The 10 Best Walking Shoes for Comfortable, Feel-Good Miles

Diana Rogers, DPM, a podiatric foot and ankle surgery specialist in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and Casey Pidich, MD, a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon based in the Bronx, New York, both recommend Hoka’s Clifton series to patients for arch support, so you know it's a good one.

Pidich loves that the design encourages great form—the sole ensures that your feet rock off the ground rather than push off your toes. Rogers specifically recommends the shoe for her plantar fasciitis (a condition where you feel pain in the arch) patients for this exact reason. “The lightweight feel on this shoe propels feet forward rather than making them do extra work,” she says.

WH style editor Shannon Zitz found in her testing that the foam absorbed impact well on both pavement and the treadmill. “My feet—unfortunately plagued by plantar fasciitis—never felt fatigued wearing this shoe,” she said, noting that her stride felt smooth and natural.

The Clifton 11 is available in wide and extra-wide sizing, making it a good fit for a wide variety of walkers.

Read more: Hoka Clifton 11 vs. Hoka Clifton Pro

Asics is considered a classic, all-around great brand for walking, especially if you struggle with overpronation (ankles that roll inward) or have flat feet. Take the Gel-Kayano 32, which has thick foam borders on each side to encourage proper alignment and walking gait.

Deep heel cups also help keep arches supported—there’s a reason this shoe made our best plantar fasciitis walking shoe guide. I’m a huge fan of the firm, stiffer midsole that still maintains massive plushness with its signature gel cushioning system for superior shock absorption.

My landings feel like I’m hovering above ground, which says a lot given I stomp on hard pavement daily. I actually find it more cushioned than the Hoka Mach 6.

The heel-to-toe drop is 8 millimeters, which is a bit high for my liking, but ideal if you want to take all the pressure away from your arches.

Lined with mesh to make this an ultra-breathable sneaker, the Pegasus is a winner because it has a slim, low heel that Perkins says is awesome for maintaining a smooth walking cadence. We love that the 42 is lighter than the previous model and has a curvier toe box that gives more toe spring, a smoother ride, and a roomier fit.

WH Fitness Director Jaqueline Andriakos has worn countless versions of the Nike Pegasus for both running and walking and has logged hundreds of miles in it. "I find the sole a bit on the firmer side, and the mesh upper really hugs and forms to your individual foot shape," she says. "The shoe feels perfectly snug and secure as you step without being too constricting."

She does flag that the tongue sometimes gets folded up and tucked under the laces in a slightly uncomfortable way. “I fix this by being really diligent when I put the shoes on, making sure to pull the tongue taut and make sure it's lying flat before tying my shoes.”

The shoe is super breathable and lightweight, which makes it a great option for spring and summer, but less so for cold or wet weather.

Overall, this is Andriakos’ go-to walking shoe recommendation for her friends and family—and so far she's only heard happy feedback from loved ones who have purchased a Pegasus shoe.

The Hoka Mach 7 is Zitz’s personal favorite. While it’s technically a running shoe, she loves it for recovery and walking. “I’ve been living in this sneaker since returning from a week-long hiking trip where I logged about 20K steps per day,” she says. “It’s flexible, lightweight, and cushioned—it basically feels like a hug for my super tired feet.” The cushioning also doesn’t feel bulky compared to other Hoka models, such as the Bondi 8.

The previous iteration, the Mach 6, took home our 2025 Fitness Award for top walking shoe thanks to its blend of responsive cushioning, breathability, and lightweight construction—and the Mach 7 has built on that winning formula with an updated outer and grippier bottom. Zitz tested this shoe after it first dropped, walking more than 150 miles in it—and not once did she feel even a bit of foot fatigue or soreness.

Another brownie point? It comes in wide sizing. Some WH editors find standard Hoka sizing pretty narrow, but the wide fit has adequate space in the toe box, so you can walk for hours without experiencing any friction. For extra room overall, podiatrist Shital Sharma, DPM, a podiatrist at Pinewood Family Care Co. in New Jersey, recommends going up a half-size in all walking sneakers because your feet tend to swell and expand from physical activity.

