9 Best Walking Shoes for Women, According to Podiatrists and Orthopedists

In recent evaluations, we've tested more than 50 different styles of walking shoes, leading to over 1,200 data points collected. In addition to evaluating each pair in the Lab, we sent shoes to consumer testers with a range of shoe sizes and foot shapes. Testers walked for at least two hours before giving feedback. In the end, testers walked for more than 300 hours total while evaluating the shoes. We even saw sneakers in half (as pictured) so podiatrists and other footwear experts could review the shoe and analyze the efficacy and longevity of the materials.

✔️ Comfort: How the shoes feel on your feet is the most important thing. Therefore, we rated comfort highly when analyzing testers' feedback, noting in particular the comfort of the footbed, tongue and ankle opening.

✔️ Support: The right footbed helps keep your feet properly supported while on the move, reducing strain on your arches. Testers gave extensive feedback on each pair's arch support and fit notes.

✔️ Weight: In the Lab, we weighed each shoe to nix overly clunky styles.

✔️ Construction: After sawing each shoe in half, podiatrists and other footwear experts reviewed the inner construction and foam to find the most supportive styles.

Sneaker terminology can be extremely confusing, so it's hard to know what actually matters when you're shopping. Some of these keywords might be extremely important to some shoppers and not to others. Below, our experts explain all of the main walking shoe terms so you know what to look for before you buy:

✔️ Heel drop refers to the difference in the height of the midsole at your heel and at the ball of your foot. Most walking shoes tend to have a lower heel drop (around four to eight millimeters) that's more like being barefoot, while running shoes have a larger difference (10-plus millimeters). It comes down to personal preference, so check out your current pair of shoes and measure the heel drop to see what you like or dislike. Foot and ankle surgeon Dr. A. Holly Johnson advises that for most people, "no major heel drop" is best for walking shoes. Note that many brands choose not to list heel drop.

✔️ Pronation is when your ankle leans inward, and supination is when your ankle leans outward. Ideally, everyone's ankles would have neutral alignment, but many people are pronators or supinators. Some styles are designed specifically for each type of ankle alignment, but many are for neutral alignment.

✔️ Rocker-style shoes feature a thicker sole with a rounded heel compared with traditional sneakers. They're available as either a rocker sole (sole curves up to the toes) or a heel-to-toe rocker (sole curves up to the toes and also back to the heels). These styles are beneficial to some but can take time to get used to and aren't suggested for older adults. As with all shoes, discuss best options with your podiatrist.

✔️ Surface types may be listed for the shoes, which refers to where the sneakers can be worn: road, track, treadmill, trail, etc. This is most important for trail shoes to ensure that the outsole has proper traction to help keep you safe.

✔️ Cushioning can vary immensely for different walking shoe styles. Dr. Johnson says that thick cushioning can help "lessen impact per step and absorb impact." She also finds that cushioning for the arches "helps with flat feet and overpronators to keep the foot supported." But too much cushioning can feel bulky, so "you can feel unbalanced." Thick-cushioned shoes are heavier too. Generally, very cushioned walking shoes are best for extreme long-distance walkers and people with specific injuries who need more support.

When trying on walking shoes, here are the best steps to take to help ensure you find a winning pair:

✔️ Discuss concerns with your podiatrist. If you are recovering from an injury or having consistent foot pain, we recommend discussing which shoes are best suited for your feet specifically with a podiatrist or an orthopedist to help you find the most comfortable pair.

✔️ Pick them up before trying them on. Avoid superheavy styles that’ll bog you down. One exception: If you have flat feet and need more support, a heavier style might be preferable to offer sufficient control.

✔️ Give the shoe a twist. Podiatrist Emily Splichal says to twist the sneaker as if you're wringing out a towel. Our experts recommend styles with more twistability (i.e., less control) if you can handle it: It helps you develop stronger muscles from your feet to your glutes.

✔️ Try on as many styles as possible. There’s no one-size-fits-all shoe. Each brand — and even each style — varies in sizing and fit, which can have a big effect on your foot.

✔️ Find the right fit. Wiggle your toes to make sure the shoes aren't too tight, and walk a few laps around the store so you can avoid shoes that pinch or squeeze your feet. If you have any existing foot pain, sports medicine physician Dr. Jordan Metzl suggests going with the pair that "makes the pain go away when you're walking around the store," as that's a good indicator you've found a winning shoe.

✔️ Choose comfort over everything else. Dr. Metzl stresses that comfort is key. Regardless of the product claims, you should be "as objective as you can for support and comfort." And trust your instincts — your feet will know which shoe is right. If your toes feel cramped or your heels are rubbing on the backs while you're testing the shoes, ditch them. It'll only get worse the more you walk in them.

Generally, yes, the same shoes you love to wear running can also be worn on a walk. Walking and running shoes can include different design features, but some styles are intended for both activities. Therefore, it's most important that the shoe is comfortable and supportive on your foot when walking for exercise. Running shoes tend to have more control to brace for impact on the sole, and walking shoes have a bit more flex and bend. Splichal recommends running only in running sneakers, especially ones with more cushioning for long-distance running.

Though sneakers may look alike, there are differences when it comes to which kind of sneaker is best suited for certain types of physical activity. Indoor cycling shoes and shoes for hiking have totally different designs, but running and walking shoes tend to feature similar construction. Dr. Johnson found that sometimes the only difference between a brand's running shoe and walking shoe is just marketing. "If the shoe is comfortable, it is the right shoe for you," she says.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has been a leading expert on footwear for decades.

Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst. She’s been at Good Housekeeping for more than three years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for a variety of fitness products, including the walking shoes above, running shoes, hiking shoes, the best yoga mats, workout leggings for every type of exercise, the best sports bras and more. With a degree in fiber science and apparel design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience, particularly focused on athletic wear.

For this story, she also spoke to the following experts:

• Jordan Metzl, M.D., is a sports medicine physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
• Emily Splichal is a podiatrist at the Center for Functional and Regenerative Podiatric Medicine in Chandler, Arizona.
• A. Holly Johnson, M.D., is a foot and ankle surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and a team physician for the New York Liberty WNBA basketball team.