If you're looking for a pair of the best walking shoes for when you step out of the house, we've tested out models from Skechers, New Balance, HOKA, and Danner to help you find the right shoes for your needs.
Although you could head out wearing any kind of footwear, the best walking shoes offer support for when you're moving around a city, out in some green space, or taking a gentle stroll in your neighborhood.
There are some all-purpose shoes, like the Skechers GO WALK Arch Fit Motion Breeze, while the Merrell Moab 3 are ideal if you're going to spend some time in nature walking on uneven terrain.
So, before you make your choice, it's important to consider the types of walking you plan on doing. Then, you can pick the best walking shoe for getting your steps in, although, don't worry, you don't actually need to hit 10,000 steps a day.
The best shoes for walking you can get right now
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The HOKA Transport are easily the most comfortable walking shoes I've ever worn. I didn't expect it to be this way — they look quite sturdy, if a bit generic — but once I got them on my feet, I was reluctant to wear anything else.
I take a 90-minute walk every morning, head out for a lunchtime stroll, and sometimes venture out in the evenings, too, and the Transport were easily my shoe of choice throughout the warmer months (for winter, I opt for the Hunter Explorer Insulated Lace-Up Commando Boots).
This was also partly because they were really quick to put on, thanks to the toggle laces (the shoes do come with regular laces if you prefer that). They're light as well; just 9oz for the women's version and 11 ounces for the men's.
I tested the white version, which fared quite well, despite living in a dusty city without a lot of rain. When it was wet, they got quite messy, but it only took a quick wipe with a damp cloth to restore them to their former glory. However, the shoes are only water resistant, so it's best to avoid heavy rain while wearing them.
Fortunately, there are four colors to choose from in the men's and six in the women's, so you're not stuck with white. My partner tested the women's Transport in Raisin/Wistful Mauve and found they were just as comfortable and durable on our walks. [Reviewed by James Frew]
The Danner Trail 2650 deserve their spot near the top of our list thanks to the clever balance of comfort and sturdy support. The chunky Vibram 260 outsole provided excellent grip in slippy, ice-covered conditions and the EXO heel system moves part of the shoes' heel counter to the outside of the shoe to improve the secure fit.
Although the pair are primarily designed for weekend or day hikes, I think they'd suit a three or four-day walk too. I found the cushioning hit that sweet spot between cushy enough for comfort without making it feel like you're sinking into the shoe.
They’re also incredibly lightweight, coming in at just 18 oz; it’s impressive that they still manage to feel so solid and supportive. They aren’t waterproof (unless you opt for the pricier Gore-Tex versions, but even these aren’t fully waterproof) and anyone who’s looking for a city-walking shoe will want more arch support.
However, if you’re looking for a lightweight trail companion, this is the best option we've tested. And, unlike some of the best walking shoes, these are available in a men's and women's edition.
The Merrell Moab series are very popular with walkers, thanks to the reasonable price and impressive durability. Despite using tough pig suede leather for durability, I found them supremely comfortable and they never left sore spots on my feet.
At just over 2lbs, they are heavier than some modern walking shoes, but I found that this was counteracted by the springiness of the shoe. I actually found the fit to be almost like a sneaker; snug, comfortable, and responsive, rather than clunky and restrictive.
They were at the top of this guide for a long time, only recently knocked off the number one spot by the HOKA Transport, which we prefer for everyday walking, especially around cities and urban environments. [Reviewed by Harry Bullmore]
- Read our full Merrell Moab 3 review
The Skechers Go Walk Arch Fit are some of the most popular everyday walking shoes, thanks to the podiatrist-certified arch support that keeps you comfortable on your feet. I tested the Motion Breeze women's shoe, but the men's series has the same midsole technology and arch support,
I was blown away with the comfort of these shoes. After a long day spent racking up more than 22,000 steps, I still didn’t have any of the dull aches and pains you usually get at the end of a long walk.
What’s more, the springy GO WALK midsole kept me feeling fresh throughout my hike. The upper isn’t substantial enough to protect you from knocks and brambles and they’re not waterproof, so these shoes are best suited to urban environments.
- Read our full Skechers Go Walk Arch Fit Motion Breeze review
The Columbia Peakfreak II Mid Outdry are sturdy hiking boots rather than gentle walking shoes, so they offer plenty of rigid support to prevent twisted ankles. I found the shoes were impressively waterproof, yet they felt light and breathable.
There’s some serious grip underneath the boot too, thanks to Columbia’s Adapt Trax technology (a special rubber pattern on the outsole). This is ideal if you’re scrambling over mountainous ground, but beware that the design did seem to collect a lot of mud.
The shoes also boast something called ‘Navic Fit,’ which is essentially a really secure lacing system that locks the shoe to your foot. There’s plenty of cushioning here too, in the form of ‘Techlite’ (a single-density foam) that kept me feeling light on my feet during testing. [Reviewed by Sam Hopes]
I was expecting these vegan-friendly Hunter Men's Explorer Insulated Lace-Up Commando Boots to be similar to other walking boots, with a rigid upper and a bit of a clomp. But they are surprisingly lightweight, with a breathable upper and substantial but versatile rubber sole.
