Here, on this page we have reviewed what we believe to be the best walking shoes for women available on the market in 2024.
Believe us when we say the competition was fierce this year! Some brands rose up to become to true favourites and other brands sank down into obscurity, as advancements in shoe technology is made.
You wouldn’t think that the battle for “top women’s walking shoe” would be this dramatic, but, actually, it was!
The great news is that almost all of the shoes that we did review which made our Top 10 list made it through our testing stages, and, on top of that, were generally well-received by buyers.
Table of Contents for this Guide
- Best Women’s Walking Shoes – Our Top Picks
- Buyer’s Guide – What To Consider
- Skechers Women’s Go Walk 3 Tilt
- Skechers Women’s Shape Ups Walking Sneaker
- Skechers Women’s Go Walk Extend
- Reebok Women’s Skyscape Runaround
- Skechers Women’s Performance Go Walk 3
- Skechers Women’s You Walking Shoe
- Skechers Women’s Go Walk 3 Renew
- Reebok Women’s Skyscape Harmony
- Skechers Women’s Go Walk Aspire
- Reebok Women’s Daily Cushion 2.0 RS
- Saucony Women’s ProGrid Integrity ST2
Skechers Performance Women’s Go Step Lite-Evoke Walking Shoe |
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Skechers Women’s Shape Ups 20 Comfort Stride Fashion Sneaker |
Reebok Women’s Walk Ahead Action Rs Walking Shoe |
Skechers Women’s You Walking Shoe |
Now let’s dive into our Buyer’s Guide where we share tips and go over some of the considerations you should think about when buying walking shoes.
Contents
- 1 Buyer’s Guide – What To Consider
- 2 Comfort
- 2.1 Managing Moisture, Scents, and Waterproofing
- 2.2 Breathability
- 2.3 The Midsole
- 2.4 Laces Vs. No Laces
- 2.5 The Right Support
- 2.6 Buying Online vs. At The Store
- 2.7 Shoe Shopping At The Optimal Time
- 2.8 Shoe Care
- 2.9 Our Selections for the Best Women’s Walking Shoes
- 2.10 Skechers Women’s Go Walk 3 Tilt
- 2.11 Skechers Women’s Shape Ups Walking Sneaker
- 3 Skechers Women’s Go Walk Extend
Buyer’s Guide – What To Consider
Are They Cute?
Before we get to some of the more technical aspects of walking shoes, many women, if not most want to hear people say “That’s cute!” in regards to a new shoe purchase.
After all, who doesn’t want to hear that? If you buy something new and you are going to wear it, hearing a nice compliment definitely goes a long way to telling you you made the right choice.
But what we want to add to this is that while buying a cute new pair of shoes is certainly a major deciding factor on purchasing a shoe, we don’t want to necessarily sacrifice any other aspects of the shoe’s quality in order to get our hands on a cute pair of shoes.
This is because we care about your feet and we don’t want your feet to be sore if you buy something that looks amazing, but slowly damages your foot over time.
This is especially true with walking shoes, where the main purpose of the shoe is to walk in them, so those shoes need to be both attractive and everything else a shoe needs to be.
Luckily, with the shoes we’re talking about in this article, you get the best of both worlds.
Stylish, comfort, looks, and also a solidly made shoe that will be great for walking whether it be for relaxation or physical fitness!
Comfort
For some people, a comfortable shoe is just as important as a cute shoe, if not more so. It depends – are you the type of person who would rather look amazing, or be comfortable?
When it comes to other types of attire for women, often you can’t look amazing and also be super comfy. With shoes, the good thing is, you really can have both, and that’s important, of course!
We’ll get more into what comfort means as far as shoes go, but it can be a bit technical, just because a comfortable shoe has more to do with how the manufacturers designed the shoes, and that’s where science comes into play.
Comfortable shoes are not comfortable by accident – they are made that way and shoe makers spend their entire lives grappling with how to make a shoe that fits well, and can be used, and not feel uncomfortable.
On this list, the shoes are all comfortable, because if they weren’t, we wouldn’t have put them on this list!
Managing Moisture, Scents, and Waterproofing
One thing you should know is that not all walking shoes are water proof. Some aren’t even water resistant, for that matter.
You might expect a shoe made for walking to be resilient in this way, but it’s on a case by case basis if the shoes you select are or are not. For instance, if you live somewhere where the climate is dryer, generally, you may not want waterproofing to begin with.
All the same, a shoe’s water resistance is something to be aware of. And if you do not know for sure that a shoe – or sandal – is waterproofed, then it is probably best to assume that it is not.
Furthermore, there is the distinction between waterproofing and water resistance. Read this for more info: https://bestwalkingshoereviews.com/waterproof-vs-water-resistant-whats-the-difference/
The general idea is that if you can submerge your shoe in water and it doesn’t get damaged, then it’s water proof.
