How To Select The Best Walking Shoe

If you had to walk five miles in high heels or wing tips your feet would be screaming. Why? Because those shoes are not made to promote the easy roll of your foot from heel to toe. Neither are they designed to accommodate pronated or supinated gait cycles.

The best walking shoes are high-tech marvels. There are 26 bones in each foot, and a well designed and well manufactured walking shoe does everything possible to make sure all those bones work together the way nature intended to keep you happy and comfortable all day. Current bestsellers are the New Balance Women's WW844 Walking Shoe and the Rockport Men's World Tour Classic Walking Shoe.

Whether you spend most of your day on your feet because you have to, or because you know you need the exercise, a pair of well cushioned, flexible, breathable walking shoes will make your day a whole lot better. You select the best walking shoe by knowing your foot type and by selecting the manufacturer and style that matches your personal need. In the long run, the best walking shoe is the one you want to wear.

Not sure of your shoe size? We have a comprehensive online tutorial on How To Accurately Measure Your Feet for Proper Shoe Size

Where To Buy Walking Shoes

endless.com is the evolutionary online shoe store. We have teamed up with endless.com which has 250+ selections in walking shoes for women, and 150+ selections in walking shoes for men alone. Choose by price, brand, color, size, width, and style - and we probably have them all from every walking shoe manufacturer, including exclusive designer brands and designer fashion sneakers. You can also get our overview of mens shoes sandals here.

We're working hard to make sure our prices are the best around, but if you find another site that offers a lower price within two weeks after the date we ship your order, let us know and we'll credit your original payment method for the difference. And if we lower the price on endless.com within 14 days of the order date, we'll refund you the difference as well. There are some reasonable restrictions, of course, that you can review at the endless.com web site.

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If for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it free of charge for a period of 365 days from the original purchase date--we'll even pay for the return shipping. Merchandise must be unworn and in the original packaging, and accompanied by the original packing slip so we can properly credit your original form of payment.

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Your Foot Type Is The Most Important Consideration

The complex alignment of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons in your feet form side-to-side (metatarsal) arches and heel-to-toe (longitudinal) arches. Walking puts up to 1.5 times one's body weight on each foot as it impacts the ground. As you walk, these springy, flexible arches help distribute this weight evenly across your feet. Your arch type plays an important role in how you adapt to various surfaces as you walk, and is the most critical consideration for determining the best walking shoe for your foot type.

Some people have "floppy" feet that are very loose-jointed. Because feet like this are too mobile, they give or over-pronate when they hit the ground. These people need a stability walking shoe that is built to control the foot’s excessive motion. Saucony Women's Grid Omni Walker Walking Shoe is a good example of walking shoes for flat feet. At the other extreme are people with "rigid” feet." These feet are very tight-jointed and do not yield enough upon impact. To help avoid impact-related injuries, these people need cushioned walking shoes like the Saucony Men's Progrid Hurricane 10 Running Shoe. Finally, the third type, the neutral-arch or normal foot, falls somewhere between mobile and rigid. This type of foot can use any women's walking shoe or men's walking shoes that is flexible and properly cushioned.

Buy Motion Control Walking Shoes for Floppy Feet

"Floppy" feet is not very scientific sounding but it conveys the right image of loose-jointed feet. Floppy feet have low arches and create a flat foot impression in wet sand. A neutral-arch foot rolls naturally inward when it bears weight thus reducing the impact on bones and joints. Floppy feet are too mobile. The foot tends to roll excessively in towards the midline of the body under full body weight. The arches give and flatten out when they hit the ground. This is called pronation. Floppy feet need motion control or stability walking shoes for flat feet. Look for shoe descriptions like stabilizing, or motion control, or control when buying the best walking shoe for floppy feet. Wearing walking shoes that are comfortable and fit your feet can help prevent injuries such as blisters and calluses. Wearing the best walking shoe for your foot can prevent more serious injuries too. Typical injuries from not wearing motion control walking shoes with floppy feet are: painful knees, arch pain, heel pain, and shin pain.

