The Best Walking Shoes

The Ghost Max 3 gets our top spot because it blends soft cushioning with an athletic, secure fit. Its nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 foam gives a plush, max-stack feel, the upper is comfortable and secure, and reviewers describe a solid, stable ride. Brooks lists it on its own walking page, and Regular, Wide and X-Wide are offered in the men's. It costs about $160 at full price, and Brooks' 90-day Run Happy trial applies. The trade-offs: it is heavy at 306 g in the men's, the foam lacks energy and lab data found heel shock absorption only so-so. Skip it if you want a light shoe or you need support features for overpronation. Owners call the fit true to size. See our Brooks Ghost Max 3 review.

The Bondi 9 is the shoe for people who want the most foam under their feet. HOKA publishes a stack of 43 mm at the heel and 38 mm at the forefoot, the new supercritical EVA midsole is lighter than the Bondi 8 and reviewers describe easy step-in comfort and a stable platform for its height. Narrow to X-Wide widths are offered in the men's. It lists at about $175 at full price, which is high. It is heavy at 297 g in the men's, the toebox is narrow in the standard width and it can feel clunky if you pick up the pace. Skip it if you want a light shoe or a tight budget. It is tagged for walking, recovery and standing all day in our data. HOKA's Fly for 30 guarantee gives you 30 days.

The Addiction Walker 2 is the old-school answer, and it still works. It has a full-grain leather upper, a wide, steady platform with strategic arch support and a certified slip-resistant outsole (SATRA TM144:2011). Men's widths run from 1B narrow to 4E extra-wide, and it costs about $130 at full price. Owners say it is long-lasting and true to size across more than 450 votes. The trade-offs are that it is heavy at about 14.5 oz (411 g) in the men's, stiff enough to need a break-in period, not very breathable and more work-shoe than athletic in looks. Skip it if you want a light, athletic or breathable shoe. Stock of widths varies, so check the width you need before ordering. Brooks' 90-day trial applies.

The Transport 2 is HOKA's walking and commuting shoe, with a wide stable platform and Meta-Rocker geometry. It comes in D and 2E widths for men, uses an EVA foam with 30% sugarcane per RunRepeat and has versatile traction for city streets and light trails. RunRepeat rates its durability as excellent. It costs about $150, though we could only confirm the price from a retailer, not from hoka.com, so check the current listing. The downsides: it is not very breathable, the collar mesh is frail per RunRepeat and at about 312 g it is heavy. Skip it if you run hot or want a lightweight shoe. Owner votes call the fit true to size, and HOKA's 30-day Fly for 30 guarantee applies to purchases on its site.

If you want a supportive walking shoe that looks like a sneaker, the Cloudrunner 3 is a strong pick. Reviewers describe excellent support and stability, a thick padded tongue and a durable outsole, and it is tagged for walking, travel and standing all day in our data. It costs about $160 at full price and comes in Regular and Wide. The trade-offs: it has low energy return, a heavy 295 g build in the men's, a narrow toebox and poor breathability in hot climates. Skip it if you have a wide forefoot in the standard width, or if you will wear it in hot weather. On's page says its 30-day run trial is only available in Switzerland and the UK, and we could not read a US return policy, so check the retailer's terms.

The Clifton 11 is a good choice if you want cushioning without the bulk of a Bondi. It is soft and rockered, weighs 258 g in the men's and costs about $155 at full price, which is about $20 less than the Bondi 9. It offers Regular, Wide and X-Wide in some colorways. Lab testers rated its outsole durability well. The compromises are that the ride is soft rather than lively, the stack can feel bulky and lab measurements found a narrow, tapered toebox in the standard width. Skip it if you need lots of toe room in the standard width. It is tagged for walking, everyday use and recovery in our data. Read our HOKA Clifton 11 review for fit tips.

The GO WALK Arch Fit 2.0 Slip-ins is for people who want a shoe that goes on without bending down. It has a Hands Free Slip-in design with a heel pillow, a removable Arch Fit insole (described by Road Runner Sports as podiatrist-designed), ULTRA GO cushioning and a machine-washable build. It costs about $95 to $100. We have to flag that this is a family of styles, weight, drop and stack were not published and we found no independent lab data. Durability is unknown. Skip it if you want lab-tested specs or a performance shoe. The men's page we read showed only 4E in stock, so confirm the exact style, width and price before you buy. We do not have Skechers' return policy on file, so check the retailer's policy before ordering.

The 877v1 is a no-frills option at about $100. It comes in Regular, Wide and X-Wide, has a durable suede and mesh upper and decent traction. We have to be upfront that New Balance's own page could not be retrieved, so specs come from OutdoorGearLab's review and should be confirmed. It is firm and heavy at about 374 g, the reviewer said it lacks arch support and the Regular width runs wide, which can cause heel slip. Skip it if you want modern cushioning, arch support or a light shoe. It is also tagged for standing all day in our data. As a plain, durable, wide-friendly walker at a low price, it can make sense, and New Balance accepts returns within 45 days, with a $5 fee for non-members online.