The best walking shoes for men offer better durability and support for morning commutes, long treks or strolls around the block. After consulting a panel of experts that includes podiatrists, foot surgeons, physical therapists and personal trainers, we named the On Cloud 5 the best walking shoes for men overall. We like that they feature plenty of cushioning and stability, plus they come with removable insoles. That said, we found nine more recommendations that are primed to help maximize your steps and minimize potential injuries.
To find the best walking shoes for men, we consulted a panel of experts.
When making our selections, we spoke to seasoned podiatrists and foot surgeons about what factors to consider when choosing walking shoes. We also had two Forbes Vetted team members test eight pairs firsthand, evaluating everything from flex points to shock absorbency. Finally, we asked physical therapist Dr. Kelly Picciurro, vice president of Spring Forward Physical Therapy in New York City, and Eddie Lemonier, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor at Chelsea Piers Fitness in New York City, to review our selections. These are our top 10 recommendations for the best walking shoes for men.
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The Best Walking Shoes For Men Compared
The right walking shoes for you depends on a variety of factors, such as your shoe size, foot width and budget. In the following chart, we take a look at our top picks and compare their main features side by side.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
We evaluate, test and thoroughly analyze the best sneakers, dress shoes and boots on the market. Our robust catalog of footwear stories covers a wide range of topics, from the best dress sneakers to the best casual shoes for men.
- This article and its updates are overseen by gear editor Cam Vigliotta and deputy editor Kari Molvar. Vigliotta has years of experience covering outdoor gear, such as the best golf shoes for wide feet and Hoka shoes for walking. Molvar has written and edited fashion and lifestyle content, including health and fitness articles, for more than 20 years.
- We frequently tap our internal expert sources to gain firsthand insight on the products we feature. For this piece, we recruited Forbes Vetted audience development manager Spencer Dukoff and account manager Rich Molinaro to test out several pairs of walking shoes and share their in-depth feedback.
- To ensure that these shoes are the absolute best picks from a health and fitness standpoint, this list was reviewed by physical therapist Dr. Kelly Picciurro, vice president of Spring Forward Physical Therapy in New York City, and Eddie Lemonier, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor at Chelsea Piers Fitness in New York City.
- This article is regularly refreshed to keep all product details and prices as accurate as possible. It was last updated in November 2024 by gear updates writer Alexandra Garrett to add a comparison chart of our top picks.
How We Chose The Best Walking Shoes For Men
When selecting the best shoes for men, we performed exhaustive research on walking shoe models, both new and old, paying close attention to the designs, features and specs that set each shoe apart from the other options on the market.
- We consulted two board-certified podiatrists—Dr. Elisa Kavanagh and Dr. Ari Rubinstein—for their insight into key characteristics to look for in walking shoes, specifically focusing on injury and pain prevention.
- We spoke with Mel Siegel, shoe expert and owner of Sportech, as well as other walkers who log lots of miles in their shoes.
- We took Dukoff and Molinaro’s testing experiences into account when assembling this list. In addition, Molvar shared two of her own personal recommendations: the Brooks Ghost Max and the Brooks Ghost 15.
- We cross-referenced our testers’ experiences with dozens of online reviews to ensure each pick comes highly rated by customers. All of the pairs on this list have earned an average rating of at least 4 out of 5 stars.
What To Consider About Men’s Walking Shoes
While there are many features to consider when choosing the best walking shoes for your needs, we focused on some key specs at the recommendation of the podiatrists we spoke with:
Size And Fit
Getting the appropriate size and achieving the best possible fit will go a long way toward ensuring you’re comfortable and injury-free while walking. “Make sure the toes have room to spread out in walking shoes,” says Westchester, New York-based podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Elisa Kavanagh. “You don’t want irritation or rubbing, and the right fit also preserves your toenails.”
Unless you require orthotic insoles or a special shoe insert, you should choose your normal size in a walking shoe. “In terms of fit length, you want to be able to fit your thumb in front of your big toe at the toe of your shoe,” says Kavanagh. Sizing often differs slightly from brand to brand, so we recommend checking out the retailer’s notes and customer reviews to see if you should go up or down a half size. If your foot is especially narrow or wide, you may want to go with a walking shoe that is available in different widths. Our top pick for best shoe for wide feet, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v14 comes in four widths.
Our pick for Best Walking Shoe For Men With Wide Feet, The New Balance Fresh Foam X880v13 (which is … [+]
Cushioning
When choosing walking shoes, you never want to wear anything too flat. “As you get older, the Achilles tendon tends to get tighter, and men can often have problems with that,” says Kavanagh. “Ideally, you want some lift at the heel and a thick-soled shoe with lots of cushion.” This can be particularly important if you have heel pain, which is commonly caused by plantar fasciitis. “Adding a bit of lift underneath the insole can typically resolve a lot of foot pain within one week.”
Support
You want to be sure you have support at the midfoot. “Always look for something with arch support,” Kavanagh says. “When we don’t have support underneath the arches of our feet, we tend to pronate, which means your ankles roll inward over your feet. This can lead to ankle arthritis, posterior tibial tendonitis and medial knee pain.” By realigning your foot under your ankle with a good pair of walking shoes, you can eliminate a lot of discomfort.
Our tester loved the Forbes Clifton 9 for its exceptional support through the midfoot.
Stability
Think about the surfaces you’ll be wearing your walking shoes most often. Will you be on pavement, trails, a treadmill or walking through your office? For all, you’ll want a grippy tread to keep you secure, and for more uneven terrain in particular, you’ll want to be sure you have a stable shoe. “I like for shoes to be able to pass the two-finger test,” says board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Ari Rubinstein. “If you can bend and twist your shoes with two fingers it’s too flimsy. A shoe shouldn’t bend too easily.”
If you have limited mobility and range of motion at your ankle, you may benefit from a walking shoe with a rocker sole. “It takes the pressure off of the back of the leg and allows you to get over the foot without bending the ankle as much,” says Rubinstein.
Colors
If you intend to wear your walking shoes for other activities—such as going to work or out to dinner on the weekends—choose a color that’s versatile and complements other shades well. The best white sneakers are a versatile and popular choice, but they show dirt easier than darker tones; if you’re not committed to regular upkeep, we recommend opting for a darker neutral color such as black or gray. If you’ll primarily wear your shoes for walking on the treadmill or outdoors, you may be more inclined to choose bolder colors or patterns—they add a bit of additional visibility, which can help keep you safe.
Upper Fabric
If you tend to have sweaty feet, pay particular attention to the upper fabric in shoes you purchase. Look for things like breathable performance mesh to keep you comfortable on longer walks or long days on your feet. Some styles, like the On Cloud 5, offer antimicrobial mesh to prevent shoes from getting stinky. If you’ll be walking through water on trails, consider shoes with water protection like a layer of GoreTex to provide water resistance.
The On Cloud 5 comes with both bungee laces and traditional laces, and it has an antimicrobial mesh … [+]
Lacing
Certain shoes, like the On Cloud 5, come with a pull cord lacing option, which are designed to help you slip in and tighten your shoes quickly, without fuss. Traditional laces require more effort but they tend to hold your foot in place better and they can be adjusted in different areas to accommodate your foot shape. “I prefer traditional laces to bungee laces,” says Rubinstein. “Bungees may not provide enough stability while walking.”