'These Walking Shoes Are So Comfortable I Bought A Second Pair—And They're On Sale For $70' (2024)

WH executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos can't say enough positive things about the Reebok DMX Comfort + sneaker. (It was awarded the Best Walking Shoe award in WH's Fitness Awards 2024 for good reason!)

She is no stranger to foot problems and has dealt with plantar fasciitis, pain related to her high arches, as well as sesamoiditis (inflammation of the sesamoid bones in the ball of the foot) for years as a dancer and runner. After her most recent half marathon training stint, her foot pain flared up again, causing her to drop out and instead lean into finding the best walking shoes for pain-free steps until she healed. The DMX Comfort + has become her "savior walking sneaker" thanks to its unmatched cushion and downright orthotic feel.

"At first, I thought the shoes looked a bit bulky and I wasn't sure if they would be a fit for me—but my mind was immediately changed when I put them on. They are slightly heavier feeling on my feet than other walking shoes, but that helps me feel really grounded with each step. The thick sole and rocker make me feel supported with every step and propel me forward, so I don't have to overexert myself on long walks," she describes.

One of her favorite features? "You don't have to untie these to get them on, or even bend over—they slip on hands-free and from a standing position with ease," she says, adding that this has been a game changer at 34 weeks pregnant. "I love this walking shoe so much that I bought a second pair so I could use one pair as an indoor walking shoe on my walking pad, and the other as my outdoor walking shoe."

One thing to note: "Some friends have said they needed to return their pair for a half size up. This was not the case for me, and my usual size 9 was fine, but you may want to order two sizes to try or shop in store," Andriakos says.

Overall, for less than $100, the price can't be beat for a cushioned walking shoe that provides pain-free steps. Plus, the pastel colors are gorgeous, she adds.

"I have a hard time finding walking shoes that are both cushioned and supportive enough for my high arches and sensitive balls of the feet, but that are also narrow enough," Andriakos says. "These are absolutely perfect if you deal with any foot pain issues and/or struggle with sneakers being a bit too wide. I have walked over 100 miles in these at this point and have never even had a sore or tender spot from rubbing or chafing. They also required zero break-in period." (FWIW, they are also available in a wide fit if you need.)

She also loves the slightly chunky dad-sneaker look. "I have both the all-white pair and the sea salt and grey violet color option, and both go with everything and feel very on trend right now. The laces are super secure and do not come untied no matter how many miles I walk."

The only downside Andriakos has noticed? "When I've worn them on wet days, I notice my feet will feel damp and they take a bit to dry out. I usually put them in the dryer, which hasn't damaged the silhouette."

If cushioning is your first priority, look no further than Hoka's cult-favorite Bondi 8 sneaker. This sneaker was made with lightweight foam and an extended heel, so your foot will feel cradled, supported, and balanced from every angle.

As a trainer and coach in New York City, Colette Nguyen, CPT, of Soho Strength Lab, is used to clocking in anywhere from five to 12 hours a day on her feet training clients and commuting around the city. "As you can imagine, it's important for me to have good, comfortable, and durable walking shoes that can keep up with my active lifestyle," she explains.

"My feet are both narrow and incredibly flat," she notes. 'When I first put the Bondi 8 on my feet without socks, the inner arch support rubbed a bit under my foot but was quickly rendered unnoticeable with socks on. It fit well, not too roomy and not too snug, and very comfortable to stand around in."

After spending an entire work day in the Bondi 8s, Nguyen wore them through her personal workout session and then proceeded with her post-workout outdoor walk. "My usual walking route can take me about 48-55 minutes to complete and covers roughly 2.6 miles. And I was very pleased with how supportive and secure I felt," she says, adding that she's suffered many ankle sprains from dance and is especially cautious when walking on cobblestone streets. "But the support from the Hokas gave me a huge confidence boost—I had no trouble walking on cobblestone and was even able to take my eyes off of the ground when walking."

One negative Nguyen noticed: The Hoka Bondi 8 are not slip-resistant. "It had lightly rained earlier in the day, so the city ground was damp for my outdoor walk. Areas of the city where the ground was made of smooth stone, stone tile were surprisingly slippery with the Bondis on," she says.

Lastly, they do have a chunkier aesthetic; if you are looking for a low-key, low-profile walking shoe, these aren't it. "Maximalist walking shoe for the maximalist walker!" Nguyen says.

