Updated April 6, 2023.
Walking is an underrated exercise with multiple health benefits, and in order to walk for longer distances, you undoubtedly need a reliable pair of shoes. Depending on your goals and budget, it is easy to become overwhelmed when deciding what shoes you need. You could try to order something online, but sometimes ordering off of blind faith does not end in success. So how do you know that you’ve ordered the right shoes the first time?
Many online sources claim to have a list of the best shoes, and even those can be difficult to comb through. To aid you in your research, we have compiled our list of the best based on two well-known and reputable sources, Runner’s World and VeryWell Fit. With our Run program at EW Motion Therapy, our goal is to help Birmingham and Tuscaloosa runners of any age and ability work toward their goals while enabling their bodies to run and move for a lifetime. We can provide some recommendations for the best shoes as physical therapists, but we often send our runners to our friends at Trak Shak in Birmingham and Wagner’s Shoes in Tuscaloosa to get custom fittings and personalized advice. Even if you do not pursue our Run program, we still want to present this shoe list as highly-rated options for your next pair.
This article compiles a list of 11 pairs of highly-rated walking shoes, with price points and links for each. With this information, you can continue your research and hit the road.
The Top 11 Walking Shoes of 2023
A quick note before we reveal the list: if you already have a great pair of running shoes that you enjoy, those will probably make great walking shoes for you as well. However, since walking shoes usually have thicker soles for longer distances, they probably would not make great running shoes. But if you are not a runner and want to incorporate long walks as a regular activity in your workout routine, then these 11 shoes might be a great investment.
Skechers GoWalk Hyper Burst
Average retail price: $120
Available for men and women in multiple colors and styles
Buy it here: Skechers GoWalk Hyper Burst
Teva Gateway Low
Average retail price: $100
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Teva Gateway Low
Rykä Perform
Average retail price: $135
Available for women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Rykä Perform
Topo Rekovr 2
Average retail price: $120
Available for men and women in two colors
Buy it here: Topo Rekovr 2
New Balance 1080 v12
Average retail price: $159.99
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: New Balance 1080 v12
Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles
Average retail price: $125
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles
Dansko Pace
Average retail price: $140
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Dansko Pace
HOKA Bondi 7
Average retail price: $160
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: HOKA Bondi 7
Rykä Devotion Plus 3
Average retail price: $99.99
Available for women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Rykä Devotion Plus 3
Brooks Glycerin GTS 19
Average retail price: $150
Available for men and women in multiple colors
Buy it here: Brooks Glycerin GTS 19
Asics Gel-Venture 8
Average retail price: $70
Available for men, women, and children in multiple colors
Buy it here: Asics Gel-Venture 8
What makes a running shoe and a walking shoe different?
Now you have a list of the top 11 walking shoes of 2023. If you want to begin walking as a new fitness regimen, it can be confusing to separate walking and running shoes. But there are a few factors that make them different, including how much support they offer and the general category they fit into.
If you are ready to buy, you can order your pair of choice online, or you could visit a running shoe store to chat with an expert and get a personalized fit. We send our Birmingham runners to our friends at Trak Shak and our Tuscaloosa runners to Wagner’s Shoes, and we also have many other options locally. If you think you need to move and run better before buying more shoes, fill out our Run program self-assessment to see if our services fit your needs.