The excessive motion of the load bearing foot causes uneven wear on the inside and outside edges of the walking shoe sole.

When viewed from the back of the shoe the heels wear excessively on the insides.

Manufacturers' walking shoe recommendations for overpronators

New Balance	Womens: 811, 858 Mens: 811, 858. 1223
Saucony	Stabil LE4 Women Men
Brooks	Womens: Addiction 7, Addiction Walker Mens: Beast, Addiction Walker

Buy Impact Control Walking Shoes for Rigid Feet

"Rigid" feet are high arched and tend to stay straight and rigid at the moment of impact with the ground. They do not conform to the shape of the ground on impact. They leave a high-arch impression in wet sand. Stress fractures are more likely than with any other foot type. Rigid feet need impact control or well cushioned walking shoes. Injuries from not wearing cushioned impact control walking shoes for rigid feet can be of the more serious variety. Typical injuries can include: stress fractures, shin splints, hip pain, and ankle sprains.

Rigid, high arch feet cause extreme wear on the outside of the shoe sole. The foot tends to roll out under weight.

When viewed from the back of the shoe the heels wear excessively on the outside edges of conventional walking shoes.

Manufacturers' walking shoe recommendations for high arches

New Balance	Womens: 576, 926 Mens: 576, 926
Saucony	Grid Omni Walker Women Men
Brooks	Womens: Glycerin 6 Mens: Glycerin 6, Radius 7

Cushioning and Flexibility

Once you have determined your arch type the two most important characteristics of the best walking shoe are cushioning and flexibility. Most of the cushioning in every walking shoe brand comes from the shock absorbing material in the midsole. Some brands have roll bars, or bridges, or gel-pads or some other proprietary name for extra support and stability in the midsole region. One example of a very well cushioned shoe is the Saucony Grid Omni Walker Walking Shoe in women's and men's sizes. This Saucony is also a stability walking shoe which makes it suitable for both normal and floppy feet.

Flexibility is a measure of how easily the sole of the shoe bends at the ball of the foot. The normal walking motion rolls the foot from heel to toe so an excessively stiff sole would inhibit the natural motion of the arches and place extra strain on them and your calf muscles. A well known consumer testing organization recently tested the flexibility of several brands of walking shoes in the laboratory and from personal evaluations and concluded that with the exception of a couple models no longer offered for sale that all major walking shoe brands rated very good. The two brands that rated excellent for flexibility were Saucony (again) and New Balance. Flexibility is determined by the shoe sole material and by the thickness of the sole. If your walking route is over rough ground you may want to trade off a little flexibility for thick-sole protection against the bruise you could get from a sharp rock.

Consumer testing also found that, in general, dressy walking shoes did not rate as highly as sneaker type walking shoes in either cushioning or flexibility. However, none of the dressy walking shoe brands rated poorly in either category, just not as high, in general, as the sneaker or athletic types. Nurses have been wearing Propet walking shoes to work for years. If you are looking to buy some walking shoes you could wear to work or slip on during your lunch break then you can confidently go ahead and do so. Rockport has a reputation for classy and comfortable walking shoes. Some New Yorkers claim that Rockport Blackville Touring Shoe are the best city walking shoes period. Other popular brands for comfortably schlepping around town or even around the house are Crocs Cayman Sandals and Easy Spirit Walking Mules.

How Walking Shoes Are Made

For centuries shoes have been designed and made from the inside out. Almost all footwear is still made on lasts, a form used to shape a particular shoe style and size around the form of a human foot and ankle. A cordwainer (or cordovan) is the term of art for somebody who makes shoes from fine soft leather by stretching and shaping material around the last, which is not removed until the sole is attached. Top fashion shoe designers like Manolo Blahnik still painstakingly carve lasts from wood.

