The Best Walking Shoes For Women, Based On Rigorous Testing
A great walking shoe should keep you on your feet pain-free, all day, whether you’re working out, traveling or just running errands. After extensive testing and analyzing features such as cushioning, arch support, traction and heel drop, I found the best walking shoes for women. My top choice overall is the Brooks Ghost 15, which has a supportive, versatile design. The Under Armour UA Essential Sportstyle Shoe wins for the best affordable walking shoe because it provides excellent cushioning and breathability at a lower price, and the On Cloud 5 is the best lightweight option.
I tested 12 pairs of sneakers to find the best walking shoes for women, depending on your fitness … [+]
Here are all the best walking shoes for women, with my full reviews on each further down in this piece:
When selecting shoes to test, I asked a board-certified podiatrist, orthopedic surgeon and certified trainer for their expert opinions. I focused on brands known to be leaders in the walking industry and looked at shoe models that were both athletic and lifestyle-oriented to cover a variety of footwear needs. Below, find my seven top selections, as well as five additional styles that are in my rotation, even though they aren’t winners in my chosen categories.
This pair tops our list of the best walking shoes because it’s the most versatile option for different styles of walkers and those who want a supportive, multi-purpose sneaker. It’s extremely stable, with a grippy outsole, for both speed walks and less intense jaunts along smooth and uneven surfaces. The cushioned EVA foam midsole absorbs shock during the heel strike (when your heel hits the ground), should you also do higher-impact aerobic stints, such as running. Overall, there’s little activity you can’t do comfortably in the Brooks Ghost, and it’s the shoe I now wear most consistently among all the ones tested.
Curved Insole And Just Enough Cushioning
The Ghost is equipped with a curved insole to reduce arch stress—which is great if you suffer from sore tendons, are flat-footed or stand for long periods of time. The Ghost also has a firm heel counter (the part of the shoe that wraps around the back of your ankle) to hold the foot in place and prevent over-pronation, or rolling your ankles. Note that I tested version 14 of this shoe, but the 15 is newer and more widely available online. With a 12 mm heel drop, the Ghost’s heel is a smidge higher than the standard 10mm for running sneakers. These shoes have a 4.25 cm heel stack (height) and 9.1 ounce weight, which was mid-range compared to other sneakers I tested: This is a moderately cushioned shoe, which is a good thing since extra padding can decrease stability.
The Brooks Ghost is moderately cushioned, which is a good thing: too much padding can decrease … [+]
Bouncy And Breathable
The Ghost didn’t propel my foot forward on an arc like a rocker-sole shoe, which has a curved bump in the midsole. But it did add bounce to my step, thanks to the air-pocket-filled foam core. I found this feature helped me move nimbly around fallen tree branches and pivot easily without losing my balance, which has been an issue for me with rocker-sole shoes in the past since your foot is not on an even plane.
The mesh upper on the Ghost sneakers is lightweight and extremely breathable; on 90-degree days, my feet did not sweat through my socks. If you’re a dedicated walker, who also likes to run—I logged 84 miles in this pair—and tackle different activities in a day, you won’t find a better sneaker than the Brooks Ghost.
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If you’re looking for a lightweight, all-day walking shoe with a barely-there feel, the On Cloud 5 is about as perfect of a shoe you can find. It weighs just 6.9 ounces, the airiest of the ones we tested. It’s ideal for covering long and short distances, handling different terrains with stability and supporting your arches without adding bulk.
Ultra-Light Midsole
On, a relatively new Swiss brand founded in 2010, has a dedicated following for its unique midsole: It’s designed with holes that allow air to pass through and help the shoe compress vertically and laterally as you land. The design aims to cushions your feet to reduce muscle strain and also enables a smoother toe-off, or launch for your foot, allowing you to move easily through your stride. I filmed slow-motion videos of my foot as I walked in this shoe versus others and noticed a subtle lift at the end of my gait cycle. Additionally, Annabelle Lemes, the Connecticut-based trainer I spoke to, cited this pair as her top pick, saying, “I’m always on my feet, and On’s are my very first choice.”
With a minimal heel drop of 2.5mm and a very firm insole, the On Cloud 5 shoes are a great choice … [+]
Stable And Firm
The Cloud has a minimal heel drop of 2.5mm and a very firm insole, making this shoe a good, stable choice for those with balance issues or anyone who wants to move fast but securely over rugged trails, cobblestone streets or changeable terrain. The heel counter scored a moderate firm rating as well. These shoes held my foot snugly in place, almost as firmly as the Brooks, with an ankle collar that didn’t extend over my bone or cause chafing. The mesh upper is breathable and outfitted with thin reflective bands, which is a nice (and stylish) safety feature if you walk at night.
Best For Narrow And Medium Foot Widths
The Cloud 5 also comes in a waterproof version, which I don’t recommend. It’s wrapped in an anhydrous membrane that seals out liquid but makes the shoe fit more tightly than the regular version (the company advises going up a half-size). Still, I found that even the regular Cloud 5 has a slim fit. On my insole test, my foot extended over the sides by about 0.5 inch, which wasn’t enough to cause discomfort (since I have medium to narrow feet) but could be an issue for those with wider feet.
Two Lacing Systems
Another potential downside to these shoes is the speed-lacing system. These On shoes come pre-laced with a thin cord that’s knotted at both ends—the idea is that you slide your feet into the shoe and pull the cord to secure your foot. I found the cord loosened up over time. The design feature is not for everyone, and On includes a set of traditional laces with every pair for this reason.
The On Cloud 5 shoes transition from athletic wear to stylish, everyday outfits.
From a fashion angle, the Cloud 5 checked the box for me. The Swiss shoe is sleek and minimal, and when paired with a skirt, the shoes looked like an intentional choice, not something I resorted to for comfort’s sake.
Hoka has built an entire franchise around the Clifton, releasing new versions of this best-selling sneaker. This latest iteration features a lighter design—it weighs 4 grams less than the previous model—which Hoka accomplished by removing the overlays and hotmelts (or adhesives that bond together certain parts of a shoe). It also increased the cushioning, with a higher, 3mm heel stack that nicely supports your foot.
Lightweight Yet Roomy
I’ll be honest: I wasn’t fully sold on Hoka’s wildly popular rocker-style heel at first, which gently glides your foot forward with a rolling motion that can help reduce foot strain. But, after wearing the Cliftons for a while, I found them extremely comfortable and surprisingly lightweight, despite the extra cushioning and padding in the heel. I have a relatively narrow foot, and I’d say that this pair definitely felt roomy, even in the regular-width size. Given that your feet swell and expand when walking, the spacious design can be a good thing, especially if you have wide feet.
Bold And Eye-Catching
The Cliftons are not a subtle sneaker that blends in with the rest of your look. But overtly “loud” sneakers are the norm now, which is a trend that Hoka helped ignite, so these shoes don’t feel as out-of-the-box as they might have few years ago. Also, if you have a prefer a leaner-built shoe, you might find the ultra-padded style a bit cumbersome. Yet, I found that the rocking motion does help alleviate foot pain, so you might put up with a little extra bulk for the additional comfort.