Read more: Hoka Mach 7 Review

The latest edition of the Fresh Foam X 1080 wows us with its inclusive sizing, with narrow, standard, wide, and extra-wide fits available to accommodate all feet.

"I have a hard time finding walking shoes that are both cushioned and supportive enough for my high arches and sensitive balls of the feet, but that are also narrow enough," Andriakos says. "This is absolutely perfect if you deal with any foot pain issues or struggle with sneakers being a bit too wide—I have walked over 100 miles in these at this point and have never even had a sore or tender spot from rubbing or chafing (they also required zero break-in period)."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I struggle with bunions and love wearing the wide version. My feet don’t rub against the sides of the toe box, which is especially important since toes spread apart when in motion, and feet can swell throughout the day. These feel sponge-like and cradle my heels, but still maintain semi-firmness to keep me balanced.

Andriakos also finds the laces are very secure and don’t come untied easily. The only downside? "When I've worn it on rainy days, I notice my feet will feel damp and it takes a bit to dry out." To help combat that, she just throws it in the dryer (which, to be clear, isn’t recommended by the brand, but she found it hasn't damaged the silhouette!).

Read more: Best New Balance Shoes

The On Cloudtilt Remix is built for walking, thanks to its sequence of collapsing “cloud” foam to deliver a smooth, plush ride. It has maximum cushioning and bounce, compared to lots of other walking shoes we’ve tested, making it a solid pick for walkers and casual runners who prefer a softer, cushier feel underfoot.

Zitz recently added this pair to her collection and appreciates how lightweight and springy it feels. “I feel like I have such a pep in my step when I wear it—which is basically all the time since it’s so stylish,” she says. “I love the layers of see-through mesh on the upper, which looks super modern and clean. I’ve been wearing this shoe nonstop with capris, leggings, and athletic shorts.”

This style features Helion Superfoam (a blend of firm and flexible foam components) that delivers bounce without a lot of bulk. It also has a moderate 7 mm heel-to-toe drop, meaning it distributes weight evenly throughout the lower body, making it a pretty good pick for most walkers. It’s the perfect shoe that combines all our must-have walking shoe features into one sleek kick.

The TikTok-famous sneaker reigns supreme for walking and earned a spot in our guides to the best platform sneakers and best travel shoes for good reason: it delivers all-day comfort without looking overly athletic. The 1.5-inch platform gives this shoe major style points, elongating the legs and giving a little extra height without that heavy, clunky feel some platform sneakers have.

Anne Sharkey, DPM, a podiatrist at Solely Podiatry in Austin, Tex., cosigns the shoe, noting that it feels lightweight and supportive, with a cushioned footbed that takes pressure off the feet. It features a faux leather upper that feels durable yet breathable, paired with a rubber outsole that delivers reliable traction on pavements. Inside, the algae-infused foam insole adds a surprising level of cushioning that adapts to your foot with every step.

Comfort and support are clear priorities here, making long days on your feet feel significantly easier. Zitz says her mom wore it on their recent trip to Spain, and even on days they logged around 15,000 steps, her feet stayed comfortable from morning sightseeing to evening tapas. Her one complaint? After so much walking, the front part of the shoe creased a bit more than she would have liked, but we doubt this would happen as quickly with normal wear (and may be avoided entirely with a non-leather pair).

The New Balance 608 V5 Trainer has over 38,000 reviews on Amazon, and for good reason. The brand integrated its signature ABZORB midsole (a blend of substantial foam cushioning with compression resistance), which is designed to lessen the blow on joints when walking.

Although it’s supremely comfy, the 605 has tons of shock absorption which makes it great for neutral to high arches. But since it lacks stability features, it’s not our top choice for flat feet. We do like that it comes in narrow, standard, and wide sizing.