What do a bunch of running coaches know about walking? A ton! We all use walking as part of our training, daily life and of course we can traverse a theme park with the best of them. So let’s talk about the best running shoes for walking.
Whether it’s a quick walk on the treadmill between meetings, strolling through your neighborhood or exploring the local trails, how a pair of shoes feels underfoot is super duper important. Especially if you’re on your feet for super long days!
As long as a shoe has good cushioning, stability and a comfortable fit, it really doesn’t matter if it’s labeled as a running shoe or walking shoe. Of course there are some exceptions when it comes to super shoes or certain heel drops, etc. Meaning you’re spending wasted dollars if you’re paying for carbon plates in your walking shoes.
But don’t worry we’ve factored that all in for you!
9 Best Running Shoes for Walking
We’ve tested tons of shoes we wanted to include, but we’ve narrowed it down to our top picks for running shoes that feel great for walking or standing around. Some of these are favorites that many of us grab almost daily!
Bonus points should you ever decide to jog a little, run walk a little…you’ve already got the right shoe.
Best for Walking Workouts – HOKA Skyflow
This shoe takes me back to that original Clifton love, but with all the updated foam and technology that’s now available to us. While you’re just walking in these shoes, you’re going to get a little extra pep in your step from the supercritical foam.
Not only did the shoe feel like it had plenty of room for my foot, but the padded tongue and heel collar are extremely comfortable. In a walking shoe, we want both that secure fit and not to worry about anything rubbing or causing blisters.
As noted, I think this shoe simply provides a fabulous feeling underfoot that you’ll be happy to wear all day and still provides enough support that you won’t have any issues with feet rolling in or collapsing into the cushion.
- Weight: 10 oz Men’s, 8.6 oz Women’s
- Heel drop: 5 mm
- Stack: 39mm
- Available in wide
- Available in the most sizes and colors on HOKA.com for $160
- Read our full review of the Hoka Skyflow here>>
**If you see a LOT of Hoka’s when you’re at the airport (we do), they are usually sporting the Clifton or the Bondi. You’ll see we mention the Bondi below!
Best For Long Days Walking Around – On Cloudsurfer 2
If you’re looking for a light, cushioned, and comfortable daily trainer that can also easily translate to streetwear, here it is.
The midsole features On’s CloudTec Phase cushioning technology and Helion superfoam. This combo makes for a smooth, energetic walk and a soft landing with each stride.
The Cloudsurfer 2 is lightweight but feels supportive enough to protect you through super long hours on your feet. It balances performance with weight in a way that makes this a reliable, smooth trainer.
Our tester can tell you firsthand that these were supportive and comfortable enough to get through a 30K step day at Disneyland. Her feet felt good enough to get out for a run the next morning!
- Weight: 9.2 oz Men’s, 7.9 oz Women’s
- Heel drop: 9mm
- Stack Height: 32mm
- 4 colors
- Not available in wide
- Available at On.com for $160
- Read our full review of the On Cloudsurfer 2 here >>
Best Casual Looking Running Shoe – Mount to Coast R1
Mount to Coast shoes are a daily trainer with a moderate cushion feel, meant to provide comfort from 3 miles to hundreds. But most importantly they claim to last longer than all the other cushioned running shoes on the market.
The lightweight construction is one of Mount to Coast’s defining features, offering a lightweight feel without sacrificing support or cushioning. This helps to make their shoes versatile enough to be a good match for both running and walking all kinds of distances.
While the shoe didn’t become an instant favorite for Coach Amanda to run in, it has become her go to travel shoe. You can walk around all day long feeling good (and likes the look for casual). Plus if you can only take one pair, when would that happen, then you can go run happily in them as well.
- Weight: 8.5 oz Men’s and Women’s
- Heel Drop: 8 mm
- R1 has a CPU outsole
- R1R has a rubber outsole and weighs 9oz
- Not available in wide
- Available in 4 Colors
- Available from mounttocoast.com for $160
- Read our full review of Mount to Coast shoes here >>
Best For Standing All Day – HOKA Bondi
The Bondi is always one of our go-to options for a solid walking shoe. The recent update has kept this one at the top of our lists because it’s a shoe that’s going to feel good from start to finish.
We have to admit the last model broke our hearts a little but we absolutely love the Bondi 9’s firmer and smoother feel. You aren’t going to feel like you’re sinking into the shoe, especially if you plan to wear it for a long time. Which is good news for your lower back!!
Even with all that cushioning, the Bondi 9 still manages to feel lightweight, which is a huge win for a shoe this plush.
The Bondi also comes in wide and extra wide so there are plenty of options available.
- Weight: 10.5 oz Men’s, 9.3 oz Women’s
- Heel Drop: 5 mm
- Stack Height: 43mm
- Available in 6 colors
- Available in wide and extra wide (in limited colors)
- Available on Hoka.com for $170
- Read our full review of the Hoka Bondi 9 here >>
Best for Standing All Day Runner Up- HOKA Clifton
Usually walking shoes feel pretty heavy, but that’s not the case with the Clifton’s lightweight design.
If you’re someone who goes for long power walks, the midsole of this shoe is going to provide a soft and smooth ride.
While it’s not as soft as some other Hokas, it still has plenty of cushion to be on your feet, along with the support to keep you in good alignment while standing.
This is a rare find with the combination of cushion and low weight!
The Clifton also has a breathable engineered mesh upper, which helps to keep the feet cool and dry, making it a good option for workout out in hot and humid conditions.
