The Best Walking Shoes of 2023: Staff Picks

If Goldilocks were looking for shoes instead of porridge, the Wool Runners from allbirds would be “just right,” as they hit the sweet spot between comfort and fashion, performance and versatility. An added bonus: The brand’s business model focuses on increasingly sustainable production, all of which adds up to the Wool Runners being a shoe-in for Best Overall. The upper is made from ZQ-certified merino wool (a certification process that considers environmental standards and animal welfare) and earns REI Co-op staff and member raves for being warm, cozy and roomy enough for a wider foot. 

The shoe features a proprietary SweetFoam® midsole, made from sugarcane-based EVA rather than fossil fuel–derived foam and offering a springy step with just-enough structure for long days pounding pavement. “I was walking 10 to 15 miles per day and my feet felt great!” reports one reviewer after a trip to Europe. Emily Alexander, a retail sales specialist with the REI store in East Hanover, New Jersey, wears the Wool Runners for 8-hour shifts and reports, “My feet aren't ‘feeling it’ at the end of the day.” Along with shoelaces made from recycled plastic bottles and insoles constructed with castor bean-based foam, the Wool Runners look good, feel good and have some of the most sustainable features on this list.

If lightweight, breathable comfort on the go is what you’re after, then the Terrex Voyager 21 by adidas delivers. These übersupportive kicks are perfect for those who log countless miles, whether you're urban touristing or simply counting your steps. One reviewer says she “can’t go back to other shoes” for her 15,000-step days. The breathable synthetic upper fits like a glove thanks to one-pull bungee laces, and they can be worn without socks thanks to no-sew reinforcements and soft inner lining (one less thing to pack). The thin rubber outsole creates a slim-and-trim design. What’s that mean? Easily tuck these flexible sneaks into a suitcase and they’ll be ready to roll at your destination.

With the word “cloud” in the name, you know they’ll be dreamy to walk in—and the On Cloud 5 delivers with their lightweight, springy and breathable design. These shoes are constructed with the brand’s unique tubular outsole, a series of pods beneath the foam midsole that compress upon impact before popping back into place. “It’s literally like walking on air,” reports one reviewer. But, the feel isn’t sloppy or structureless. That’s because On added a rigid plate into the midsole that propels you forward while adding needed stiffness. End result: a luxe fit without sacrificing the springboard-like performance you want from an active shoe.

Reviewers say the Cloud 5 runs a bit tight in the toe, so if you’re between sizes or you notice your feet swell considerably with activity, we recommend going up a half-size.

In this latest version of the venerable Brooks road-running Ghost series, step-in comfort reigns supreme with minimal mesh overlays on the upper and a super-soft midsole composed of foam, rubber and air. It’s like a loosey-goosey pillow on your feet that feels great during walks and long standing stints. “I have had three knee surgeries on one knee and on surgery on the other and can wear them to work and am extremely happy in them,” says Hannah Booty, a sales lead at the REI store in Bend, Oregon. Of course, there’s a tradeoff: less lateral support. (“I switch to the Brooks Adrenaline when I need a touch extra support,” Booty says.)

Still, you won’t find a plusher pair of sneakers for long-haul strolls on even surfaces, as one reviewer notes after walking two marathons in Ghosts. The 12 millimeter heel-to-toe drop offers a middle ground for traditionalists who want to stay away from a maximum or minimum drop.

Take a walk through the streets in a pair of Bravada 2 hiking shoes and you’ll feel like you run this town: The low-cut Merrell hiking sneaker features a super-soft, recycled EVA midsole combined with a nylon shank in the arch. This makes these walking shoes cushy underfoot even on asphalt, but they're supportive enough to off-road on easy to moderate trails. The stretchy knit upper accommodates a variety of foot shapes, including wide sizes, and the roomy toe box even felt good for a reviewer with bunions.

If you scour thru-hiker website, blogs and YouTube reviews, you might notice that Altra Lone Peak trail-running shoes are especially popular on the Appalachian Trail these days: A roomy, foot-shaped toe box, grippy outsoles and zero-drop platform make them a trail angel for your toes. For the ALL-WTHR Low 2 version, Altra beefs up the beloved shoe with a water-resistant bootie to help shed muck and moisture on sploshy days. 

The tradeoff: This weather protection makes the Lone Peaks warmer and less breathable than other shoes on the list. “I only use them in colder environments since it tends to warm my foot comfortably and keep my feet dry,” says Mimi Alvarez, a retail sales specialist at the REI store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Hiked Whitney, Rim to Rim and all my high-altitude hikes in Altras and I never feel my feet tired.” Altra loyalists will recognize the same dual-density EVA midsole and 25 millimeter stack height found in other versions of the shoe. And of course, you can’t miss that extra-spacious toe box.

Not only are the VEJA Dekkan shoes free from any animal products, but they’re also constructed with sustainability features in mind. Similar to the allbirds Wool Runners, the Dekkans feature a sugarcane-based midsole instead of the usual petroleum-based foam. These considerate components are combined with top-notch performance to make a shoe that's worth the higher price tag. One New York–based reviewer notes, “I haven’t taken them off this winter. They keep my feet warm and dry and the traction works great.” The grippy Vibram® rubber outsoles provide just the right feedback to help you keep your steps nimble whether you’re on or off-road. Note: Dekkan recommends (and customer reviewers agree) buying one size up from what you normally wear.

Kids need quality walking kicks too, and the Speedcross J is one of our favorites when it comes to fit and functionality. (And your kid won’t mind the blazing-bright hues they come in, either.) Salomon uses the same adult-approved technology from its popular Speedcross line and shrinks it into big-kid sizes (1 and up). The brand’s unique Sensifit™ system—the colorful zigzag overlays on the side of the upper—works with the laces for a secure fit that doesn’t slip while kids are on the move. Thanks to that, along with quick-draw laces, even the youngest kiddos can cinch up and go. The proprietary rubber outsole and moderate-depth lugs stick to pavement and dirt, and the synthetic toe cap adds much-needed durability for kids who like to kick every stone in their path. 

“Easy on, easy off. My kids no longer worry about tripping over untied shoe laces or trying to undo tangled double knots to take the shoes off,” says one of our editors whose kids have gone through several pairs of the Speedcross over the years. “My boys are rough on sneakers but the Speedcross holds up to their nonstop scampering. They’re also lightweight and comfortable enough for long day hikes.”