I spent over 50 miles testing the best walking shoes for women, from sturdy sneakers to lightweight loafers

My apical prime is nan Adidas Ultraboost Light, which person freely uppers for your feet to dispersed out, a supportive midsole, and an charismatic design.

For overpronators, this stableness footwear is ultra-plush, ultra-breathable, and ace lightweight.

Best overall: Adidas Ultraboost Light

Of nan 20 stepping shoes I tested, nan Adidas Ultraboost Light were nan brace I kept reaching for erstwhile headed retired nan doorway to tally errands clip and clip again. These shoes measurement conscionable 9.2 ounces and person a soft, textile upper, which Daughtry says is important successful a awesome stepping footwear arsenic it offers much abstraction and breathability for your foot. 

The midsole is well-cushioned, which Daughtry besides highlights to thief pinch daze absorption and minimize added stress. After stepping each time successful these shoes, my feet felt pain-free and well-supported. The BOOST exertion successful nan midsole offers a small bounce pinch each step. Though they are technically a neutral shoe, my precocious arches besides felt well-supported connected agelong miles, truthful they look to beryllium a bully fresh for each pronation types. 

While I enjoyed stepping successful these shoes nan astir of everything I tested, it's a prize that they're good-looking. They're besides made from astatine slightest 20% recycled materials, sometimes much depending connected which colour you buy.

Best budget: Rykä Devotion X

These Rykä sneakers are impervious that you don't person to walk large to find supportive shoes for your feet. For conscionable $80, nan Devotion X person each of Daughtry's must-haves: a roomy knit precocious for breathability connected long, basking miles; responsive cushioning for daze absorption; an EVA proprietary foam that provides soft cushioning, including built-up cushioning successful nan midfoot for stableness and arch support; and a padded heel. They moreover boast nan Seal of Acceptance by nan American Podiatric Medical Association.

The creation isn't revolutionary truthful these shoes won't gain you a ton of compliments, but they're not noticeably unattractive. 

Best arch support: Hoka Gaviota 5

Women pinch higher arches usually request further support successful their shoes aliases much stableness successful nan midfoot area to forestall excessive flattening of nan ft and arch, Daughtry says. I myself person precocious arches, and often find that moving shoes time off my arches aching aft 2 miles of walking. Among nan 20 shoes I tested, nan Hoka Gaviota 5 were nan astir supportive.

The Gaviota 5s person a akin magnitude of cushioning and weight to Hoka's best-selling Bondi shoe, but is infused pinch further stableness and a somewhat higher bottommost driblet to amended support precocious arches. Because of nan proprietary stabilizing framework successful nan shoe, nan designers were capable to besides usage a softer foam which I recovered incredibly plush under-foot. 

The Gaviota 5 besides has a mesh precocious and wider forefoot guidelines and toed box, which kept my feet cool and roomy (in a comfortable way, not a swimming-around-the-shoe benignant of way). This footwear besides has a plush lingua and collar that feels soft connected foot. It boasts nan the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance.

Best for travel: Allbirds Superlight Tree Runners

Read much successful our afloat Allbirds SuperLight review.

Best loafer: Vionic Uptown Loafer

Best sandal: Teva Zymic Hiking Sandal

Whether you're going connected "hot woman walks" aliases looking for a sandal to hike in, nan Teva Zymic Hiking Sandal is incredibly comfortable correct retired of nan container and keeps your feet supported connected agelong miles. It proved to beryllium nan champion stepping sandal of nan 5 I tested.

Crafted pinch a dual-density foam footbed and a thick, responsive midsole, these stepping sandals consciousness unchangeable yet somewhat cushy and bouncy under-foot (but decidedly not squishy). During testing, I wore them each time and, dissimilar pinch different stepping sandals, my feet didn't consciousness sore underneath aliases strained connected top. My arches were supported and moreover connected nan first wear, I didn't get immoderate basking spots connected an 85°F walk. 

These stepping sandals usage a four-strap system, crafted from cushioned webbing truthful it feels very soft against tegument and securely holds your ft successful place. That way, nary of your mini tendons are being strained arsenic you step, for illustration pinch slides aliases flip flops. The straps are easy to set to fresh nan shoes snugly against your toes and ankle, and past very easy to merchandise and gaffe off.