Read more: The Best Hoka Walking Shoes In 2024, According To A Podiatrist

Lined with mesh to make this an ultra breathable sneaker, the Pegasus is one of Nike's best walking shoes because it has a slim, low heel that Perkins says is best for maintaining a smooth walking cadence. (The newest version available is the Pegasus 40, but WH editors have worn multiple models over the years and stand by the shoe's consistency and reliability even with small engineering improvements and changes.)

Andriakos has worn countless versions of the Nike Pegasus for both running and walking for years. "I have logged hundreds of miles in these shoes and they never disappoint," she says. "I find the sole a bit on the firmer side, and the mesh upper really hugs and forms to your individual foot shape. The shoe feels perfectly snug and secure as you step, without being too constricting."

If you're someone who prefers a slightly more cushioned or flexible fit, Andriakos recommends the Pegasus 36 (which is one of Perkins favorites) or Pegasus 38. "The newer versions definitely feel stiffer to me and slightly weightier than previous models, which I have enjoyed about the new models, but may not be everyone's preference."

She also flags that the tongue sometimes gets folded up and tucked under the laces in a slightly uncomfortable way. "I fix this by just being really diligent when I put the shoes on, making sure to pull the tongue taut and make sure it's laying flat before tying my shoes."

Overall, this is a "go-to walking shoe recommendation" that Andriakos gives friends and family when they ask—and so far she's only heard happy feedback from loved ones who have purchased a Pegasus shoe.

Read more: The 10 Best Nike Running Shoes For Women, According To Certified Running Coaches

"The mostly all-white design is bound to get dirty on my morning walks with my dog, but I still like how clean and fashionable the design is," says WH lifestyle director Lindsay Gellar. "When I laced up, the shoes were instantly comfortable. I didn't have to break in these sneakers at all, which is a huge plus in my book. I also like the curved ankle hook at the back of the shoe because it makes them easy to slip on and off, as well as not rub against my ankles even with low socks."

Gellar also appreciated how the sole of the sneaker is more stacked at the heel. "I like a fair amount of cushioning with my running shoes, but since these are mainly for walking, the amount feels balanced—not too much and not too little."

The laces are super elastic, she adds, "so I can lace up super tight if needed and my feet can feel super secure in the sneaks. They are also super lightweight, so I think they’d be easy to travel with since they wouldn’t add a ton of weight to either a carry-on or full-size suitcase."

As far as style goes, Gellar probably wouldn’t wear them as a full replacement for more casual, lifestyle walking shoes because they are less style-forward to go with non-athleisure outfits. "But they’re perfect for a dedicated walking workout."

Podiatrists Diana Rogers, DPM, and Casey Pidich, MD, both recommend Hoka's Clifton 8 sneakers to patients, so you know it's a good one.

Pidich loves that the design encourages your feet to rock off the ground rather than push off your toes, and Rogers specifically recommends the shoe for her plantar fasciitis patients for a similar reason. "The lightweight feel on this shoe propels feet forward rather than making them do extra work," she says.

Living in New York, WH news and features editor Currie Engel walks an average of five or six miles a day. "I cannot tell you how absolutely essential it is to have a comfy pair of sneaks to get me from point A to point B, C, D all day long. When I tried the Hoka Cliftons last spring, they were an immediate no-brainer for my long weekend days and errand runs," she says.

They’ve got tons of cushioning and are so lightweight that Engel forgets she is wearing them. "They literally just felt like an extension of my own foot. (Plus, they almost never come untied!) None of those clunky, heavy sneakers for me."

Engel has a very high natural arch, which sometimes calls for insoles, but the Clifton arch support makes it much easier to walk for hours (and miles) at a time without getting a single blister, squished toe, or achy arch. "I’ve never had a more comfortable pair of shoes, and I've put over 200 miles of just walking in them," she says. "They’ve served me well in rainy spring weather, winter snow, and sweaty summers. I also always make sure to bring this pair of shoes with me on vacation because they're so all-purpose."

For those who appreciate a good slip-on shoe, here's another great option by Skechers made with a lightweight, breathable mesh that's great for sweaty feet (it happens to all of us). The ultra-cushioned midsole offers great arch support, too.

