8 Best Walking Shoes of 2026

The Skechers GO WALK Max Cushioning Arch Fit - Paohlo is the strongest all-round walking shoe on this list for the money. At $100 it brings together the parts of Skechers' range most relevant to walkers: a Max Cushioning midsole with HYPER ARC and ultra-lightweight ULTRA FLIGHT foam, and the Arch Fit insole, which Skechers says was developed with 20 years of data and 120,000 unweighted foot scans. The shoe has been granted the APMA Seal of Acceptance, and the insole is removable. The engineered knit upper uses fixed stretch No Tie Fit laces, so you slip it on and the laces never come undone. It is made with 100% vegan materials, has a 2-inch heel and is machine washable. Men's sizes run from 7 to 16. The gaps are in the spec sheet: Skechers does not publish weight or heel-to-toe drop here, and this colorway had no reviews yet.

The Orthofeet Lava is the pick for walkers whose feet hurt, swell or simply do not fit standard shoes. Orthofeet sells the men's Lava in Medium (D), Wide (2E) and X-Wide (4E), and every pair includes an arch booster that slides under the orthotic insole and removable spacers to fix a loose fit or heel slippage. The upper is a stretchable knitted fabric over an extra deep, seam-free interior, and the Ortho-Cushion System combines multilayer cushioning with anatomical arch support. Orthofeet lists walking, dog walks, errands and travel among what the shoe does best, and its page names conditions such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, diabetes and neuropathy. It was $99.99 on sale against a $139 regular price, with a 60-day wear test, free returns and HSA/FSA eligibility. The trade-off is weight: 12.06 oz for a men's 9, the heaviest on this list. Rated 4.2 from 6,145 reviews.

The Altra Torin 9 is a cushioned shoe that Altra lists as best for daily runs and walking, and it earns its place for walkers who want a natural foot position without giving up foam. It has a 0mm heel-to-toe drop and a 28mm stack height, built on P35X dual-density foam that combines a soft foam with a firmer one. Altra's Standard FootShape fit leaves room for toes to spread while keeping the midfoot secure, and the Torin 9 also comes in a Wide size. The outsole is Vibram XS DURA rubber with FootPod technology for flexibility, and the shoe holds the APMA Seal of Acceptance. It weighs 9.8 oz (269g). At $160 it costs more than most pairs here, though Altra adds 30-day trial runs, free shipping and returns, and HSA/FSA eligibility. Walkers coming from a traditional raised heel should ease into zero drop.

The Kizik Athens 2 is built around one idea: you should be able to put your shoes on without using your hands. Its patented HandsFree Labs Cage heel compresses as you step in, then snaps back and locks the heel in place. Kizik calls the Athens 2 its best seller, and the rest of the shoe is set up for walking: a super-soft, high-rebound foam midsole, a rocker sole for smooth heel-to-toe roll, a rubber outsole with flex grooves, an engineered mesh upper and a padded comfort collar. It comes in Standard and Wide EE widths and is HSA/FSA accepted. The page showed a 4.4 rating from 1,853 reviews, and Kizik offers free shipping and returns. What it lacks is published detail: there is no weight, drop or podiatry certification on the page, and at $139.95 it costs more than the Skechers pick.

The Saucony Ride 19 is a neutral cushioned shoe that Saucony features at the top of its men's walking collection, and it suits walkers who move at a brisk pace or mix walks with easy jogs. Saucony reformulated its PWRRUN+ foam for this version, aiming for plush cushioning with more energy return, and lists the shoe at 8.9 oz (255g) with an 8mm offset on a 36mm heel and 28mm forefoot. The engineered mesh upper stretches with the foot, and a cushioned heel collar is meant for all-day wear. It comes in Regular and Wide, in 15 colors on the page we checked, with free shipping and free returns. The Ride 19 costs $145 and was rated 4.2 from 114 reviews. Keep in mind it is a running shoe first, so it has no walking-specific extras such as no-tie laces, a rocker sole or an included arch insert.

The On Cloud 6 Waterproof is the version of On's all-day signature shoe for people who walk whatever the weather. On adds a waterproof membrane and a tighter-structured mesh to the upper, plus connected rubber pods on the outsole for better grip. Underfoot it uses Zero-Gravity CloudTec cushioning with a Speedboard for support, and the foam is bio-attributed Helion, which On says replaces at least 36% of the fossil-based content in the EVA with renewable feedstock. A wider opening, a new sockliner and speed lacing make it quick to put on. It has an 8mm drop and weighs 296.3g, and On says it fits true to size. Free shipping starts at $50 and returns are free within 90 days. At $180 it is the most expensive shoe on this list, and the standard Cloud 6 costs $160 if you rarely walk in the rain.

The Allbirds Tree Runner is a light, casual sneaker that Allbirds lists as best for traveling, walking, commuting and everyday wear. It weighs 8.6 oz in a men's 9 and 7.3 oz in a women's 7. The upper is a breathable knit of TENCEL Lyocell (tree fiber) and recycled polyester, the lining is a Merino wool blend that Allbirds says can be worn without socks, and the midsole is SweetFoam, a sugarcane-based EVA. You can machine wash it after removing the insoles. It is not a deep-cushioned walking shoe: the stack is 19.6mm at the heel and 10mm at the toe, with a 9.0mm drop, so it suits shorter daily walks and travel days more than long distances. At $100 it matches the Skechers pick on price. Allbirds warns that the Tree Runner runs small, and some colorways were marked final few or final sale when we checked.

The Xero Shoes HFS II is for walkers who want less shoe, not more. Xero builds it with a zero-drop heel, a wider foot-shaped toe box and a FeelTrue sole designed to let the foot bend, flex and feel the ground. The sole looks thick, but Xero says that is an illusion: a thin BareFoam layer is wrapped cup-like around the upper, with a tire tread-inspired outsole for grip. It weighs 8.3 oz for a men's 9 and carries a 5,000-mile sole warranty, far beyond the 200 to 500 miles Xero says typical running shoes are meant to last. Xero sells it as a lightweight road runner, while noting people wear it for much more. At $129.99 and rated 4.2 from 1,206 reviews, it is a niche pick: walkers used to cushioned shoes should transition slowly, and some reviewers say it runs short.