We Tested Almost 100 Pairs of Walking Shoes for Men—These 11 Kept Us Comfortable (2024)

• Our Picks

• We Also Tested

• How We Tested

• What to Look for

• FAQ

• Why Trust Verywell Fit

It probably won’t come as a surprise that a shoe from New Balance tops our list of the best walking shoes for men. The brand’s 990v5 impressed us with its combination of comfort and style, making it great for long walks and casual, all-day wear.

We’re struck by how comfortable these shoes are, particularly the padded tongue and the dual-density foam collar, which keeps your ankles comfortable and prevents blisters. The entire shoe features high cushioning, with a midsole made of foam and polyurethane for a responsive, comfy stride. An added bonus is that, despite all their cushioning, these shoes still support our feet on long walks. We also found them to run true to size, as they perfectly fit our feet right out of the box.

Our only real issue is their higher price tag, but that doesn’t mean we don’t think they are worth it. We absolutely would recommend and endorse them for their comfort and style. And we love that they come in five colors to accommodate you regardless of your look.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-16 (extra-narrow, narrow, standard, wide, extra-wide, and extra-extra-wide widths) | Weight: 11.3 ounces | Drop: 12 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Maximum | Materials: Pigskin, mesh}

For wide-footed walkers, we recommend Kane’s Revive shoes. Testers with wide feet appreciate the ample room in the forefoot of these shoes that gives feet and toes room to splay. Made with a comfortable, synthetic upper and lining, plus a foam footbed, these shoes keep your heels and toes comfortable and protected from chafing and blisters.

Designed as a recovery shoe, the Revive has a hands-free, slip-on design that makes it easy to get out the door quickly to run errands or go for a short walk. When wearing these on test walks, we were impressed by their ability to seamlessly transition between surfaces—from concrete to sand and grass. Despite being recovery shoes, this pair offers great traction, thanks to the oversized channels on the outsoles.

Despite their more relaxed appearance, these shoes hold up well during walks and remain secure, even when walking briskly. Thanks to their perforated design, they're incredibly breathable, making them great for hot weather walks. But this option doesn’t offer as much cushioning as other walking shoes on our list, so we wouldn’t recommend them for hour-long, uninterrupted walks.

We also love that this option can be cleaned easily—rinse it under running water to get rid of any grime. Walkers with wide feet should go up a size when ordering these shoes for an optimal fit.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 3-15 (only one width option) | Weight: Not listed | Drop: Not listed | Closure: Slip-on | Cushioning: Moderate | Materials: Synthetic upper, lining, and sole; EVA foam midsole—made of 44% recycled material}

We recommend Asics Gel-Venture 8 for an affordable pair of walking shoes that don’t sacrifice quality. Designed for trail runs, hiking, or wandering along concrete, these shoes can take on slippery and wet terrain. This pair offers excellent traction for any terrain, thanks to the deep lugs on the soles (especially under the heel of the shoe).

While the manufacturer describes these shoes as having “moderate” cushioning, we found it provided just the right amount of support. The gel cushioning does exactly what it sets out to do, offering premium shock absorption, particularly in the heel, which is helpful for walkers with heel pain.

Although they’re heavier than other options on our list, the tradeoff is that they’re water-resistant, which is great for trail walking. The toe box runs narrow, so they’re not the best option for walkers with wide feet, though they do come in extra-wide sizes.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-15 (medium and extra-wide widths) | Weight: 12.5 ounces | Drop: 10 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Moderate | Materials: Rubber sole, synthetic leather upper, and EVA foam midsole}

Whether you're walking a 5k or gearing up for a full day in a new city, Hoka’s Mach 5 is a lightweight performance shoe that doesn’t disappoint. When testing these shoes, they felt lightweight and comfortable for the entire day, even after we wore them for a full day of excursions. Unlike other sneakers, this pair is breathable and won’t overheat your feet, thanks to its jacquard mesh upper.

The shoes have an articulated heel collar that stays in place and never rubs, preventing blisters and chafing. They fit well and felt comfortable from the first time we laced them up, which allowed us to really put them through the wringer on day one.

These shoes run a bit wide and don’t come in a narrow-width option, so they may be better suited for those with regular or wider feet.

