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.
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
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.
Arch support is this pair's middle name. In fact, its insole system is so good at its job that it's podiatrist-certified. Skechers Go Walk Arch Fit sneakers made our tester's exclusive list of the most comfortable walking shoes for women specifically because of their extra reinforcement in the arch.
This pair of walking shoes has other comfort features like cushy, shock-absorbent insoles, a heel pillow and grippy rubber outsoles, just like the doctor ordered.
Podiatric Surgeon Dr. Dana Canuso is a fan of these Skechers and recommends them because "they are cute and offer great arch support — perfect for everyday wear!"
An older (sold out) version of these Rykas is a favorite of our Senior Commerce Editor, Rory Halperin. These updated Rykas feature all the same cushion-y support she loves, plus that roomy toe box our experts recommend. It also features a new and improved toe cap (the tough shield at the front of a shoe) and a tongue patch, among other upgrades.
It's a boon to find such a great walking shoe for less than $100, but these are on sale for just $60! And this pair is ahead of the pack with regard to arch support, shock absorbency and breathability, too.
"There is plenty of room in the toe box area so my toes and bunion are not crowded and the back of the shoe did not scrape and give me blisters which are all a huge plus!" one fan wrote.
Love a thick and squishy sole? Then add this pair of ASICS Gel-Nimbus sneakers to your collection. They made and are a favorite of fitness expert Julie Lohre and were selected as the best women's walking shoe for long-distance walking during testing. Lohre praises these shoes, saying that, "The cushioning is top-notch, providing a lot of shock absorption."
The soles in question are infused with cooling, cushion-y gel, and the super-soft knit upper—made with recycled materials, by the way— makes sure your dogs don't sweat.
"I have been struggling with ankle pain and metatarsal pain recently. I was an avid runner for 35 years. I have been a surgical nurse for 30 years. I am on my feet all day. These shoes have totally gotten rid of my pain all the way up through my ankles, knees, hips and my back!" one ASICS fan wrote.
Kizik makes these brilliant slip-on sneakers that look like laceups, but that's not the only reason we're obsessed with them. They made Yahoo's tried-and-tested list of the most comfortable walking shoes largely because of their sturdy heel cup that keeps the sneaker's shape and prevents it from curling in.
Our style editor called them "the most structured and supportive sneakers I've ever worn, and they were comfortable straight out of the box, no break-in period needed."
A happy-heeled customer agreed, adding: "Comfortable, supportive and durable heel construction."
Want the best nonslip grip? Opt for a hiking shoe, like this pair of Topo Athletic shoes, which our experts dubbed one of the best hiking shoes that we tested. "It's roomy, light, grippy and vents well," said our pro tester.
The lightweight shoe hits all of the marks the podiatrists we spoke with recommend: excellent ventilation, a cushioned footbed and foam padding around the ankle to prevent blisters.
One shopper wrote, "I wear these for trail walking and some running, for everyday use and for travel. If I can only take one pair of shoes, these are it. They are incredibly comfortable! All my Topos have wonderful fit, great grip and I love the colors!".
If that telltale heel pain is flaring up and you need a walking shoe that eases plantar fasciitis, you'll want extra padding and strong arch support. The Hoka Bondi 9s were dubbed the best Hokas for walking with extra cushioning thanks to arch support, plush comfort and breathable mesh uppers.
Dr. Hillary Brenner, New York-based podiatrist and foot surgeon highly recommends them, "These are my personal favorites because of the EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) foam midsole which is excellent for shock absorption. It's an excellent shoe in regards to support."
Yahoo commerce editor Sandra Latham agreed. She clocked 15,000 steps in the brand's previous iteration, the beloved Bondi 8, which only solidified her devotion to the shoes: "They're ultra-cushioned, with a flexible upper that's almost sock-like, so it molds to my foot," she said. "I've dealt with some plantar fasciitis in the past and would definitely turn to these if I ever have a repeat bout because they're so cushioned."
Believe the hype: I have Achilles tendonitis, and the best shoe I've found by far is the Clifton 9 by Hoka. A lack of arch support seems to be the kicker for my flare-ups, and this shoe has arch support for days. It also has an incredibly cushion-y sole and is roomy enough for wide feet.
I'm not the only one who has big love for these cushiony, supportive kicks. They won top honors as the best women's walking shoes overall in our testing and were also selected as the best Hoka shoes for walking in 2025 by our testers.
Yahoo Deputy Editor Izabella Zaydenberg tested the "cloud-like" Clifton 9 and said they were the only shoe that didn't exacerbate her plantar fasciitis — even after walking for hours at Disneyland. And another Yahoo tester said she wears her Hoka Clifton 9s daily, and they are "undoubtedly the most comfortable walking shoe I've ever tried."
Looking for a wide toe box to ease the pain of bunions and hammertoes? Go for one made with sock-like mesh upper, too. It's been endorsed by one of our experts, board-certified podiatrist Dr. Polina Zaydenberg.
As you can see, it also has lots of arch support and the most heavenly, chunky sole, which the company calls "air cushion." And, of course, the upper is super breathable.
"I have very wide feet, hammer toes, big ankles and very tender feet that never recovered from bunion surgery. With these shoes, I was able to walk around San Francisco with just a couple corn pads and not be in excruciating pain at the end of the day," one fan wrote.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.