We Tested 90 Pairs of Walking Shoes for Men—These 11 Came Out on Top

Best Overall

New Balance 990v5

View On Amazon $217 View On Nordstrom $150 View On Snipesusa.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

It probably won’t come as a surprise that a shoe from New Balance tops our list of the best walking shoes for men. The brand’s 990v5 impressed us with its combination of comfort and style, making it great for long walks and casual, all-day wear.

We’re struck by how comfortable these shoes are, particularly the padded tongue and the dual-density foam collar, which keeps your ankles comfortable and prevents blisters. The entire shoe features high cushioning, with a midsole made of foam and polyurethane for a responsive, comfy stride. An added bonus is that, despite all their cushioning, these shoes still support our feet on long walks. We also found them to run true to size, as they perfectly fit our feet right out of the box.

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 7-16 (extra-narrow, narrow, standard, wide, extra-wide, and extra-extra-wide widths) | Weight: 11.3 ounces | Drop: 12 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Maximum | Materials: Pigskin, mesh}

Best for Wide Feet

Kane Revive Active Recovery Shoe

View On Kanefootwear.com View On Nordstrom $75

Our Ratings

• Fit
  4.9/5
• Value
  4.3/5
• Comfort
  4.2/5

For wide-footed walkers, we recommend Kane’s Revive shoes. Testers with wide feet appreciate the ample room in the forefoot of these shoes, which gives feet and toes room to splay. Made with a comfortable synthetic upper and lining, plus a foam footbed, these shoes keep your heels and toes comfortable and protected from chafing and blisters. 

Designed as a recovery shoe, the Revive has a hands-free, slip-on design that makes it easy to get out the door quickly to run errands or go for a short walk. When walking in these shoes, we're impressed by their ability to seamlessly transition between surfaces—from concrete to sand and grass. Despite being recovery shoes, this pair offers great traction, thanks to the oversized channels on the outsoles. 

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 3-15 (only one width option) | Weight: Not listed | Drop: Not listed | Closure: Slip-on | Cushioning: Moderate | Materials: Synthetic upper, lining, and sole; EVA foam midsole—made of 44% recycled material}

Best Under $100

Asics Gel-Venture 8

View On Amazon $55 View On Zappos $70 View On Dick's $70

Our Ratings

• Fit
  4/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  4.5/5

We recommend Asics' Gel-Venture 8 for an affordable pair of walking shoes that don’t sacrifice quality. Designed for trail runs, hiking, or wandering along concrete, these shoes can take on slippery and wet terrain. This pair offers excellent traction for any terrain, thanks to the deep lugs on the soles (especially under the heel of the shoe).

While the manufacturer describes these shoes as having “moderate” cushioning, we found it provides just the right amount of support. The gel cushioning does exactly what it sets out to do, offering premium shock absorption, particularly in the heel, which is helpful for walkers with heel pain. 

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 7-15 (medium and extra-wide widths) | Weight: 12.5 ounces | Drop: 10 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Moderate | Materials: Rubber sole, synthetic leather upper, and EVA foam midsole}

Best for Walking All Day

Hoka Mach 5 Shoes

View On Zappos $140 View On REI $98 View On Dick's $140

Our Ratings

• Fit
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

Whether you're walking a 5k or gearing up for a full day in a new city, Hoka’s Mach 5 is a lightweight performance shoe that doesn’t disappoint. These shoes feel lightweight and comfortable for an entire day of walking—even after we wore them for a full day of excursions, we still felt light on our feet. Unlike other sneakers, this pair is breathable and won’t overheat your feet, thanks to its jacquard mesh upper. 

The shoes have an articulated heel collar that stays in place and never rubs, preventing blisters and chafing. They fit well and felt comfortable from the first time we laced them up, which allowed us to really put them through the wringer on day one. While the lower profile cushion bed is designed for runners to keep their feet closer to the ground and offer a better push-off, we found they work just as well for all-day walking.

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 7-14 (regular and wide widths) | Weight: 8.2 ounces | Drop: 5 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Firm and responsive | Materials: Partially recycled polyester mesh upper, molded EVA sockliner, and rubberized EVA outsole}

Best for Plantar Fasciitis

On Cloud 5 Shoe

View On Zappos $140 View On REI $140 View On Dick's $140

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.8/5

For someone facing chronic plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel pain among adults, the wrong pair of shoes can be a big problem. Our testers with plantar fasciitis appreciate that these shoes feature adequate arch support and shock absorption, keeping symptoms at bay on walks. These are some of the best shoes for walkers with plantar fasciitis, made with foam cushioning that supports without weighing your feet down. Both Dr. Cunha and Dr. Wu recommend these shoes, and we find they help relieve plantar fasciitis symptoms, even during a 10-hour travel day. 

Beyond the relief these shoes provide for our plantar fasciitis, the breathable antimicrobial mesh keeps our feet cool while helping us avoid stinky, unpleasant odors after hours of wear. We also love that the speed lacing system allows us to slide them on quickly and easily. 