While the lower profile cushion bed is designed for runners to keep their feet closer to the ground and offer a better push-off, we found they work just as well for all-day walking. Plus, with 13 fun color options, these shoes look just as good on a walk as they do with a pair of jeans for a night out.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-14 (regular and wide widths) | Weight: 8.2 ounces | Drop: 5 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Firm and responsive | Materials: Partially recycled polyester mesh upper, molded EVA sockliner, and rubberized EVA outsole}

For someone facing chronic plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel pain among adults, the wrong pair of shoes can be a big problem. Our testers with plantar fasciitis appreciate that these shoes feature adequate arch support and shock absorption, keeping symptoms at bay on walks. These are some of the best shoes for walkers with plantar fasciitis, made with foam cushioning that supports without weighing your feet down. Both Dr. Cunha and Dr. Wu recommend these shoes, and we found they helped relieve plantar fasciitis symptoms, even during a 10-hour travel day.

Beyond the relief these shoes provide for our plantar fasciitis, the breathable antimicrobial mesh keeps our feet cool while helping us avoid stinky unpleasant odor after hours of wear. We also love that the speed lacing system allows us to slide them on quickly and easily.

We like that they come in 19 stylish color options, but we found the lighter colors scuff easily.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-14 (only one width option) | Weight: 8.81 ounces | Drop: 7 millimeters | Closure: Speed laces | Cushioning: Moderate and responsive | Materials: Recycled polyester upper, foam midsole, and rubber outsole}

One of the brand’s bestsellers, Hoka’s Arahi 6 shoes are perfect for alternate running and walking. With a surplus of cushioning, they work well to absorb shock, even on harder pavement, which also makes them great shoes for people with knee pain.

The balanced cushioning of this pair offers enough plush comfort for walkers but still has the springy responsiveness needed to push off during runs. And, even with their ample cushioning, they still feel surprisingly light, so much so that we almost forget we’re wearing them. After wearing these for a full day of walking with some intermittent running, our feet still felt fresh and comfortable.

These shoes also feature Hoka’s J-frame technology, a guiding technology in the midsole that improves the shoe’s support and stability. However, they lack some traction, requiring us to reduce our speed when running on less stable ground like rock.

It's worth noting that these are more expensive than most other shoes on our list. But we like that they offer great ankle support and come in 17 fun color options.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-15 (medium and wide widths) | Weight: 9.3 ounces | Drop: 5 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Plush and responsive | Materials: Mesh upper, EVA foam midsole, and rubber outsole}

If you’re looking for something that you can really put to work in the elements and less forgiving wet conditions, Salomon Men’s X Ultra Pioneer impressed us. Waterproof inner booties proved very effective at keeping our feet dry even when we wore them through running water that reached the middle of the shoe. The tongue is also attached to the shoes to further prevent water from getting in, and despite being waterproof, these shoes still maintain breathability.

In addition to being waterproof up above, the soles of the shoes are built well to handle wet conditions on trails and hikes. With two different kinds of rubber in the sole and a patterned heel area, the tread works well for gripping all types of trails. In terms of quality and effectiveness, we had no gripes with this shoe, but we wish it wasn't so heavy. And the pair runs small, so you might want to consider sizing up.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 5-14 (only one width option) | Weight: 13.75 ounces | Drop: 11 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Moderate | Materials: Textile and leather upper, rubber outsole}

While feeling comfortable in your shoes is important for walks of any length, it’s especially crucial when you’re planning on walking for longer distances. These shoes provide such thick, soft cushioning that we can easily wear them on long-distance walks without experiencing hip or knee pain.

Even though these shoes have plush cushioning and feature the soft padding you can only find in a Brooks shoe, they’re still springy and stable. They keep our ankles locked in during both runs and walks and work great on all terrain.

The shoes have a mesh upper which allows for optimal airflow and makes this pair very breathable, a vital feature for when you start to get sweaty on mile three of a long walk. During testing, we got caught in the rain, and we found that they didn’t weigh us down when soaked. And the quality of the shoes didn’t deteriorate once they dried.But only a select few colors are also available in wide sizes.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-15 (medium and wide widths) | Weight: 10.5 ounces | Drop: 10 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Maximum | Materials: Recycled polyester and recycled nylon, mesh upper, nitrogen-infused foam midsole}

Arc’teryx Aerios FL 2 are great hiking shoes for someone seeking durability, a true-to-size fit, and top-notch traction. The outsole is constructed with Vibram Megagrip Compound, a durable performance rubber designed to grip wet and dry terrain. We tested them on multiple surfaces and never lost our footing—even in wet, slippery conditions, we always felt completely safe and secure.

The solid traction helped us traverse rough terrains easily without sacrificing support. These shoes provide great arch support, which is particularly good for walkers with high arches. They also have Gore-tex waterproofing that keeps your feet dry in wet conditions. While we love the waterproofing, it’s important to note that it comes with added bulk, which makes these less breathable compared to other options on our list.

