We've tested the best walking shoes for all-day support during short walks and long hikes (2024)

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 quick list

The best shoes for walking you can get right now

Best overall

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]

Best Nike walking shoe

Cushioning + support
The Nike Pegasus 40s are comfortable and well-cushioned. I took them on a couple of 15 thousand-step walks and found myself just as comfortable at the end of the walk as at the beginning (if slightly sweatier).

They offer neutral support and what Nike describes as medium cushioning; I found this meant that they were actually very springy, which is perfect for me. They are technically running shoes, but I found them great for long city walks, where cushioning was needed to protect my feet from hard concrete.

Design + features
The Pegasus 40s have quite a narrow fit, however, Nike does offer an extra wide option for men and women, so if you usually buy a wide-fit shoe, you’ll want to opt for this. I have fairly narrow feet, but found the Pegasus 40s quite snug and had to loosen the laces to get them on my foot.

The soles aren’t as grippy as the Nike Motivas but they are still fairly solid. I walked across frozen streets and icy hills and stayed upright the entire time, despite my horrendous balance.

Materials + durability
I got the shoes really muddy and unfortunately, they didn’t wash completely clean again, so if you have a white pair, don’t expect them to stay white. They are water resistant but not waterproof, so not the best choice for wet days.

The soles are wonderfully springy, which was an upgrade from the fairly unyielding tread of the Nike Motivas that I was testing before. Nike have included two “Zoom Air” units in the heel and toe and you can feel the support and responsiveness with every step.

Best for concrete

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

Best for trail walks

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.

Best for waterproofing

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

Best gym shoe for walking

The Nano X3 Adventure is a spin-off from the popular Nano range, which tops our list of the best cross trainers. It’s designed to stand up to the rigors of pretty much any workout, including heavy lifting sessions, short runs and long, muddy walks.

It features the famous “Lift and Run” chassis found in the Nano shoe. This clever design compresses under heavy loads, offering a flat and stable surface for weightlifting. When operating under normal weight, the wearer will be supported by the springy Floatride Foam cushioning in the shoe, which makes runs and walks feel easier.

Unlike other shoes in the Nano line, the Adventure X3 has a water-resistant mesh upper and a Vibram outsole with thick grooves. Combined, these features allow me to walk through shallow puddles, wet grass and muddy fields without fear of slipping or wet socks.

The only flaw here is that the shoe took a little while to break in. The upper felt stiff at first, but after a few wears it softened up and soon felt comfortable. I also wouldn’t wear them for longer rural outings, which require the use of a rugged hiking boot.

However, if you’re looking for an incredibly versatile shoe that can take you from long walks to gym workouts, the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure will be right up your street.

Other tried and tested shoes

The shoes listed above are the best we’ve tested, scoring high for comfort, cushioning and durability. We’ve also tried out the below options, but they didn’t quite make the cut.

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]

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.

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 you may prefer a shoe that provides a little more weather protection.

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