Athletic shoe manufacturers design walking shoe lasts on computers and shape them on numerically controlled lathes and milling machines. Anatomists, biomechanical engineers, and the athletes who use the shoes provide the input to model the effect of even the most minute variations in toe shape, heel curve and toe spring. 3D computers model the thickness and composition of different combinations of uppers, lowers, interiors and soles on the lasts until the designers achieve exactly the desired specifications for that model walking shoe. All walking shoes are purpose made but not all walking shoes are created equal. Saucony is very good at providing consumer information. The Saucony Shoe Advisor can recommend a specific model based on your foot type and objectives.

Walking Shoes vs. Running Shoes vs. Cross Trainers

There was a time when the only buying choice for sneakers was white or black. Today's athletic shoes are the product of sophisticated science and engineering. The distinctions between walking shoes, running shoes, and cross trainers from the same manufacturer may be small in some cases but they are real differences and not just a marketing gimmick.

Walking shoes have more flexible soles and are specially designed to promote the easy roll of the foot from heel to toe. Cushioning is designed to absorb about 1.5 times body weight for any shoe size. Walking shoes do not have to be as rugged so there is more opportunity for manufacturers to use mesh and other lighter, highly breathable materials. Tread designs are less deep and provide all around grip. The best walking shoe is, in fact, a Walking Shoe, but you could certainly use the other types of athletic shoes in your walking program so long as the fit was right, 

Running shoes are designed to absorb impacts up to three times your body weight and provide sufficient lateral stability to control pronation. Heels are higher and more heavily cushioned. Treads and sides are designed for maximum forward grip. Trail running shoes have impregnated solid guards to prevent bruising from sharp rocks.

Cross-trainers attempt to provide a versatile compromise between walking and basketball, tennis or other court shoes. Generally, cross trainers have more rigid metatarsal support than running shoes, and do not have adequate heel cushioning for long distance running, Cross-trainers work OK if running is limited to a few miles at a time but a cross-trainer shoe would likely break down faster than a purpose made running shoe.

Should You Use Orthotics?

Physician prescribed orthotics are effective in relieving foot fatigue and discomfort, particularly that experienced by older adults, who may have developed arthritis in their feet. But think twice about self-prescribed orthotics, shoe inserts that take the place of insoles, if your feet get sore from walking. Chances are that your walking shoe does not fit your foot type or that your shoes are worn out. In that case, off-the-shelf orthotics may only reduce your shoe’s cushioning and increase the discomfort. If your walking shoes have 500 miles on them the midsole cushioning may be used up. It's time for a new pair of walking shoes. Dr. Scholls makes a line of walking sandals.

Diabetic Walking Shoes

People with diabetic foot ulcers should seek professional advice before starting a walking program. The risks are too high not to. Although walking may improve circulation in the feet and legs a healthcare provider may also prescribe special support hose to improve blood flow from the legs to the heart. Your healthcare provider may also recommend special prescription shoes or orthotics. If there are no special requirements then well-cushioned walking shoes are suitable diabetic walking shoes. The Saucony ProGrid™ Stabil LE 4 is extremely plush and SADMERC approved.

10 Buying Tips To Get The Best Walking Shoes

When you try on walking shoes wear the same thickness socks you'll wear when walking. Measure both feet, measure them yourself, or have a friend or family member help you. Stand up while your foot is measured to get the most accurate measurement. If one foot is larger than the other, fit a pair for your larger foot. Wiggle your toes. If you don't have at least a half-inch between your longest toe and the end of the shoe — approximately the width of your finger — try a larger size. If you can detect the outline of your toes in the top or on the side of the shoe, try a larger size or wider shoe. Be sure the shoe is wide enough. The side-to-side fit of the shoe should be snug, not tight. If you're a woman with wide feet, consider men's or boys' shoes, which are cut a bit larger through the heel and the ball of the foot. Make sure your heel fits snugly in each shoe and doesn't slip as you walk. Replace worn-out shoes to prevent injury. All walking shoes eventually show signs of wear. And even if they still feel comfortable, they might not be providing enough support or shock absorption. Pay attention to the condition of your shoes. If the outsole is worn through, it's time for a new pair. About 500 miles is the most you can expect from even the best walking shoe..