They were even flexible enough to quickly run back to the house to pick something up — though, I wouldn't suggest going for a run in them! However, the first thing you notice once you've got them on is that they are fairly warm.
Hunter even mentions that these are winter boots, and on milder days, I found my feet did get quite hot. Though it did mean that they were great on dog walks in fall, adventures in the snow, and during brief downpours.
Many walking shoes use leather to add water resistance, but as these are vegan boots, Hunter has used alternative materials like rubber and plastic instead. However, the upper part of the shoe isn't water resistant, as I found out while walking through wet long grass after some heavy rain. [Reviewed by James Frew]
The Fresh Foam Hierro V6s are trail running and hiking shoes, which feature a lot of rugged support to keep your feet safe from debris. There’s a rigid edge around the toe cage, to stop anything crushing your digits, along with a little ‘rudder’ at the back of the shoe to help with stability on uphill and downhill paths.
These mighty shoes have a wide landing area for your feet during fast paced walks and I was impressed with how much stability they provide. The Vibram outsole is cleverly designed to provide grip in all situations and the rugged synthetic mesh will protect you from brambles and undergrowth.
The shoes aren’t quite perfect; they’re a narrower fit than previous versions, which means that some people might find they pinch around the toes. And I found that the material wears away quite quickly around the toe protection at the front. Plus, all the padding on the shoe means that it can feel quite warm in there.
- Read our full New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro V6 review
There's no getting around the fact the KEEN WK400 are an unusual walking shoe. The curved outsole is something that pops up on running shoes to help propel you forward, and the intention is the same here.
The curved sole blends a plate, high-energy midsole, and rubber outsole to roll your foot as you walk — it's an odd sensation that I did gradually warm to, but it took a while to adjust when you're used to your foot bending instead.
In fairness, I may have found it harder than some as I'm hypermobile, so have extremely flexible joints, especially my knees. This also caused a few problems when I was stood still, as it's a bit of a balancing game to not rock on the sole.
And, because of my hypermobile knees, they'd often lock backwards while trying to stay upright. But when walking, the shoes did serve to make walking easier. I wouldn't say these are an everyday shoe, though. The WK400 are best if you're going somewhere for a dedicated walk, rather than taking a stroll in your neighborhood.
I tested them in quite a vivid yellow, which definitely made them stand out in the evenings when the light was low, but there are three other more muted colors if you want something that blends in better. [Reviewed by James Frew]
These lightweight, environmentally-friendly sneakers are great for travel, thanks to their breathable upper made of sustainably-sourced eucalyptus fiber. And much of the shoe is also eco-friendly, from the sugarcane midsole to the recycled shoelaces.
There is very little cushioning here, so the shoes might not suit people who like a thicker layer of support. However, I found that there were certain benefits to having a lightweight, more flexible design.
I enjoyed that you could flex the shoe around rocky surfaces, which sometimes helps on uneven terrain. And there is something refreshing about feeling the earth beneath your feet when you’ve been testing chunky walking shoes for a long time.
- Read our full Allbirds Tree Runners review
The sustainable Adidas Terrex AX4 hiking shoe unites trail-running sneakers with hiking boots to produce a versatile, durable, and bouncy walking shoe. They're a visible shoe, too, with multiple color options, including the orange, beige, and amber design I tested.
The AX4s are low-cut just below the ankle, which improves the range of motion around your ankle but creates less stability than mid-rise designs. But a thickly ridged continental rubber outsole added grip underfoot and provided me with a solid base in wet weather.
VA (foam) midsoles bring the shoe together and absorb shock while creating a cloud-like bounce that elevates comfort to the next level. I did, however, find that solid waterproofing was lacking in this shoe, and my toes got wet on rainy walks.
If you’re after a road running shoe that can double up as an everyday walker, then the Brooks Glycerin 19 are your best option. They’re designed for longer runs, so come with extra cushioning. While not all walkers need this level of soft support, some people with joint issues have reported mild benefits.
I liked that the mesh upper is 3D printed, so it feels like it spreads across your foot snugly. And in general I found that walking and running in these feels like you’re moving across air.
Unfortunately, I did find that they took a couple of runs to ‘break in’ properly. Plus, I felt they had quite a snug fit, so I'd recommend bumping up a half size if you have wider feet.
This is the slightly older model; you can opt for the Brooks Glycerin 20 if you want a newer look, but there's very little difference between the designs. [Reviewed by Alice Ball]
- Read our full Brooks Glycerin 19 review
How to choose the best walking shoes
There are three main things to consider when considering how to choose the best walking trainers for you: cushioning, support and breathability.
Cushioning
You need a trainer with plenty of cushioning to help relieve the pressure on your feet when walking, and ideally this will be zoned to provide extra where you need it. Some shoes also use foam that provides rebound; once compressed, it will spring back into place that can help give your feet a little energy boost.
Support
Support is also important, ensuring that both the sole and the whole foot are able to move but without moving about within the trainer. If you’re walking all day, also check for internal seams which can cause hot spots or rub and produce blisters. The best walking trainers will often have a seam-free construction to avoid this.
Breathability
Breathability is especially important for walking in hot weather, or if you’re prone to hot feet. That said, this often comes at the cost of weatherproofing, so if you’ll be walking in wet conditions yo