"I consider these a no-frills walking shoe—perfect for errands, quick trips outside when you need to slip a shoe on fast, or for walking your dog if you're a pet owner," Andriakos says. "They are very convenient to keep next to your front door to slip on and go."

Andriakos was skeptical about whether they would be supportive and secure enough without laces on top, but the breathable, stretchy mesh had a surprisingly effective amount of compression around her feet. "They hold my feet in place and shockingly don't rub even without socks on," she notes. "I also never notice any plantar fasciitis flare-ups when I wear these." (Her longest walk in the Go Joys was 4.3 miles.)

She is critical of the style. "I don't find them to be the most fashion-forward walking shoe," she admits. "But the white pair looks pretty cute with jeans and dresses."

Finally, Andriakos would be careful about wearing these without high socks in colder temps. "The low ankle profile makes it a better fit for warm weather, for sure."

Support and stability: Walking shoes should be more stable than running shoes. Ideally, it will assist with the pattern of your walk rather than the impact. Your shoe should also have limited flexibility—the more it bends, the less stability.

To test the flexibility, hold the shoe at the toe box and heel counter and try to fold the shoe in half by pushing on its ends to see how sturdy it is. If it folds in half or twists with ease, it's too flexible, says podiatrist Elizabeth Daughtry, MD.

Material: The material of your shoes should be decided based on where you live or where you tend to walk most often. Still, breathability is essential. If you're in a cold or wet environment, try opting for something that's leather or has a weatherproof upper.

"Overall, look for a shoe that has a more rocker bottom or rigid midsole with a firm heel counter to assist with control of excessive turning inwards or outwards while heel striking," says Dr. Daughtry.

Outsole: Look for walking shoes that have an outsole with more rigidness in the midsole for stability.

Flexible uppers: In general, a flexible shoe is a no-no. For uppers, however, having that flexibility can help avoid irritation to the top of the foot and allow for any swelling that may occur during activities, says Dr. Daughtry. The flex point should also match the bending point of the foot.

Insoles and arch support: Different feet have different needs, so it's important to have insoles that can be removed in case you use orthotics. "Most shoes don't offer adequate support alone," says Dr. Daughtry. "You should supplement most shoes with a more custom-molded orthotic, which your local podiatrist can make for you as this gives most shoes adequate support but also helps with shock absorption and the ability for additional cushioning that the shoe may lack."

Women’s Health editors, including our executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos and commerce editors Jasmine Gomez and Lily Wohlner, have been researching for months the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated walking shoes for women. Our team has also tested hundreds of sneakers for our annual Sneaker Awards for years. We also consulted multiple foot and gait experts as well as a personal trainer (see: Meet The Experts, next). Additionally, the team evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to help narrow down and curate the list of truly the best walking shoes for a range of foot needs and fit preferences.

Expert recommendations: WH asked podiatrists which specific shoes as well as top brands they'd recommend to their own patients with a wide array of conditions, from overpronation to ankle injuries, wide feet, and more. The sneakers reflected in this story align with the walking shoe recommendations and guidelines provided by the podiatrist sources.

Detailed editor reviews: Each of the podiatrist-approved shoes is paired with an honest review from a happy WH advisor or editor who wore them extensively and would recommend them to a loved one.

Style: Don't worry—the internet is filled with options, so you'll never have to skimp on style while prioritizing your comfort. All of the shoes fit a wide range of sensibilities.

Cushioning: Perkins notes that cushioning is the most important feature to look for in a good pair of walking shoes. The pairs above max out when it comes to cushioning—say goodbye to those blisters.

Flexibility: Flexibility takes second place in walking shoe priorities, says podiatric surgery specialist James Stavosky, DPM. Who has the time to break in shoes? Luckily, all of the selections have been confirmed to be comfortable from day one.

• Colette Nguyen, CPT, is a personal trainer and strength coach at SoHo Strength Lab in New York City.
• James Stavosky, DPM, is a podiatric surgery specialist in Daly City, California with over 40 years of experience.
• Chanel Perkins, DPM, is an assistant professor of foot and ankle podiatry in the department of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
• Elizabeth Daughtry, MD is a podiatrist and foot and ankle specialist with Foot and Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic.
• Diana Rogers, DPM, is a podiatric foot and ankle surgery specialist in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
• Casey Pidich, MD, specializes in podiatry and foot and ankle surgery and is based in the Bronx, New York.

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