There are two different processes behind both “waterproof” and “water resistant” products, relating to whether those products have been coated in something to make them more resistant, or they are fully made from particular waterproof materials.
If getting your shoes wet is something you want, you may actually be looking for “water shoes”, which are shoes that are meant specifically to get fully wet, not just withstand moisture.
Water shoes for women are covered on our site here: https://bestwalkingshoereviews.com/review-best-womens-water-shoes/
Breathability
Since we mentioned the concept of waterproof shoes, we should mention breathability, as they are connected.
Breathability is a feature of shoes (or footwear in general) that makes it so your foot can get air to it, and not be so much suffocated by your footwear, and it is something many people, not to mention many women, like to have as a feature of their walking shoes. It essentially means ventilation.
Ventilation of your feet is obviously very important, because this can determine how much your feet are going to sweat and hence start to feel suffocated and hot. Not ideal!
How much your particular feet like to sweat is going to determine on how light and breathable a shoe you may want, especially if you are buying that shoe specifically to get more active, so it’s worth being aware of, as you browse shoes.
Breathability and waterproofing are quite hard to combine, however, water shoes specifically are often quite breathable, as they are made from a mesh fabric, which allows both air and water to run through them.
Thus, choosing a sole – and upper – which is specifically designed to repel moisture and allow the air to circulate, is a something to consider.
Luckily, walking shoe manufacturers, if they’re in the know, know exactly how to offer women a shoe that breathes well, and doesn’t suffocate your foot, while still offering durability. It’s a fine balance, but certainly a crucial balance that must be struck between shoes that breathe well and shoes that offer protection to our feet.
Many walking shoes now feature specific antibacterial properties, designed to reduce foot odour, as well.
The Outer Sole & Preventing Slips + Falls
A good walking shoe needs to be skid resistant in wet conditions, but also capable of gripping to a dry surface.
It depends if the walking you’ll be doing is outside or not. It could be, but it could also be the opposite, as many people buy shoes just to wear indoors.
Maybe you work in an environment where you want a comfortable shoe that is easy to put on, but won’t slide across linoleum.
If we’re talking about shoes that you’re going to wear inside all day long, that are still comfortable, you should remember that some shoes are meant more for outdoors, while others are fine to wear indoors, but it’s on a case to case basis and you’ll have to eyeball it to some extent as generally walking shoes are presumed to be an outdoor affair.
That said, when looking for a sole, you will have to weigh all these things up, as well the practical considerations such as the material they are made from (ie. EVA), the traction they offer and other issues such as the type of grips they have.
The Midsole
Then there is the midsole of the shoe. This is the part which is going to offer the resilience from the bumps and shocks in the road and also give your foot the support it needs.
Generally speaking, a pair of walking shoes – or sneakers, or sandals – will offer proportionately less protection from the elements than a pair of actual boots will do, or hiking boots for that matter.
However, a quality pair of walking shoes will still offer a decent level of protection in the midsole area, so just remember to mind the shoes’ midsoles!
Here’s an article about EVA midsoles you can read if you want to know more about this topic called The Importance of Having Shoes With EVA Midsoles.
Laces Vs. No Laces
One thing we haven’t talked about yet is laces. These days, many walking shoes have no laces, while many still do.
If you want more of a slip-on walking shoe, or something really easy to get on, then lace-less shoes are for you.
Some women just like the look of laces on a shoe, and some don’t. Neither is really better, however the design of a shoe and how it functions is, to some extent, determined by whether it’s a lace up shoe or not.
For instance, if you like a snugger fit, or plan on doing some serious walking verging on hiking, then lace ups keep your foot more stabilized, even if only slightly, as the laces, when pulled tight, keep things relatively snug.
With laces, you have more to consider, such as how many holes do you need to lace up, how long it takes to put them on, and so forth. And then there are the laces themselves. What are they made of, how long are they, etc.
Laces add a whole new dynamic to the situation which we discuss in other articles on this website, but it’s something you should definitely ponder a bit.
The Right Support
A crucial consideration for all ladies should be the level of support offered by a shoe. As we mentioned in our buying guide, having the right support is important.
We will each have our own individual walking gait and we should all know, that not all feet are in the same shape.
Some people may have flat feet, some may have raised arches and some may have bunions or hard skin.
When our feet hit the ground, the impact of that goes through our legs and into both the knee and hip joints. With proper cushioning that impact can be greatly reduced and help protect those joints.
Think of your shoes like shock absorbers and you will know what I mean.
Here’s a great video from the good people at Good Feet Houston to explain how arch support works and why you need it.
Buying Online vs. At The Store
This may be super obvious, but trying on shoes before you buy them can really help, especially in this online world of just ordering things to your door.