- Weight: 8.7 oz Men’s, 7.3 oz Women’s
- Heel Drop: 5 mm
- Stack height: 32 mm (men’s)
- 23 colors
- Available in regular, wide and extra wide
- Available on hoka.com for $145
If you want a deep dive we did a comparison of the Hoka Clifton vs Bondi >>
Best Max Cushioned Shoe For Long Walks – New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5
This shoe is going to be your #1 power walking companion. As soon as you put it on, you’re going to appreciate how comfortable it feels.
With a roomy area for your mid-foot, it still has a good heel cupping to help prevent your foot from sliding out. This is a maximal shoe, meaning it has a higher stack height from toe to heel.
While the shoe looks like it is super chunky, don’t worry once you slip it on you’re going to totally forget about that because there’s nothing but great cushion here.
That taller stack height provides a slightly wider base and more stability without in any way being a stability shoe.
- Weight: 11 oz Men’s, 8.6 oz Women’s
- Heel Drop: 4 mm
- Stack height: 44 mm
- 6 colors
- Available in regular, wide and extra wide
- Available on the New Balance website for $155
Best Walking Shoes for Flat Feet: ASICS Gel-Kayano
If you have flat feet or tend to overpronate, we introduce to you the Asics Gel Kayano. This shoe is going to feel a bit firmer but is going to provide that support on the inside of your foot to keep it from collapsing inward.
These shoes offer superior support to reduce fatigue, as well as a secure fit that won’t slip or slide while in motion. The heel-locking system helps keep your foot in place providing even more stability and comfort on those longer walks.
The old hard medial post that made shoes so firm has been replaced with their new 4D Guidance system, which combined with their new Flytefoam Blast Plus Eco foam results in a much softer and more comfortable stability shoe.
Trust me, these are incredibly walking shoes that are especially ideal for anyone with flat feet.
- Weight: 10.7 oz Men’s, 9.1 oz Women’s
- Stack Height: 40 mm
- Heel Drop: 8 mm
- Available in nine colors
- Available in wide and narrow
- Available at Asics.com for $165.00
- Read our full review of the Asics Gel-Kayano 32 here >>
Best Wide Toe Box Shoe – Topo Atmos
This was considered Topo’s first max cushioned shoe and boy oh boy does it feel good. Take it out for a run or take it out for a walk it doesn’t matter we just know you’re going to love it.
Topos are known for their wider toe boxes, but their not super duper wide where you have to be worried about the shoe feeling too loose.
This shoe makes you think about Goldilocks, it’s not too soft, or too firm, it’s not too clunky with the 38mm height and it’s not too heavy. It’s just right especially for those longer walks.
This is going to be a shoe that you’re absolutely going to want to grab for daily walks. Plus, since the colorways aren’t too loud it could become an everyday shoe for errands!
- Weight: 9.7 oz Men’s, 7.9 oz Women’s
- Heel drop: 5 mm
- Stack height: 38 mm
- 5 colors
- Not available in wide
- Available from Zappos.com for $160
Best Zero Drop Shoe – Altra Torin 8
Unless you love zero drop, it’s not our top recommendation for walking. It takes some adjustments and is less natural to your stride for many. BUT this is a shoe we highly recommend.
When you first put on the Torin, you might not even notice that it’s a zero-drop shoe. That’s thanks to the EGO™ MAX foam in the midsole, plus the cushioned tongue and FootShape toe box its a winning combo for all day comfort.
One of the biggest benefits to Altra shoes is their foot shaped design, which is going to mean a lot more room in the toebox to accommodate any issues like bunions. It also means your foot can spread out to grip the ground.
If you are on your feet all day long, you’re really going to love this shoe.
- Weight: 10.15 oz Men’s, 8.4 oz Women’s
- Heel drop: zero drop
- Stack height: 30 mm
- 7 colors
- Wide only available in black/white
- Available at Altra Running and retail stores for $150
- Read our full review of the Altra Torin 8 here >>
Can I Wear the Same Shoes for Running and Walking?
You should have a different pair of shoes for walking and a different pair of running. But don’t worry, a shoe labeled as a “running” shoe can still work great for walking too.
It all comes down to how your foot moves when you run vs. walk and whether your shoes are going to give you the support you need for both.
Walking has a different footstrike than running. While walking, your heel will undoubtedly strike first, followed by a roll into the forefoot to lift off the ground.
In running, your heel may strike first, but it is extremely quick before rolling forward. Plus, the way your foot rolls most likely differs between a fast-paced run and a walk.
Many great running shoes are also great for walking, it’s just important that you have different pairs for each activity at all times.
When picking out a pair of shoes to use for walking, you’re going to want to look for a pair that provide more support in the midsole to help with shock absorption, as well as a more flexible sole to accommodate the rolling motion of the foot during walking.
You also typically want to look for a shoe with a higher heel-to-toe drop to accommodate the heel-first striking pattern of walking.
How Long Do a Pair of Shoes Last?
Usually, you can walk 500+ miles in a pair of shoes before the support, cushioning, and shock absorption wear out. This makes you more likely to get injured.
If you wear them every day, they should last you roughly six to eight months. Even though the shoes might look fine, they will need to be replaced by then.
There you have it our thoughts on the best running shoes for walking. And honestly, I could probably add more to the list. But let’s keep it simple to start.
Altra Torin 8 Review | A Lightweight Zero Drop For the Masses
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