Getting these hiking boots to our preferred tightness required some extra effort. The bulkier area above the ankle can feel tight, which is great for ankle stability, but it can initially feel uncomfortable.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-13 (only one width option) | Weight: 12 ounces | Drop: Not listed | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Medium | Materials: GORE-TEX membrane, polyester, TPU films, EVA foam midsole, microfiber heel lining}

Sandals normally aren’t something that you would consider wearing for longer periods of walking, but you can wear Bedrock’s Cairn Adventure Sandals for miles and still feel supported.

With a Vibram outsole, which is a material that blends foam and rubber, these sandals are both supportive and comfortable, giving your traditional walking shoe a run for its money. We’re also very impressed with the durability of these sandals. Even after we wore them for a day of walking in harsh conditions, they still looked brand new after a quick rinse and scrub.

While these sandals aren’t waterproof, they maintain their grip on wet terrain. We wore them on wet granite and never felt like we were going to slip. And while straps around your feet may seem like a potential chafing hazard, the sandals have three adjustment points that we found truly work to prevent hotspots, rubbing, and blisters.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 5-14 (only one width option) | Weight: 8 ounces | Drop: 0 millimeters | Closure: Adjustable Y strap | Cushioning: Minimal to moderate | Materials: Polyester/nylon upper and Vibram outsole}

Reebok’s Nano X2 is a good option if you’re looking for a shoe to walk to the gym with and wear for your workout. Versatile as can be, this cross-trainer is great for walking, weightlifting, HIIT workouts, and more, making it truly worth the investment.

With Reebok’s proprietary energy foam, a lighter EVA foam that supports while still feeling responsive, the Nano X2 features cushioning throughout the entire shoe. In particular, we found it does a good job at cushioning the heel of the foot, which is good news for walkers with plantar fasciitis. We also like the flatter heel, which is designed for weightlifting but also helps us maintain stability on walks. But the flatter, bulkier design of these shoes may start to feel uncomfortable on longer walks.

The rubber soles make this pair grippy, so we never need to worry about losing our footing. We also like that they come in seven color options, so you can find something that fits your style.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Men’s 7-13 (only one width option) | Weight: Not listed | Drop: Not listed | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Lightweight and balanced throughout the shoe | Materials: Woven textile upper, EVA foam midsole, rubber outsole}

Frequently Asked Questions

• What’s the best way to break in new shoes?

  Dr. Wu notes that a good shoe shouldn’t require much breaking in and should be fairly comfortable from the start. If that’s not the case, though, he recommends a few simple ways to break in new shoes: you can wear them around the house before use, wear them for shorter periods of time and gradually increase the duration, and wear thicker socks initially.

  If your feet are particularly sensitive and you often find yourself getting blisters or chafing from new shoes, you can also try a more involved method of breaking them in. Dr. Cunha recommends using a hair dryer to heat them up for two to three minutes to help them expand or purchasing a pair of shoe stretchers.

• Are running shoes good for walking?

  Yes, some running shoes can be used for walking, but it’s important to understand some key differences between running and walking shoes before choosing a pair. Running shoes are typically lighter and more breathable than walking shoes. Most walking shoes are generally more flexible at the forefoot, allowing walkers to have a better range of motion while pushing off with their toes. However, running shoes give you more cushioning in the heel and forefoot.

  If you do a combination of running and walking or frequently walk in hot weather, wear a pair of running shoes instead. For advice on selecting the best shoes for your foot type, gait, and walking habits, visit a running specialty store to get a proper fitting.

• How long do walking shoes last?

  In general, you should replace your walking shoes after 300 to 400 miles or six to eight months, whichever comes first, according to Saylee Tulpule, DPM, a podiatrist in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Even if walking shoes appear to be in good condition, they should be replaced frequently. “The function of a proper walking or running shoe is to provide stability and cushion, so it’s important to assess the shelf life of a shoe in order to prevent injury,” says Dr. Tulpule.

• How much does a quality pair of walking shoes for men cost?

  You can expect to pay anywhere from $50-$200 for a quality pair of walking shoes. Cheaper options may not have enough support and cushioning to keep you feeling light on your feet all day long. And more expensive pairs may have fashion-forward features or additional technology that doesn't actually enhance the shoes' comfort. The cheapest pair of shoes on our list, Asics’ Gel Venture 8, usually costs around $70. Our top recommendation, New Balance's 990v5 Shoe, was $185 when we published this list.