Best cushioned: Puma Magnify Nitro 2

Cushioned stepping shoes are awesome for anyone pinch typical needs successful their feet, beryllium it other precocious arches, level feet, overpronation, aliases achy knees. Puma's Magnify Nitro 2 person nan thickest portion of foam among each nan shoes successful Puma's line-up, but it's besides very lightweight truthful you get each nan cushion without excessively overmuch weight (just 8.07 ounces overall). 

During testing, I recovered these shoes to beryllium acold little stiff and much comfortable crossed nan full ft erstwhile stepping for agelong distances compared to nan high-cushion competitors I tested for illustration Hoka's Bondi 8. Instead, nan Puma's knit precocious is breathable, forms to nan foot, and feels very durable, arsenic it's reinforced pinch proprietary seamless tape. I recovered nan molded bottommost collar to beryllium particularly comfortable connected long, basking walks. In my opinion, Puma has inserted highly-engineered features successful each nan correct places while keeping nan footwear streamlined wide to support that weight down—and it shows successful really comfortable nan Magnify Nitro 2 are to deterioration connected agelong walks.

It's worthy noting these shoes tally a afloat size small, truthful I wore an 8.5 alternatively of my regular 7.5. 

Unfortunately, these shoes only travel successful 1 colorway. And while I recovered nan toed container to beryllium very comfortable pinch my standard-to-wide feet, if your feet are markedly wide, they mightiness consciousness somewhat excessively snug.

Best lightweight: Merrell Morphlite

I could not beryllium much thrilled pinch nan capacity of this acheronian equine shoe. Merrell has agelong been a leader successful nan hiking footwear space, but successful 2022, nan marque made renewed its spot successful nan way footwear category. The Morphlite is an incredibly lightweight, incredibly comfortable footwear that felt truthful bully connected agelong walks, I only wanted to support wearing them.

These shoes are technically a road-to-trail shoe, which intends they person a halfway of shorter lugs for roadworthy moving and a perimeter of slightly-deeper lugs (2mm) to grip slippery trails. And while wearing a existent way footwear connected pavement tin often consciousness for illustration a cleat, I recovered nan Morphlite to beryllium incredibly balanced and comfortable connected some pavement and trail. That's astir apt acknowledgment to nan proprietary foam midsole which feels for illustration a balanced plushness, sitting betwixt lightly foamy and firm.

After an hr of stepping successful these shoes, I did consciousness a spot of strain successful nan backmost of my arch and beforehand of my heel, truthful they astir apt aren't perfect if you person highly precocious arches aliases an rumor for illustration plantar fasciitis. But for nan mean foot, they're very comfortable.

The Morphlite's Jacquard recycled knit precocious encases nan ft for a very adjacent fit. I recovered this to consciousness unafraid and comfortable, but if you person a high-volume foot, it mightiness beryllium excessively snug. I for illustration that nan knit is strategically reinforced for harder way wear.

Best waterproof: Hoka Transport GTX

These waterproof sneakers are my prime for a lightweight replacement to rain boots. I wore these connected aggregate walks and hikes and recovered them to beryllium very comfortable. The Transport GTX isn't arsenic cushioned arsenic different Hokas —they're much balanced than plush — but nan EVA midsole felt comfortable for 1- to 3-mile walks.

Most of all, nan waterproofing is simply a 10/10: I tromped done a heap of snowfall connected 1 early outpouring testing locomotion and, wherever my husband's feet were soaked successful normal sneakers, excavation remained bony dry. That's not surprising, considering nan precocious is treated pinch GORE-TEX, which, it's worthy noting, does costs you immoderate breathability. But I loved that nan precocious was still mesh for a roomy fit, while besides being strategically reinforced to past against nan elements. 

I besides really liked nan functionality of these shoes. The main laces are a pull-tab creation which makes it easy to unafraid aliases loosen nan shoe, but dissimilar a batch of different akin designs, Hoka's quick-toggle lace tucks distant truthful nan tail isn't flopping anywhere. I besides emotion that nan shoes travel pinch accepted laces you tin restring if desired, arsenic I cognize a batch of group who don't for illustration nan quick-toggle designs.