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 7-14 (only one width option) | Weight: 8.81 ounces | Drop: 7 millimeters | Closure: Speed laces | Cushioning: Moderate and responsive | Materials: Recycled polyester upper, foam midsole, and rubber outsole} 

Best for Walking and Running

Hoka Arahi 6

View On Amazon $190 View On Zappos $112 View On REI $112

Our Ratings

• Fit
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

One of the brand’s bestsellers, Hoka’s Arahi 6 shoes are perfect for alternate running and walking. With a surplus of cushioning, they work well to absorb shock, even on harder pavement, which also makes them great shoes for people with knee pain. 

The balanced cushioning of this pair offers enough plush comfort for walkers but still has the springy responsiveness needed to push off during runs. And, even with their ample cushioning, they still feel surprisingly light, so much so that we almost forget we’re wearing them. After wearing these for a full day of walking with some intermittent running, our feet still felt fresh and comfortable. These shoes also feature Hoka’s J-frame technology, a guiding technology in the midsole that improves the shoe’s support and stability.

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 7-15 (medium and wide widths) | Weight: 9.3 ounces | Drop: 5 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Plush and responsive | Materials: Mesh upper, EVA foam midsole, and rubber outsole}

Best Waterproof

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer

View On Amazon $135 View On Zappos $135 View On REI $40

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Fit
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

If you’re looking for something that you can really put to work in the elements and less forgiving wet conditions, Salomon Men’s X Ultra Pioneer impressed us. Waterproof inner booties proved very effective at keeping our feet dry even when we wore them through running water that reached the middle of the shoe. The tongue is also attached to the shoes to further prevent water from getting in, and despite being waterproof, these shoes still maintain breathability.

In addition to being waterproof up above, the soles of the shoes are built well to handle wet conditions on trails and hikes. With two different kinds of rubber in the sole and a patterned heel area, the tread works well for gripping all types of trails. In terms of quality and effectiveness, we had no gripes with this shoe, but we wish it wasn't so heavy. And the pair runs small, so you might want to consider sizing up.

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 5-14 (only one width option) | Weight: 13.75 ounces | Drop: 11 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Moderate | Materials: Textile and leather upper, rubber outsole}

Best for Long Distances

Brooks Glycerin GTS 20

View On Amazon $115 View On Zappos $100 View On REI $111

Our Ratings

• Fit
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Value
  4.6/5

While feeling comfortable in your shoes is important for walks of any length, it’s especially crucial when you’re planning on walking for longer distances. These shoes provide such thick, soft cushioning that we can easily wear them on long-distance walks without experiencing hip or knee pain. 

Even though these shoes have plush cushioning and feature the soft padding you can only find in Brooks shoes, they’re still springy and stable. They keep our ankles locked in during both runs and walks and work great on all terrain. 

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 7-15 (medium and wide widths) | Weight: 10.5 ounces | Drop: 10 millimeters | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Maximum | Materials: Recycled polyester and recycled nylon, mesh upper, nitrogen-infused foam midsole}

Best for Hiking

Arc’Teryx Men's Aerios FL 2 GTX Hiking Shoe

View On Amazon View On Arcteryx.com

Our Ratings

• Fit
  5/5
• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

Arc’teryx Aerios FL 2 are great hiking shoes for someone seeking durability, a true-to-size fit, and top-notch traction. The outsole is constructed with Vibram Megagrip Compound, a durable performance rubber designed to grip wet and dry terrain. We tested them on multiple surfaces and never lost our footing—even in wet, slippery conditions, we always felt completely safe and secure. They're great to wear if you're out rucking or backpacking on the trails.

The solid traction helped us traverse rough terrains easily without sacrificing support. These shoes provide great arch support, which is particularly good for walkers with high arches. They also have Gore-tex waterproofing that keeps your feet dry in wet conditions. While we love the waterproofing, it’s important to note that it comes with added bulk, which makes these less breathable compared to other options on our list.

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 7-13 (only one width option) | Weight: 12 ounces | Drop: Not listed | Closure: Laces | Cushioning: Medium | Materials: GORE-TEX membrane, polyester, TPU films, EVA foam midsole, microfiber heel lining}

Best Lightweight

Bedrock Cairn Adventure Sandals

View On Bedrocksandals.com

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Fit
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

Sandals normally aren’t something that you would consider wearing for longer periods of walking, but you can wear Bedrock’s Cairn Adventure Sandals for miles and still feel supported. With a Vibram outsole, which is a material that blends foam and rubber, these sandals are both supportive and comfortable, giving your traditional walking shoe a run for its money. We’re also very impressed with the durability of these sandals. Even after we wore them for a day of walking in harsh conditions, they still looked brand new after a quick rinse and scrub. 

While these sandals aren’t waterproof, they maintain their grip on wet terrain. We wore them on wet granite and never felt like we were going to slip. While straps around your feet may seem like a potential chafing hazard, the sandals have three adjustment points that we found truly work to prevent hotspots, rubbing, and blisters. 

^{Key Specs: 
Sizes: Men’s 5-14 (only one width option) | Weight: 8 ounces | Drop: 0 millimeters | Closure: Adjustable Y strap | Cushioning: Minimal to moderate | Materials: Polyester/nylon upper and Vibram outsole}