Even if you are buying online, a reputable seller will always allow for returns of items which do not fit, or simply fail to please. Make sure the seller you buy from addresses this, so you don’t feel dissatisfied if returning shoes that you don’t like are not an option.
If you’re at the store, be sure to wait for a shoe that has that “just right” feeling and don’t settle for less. Don’t let anyone make you feel rushed, either!
Take your time, and check out the fit of your new shoe by strolling around the store and asking as many questions as you like until you feel confident these are the shoes for you.
Shoe Shopping At The Optimal Time
Did you know there was such a thing as the wrong time to go shoe shopping?
For some women, of course, there is never a bad time to buy shoes!
But from the perspective of podiatrists (and of course, your feet, which have been screaming at you for years) there most certainly is!
And the morning is not the time to do it!
In fact, it would seem waiting until the afternoon – even as late as four o clock – is the optimal time to hit the shops.
This is because your feet expand and swell as the day goes on.
So if you want to be assured of the best fit possible for your walking boots, shoes, sneakers or sandals, then wait until after noon before you indulge in some retail therapy.
Shoe Care
Additionally, you should pay close attention to the instructions for care on your walking shoes.
An important part of getting the right shoe, is making sure it stays in tip top condition, for as long as you can. Keeping them clean is a big part of maintaining them.
When it comes to shoes, many are not washing machine compatible, which goes back to what we said before about waterproofing. If it’s not totally waterproof, washing them can require careful consideration.
You should also consider how to keep the interiors of your shoes from developing odours. There are many ways to do this, and we discuss them here on this site as well.
Wherever possible, we aim to tell you in our comprehensive reviews about any special cleaning instructions. But you should always check these things, prior to buying!
Also, there is the added hazard of making sure they don’t start smelling when they get wet – which is sadly a thing that can happen to some models if you get them too wet.
Our Selections for the Best Women’s Walking Shoes
Keep reading for more detailed reviews of each shoe!
Skechers Women’s Go Walk 3 Tilt
We’re often asked, “Are Skechers good shoes for walking?” In other words, how easy are these shoes on your tender feet?
The answer is that your feet needn’t worry, and the Go Walk 3 Tilt is one great option for casual walking shoes in the slip-on style that we love.
The Go Walk 3 Tilt remains the most popular choices for ladies walking shoes, which is why we rate this shoe 4.5 stars out of 5, and if you read our full review for these shoes, you can see why (*see link below).
Features:
- Textile
- Imported
- Manmade sole
- FitKnit Mesh fabric upper
- GO Pillars
- Cushioned footbed with GOga Mat® technology
- Resalyte® midsole with SQUISH’ component technology
- GOimpulse sensors
Depending on the size or color, and where you buy the shoe, this one prices between $60-70.
It is generally available in 6 colors and comes in sizes 5-11 B(M) US.
The manufacturer has designed this product for athletic walking, as it has high rebound cushioning, to help power through those miles out on the road.
Skechers Women’s Shape Ups Walking Sneaker
The clue is in the name with this great looking shoe. This is a high quality product with a leather upper made from Nubuck, for absolute comfort.
With the Skechers Women’s Shape Ups, you get the following:
- Leather
- Rubber sole
- Shaft measures approximately 7″ from arch
- Heel measures approximately 1 1/4″
- Platform measures approximately 1″
- Boot opening measures approximately 10″ around
- Two-tone sneaker with breathable leather, and mesh upper
- Padded tongue and collar
This one also gets a very high 4.75 out of 5 star rating from us, and costs between $60-70, and over on Amazon, this shoe is a blockbuster hit!
It comes in black and white only, and the sizes available are 5-10 B(M) US & 5-10 C/D US
This shoe as you can see looks great, is built for comfort and is one that you will want to be seen walking in.
It really has a very classical sport’s style look and appearance, and I think really does help make you look the part. One of our favorites for sure.
Skechers Women’s Go Walk Extend
This is another interesting shoe in the “Go Walk” line. Yet again you need have no fear about its quality, as this also gets a solid 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Features Include:
- Synthetic
- Imported
- Rubber sole
- Lightweight walking shoe in stretch canvas, with convertible fold-down heel featuring Memory Form Fit memory foam in the footbed, heel, and vamp
- Resalyte midsole foam
Now the good news with this model is that it is at the lower end of the price point as $35-60, and as such should be affordable for most. It would not be my own first choice but some ladies just love this style.
They have been made for comfort, and are easy to care for.
They are extremely light weight , available in 8 colors, and cater for sizes 5-11 B(M) US
Reebok Women’s Skyscape Runaround
This is the first Reebok shoe to appear on the list and it’s a good one!
Now personally, I do not like the black color in these, but some of the other colors like the Persian Blue look amazing. There are 16 colors in total to pick from, so plenty of great choices.
