We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Read more about our vetting process.
Was this helpful?
OOFOS, Saucony, and Asics offer style and stability. This, plus their support for pronation and plantar fasciitis, earns them spots on our list of the best walking shoes for women.
- Best overall: Saucony Triumph 20 | Skip to review
- Best tailored to women: Ryka Women’s Devotion Plus 4 | Skip to review
- Best for travel: OOFOS OOmg Low Shoe | Skip to review
- Best for limited mobility: Nike Go FlyEase | Skip to Review
- Best for high arches: ASICS Women’s Gel-Nimbus 25 | Skip to review
- Best eco-friendly: Allbirds Women’s Tree Flyer 2 | Skip to Review
- Best for underpronators (supinators): On Cloudmonster | Skip to review
- Best for overpronators: ASICS GT-1000 11 | Skip to review
- Best for wide feet: Brooks Ariel ’20 | Skip to review
A note on price
General price ranges with dollar signs ($–$$$) are indicated below. One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher cost.
Note that shoe prices on Amazon vary significantly depending on your preferred color and size. Generally, prices range from $63 to $150, though this may vary depending on where you shop and the color you choose. On Amazon, the color and even the size of the shoes can affect what you’ll pay.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $75
- $$ = $75–$145
- $$$ = over $145
Was this helpful?
| Style | Heel drop | Features and highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Saucony Triumph 20 $$$ | 10 mm | • cushioned forefoot to provide support and stability to the whole foot • lighter foam for added comfort |
| Ryka Women’s Devotion Plus 4 $$ | 11 mm | • designed specifically for the unique shape, muscle movement, and build of women’s feet |
| OOFOS OOmg Low ShoeS $$ | 6 mm | • more stylish than many other walking shoe options • pairs well with a variety of outfits • easy to slip on |
| Nike Go FlyEaseS $$$ | 7-8.5 mm | • designed with no laces and the ability to slip on and off hands-free • breathable fabric • added foam for a cushioned feeling |
| ASICS Women’s Gel-Nimbus 24 $$ | 8 mm | • Gel technology cushioning for shock absorption • foam technology designed to provide extra bounce |
| Allbirds Women’s Tree Flyer 2 $$$ | 8.5 mm | • designed with foam cushioning and TPU overlays to provide extra stability and support |
| On Cloudmonster $$$ | 6 mm | • shock-absorbing CloudTec technology for top-notch cushioning |
| ASICS GT-1000 11 $$ | 8 mm | • designed with foam cushioning and rearfoot Gel technology to provide lightweight impact absorption |
| Brooks Ariel 20 $$$ | 12 mm | • features GuideRails technology to support feet, knees, and hips by keeping excess movement in check |
S = slip on
When it comes to buying walking shoes, many people prioritize style over fit.
However, according to Dr. Kenneth Cornell, a podiatrist at Austin Regional Clinic in Texas, it’s important to have good quality shoes — not just for maximum comfort but also to prevent injuries, especially when walking for longer periods.
“Women tend to wear a wide variety of shoe types that are often not very supportive. High or medium-height heels, many flats like ballet slippers, flip-flops with thin soles, pointy shoes, and very flexible shoes can lead to foot, leg, and back pain,” Cornell explained.
That makes it all the more important to have a reliable walking shoe in the mix.
While this can vary depending on the brand, he explained that shoes for men are typically constructed with much more stability and longitudinal arch support and tend to have more cushioning across the forefoot.
Meanwhile, walking shoes designed for women are often narrower and sleeker, with less motion control and less padding across the forefoot.
With that in mind, we asked Cornell and other podiatrists to weigh in on the best walking shoes for women to help you find a supportive shoe.
To help you find the best pair of walking shoes to meet your needs, we considered the following criteria:
- Expert recommendations: We asked podiatrists for their recommendations on what makes for an ideal walking shoe, as well as any specific brands and models they often recommend to their clients.
- Comfort and durability: All the shoes listed below have mostly positive customer reviews for comfort and durability.
- Price: All the shoes on our list offer good value for the price.