Note that these shoes person neutral stability, truthful they whitethorn not beryllium supportive capable for group pinch precocious arches. And if you for illustration a plush stepping shoe, these mightiness beryllium excessively stiff for you.

Best retro: Under Armour Essential Runner Shoes

I mislaid count of nan number of times friends complimented maine connected these shoes, only to travel with, "They're Under Armour!?" If you're looking for supportive stepping shoes that will look conscionable arsenic bully arsenic they consciousness stepping astir cities and airports, nan Under Armour Essential Runner Shoes are for you. 

Under Armour has taken its diversion capacity exertion and infused it into this retro street-style design: These stepping shoes person a cushioned EVA midsole that feels perfectly supportive — not overly cushioned aliases stabilized for illustration galore running-based shoes connected our list, but besides not stiff aliases cramped for illustration astir comparable manner sneakers of this design. The bottommost cup is cushy pinch a foam sockliner for other comfort. The Essential Runners are designed pinch a lightweight, breathable nylon precocious and suede overlays strategically placed to not restrict nan earthy style of your ft for illustration different designs do.

These shoes travel successful 5 colorways and immoderate are surely much charismatic than others. And astatine 12 ounces, these sneakers aren't arsenic ray arsenic immoderate shoes connected our list, but they're decidedly not dense connected foot. I've walked complete 2 miles successful them and wore them for 8 hours non-stop while traveling, and tin definitively opportunity nan comfortableness and creation of this shoes has earned them apical spot arsenic my caller metropolis sneaker — particularly considering they're very affordable.

Best chunky: CAT Intruder

These hypebeast-worthy sneakers made by nan streetwear limb of Caterpillar Tractor Co. were amazingly comfortable to locomotion successful for upwards of 45 minutes during testing. I won't dress for illustration these shoes were astir arsenic comfortable arsenic astir winners connected this list. But it's incredibly difficult to find a cool-looking sneaker that is supportive and comfortable, truthful nan CAT Intruder is worthy putting forth.

These sneakers are made pinch a soft EVA foam footbed that feels responsive and comfortable underfoot. However, they are besides designed pinch beefy lugs to present that workwear aesthetic, and because of this, I recovered they commencement to consciousness a spot stiff aft an hour. However, they are still acold much comfortable than astir thoroughfare shoes.

One important truth to item astir these shoes is they're unisex, which intends they aren't specifically designed for a woman's ft shape, which is typically narrower crossed nan board, tapers much astatine nan heel, and often has higher arches. That being said, I deliberation they really fresh women amended than they would men. Often unisex designs mean female heels gaffe retired easier, but these sneakers person a soft nylon mesh sock lining that's padded astatine nan heel; I loved really overmuch vertical sum and cushy support these shoes offered astatine nan bottommost and I ne'er felt immoderate consequence of slippage. That said, they aren't ace supportive for precocious arches.

The Intruder Shoe is designed pinch precocious panels of soft nylon that thief to shave a small weight disconnected and connection immoderate breathability. But, successful reality, nan suede overlays are beautiful pervasive crossed nan shoe's assemblage which adhd to nan rugged artistic but forestall nan sneakers from being markedly breathable; I didn't person an rumor pinch my feet overheating during testing, but could spot that happening astatine nan tallness of summer.

All successful all, if you're looking for max comfort, this footwear isn't it. But if you're looking for a trendy silhouette that'll beryllium acold much comfortable to locomotion successful than astir different options, nan CAT Intruders are surely worthy nan mid-price point.

How we tested nan champion women's stepping shoes

To find nan champion stepping shoes for women, I tested 20 sneakers and 5 stepping sandals total. I wore each footwear connected 3 aliases much walks. Some shoes proved to beryllium excessively stiff, not supportive enough, aliases different uncomfortable aft conscionable a 4th mile and were instantly put successful "no" category. 

For nan sandals and sneakers that made it done nan first assessment, I walked successful each brace for astatine slightest 2 miles, some outdoors connected pavement and indoor connected a treadmill aliases my stepping desk, and continued to deterioration them for an full time astir nan location and moving errands to find really breathable, stiff, and cushioned they consciousness aft aggregate hours of wear. 

