Story Published: Sep 30, 2008 at 5:52 PM PDT
By Herb Weisbaum & Good Housekeeping

Walking is great exercise. But if walking is a part of your exercise routine, you need a good pair of walking shoes. And the folks at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute have done all the legwork to make it easy for you to make the right choice.

Finding the perfect walking shoe is no walk in the park.

“What you need to know before you go out and buy a pair of walking shoes is what type of foot you have,” said Kathleen Huddy, the institute’s textiles director.

The best way to do this, Huddy says, is to “take a brown piece of paper, wet your bare foot, step on it as if you would walking and look at what the imprint is.”

If you see a lot of your foot in the wet imprint that means you have a low arch, and you’ll need something like the Asics Gel Kayano Walker 7 ($100).

Huddy says the shoe has a lot of support here at the bottom, and is wider than other shoes.

When you step on the brown paper and you see just a little of your foot on the imprint, that means you have a high arch. And what you need is a show like the Brooks Defyance ($90), which offers a different support system. [Ed. The Brooks Addiction is also an excellent choice.]

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good pair of walking shoes.

Good Housekeeping testers liked the Saucony Grid Instep RT, and it’s just $60.

The institute says a good walking shoe should be as wide as your foot or slightly wider to ensure an even distribution of weight. And make sure the shoe bends easily at the forefront. You want the shoe to be flexible for walking.

Maybe you’d like to get a little more out of your walk. The following are a few tips from my friend, Dr. John Schwartzberg, at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.

Swing your arms. It burns more calories and gives a little bit of a workout to your shoulders and arms.

Choose a varied terrain. You burn more calories walking on grass or gravel. And plan your route so you walk up a few hills.

Try walking backwards. I’m not kidding. When you walk backwards you use different muscles than when you walk forward so it strengthens different muscles. You just need to make sure you have someone with you to keep you from running into something.

Use hand weights. Dr. Schwartzberg says they’re good because they make you burn more calories. You just need to be careful not to hurt yourself.

Source: Komo News

PUMA Speed Cat gives you two provocative looks that will have your friends and co-workers asking you where you got them. The lace-up style encloses your entire foot so you get a fully covered feeling, like a boot, that provides good lateral support for those lunch time jaunts.

The Speed Cat sneaker has a smooth, soft fashion leather upper that is durable, yet ultra-cozy. The black coffee model is glossy leather with a tiny circular pattern. The puncing puma on the pink and white model is sure to get you noticed as the office trend setter.

Tonal topstitching adds to the sporty look while the contrasting embroidered puma on the toe adds a fun touch. The oil-resistant rubber sole and cushy padded insole and collar will give you the protection that you need to wear this fun lace-up style anywhere and everywhere.

Propet Men’s Wash & Wear Slip On

Wash and Wear? What? Yes, that’s right; the name says it all with this slip-on sneaker from Propet. Tagged with a 1,000 mile guarantee, this lightweight, soft leather sneaker will hug your foot with perfection, while the neoprene collar will allow for a fully flexible step. What’s more, the multi-directional tread will give you traction on multiple surfaces, while the removable shock absorber insole will keep you light on your feet from morning to night. The Wash and Wear makes the road ahead virtually endless.

Leather upper
Rubber sole
Washable quilted leather upper
Removable cushioned orthotic
Moleded EVA midsole with durable arch support
Built-in contoured heel stabilizer
Rocker profile, stretchable nylon padded collar; removable cushion orthotic; durable arch support; built-in contoured heel stabilizer; external & internal heel counters; flex groove for better mobility

Buy this shoe today. Wear Tomorrow.

By: Dee Wilson

Yesterday, I was looking for walking shoes in the mall. There I stood, somewhat lost amid hundreds of tennis shoes, trying to find my perfect fit and brand. Questions, such as, what should I look for in a shoe that’s meant for walking? What is the difference between a walking shoe and a running shoe? Well, yes, I admit, I stood much too long there, just reading boxes before finally asking for help. Here is what I’ve learned.

When you buy walking shoes, consider the following:

Low heel for stride efficiency
Easy heel to toe roll
Ankle support
Heel support to keep feet snug in place while walking
Cushioning to minimize impact
Skid proof sole for durability

I’ve decided on The New Balance 574 for best walking shoe.

Let’s take a closer look:

Available for women, men, and children
choose from different colors, or black / white
Classic, sporty or retro look
Lightweight upper material
Upper material, suede or mesh for breathing
Padded color and tongue
Mid-sole is EVA injection molded
Superior mid-foot support
Non marking carbon rubber traction
Shock absorbing sole and heel
Supportive cushioning
Modular design for optimum comfort

Now I’m ready to go walking….

To answer the question, is there a difference between a running shoe and a walking shoe? No. I don’t think so…. But do you? Please comment….

[Ed. Good choice. I think that New Balance Women's WW844 Walking Shoe might be a slightly better choice. Neither is wrong]

Source: dietactivity.com

A quick yes or no doesn’t fit the question any more than one shoe size would fit every foot.