Curious about what to look for in a walking shoe? We asked Cornell and Dr. Derek Anders, a podiatrist at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California, for more tips on choosing the right pair of walking shoes.
Go shopping at the end of the day
When it comes to shopping for walking shoes, Anders recommends trying on shoes at the end of the day, when your feet tend to be at their biggest or may be swollen.
Pay more attention to the fit than the listed size
“[Pay less attention to] the stated size of a shoe and be open to the fact your feet change and your foot size changes,” said Anders.
Always try on different brands. Sizing can differ among brands and lines of shoes.
“There should be some space between the longest toe and the front of the shoe — about a finger width,” he said. “It’s also common for one foot to be slightly bigger or longer than the other, so size your shoes to your bigger foot.”
Consider your intended use and foot and ankle structure
According to Cornell, the best choice for a walking shoe varies for each person.
“Some may need extra cushioning because they walk long distances, and others might need motion control because they overpronate,” he explained. “Universally, shoes should be flexible and properly fitted.”
If you’re unsure how to identify a good fit, Cornell recommends visiting a local athletic or running store. The employees are likely to understand foot sizing and can make sure you leave with the right shoe for your foot.
Ask a professional about orthotics
If you have chronic foot pain issues you can’t seem to figure out, it may be worth talking with a podiatrist about considering orthotics.
Anders recommends wearing orthotics for 1 month to give them a chance to make a difference. It’s also important to avoid walking barefoot and limit slipper and sandal use during that time.
You can follow up with a physician or podiatrist about any changes in your comfort level in the meantime.
Podiatrists typically recommend athletic shoes with arch support and cushioning technology for walking, often from popular running shoe brands such as Brooks and ASICS.
There are also a lot of solid sandal and slip-on options out there, such as those from OOFOS and PowerStep, that are equipped with similar technology to promote optimal foot health.
Shoe shopping is nuanced, and it really depends on your foot’s individual shape and your preferences. You can look for shoes that you can try on in-store or return if the fit isn’t exactly what you wanted.
Yes — many of the shoes podiatrists recommend for walking happen to be running shoes. If a pair of shoes provides optimal comfort on the run, they can often be solid walking shoes.
“A good runningshoewill offer the foot more stability and motion control, so the structure of theshoeshould be rigid in nature (as opposed to a thin, flexibleshoe),” Cornell said.
On the other hand, it’s generally not recommended to wear walking shoes for running. Shoes that are designed for walking are not usually equipped to handle the demands of running.
“Walking shoes are not typically biomechanically inclined and designed to withstand the pressures, peaks, and forces of running — especially when people are starting to put significant mileage in with running,” Dr. Mark Mendeszoon, a podiatrist at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties in Chardon, Ohio, said.
Walking shoes are generally made with a leather material, making them a little heavier than running shoes with a mid sole that is not as responsive as a running shoe, according to Mendeszoon.
For long walks, Cornell said, you should avoid wearing any shoe that doesn’t offer arch support to control the collapse of the longitudinal arch of the foot, as well as support across the fall of the foot in the form of adequate padding and cushioning.
This includes flat flip-flops and ballet flats as well as high heels and boots.
A good walking shoe should fit your foot type and how you plan on using it. For example, general walking and trail walking are different applications, so you might consider different features in a shoe.
“A person should be evaluated for the foot type, and then what are their goals,” Mendeszoon said.
For someone who supinates (puts weight on the outer edges of the feet while walking), he recommends shoes with a lower heel height or heel drop.
The best brand is the one that fits and supports your foot comfortably, and that can be different for different people. For people who have a moderate shape and size foot, don’t pronate or supinate, and don’t have overweight or obesity, Mendeszoon likes the brands Brooks, Saucony, Hoka, New Balance, and ASICS.
Walking has numerous benefits for your health, but finding the right pair of walking shoes can be overwhelming.
When shopping for your next pair, be sure to consider your intended use and foot shape to narrow your selection.
By doing your research and trying on shoes toward the end of the day, you can walk away with the best pair for you.
