7 Best Running Shoes For Walking in 2024 (2024)

The Adidas Ultraboost Light provides the ultimate overall walking experience from a running shoe. That’s because of its cloud-like comfort and cushioning, sock-like fit, and terrific durability, which set it apart from other running shoes when it comes to walking.

As great as the Ultraboost Light's boost midsole is for running, it might be even better for walking. With a softness of 15.5 HA, which is 36.7% softer than the average road running shoe, the Ultraboost Light delivered serious comfort during our casual strolls, not to mention a good amount of responsiveness. Moreover, the midsole is sufficiently cushioned in the heel. We measured its heel stack height at 30.1 mm, and it kept our feet well-protected with each step.

Meanwhile, the sock-like upper held our feet perfectly in place for the duration of our walks. And that upper can also withstand the wear and tear from miles of walking. It did brilliantly in our toebox and heel padding durability tests, scoring 4 and 5 out of 5, respectively, with 5 being the most durable.

However, the Ultraboost Light's traction is suspect on wet surfaces. We found the grip to be lacking on a damp patch of cobblestone, so be cautious while walking on wet spots.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 is our clear top pick for the best stability shoe for walking. It has an impressive level of cushioning, comfort, and breathability, which other stability shoes just can't compete with.

Rock-solid stability is the Adrenaline GTS 23’s big claim to fame, and with good reason. Its guide rails on both sides of the shoe did a fantastic job of helping prevent our feet from making excess movements. And the wide landing platform provided additional stability and gives us more confidence on each step. We measured the forefoot midsole's forefoot and heel width to be 4.5 mm and 7 mm wider than average.

The Adrenaline GTS 23 shoe doesn't sacrifice stability for comfort, though. We felt the shoe had a good blend of softness and stability during extended walks. And our durometer confirmed the midsole foam was indeed nicely balanced with a softness of 19.5 HA, which is 20% softer than the average running shoe.

But perhaps the Adrenaline GTS 23’s standout feature is its exceptional breathability. We gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 in our breathability test as the smoke we pumped in almost instantly escaped through the large ventilation holes in the upper. And our feet were kept capably cool on our walks thanks to that breathable upper.

Unfortunately, that upper lacks durability, particularly in the toebox. The mesh material was significantly damaged we put a Dremel to it, which is why it scored a lowly 1 out of 5. So for those looking for a walking shoe that has more durability, look elsewhere.

There’s simply nothing quite like walking in the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 thanks to its out-of-this world cushioning. And with its comfortable upper and stable base, it’s easily our number one running shoe with plush cushioning for walking.

Walking with the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 is an absolute delight. Our durometer measured the Nimbus 25’s midsole foam as being 24% softer than the average road running shoe, and it felt every bit as enjoyable underfoot.

Meanwhile, the harsh impact of the road while walking for multiple miles basically disappeared underneath the Nimbus 25's super-tall stack height. It has 38 mm of midsole foam in the heel and 30.2 mm in the forefoot, which are 4.8 mm and 6 mm taller than average, respectively. There’s also a pocket of PureGEL in the heel for added impact absorption.

The Nimbus 25 also offers more than enough stability with each step thanks to a wide landing platform that is 6.6 mm wider in the forefoot and 9 mm wider in the heel.

However, the shoe is on the stiff side; it needed 17.7% more force to bend 90 degrees in our lab test compared to other road shoes. So those looking for a more flexible and natural-feeling shoe for walking should look at other options.

The Nike React Pegasus Trail 4 is the perfect trail shoe to use for walking thanks to its impressive lightness, outstanding comfort, and great grip for both roads and trails.

The Pegasus Trail 4 is feather-light on feet. It weighs just 9.59 oz (272g), which is 0.8 oz (23g) lighter than the typical trail shoe. That significantly reduced weight makes it significantly easier to pick up our feet on our trail walks.

Meanwhile, the cushioned and responsive React midsole makes it a real treat to walk on, not only on trails but also on roads. There is 12% more stack height in the heel, while the midsole, which is 24% firmer than average, has the right amount of responsiveness on hard surfaces.

We also found the grip to be great for a road-to-trail shoe. Its updated tread pattern, which features three different types of lugs, works especially well while walking on hard-packed and gravely trails.

However, the Pegasus Trail 4 lacks the traction for the most challenging terrain. With its average 3.4 mm lugs, we do not recommend this shoe for walking on soggy or muddy trails.

Among all the daily trainers out there, the Hoka Clifton 9 is clearly the best choice for walking. That’s because of its light weight, soft and energetic midsole cushioning, and great fit, which other daily trainers just can’t compete with.

The Clifton 9 is among the lighter daily trainers around at just 8.78 oz (249g). That's a good 1.3 oz (38g) lighter than the average daily trainer, and it sure felt that way as we hardly had to exert much effort lifting our feet while walking.

And the overall walking experience is made all the more enjoyable by its fantastic midsole foam. Not only is it 16.7% softer than the average road running shoe, but it is also more responsive. There is also a good amount of cushioning, especially in the forefoot, which has 2.4 mm more stack height.

The fit of the upper is excellent, with the semi-gusseted tongue providing a secure lockdown. The tongue, which we measured to be 0.8 mm thicker, and the heel collar are also generously padded and add to the comfortably snug fit.

But the Clifton 9 is not quite wide-foot friendly as its toebox width at the widest part and at the big toe are 2.1 mm and 1.8 mm narrower than average, respectively. However, Hoka does offer a wider option of the shoe.

Among the many budget running shoes out there, we found the Adidas Duramo 10 to be the best of the bunch for walking. As our lab and run tests showed, the Duramo 10 has impressive cushioning, as well as a soft and breathable upper, making it an absolute delight to walk in.

At $65, the Duramo is the definition of a budget shoe. It's twice as cheap as the average road running shoe, which costs $132. But this cheap shoe certainly doesn't skimp on comfort. Its midsole is 11% softer than average, which provides a lot of underfoot comfort even after long hours of wearing the shoe.

The upper also plays a big part in making this budget shoe so comfortable to wear. We found the upper to be very soft on the skin and didn't cause any irritation. Moreover, the upper was quite light and breathable. Plenty of light passed through the material in our breathability test, and it did a fine job of keeping our feet cool even as we walked in the heat.

The Duramo 10's big drawback is that it does get significantly stiff in the cold. Its stiffness on our 90 degree bend test changed by 85% after 20 minutes in the freezer, which made it become 39.6% stiffer than the average road running shoe in the cold.

Slipping our feet in the Ghost 15 has a similar homey feeling to tucking ourselves under a blanket and lying on our soft pillow and bed. It’s all about exceptional comfort, freedom of movement and a protective outsole — making it our most comfortable walking-running pair.

Our durometer confirms its velvety touch, measuring 33.5% softer than average. Its heel measures 36.3 mm, 2.9 mm higher than average. This makes it more suitable for walking since most naturally land heel-first. Its forefoot falls slightly below average, resulting in a heel-to-toe drop of 13.2 mm (vs. the 8.8 mm average). The top of our foot is hugged by a tongue that’s 96.6% thicker than average.

Our movements feel natural with the unopposing midsole. Our flex test shows it's 40.3% more flexible than average, explaining why it’s easy for us to move. This makes us feel more relaxed when taking our strolls.

Its outsole feels tough, looking new even after our test walks. Our durometer confirms the 84.4 HC rubber is harder — and therefore more durable — than the 80.0 HC average.

Its focus on padding tipped the scales. At 9.8 oz (279g), it’s heavier than the 9.5 oz (268g) average.