Give today’s shoe manufacturers’ the credit for employing the best and the brightest scientists and engineers to design and manufacture highly specialized shoes for almost every fitness activity.

Of course you can walk in your running shoes but if you walk more than, say 30 minutes a day, then your feet will know the difference between having worn running shoes and walking shoes. Walking shoes are different from running shoes. Walking shoes are more flexible in the center. The natural walking gait is heel to toe. As the heel strikes the ground your foot rolls gently forward. Stiff shoes hinder the gentle roll and place a strain on your foot muscles that a good walking shoe will not.

Walking shoes and running shoes differ on heel height and construction also. Running shoe heels are higher than those found in shoes made for a walking gait. Again, the lower walking shoe heel better accomodates the gentle roll of the foot from heel to toe.

The reverse is true also. Walking shoes would hinder the performance of the long distance runner because they are not made to cushion the foot in a slightly forward center of gravity alignment.

Modern shoes are engineering marvels. Take advantage of the technology with a pair of the best walking shoes. My choice: Saucony ProGrid Stabil LE.

Source: BC Book Reviews

The Complete Guide to Walking for Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness - A 52-Week Plan for Increased Energy and A Longer, Healthier Life
by Mark Fenton

Review Written by Lynda Lippin
Published September 13, 2008

I am often asked about what I consider to be the best form of exercise, especially for new exercisers. And while I extol the benefits of Pilates, I also realize that for many people even having to buy a mat or learn a new way of moving is too complex.

So I usually recommend walking. It’s cheap (and can even save you money on gas, taxi, or public transportation), easy, requires no special equipment other than a pair of good shoes, can be done anywhere (inside, outside, rain or shine), and helps your stamina, endurance, cardiovascular fitness, and bone density. Really, there isn’t much more you can ask for in an exercise!

Mark Fenton has been called “America’s reigning guru of walking” for good reason. One, his style is approachable and easy to read and understand; two, he has all the scientific data to back up his claims about walking; three, he offers many different walking programs from basic to hills to racewalking. No matter what your fitness level you can open this book and find the perfect starting point for your walking program and then follow your progression every week.

But this book is not just about walking. Fenton manages to slip in some core strengthening, some light weight work, and other exercise activities that will help you get even stronger and more flexible as you continue walking. He also offers diet and nutrition strategies and discusses the role of walking in weight loss, diabetes control, heart health, cancer prevention, and emotional well being. Throughout he offers inspirational real life stories from walkers of all ages and backgrounds, such as diabetic Carol Thompson, 69 year old Mel Smagorinsky, commuter Kristen Trebeche, and rookie marathoner Amy Dawson.

From how to pick out a good pair of walking shoes (and why running shoes are not a good option) to how to buy a good treadmill, from the best walking baby strollers to the most comfortable yet functional backpacks, from heart rate monitors to pedometers, from how to burn more calories to how to stretch after your walk, this book answers every possible question and concern you may have about walking and fitness.

If you want to start a walking program at any age or fitness level The Complete Guide to Walking is a must-have book that you will refer to and use for years. Buy it, use it, and help make the world a healthier happier walking friendly place!

Rockport Men’s World Tour Classic Walking Shoe

Most Recent Amazon Customer Reviews

tired feet get relief
These shoes are awesome. They are light as a feather and make my feet feel wonderful. I’ve worn other shoes but these I can wear all day without making my feet get sore.
Published 20 days ago by Terence Slikkers

Great Walking Shoe
I’ve had a pair of these shoes in black, enjoyed them so much I bought a pair in brown, too. These are very comfortable walkers that I wear as my daily shoes m-f. Read more
Published 22 days ago by David

Wrong Size
Very Nice Looking….but larger than stated. Husband usually wears 11.5 so ordered accordingly, but way too big even with a thick sock. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Susie Rossi

Rockport walking shoe
I have a narrow foot, the “narrow” by Rockport is actually narrow versus the claim of some other manufacturers. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Randy Henson

comfort good ventilation good value
I am on my second pair. I usually wear these 3 or 4 times a week and they lasted for over 3 years. I think shoes last longer if we give them a “rest”. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Michael L. Loren

Size problem
These shoes are great, so I have bought them for a number of years. This time, though ordering the same size as usual, they were at least a half size too big. Read more
Published 2 months ago by V. Carver

Rockport World Classic walking shoe/ dont be fooled
Rockport has slipped in its quality over the past few years so you really have to be carefull which ones you buy from them. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Steve Larsson

Superb Footwear at a reasonable price
Compared to other brands this is a good buy. Well constructed and has adequate comfort without tiring out your feet. Read more
Published 3 months ago by John Jay

Evolving disappointment with Rockport World Tour Classic
I have been purchasing and wearing Rockport World Tour Classic walking shoes for many years and have put thousands of miles on them, but ever since they have been manufactured in… Read more
Published 3 months ago by Robert J. Puglisi

Shoes Too Narrow
These shoes were of good quality and the Amazon service was good. I normally wear a medium width shoe and this shoe in a Medium was too tight. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jerry Leo Hoff