That intends nan last selections person proven that they are comfortable not only for stepping aggregate miles, but besides for wearing for aggregate hours if you're, say, stepping astir a metropolis connected vacation.

How to prime nan champion stepping shoes for women

What to avoid

Even though astir of america locomotion successful immoderate sneakers we already person connected hand, location are definite categories of shoes that, according to Daughtry, you shouldn't deterioration stepping much than 10 minutes:

• Fashion sneakers: Most stylish sneakers are designed pinch a much constrictive toed container and debased to nary cushioning aliases support for amended aesthetics. But nan trade-off is zero daze absorption and much strain connected your ft erstwhile walking.
• Certain moving sneakers: Rocker-design moving shoes thin to person higher bottommost drops. This creation gives amended propulsion and bounce erstwhile moving but disrupts nan earthy stride while walking. Daughtry explains that a bully stepping footwear is little bouncy and gives a much earthy cadence to your stride during nan gait cycle.

What to look for

• Cushioning: This is nan astir important facet of a stepping shoe, Daughtry says. Sufficient cushioning will sorb nan daze from repetitive pounding that our feet acquisition pinch each step. If you cognize you person tender heels, spot our guideline to nan best shoes for plantar fasciitis.
• Arch support: If you person precocious arches, you'll want a footwear pinch other arch support to support perfect biomechanics (and debar achy arches astatine nan extremity of nan day). Technically, you tin adhd inserts to immoderate shoe, but that tin alteration nan measurement nan footwear fits overall, truthful often it's champion to conscionable opt for a footwear pinch awesome arch support from nan start.
• Shape: Walking shoes should person a wide base, peculiarly successful nan toed box, truthful your toes tin dispersed naturally, and wide administer your weight evenly to debar immoderate musculus strains successful your foot.
• Your gait: The measurement your feet onslaught nan ground, aliases "pronate," influences wherever you request other support successful a shoe, arsenic nan extremity is to person moreover unit crossed your ft pinch each step. See our FAQ section to study what your shoes' deterioration shape means.
• Support and stability: All shoes should consciousness supportive, but this is comparative to whether you overpronate aliases stay neutral. If you overpronate, look for a stableness footwear versus a neutral shoe.
• Weight: Look for a stepping footwear that's betwixt 8 and 12 ounces. Walking shoes usually consciousness a spot heavier than astir trainers because they're well-cushioned, but nan heavier nan shoe, nan much tired your feet will beryllium connected agelong days retired walking.
• Traction: Most group are wearing a stepping footwear connected pavement, truthful immoderate traction will work. If you're looking for a stepping footwear to deterioration connected trails, look for 1 pinch much tread.
• Breathability: A mesh precocious is awesome successful a stepping shoe, arsenic it offers much abstraction and breathability compared to rigid leather. 

FAQs

What is supination vs. overpronation?

Pronation is simply a bio-mechanical word that describes nan measurement your feet rotation and administer effect arsenic you step. There are 3 ways your ft whitethorn onslaught nan ground: overpronation, supination, and neutral. Overpronators measurement pinch their heels rolled inward astatine a terrible perspective (putting them astatine a higher consequence for twisted joints). Those who supinate, aliases underpronate, measurement without immoderate important inward rotation of nan heels, putting much unit connected nan legs. People pinch neutral gaits deed nan crushed astatine a level perspective and should deterioration a stabilizing footwear that supports nan midsoles.

How do I cognize if I supinate aliases overpronate?

Take a look astatine nan soles of your most-worn shoes. Wherever they're nan astir faded, that's wherever you want other cushioning successful a stepping shoe. If you overpronate, you'll spot nan tread is mostly rubbed disconnected astir nan soul heels and edges. If you supinate, they'll beryllium astir worn down astir nan outer heels and perimeter of nan soles. Neutral pronation shows nan astir deterioration astatine nan shot of nan ft and halfway of nan heels.

Are Hokas worthy it?

Yes, and our guideline to nan best Hokas lists nan apical styles from nan past decade that we've recovered worthy nan spend. For example, nan champion Hokas for those who request other stableness are nan Gaviota 5s. They're particularly comfortable for overpronators pinch wide feet. Another apical proposal from this guideline is nan ultra-cushioned Bondi 8s, which we urge for group who walk astir of their time connected their feet.