Walking Shoes Buying Guide: How to Choose the Most Comfortable Walking Shoes
Picture this: it’s summertime and you’re going on vacation to a fun, touristy city with plenty to see and do. Before your adventure you go shopping and pick out a new pair of cute shoes you plan to debut on this trip. The big day finally arrives, and you break out your new shoes, planning to spend the day exploring town. At first everything is great – you’re seeing the sights, having a grand time. But then your feet start getting a little sore, and as you keep walking, they start hurting more and more. Those new shoes you bought? Turns out they weren’t as comfortable as you had originally thought, and your feet are paying the price for not having comfortable walking shoes.
Whether you’re going on vacation to an amusement park or tropical resort, spending your day running errands, getting some fresh air and hiking some trails, or just spending all day on your feet at work, a pair of uncomfortable shoes can end up being a massive pain in your heel (pun intended). But how are you supposed to know if the pair of shoes you’re looking at are going to be the best walking shoes before you wear them? Well don’t you worry, because we’re about to take you through exactly what to look for when buying women’s walking shoes, men’s walking shoes, and comfortable shoes in general.
What Makes a Comfortable Shoe?
The million-dollar question, and the one we’re going to need to answer on our quest to find the best walking shoes. Ultimately, a lot of this comes down to having the right shoe for the right occasion – sandals can be extremely comfortable, but if you wear them while hiking it still might feel like you’re walking on rocks. That being said, while “right shoe for the right occasion” is important, it isn’t the ONLY thing you need to consider – you also need to pay attention to the actual construction of the shoe. And that’s what we’re going to look at here.
The good news? What makes a shoe comfortable is consistent across all shoe types – the same things that make a sandal comfortable are also going to make a sneaker comfortable. With that in mind, let’s look at the anatomy of a shoe and go over what makes the best women’s and men’s shoes for walking and being on your feet all day
A Firm Foundation Matters
Just like building a house, a shoe built of a poor foundation will end up having issues regardless of how well the rest of it is built. For a shoe, its foundation is its sole. When testing a shoe’s sole, you’re going to gently bend it at the toe. If it bends in half easily? It’s too soft. If it doesn’t bend at all? It’s too hard. Ideally, we’re looking for something with a happy medium – we want something thick enough that it helps provide stability and cushioning between your feet and the ground, but not so thick that it won’t bend while you walk.
Can’t Forget the Cushion
When you’re sleeping, it’s always better to sleep on a pad, mattress, or cushion than it is to sleep directly on the ground with no protection, right? This same concept applies to finding the most comfortable walking shoes. A shoe might feel soft enough at first, but after spending a few hours on your feet that “soft shoe” might feel like you’re walking on the ground. So, when you’re shopping for the best women’s and men’s walking shoes you want to pay special attention to the padding and insoles. A thicker padding pays dividends the longer you wear them, and something like a memory foam insole will even take to the shape or your foot, making it feel like you’re walking on clouds.
Arch Support, Arch Support, Arch Support
And one more time for extra emphasis: arch support. Sneakers, sandals, boots, it doesn’t matter – if the shoe doesn’t have arch support, it isn’t built for all-day wear. Our feet naturally have arches and when you wear something with a flat sole it put extra stress on your feet causing them to hurt over time, whereas arch support helps provide your foot with better balance and stability, which in turns allows for a more even weight distribution to help support the lower back. If you can, opt for shoes with built-in arch support since it’s ultimately superior. If you can’t find any, or you’re looking for a little more support, you can opt to add inserts to your shoes (we’re big fans of Aetrex insoles that you can get custom fitted for in select DSW stores!).
Material is Material
Exactly what you need material-wise tends to vary case by case, but most of the time you’re going to want to make sure what you’re wearing is light and breathable so that your feet won’t overheat or feel heavy. If you’re going to be hiking, you’ll also want to make sure your material is a little stronger to deal with rocks and sticks, and if you’re on the beach or near a creek make sure the material is at least water resistant, so you don’t get stuck walking with soggy shoes all day. Anything that checks all these boxes could absolutely be considered a contender as best women’s or men’s shoes for walking.
A Few More Factors to Consider
These are things that aren’t exclusive to finding the best walking shoes, but you should be kept in mind when shoe shopping in general. For starters, make sure you have a roomy enough toe box. If the tips of your shoes are smashing your toes together, it’s too tight. The next thing is to make sure you’re getting the right size shoe – shoe sizes vary by manufacturer, so just because you’re one size in this brand doesn’t mean you’ll be that size in another. Try the shoes on and size up or down till they fit appropriately. Additionally, if you’re going with a closed shoe opt for laces instead of slip-ons, they’ll help you get a tighter fit that gives you better support. And finally, don’t buy a shoe just because it’s comfortable, make sure it’s also something you’d wear. You can own the world’s best walking shoes, but if you don’t like the style and don’t wear them it defeats the point.
Most Comfortable Sneakers & Walking Shoes
Now that we’ve gone over what to look for when shopping for the best women’s shoes for walking and men’s shoes for walking, we’re at the fun part: suggestions! If you’re looking for an athletic shoe that’s great for spending the day at an amusement park or exploring a new town, give Skechers a try – they have plenty of memory foam and mesh styles making them ideal for long days in the sun. If you want something that’s designed more for running errands around town or that you could wear to work give Dr. Scholl’s or Ryka a try. Both brands offer comfortable insoles with good arch support, making them some of the best walking and being on your feet all day styles. If you’re just looking for comfortable women’s walking shoes or men’s walking shoes, in general, a few more brands to consider are Propet, Vionic, and Spring Step, which all offer comfortable, fashionable styles.
Most Comfortable Sandals & Walking Sandals
When the sun’s out we for sure want our toes out, so having a pair of comfortable sandals for the spring and summer is a must. Want to look good and feel good while you’re strutting around town or on vacay? Give Birkenstock or Baretraps a go. Spending a lot of time on the beach or near water? Crocs might just be the move. Want something that is great for spending long hours on your feet? Clarks Cloudsteppers could be just what you’re looking for. And just like in the sneaker section, you can go with a pair of Dr. Scholl’s or Propet sandals if you want something with tons of comfort
Find the Best Walking Shoes at DSW
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your feet, it’s worth it to take the extra time and make sure you’ve found the best walking shoes available. A comfortable pair of sneakers, boots, or sandals can be the difference maker when it comes to your vacation, and, luckily, you can find all the best women’s walking shoes and men’s walking shoes right here at DSW.
We’ve got a large selection of comfortable women’s sneakers and sandals, as well as comfortable men’s sneakers and sandals so you’re sure to find the perfect style for you. So stop by, try some styles on, and grab the best women’s shoes for walking or best men’s shoes for walking.