The most comfortable walking shoes have some important things in common. (Getty Images)(Getty)
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.
Turns out, there's more to finding all-day comfort in walking shoes than you might think. We hear terms like "arch support" and "cushioning," but what do they really mean when comparing shoe A to shoe B? These structural features, along with shock absorption and breathable materials can make all the difference. By focusing on these key elements, you can ensure your next pair of kicks delivers on its promise of keeping your feet cradled in comfort and pain-free, mile after mile.
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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. Then we consulted our team of experts to see which shoes they recommend.
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.