Photo by Muffy Aldrich
The Modern Guide to The Thing Before Preppy

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Reader Question: Best/Favorite Walking Shoes?

Photos by Salt Water New England

A Reader Question:

Would you please do a post on best/favorite walking shoes sometime?


30 comments:

  1. I have walked hundreds of miles in predecessor versions of Salomon's X Ultra 4 (low - they sell a mid-height shoe too). Great support and traction for a low shoe, so long as you can tolerate the kevlar speed lacing. If you favor a more traditional all-leather walking shoe, consider Limmer Boot's Oxford or Walker.

    ReplyDelete
  2. New Balance postal walkers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is very much dependent on the walk. For walking on roads and sidewalks I like my inexpensive Adidas Galaxy 5s. For walking on unpaved paths I want the support of hiking boots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adidas Galaxy 5s are fine, but they're running shoes, not walking shoes. I can assure you that you'd be far more comfortable walking in shoes intended for walking.

      Delete
    2. I mix running and walking. My 72 year old knees hate running downhill but are fine running uphill. On the walking parts they are extremely comfortable. I have tried walking shoes. I think the Adidas are not typical running shoes, certainly not like the Asics or Brooks running shoes I used to wear for real running. The Adidas are super cushy.

      Delete
    3. My best friend is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon and former runner now doing intense walking. He has advised for years to select a good running shoe with pronation suitable for each walker's stride, best to be evaluated by a qualified running shoe specialist. He finds most shoes designated by their makers as walking shoes to be less suited to pavement walking than a properly fitted running shoe. It is more important to match the shoe's characteristics and support level to the walker's or runner's stride, than it is to select from marketing categories of walking shoes versus running shoes.

      Delete
    4. My feet, which have neither pronation nor supination issues, agree! My knees disagree with everything.

      Delete
    5. Two orthopedic doctors have convinced me to wear Brooks Addiction when walking because I have flat feet. I spend a lot of money buying ugly shoes year after year, but I swear by them. (Tried to skip them for several weeks and I ended up in ER because of the pain.) Find a shoe store that hires runners as sales reps and will let you run down the sidewalk while a staffer watches how your foot behaves when it hits the pavement.

      Delete
    6. A physician recommended KYBUN (mostly online) to me.
      They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.
      I don't hike, so I can't speak to that, but they are wonderful for walking.

      Readers have mentioned factors such as pronation.
      A careful evaluation by a trained orthotist and prescribed custom orthotics cast in subtalar neutral are a genuine biomechanical device. They are often covered by insurance. They can be used to make just about any shoe a comfortable, supportive walking shoe.

      Readers comment on factors like

      Delete
  4. With chinos my Allen Edmonds Thousand Oaks or Wilberts.

    With shorts NB 990s

    In Winter Allen Edmonds Long Branch’s or Rancourt Harrison boots.

    David J Cooper

    ReplyDelete
  5. Allen Edmonds all the way! Thanks so very much!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hanwag Banks low, multiseasonal shoe for hikes, dog walking and messy weather. For every day casual, Skechers Go Walk.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really like my Merrell’s for walking trails. I like New Balance for jogging. Ladies, for wandering around town or even a city in summer I highly recommend Saltwater sandals. I have walked NYC, Boston, and London in my Saltwaters with zero foot issues or pain.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I view walking as quite different from hiking, even day hikes where I rely upon reputable hiking boots from Merrell or Eddie Bauer. For walking, Rockport World Tour are a true classic for travel walking, while the Eastland Camp Moc Chukka Boot surprisingly handles mixed surfaces quite well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You can comfortably hike three seasons all day long in Russell Moccasin PH Safari boots.
    Russell also sells an aptly named “Convention Walker” chukka boot. It’s very comfortable.
    About half of Appalachian Trail through-hikers wear Altra hiking boots. They dry very quickly.

    ReplyDelete
  10. NB 993, only in grey, made in USA, for m/w/kids, still available if one knows where to look.

    ReplyDelete
  11. For city running/walking, Saucony Ride ISO2 are the most comfortable shoes I've every owned.

    ReplyDelete
  12. If you prefer lower drop and wider toe box, I would highly recommend the Altra Lone Peak or Altra TIMP. These models are favorites with hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail.

    If you prefer something more grippy soles and decent ankle articulation for all season trails, Brooks Cascadia is a solid choice.

    If you want something that can double as a running shoe, the Mizuno Wave Rider is a popular choice for neutral support.

    If you require something more robust with maximum cushioning, check out the Hoka One One brand.

    During the summer months, I prefer the Altras whenever I'm in the White Mountains.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like the Danner 2650 for city or trail walking. Comfortable and rugged enough to transition from the city streets to light hiking.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Since having three foot surgeries over a decade ago; I wear nothing but Keen footwear. They are a little pricey $120, but last 2-3 years w/ everyday use. They are great for walking the dog, gardening, shopping, etc. For hiking I prefer Lowa's. They aren't inexpensive ($240), but they support my weak ankles that like to turn after walking a few miles.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Russell Moccasin Premier Chukka or any Alden dress or walking shoe.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would suggest finding a store with well-trained staff to help determined to find the right fit. I have stupid feet -- long, narrow and flat -- that rarely fit well. However, the folks at Karavel Shoes in Austin, TX can usually figure it out. They examine your foot, look at your stride, and experiment with widths and orthotics until they find the right combination. I have creaky knees that appreciate their expertise and diligence.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mephisto walking shoes are great but expensive and not made in US. New Balance has great walking and running shoes made in US. ECCO has great walking sandals for hot summer months.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I've done lightly loaded (water bottle + DSLR camera) day hikes on a great many trails in the Phoenix area — yes, in summer too — and prefer Teva sandals with no socks, just bare feet inside.

    I keep the sandal straps loose enough that when gravel and gritty bits get inside, I can stop and shake my foot to remove them.

    Piestewa Peak, Wind Cave, the Santans, Peralta Trail, the Whitetanks, North Mountain, South Mountain — great hiking there.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Around town, I love my Dubarry Auckland Loafers, which combines comfy modern sneaker technology with deck shoe aesthetics. In jeans, my New Balance 995 keep the feet warm and well cushioned. Another really comfy pair of trainers is my pair of On, a Swiss brand. On the hiking trail, my pair of Meindl hiking shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Replies
    1. Great shoes. My wife's orthopedist steered her into a pair.

      Delete
  21. Hoggs of Fife Roxburgh Veldtschoen shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  22. As a hunter: For general purpose walking, Russell Traveling Sportsman. In the field, Russell Back Forty Bird Shooters. In the mountains, Lowa. In the winter and in wet conditions, Schnee.

    ReplyDelete
  23. New Balance 990 version 2. I bought it when it first came out in 1998 and it lasted me 14 years until the rear midsole disintegrated into a fine powder! It was the most comfortable, durable, most practical shoe I've owned. It was very stable, offered an excellent road feel of the ground with the right amount of cushioning without the feeling like you're walking on soft pillows. (It was American Podiatric Medical Association approved.) Currently, I wear New Balance 998 in grey suede, and it's comfortable but not as durable. Currently, there are zero New Balance shoes that have the American Podiatric Medical Association seal of approval, which means the standard of overall quality such as comfort and durability suffers. On another note, my 998s take me from work to running a half marathon while outrunning those wearing the latest Adidas and Nike!

    ReplyDelete

Comments are moderated.