes have features that are ideal for women, like the wider forefoot for bonus stability and a narrower heel for an improved fit. We also like that the mesh fabric breathes very easily (gotta love the partially recycled linings for an eco-friendly touch, too), and we also felt as if our knees, ankles, and toes were all more than adequately supported. We did find that the fabric can get dirty fairly easily, especially the white.

Sizes: 5-13 | Width: Standard | Midsole drop: 8mm | Weight: 8.9 oz.

Even though the Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 is a cushioned road-running shoe, we love it as a walking shoe, too. The rocker will make you naturally rock forward, which can help reduce tension in your legs. Designed with underpronation in mind (that’s when you push off the sides of your feet using your smaller toes), whether you’re running or walking, these shoes are great for injury prevention, including pesky plantar fasciitis and ankle strain. We liked the fact that the toe box more than adequately accommodated our toes and our heels never slipped out of place.

Sizes: 5-11 | Width: Standard | Midsole drop: 8mm | Weight: 7.16 oz.

Sporting a modern look and a speed-lacing system, these walking shoes were developed by pros in Switzerland and have all the bells and whistles if you need shoes for plantar fasciitis. Think: comfortable foam that cushions even your most powerful “push-off” movements during a walk or run. And since that cushioning absorbs shock, your painful fascia won’t absorb it, resulting in less pain. Plus, there’s great support for high arches—high arches without support can often cause or exacerbate plantar fasciitis. We reported less plantar fasciitis pain and inflammation after wearing these shoes, even after walking through airports.

Sizes: 5-11 | Width: Standard | Midsole drop: Unlisted | Weight: Unlisted

These walking shoes from beloved brand Allbirds have a lot going for them. They’re machine washable. You can slip them on, which means you can put them on in a hurry. They’re eco-friendly in renewable materials. And the mesh lends itself to minimizing odor. The shoe also has excellent cushioning, a lightly padded heel collar that helps your ankle stay in place (buh-bye sprained ankles!), and reflective detailing that’ll help you feel safer at night. We loved the fact that there was basically no breaking-in period while first wearing them

Sizes: 5-11 | Width: Standard | Midsole drop: Unlisted | Weight: Unlisted

This streamlined shoe from Vessi is a walking shoe that’s also waterproof, which is ideal if you walk in all kinds of weather. It uses Dyma-tex 100% waterproof technology, a patented material with pores that are too small for water droplets to get in. Waterproof shoes are often not breathable, but these shoes are, in mesh that allows air in. One editor found that they withstood a theme park trip in pouring rain and were incredibly comfortable and surprisingly supportive as well.

Sizes: 5-12 | Width: Standard, wide, extra-wide | Midsole drop: Unlisted| Weight: 9.74 oz.

When you have a bunion, every step can feel like torture. That’s why it can be helpful to seek out a shoe for bunions that will alleviate that pain instead of adding to it. With their wide toebox and three width options, these Orthofeet shoes will give your bunion plenty of breathing room so it’s not smashed up against the inside of your shoe. If you also deal with arch issues, the shoes come with optional arch booster insoles for added support. They’re also slip-on and have a stretchy water-repellent upper, for a couple extra bonuses. We thought they felt cushy yet supportive.

Sizes: 5-12 | Width: Standard, wide | Midsole drop: 0mm | Weight: 11 oz.

Since this walking shoe is a trail runner, you better believe that it can handle almost any terrain you throw at it while walking. If you find that you frequently take your walks beyond the pavement (parks, trails, etc.), you’ll need some extra stability on those uneven surfaces. While the outsole is lightweight, it also packs a traction punch with its grippy patterning that will feel sticky no matter where you’re walking. But don’t worry, it’s not a heavy shoe — it’s actually highly responsive, so you’ll feel light on your feet.

Sizes: 5-12 | Width: Standard, wide | Midsole drop: 5mm | Weight: 7.3 oz.

Hoka shoes are known for pillow-like cushioning and these feel incredibly lightweight and plush for walking. The midsole is designed to almost cradle your foot with each step, offering both comfort and support for all your walks. We felt really stable despite how light and flexible these are. Plus, they come in a range of fun color options.

Sizes: 5-12 | Width: Standard, wide | Midsole drop: 5mm | Weight: 8.10 oz.

This stability shoe is a great choice if you have wide and flat feet since it offers arch support and is nice and roomy. There's a J-Frame cushioning around the heel and up the inner side to provide added support and to keep your feet secure through long walks. If you like a flexible and springy feeling through each stride, however, these may be a bit too firm for you.

Shelby Deering is a health and lifestyle writer who has been working full-time as a writer for nearly a decade. After earning her master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she worked as a magazine editor for nearly seven years. Since then, she has written on health topics widely ranging from spinal conditions to running advice to mental health disorders, contributing to print outlets and websites including USA Today, Prevention, Runner’s World, Healthline, Good Housekeeping, HealthCentral, and more. As a lifetime runner who frequently suffers from plantar fasciitis, she knows the importance of wearing the right shoes.

Summer Cartwright is a marathon runner, certified cycling instructor, and the senior commerce editor at Shape. She has raced in the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Columbus Marathon, Houston Half Marathon, Brooklyn Half Marathon, New York Mini 10k, and dozens of other events. She has expertise in running shoes, performance gear, and recovery equipment. She's from Columbus, Ohio, and has three pets: two cats named Polly and Peaky and a dog named Rhubarb.