Whether you're walking around the neighborhood, on your feet from 9 to 5, or constantly chasing after kids (including pets), comfortable, slip-resistant shoes with real support are not a luxury, but a necessity.
Experts say that if you can do it, your best bet is to get the right shoes from a specialty shoe store, especially if you suffer from foot pain or conditions like plantar fasciitis. Your foot size may also change during pregnancy And menopausewhich makes proper fitting even more rewarding. But if you can't make it to your local sneaker store, here's the good news: Brands like Brooks, Asics, Saucony, Skechers, and New Balance are selling some of their most popular options on Amazon.
Below, I've compiled a list of highly rated women's walking shoes on Amazon, taking into account expert advice. Once you incorporate a pair into your daily activities, your feet will thank you.
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How I Chose the Best Women's Walking Shoes on Amazon
In our guide to best women's walking shoesorthopedists Olga Shvets And Miguel Cunha Let's look at what factors should be taken into account when making purchases. Below are some of the most important ones that I used in my recommendations for the best women's walking shoes available on Amazon.
- Arch support: One of the first steps to purchasing the right walking shoes is to determine what type of arch support you need: neutral, low or high. It depends on your foot type. You can be a pronator (when your ankle or arch rolls or tilts inward slightly, which is common in low arches), a supinator (when your weight is placed on the outer edges of your foot, which is common in high arches), or a neutral (when your foot lands on your heel and rolls forward to distribute the impact evenly). Looking at a pair of your worn-in running shoes can help you figure out where you need the most support, but to learn more about determining your foot type, visit our guide.
- Soft insole: For maximum comfort, look for memory foam or anti-compression ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) footbeds.
- Comfortable and durable upper: A flexible upper made from durable materials will last the longest. Breathable fabric is also a smart choice, providing maximum ventilation and preventing the entry of moisture that can cause athlete's foot or other complications caused by fungus.
- Easy: Heavy shoes can cause your feet to become tired while wearing them. Choose lightweight running shoes to keep you comfortable and fast on your feet.
Best Women's Walking Shoes on Amazon
Using the expert recommendations I detailed above, I've rounded up some of the best women's walking shoes on Amazon. I opted for highly rated options from brands that NBC Select previously reviewed and found them to be breathable, lightweight, and provide excellent arch support. I have also highlighted shoes in different price ranges.
These sneakers are a big hit among the NBC Select staffers who tested them. “They're so soft I can wear them all day,” says the assistant SEO reporter for NBC Select. Ashley Morriswho has flat feet. The sneakers also have wider toe box.
According to the brand, these mesh slip-ons are breathable and lightweight, and the sockliner adapts to your foot as you walk. The footbed features Skechers' Gogo Max technology, which provides extra cushioning and support. You can buy the sneakers in medium, narrow, and wide sizes, as well as over 30 color options such as hot pink, red, charcoal, black, and charcoal.
The Saucony Guide is one of the best Cunha options because it has thick cushioning and high sidewalls for maximum stability, as well as a supportive outsole that absorbs shock. He is also a recipient of the NBC Select Wellness Award. “I always recommend this shoe because it provides a softer heel strike and takes pressure off the foot,” he says.
These sneakers have a leather upper that makes them very durable and a rubber outsole that provides traction as you walk. They're made with a memory foam midsole for cushioning and are designed to move air from the heel to the forefoot and back again to keep feet cool, the brand says.
According to an NBC Select reporter, the Ghost Max 3 is one of Brooks' softest running shoes that will keep your feet comfortable on long walks and all day long. Zoe Malin. “I wear them to walk four or five miles through Central Park when I'm taking a break from running, and the insole supports my sore feet and the foam takes the pressure off my joints,” she says. “I can also stand in them all day and feel supported, like when I'm on my feet for hours running errands.” The sneaker's substantial layer of foam is relatively even across the entire surface of the shoe, and the outsole has a rocker design—both features the brand says allow for a natural heel-to-toe stride. The shoe also features a wide, stable base and a ventilated mesh upper.
“These are, without a doubt, the best walking shoes I've tested that cost less than $100. I was really shocked when I saw the price because they feel and look very similar to the Hoka Bondi or Brooks Ghost Max,” says Malin. “If you want a shoe with maximum cushioning like these trendy styles but at a fraction of the price, I highly recommend purchasing a pair of Nortiv 8 ActiveFloats.” The sneaker features a thick foam midsole, durable rubber outsole, and breathable upper, and is available in a wide range of sizes.
Nike Promina shoes are specifically designed for walking. The brand says the thick layer of foam and ridged, flexible rocker outsole help ensure a smooth heel-to-toe transition. The shoe also features a wide forefoot, arch and toe box, as well as a padded foam collar and extra grippy base for added traction. You can buy sneakers in standard or extra wide sizes.
“Because I live in Manhattan, I walk everywhere, so comfort and support are non-negotiable for me,” says Malin. “But I also want something fashionable enough to wear with jeans or a dress in everyday life. These Adidas sneakers fit the bill. I've had them for about three years and wear them for over 10 hours on my busiest days. My feet never get tired or sore when I wear them, and even though they get a lot of wear and tear over the years, they remain in pretty good condition.” The sneakers have a leather upper, rubber sole and platform.
Like the Adidas Vl Court Bold, the New Balance 574 Core has a less sporty look than most of the other options on our list, so you can incorporate them into your everyday wardrobe while keeping your feet comfortable. I wear mine with jeans and leggings all the time and travel in them often. They have an EVA foam midsole, suede and mesh upper, and a rubber outsole. The sneakers have a slight platform, which I find more comfortable compared to completely flat shoes.
These shoes are lightweight and breathable, and have extra padding on the sole and heel collar for added comfort. They are also machine washable for easy cleaning.
The Doussprt is a slip-on sneaker with an elastic cuff. The upper is made of mesh fabric and has a perforated arch for added ventilation. Plus, the shoe's air cushion technology provides a buffer between you and the ground, helping protect you from injury, Dusspert says. The mesh and ethylene vinyl acetate footbed provides arch support, and the sneaker has a non-slip heel and wide round toe, making it ideal for those who stand for long periods of time.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and credentials based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are provided independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Miguel Cunha orthopedist and founder Gotham Foot Care in Manhattan, New York.
- Olga Shvets is an orthopedist at Central Park Orthopedic Center in Yonkers, New York.
Why trust NBC Select?
I contributing editor on NBC Select, which regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle topics. For this story, I researched and compiled sneaker options that match the experts' recommendations, and also consulted NBC Select's previous coverage of women's walking shoes.
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