The 8 best walking shoes for all-day comfort, according to podiatrists and testers
Those walking shoes you bought looked like they'd be comfortable. They even felt comfortable for the first few hours you wore them. But then — boom! — blister city. And your poor, aching soles — looks like that plantar fasciitis is back in full swing. Next time, instead of just eyeballing it, focus on the actual comfort factors (specific structural features and the materials used, for instance) to ensure that your new kicks are going to deliver on their promise of keeping your feet cradled in comfort and pain-free all day long.
We asked two podiatrists — Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus, DPM, RPhs, FACFAS, an award-winning and board-certified podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center, and Dr. Bruce Pinker, DPM, owner of Progressive Footcare, to break it down for us to help us find the best walking shoes to get us through our days.
Read more: The 12 most comfortable walking shoes for women in 2025, tested and approved
Read more: These are the best Hoka shoes for walking in 2025
In general, there are certain structural features that make a walking shoe a standout. Here's a cheat sheet.
Arch support
This refers to structural support beneath your foot's natural curve, helping to keep your foot aligned, distribute weight evenly and reduce strain that can cause pain or injury. It's one of the most important structural features in a shoe, hands down. "Whether you have flat feet or a high arch foot type, a shoe with a supportive arch is favorable over a flat shoe," says Schoenhaus. Ever worn slides with board-flat soles, only to feel your plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis flare up? That's because there was nothing to cushion your foot's curve, forcing your anatomy to overcompensate. If your shoes lack proper support, you can upgrade them with inserts like these popular arch supports.
Roomy toe box
A roomy toe box gives your toes space to spread naturally, instead of being squished like sardines. It's essential for wider feet or bunions and helps improve balance, stride, and blister prevention and helps to to keep blisters at bay. "Adequate room in the toe box can prevent cramping of toes and reduce the onset of hammertoes, blisters, ingrown toenails and neuromas," says Pinker. Bonus points if your shoe has pinholes for airflow, which can help "prevent [the] onset of athlete's foot, warts and toenail fungus." Bottom line, give your pointy-toed shoes the boot — they're cute, but they're doing your feet no favors.
Shock-absorbent sole
"The sole of the shoe should be made with materials that are good for shock absorption. These include rubber or cork," notes Schoenhaus. She's referring to the cushy insole in a shoe that soaks up the impact when your feet hit the ground — think of it as a mini mattress for your steps. It's crucial for reducing stress on your joints, namely your knees and ankles, and warding off arthritis in the long run. "By having the sole of the shoe absorb the impact of hitting the ground during gait, forces are taken off of the joints of the foot, ankle, knee, hip and low back," she adds. If you've ever had aching joints after pounding pavement or standing all day, your shoes may have been lacking proper shock absorbency.
Firm heel counter
That sturdy bit at the back of a shoe? It's a heel counter, and a firm one wraps around your heel to hold it steady. Pinker emphasizes the importance of this feature for stability, as it stops your foot from wobbling or rolling, so you can avoid painful twists and rolls. A heel counter is usually crafted from tough stuff like plastic, reinforced leather or even a stiff fabric blend, which gives your shoe a solid backbone.
Grippy outsoles
Look out for rugged, traction-packed bottoms to your shoes. Outsoles should ideally be made of rubber (and never leather) with deep treads to clutch the ground, because "appropriate traction can prevent slippage," says Pinker. Schoenhaus recommends avoiding rigid shoes with soles that don't bend at all.
Soft, breathable upper
When it comes to the upper material of your walking shoe (aka, the upper) leather is best, says Pinker. Just but make sure it's not too stiff. Look for soft, forgiving materials that support without squeezing, wick sweat to dodge blisters and flex enough so your stride stays irritation-free.
No worries if you're not taking notes. Below, we've rounded up eight pairs of comfortable walking shoes, each of which has been tested by our team of experts and is a standout when it comes to the particular features that Pinker and Schoenhaus advocate for. Any one of these shoes is a giant step in the right direction, whether you have chronic foot pain or just prioritize comfort wherever you roam.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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Reviewers also comment on the sneaker's overall comfort, noting that it requires little to no break-in period. This discount is available in seven colors, though sizing is limited depending on the colorway. On If you're looking for an On Cloud Memorial Day sale on trail-running sneakers, we've got you. Right now you can get 25% off the On Cloudsurfer Trail-Running Shoes, in a gray-and-light-green colorway (Frost/Lima). With a moderate cushion and a 7mm heel-to-toe drop, these offer comfort, flexibility and shock-absorbing grip and traction. The deal is available in eight sizes at the time of this writing. On With a light, extra-cushioned design, these sneakers are designed to help propel you forward for more speed. The woven uppers are light and breathable, and the shoe also has excellent reflectivity to help keep you visible in the evenings. This colorway (Black/Iron) is now on sale for 25% off, and it's still available in most women's sizes. Brooks Running Our favorite women's walking shoe overall after extensive yearslong testing, and our favorite men's walking shoe for long distances, the Brooks Ghost 16 sneaker is made for walkers who want to get some serious miles under their feet. The sneaker is well-cushioned, supportive and stable—albeit a bit bulky. Brooks is offering nine colorways for 21% off at the moment in a solid array of sizes. Amazon The newest version of this sneaker (the Glycerin 22) is our favorite men's running shoe for wide feet. The style is very well-cushioned, with a high 10mm drop and spacious toe box. If you don't need the latest design, this 21 model is 38% off in seven colorways at Amazon right now (a few other colors are also on sale for slightly less). Amazon Highly cushioned with a rocker-style sole, this sneaker is the our editors' pick for the best shoe for standing on concrete all day—and the best men's walking shoe for cushioning. It was super popular with our testers for its overall comfort and extremely soft landing. However, its higher stack and weight leave it better suited for standing and walking versus more demanding activities. Two colors are on sale in women's sizes and one is on sale in men's. Asics Our editors named the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 the best running shoe overall for men thanks to its excellent support, impact absorption and a design that promotes proper alignment. As our gear writer Steven John puts it, 'Essentially, this shoe holds your foot exactly where it should be, with your heel locked in place, arches supported and toes free to spread out with each step.' Both men's and women's sizes are on sale for $40 off in a range of colors and sizes, so don't miss out on the rare chance to save on this model. 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It has a rubber strip on the inside of the foot to take on rope climbing, and its slight heel drop is ideal for weightlifting. The sneaker also quite stylish, coming in eight colorways to fit your desired aesthetic. Keep in mind it's a heavier shoe overall. Columbia If you're looking for a walking shoe that can handle rainy day strolls, our editors recommend the Columbia Konos TRS OutDry Shoe. Its padded, supportive and features a durable outsole with plenty of traction for walking in wet weather. The upper material is also designed to keep your feet dry, so you don't have to deal with sopping wet socks. Fleet Feet New Balance is one of the best sneaker brands for wider-than-average feet. Because it offers widths narrow (B) through extra-wide (4E), all sorts of runners can feel comfortable while wearing this shoe regardless of their size. We particularly recommend the New Balance 880 V14 Wide for beginner runners due to its light weight, sturdy support and ample cushioning underfoot.