We definitely love this shoe, and this about matches the sentiment out there in the marketplace.
The Reebok Skyscape Runaround offers the following features:
- Synthetic
- Imported
- Manmade sole
- Lightweight lace-up sneaker in stretch fabric featuring Memory Tech 365 insole, constructed of a resilient foam compound that is lighter in weight than traditional polyurethane
- Ribbed toe bumper
The sizes available are 5-11 B(M) US with a few half sizes available.
Read our full review of the Reebok Women’s Skyscape Runaround
Skechers Women’s Performance Go Walk 3
This one remains the Skechers best selling shoe, and is a highly popular choice for many ladies all around the US.
With all of the buyer reviews pouring in for a product like this, it has maintained a 4.5 star rating across the board, and it is easy to see why this is a best seller.
Check out the features of the Skechers Women’s Performance Go Walk 3:
- Fabric
- Imported
- Manmade sole
- Heel measures approximately 1″
- Slip-on shoe with lightweight, flexible sole featuring cushioning goga mat insole
Pick from 10 colors and the usual sizes are available.
These shoes are not only light and comfortable, but have been built to last. That is why these remain a great buy, and mainly that is down to their durability.
Read our full review of the Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk 3
Skechers Women’s You Walking Shoe
- MANUFACTURER: SKECHERS
- MODEL NO: 14951
- SIZES: 5-13 (M) (W) (US)
- HALF SIZES: YES
- WEIGHT: 5 OUNCES
- SHIPPING WEIGHT: 12 OUNCES
- COLORS: BLACK, WHITE/ BLACK, BLACK/WHITE, CHARCOAL, TAUPE, NAVY, BURGUNDY
- OUTER MATERIAL: WOVEN MESH FABRIC
- SOLE: RUBBER
- ALSO: GOGA MAX INSOLE, SOFT KNIT UPPERS, BAREFOOT FRIENDLY, AGEON ANTI BACTERIAL
- FIT AS EXPECTED: 77%
- PRICE GUIDE: $23.98-$89.95
- OUR RATING: 4.5 STARS OUT OF FIVE
For the people who like the You Walks, it seems they like them a lot. And fortunately, they are in the majority, with over three quarters of customers scoring them top marks for all round performance!
Before we begin, we should emphasize that although these are some of the best Skechers shoes for walking all day in – and they love feet of all descriptions – they are more designed for general walking.
That is to say that they aren’t specifically intended for hikes, trails or long-distance marches!
However, they are the shoe of choice for everyday and ordinary usage.
Now maybe that isn’t extremely sexy, but once you put your foot into them, you will rapidly change your mind!
It would seem that there is still some slight controversy when it comes to deciding are Skechers actually any good for your feet?
And this is a question we shall attempt to answer!
In general, yes, these make an excellent support for most types of feet.
However, should you be someone with a need for enhanced arch support, then these may not be the shoes for you.
For most people, these will provide ample support, though.
More to the point, the reason why these have won such a devoted following is not only are Skechers You good shoes for walking in, but they are extremely comfortable as well.
If you are someone who wants a minimal feel on your feet, then look no further.
You by Skechers have frequently been described as being a ‘nude’ style. That is to say these are so lightweight, that it is almost like being barefoot.
Many customers prefer to wear these on their own and without socks.
But should you wish to wear socks, these both look and feel great with them. Which is something that is worth knowing in the coming fall and winter months.
Now as you may be imagining, these mesh design do not love the water and are not designed to be worn when it is snowing, or anything like that. So respect them and try and keep them as dry as you can.
Is there any down sides to owning a pair of these You shoes by Skechers?
Honestly, the only whisperings that we have heard is that they are a tad on the narrow side and might be a little difficult to fit some wider feet in.
But then, these do come in two widths, normal and wide – so even then we think that this is a minor concern.
Top all this off with a state of the art Goga Max sole, which lends itself to the most sporty of Skechers shoes and we have a winner on our hands!
Skechers Women’s Go Walk 3 Renew
Now I like to be honest, so I have to say I really do not like the look of this product at all. You can also ignore me as well, because many buyers will disagree with me.
It is hard for me to argue with the response it has received by so many fitness fanatics, but for me these look like slippers, and I would struggle to wear these when out on the road.
Here are some of the features of the Skechers Women’s Go Walk 3 Renew:
- Fabric
- Imported
- Rubber sole
- Slip-on walking shoe with SQUISH technology featuring breathable Skech Knit mesh upper and Goga Mat insole with high-rebound cushioning
- GO Pillars shock-absorbing sole
- Grippy outsole
One reviewer said this:
I love sketchers Go Walks, but these Go Walk 3’s with the goga mat under my feet is heaven.
I have one flat foot (painful) on my right, and heel spurs and plantar fasciitis on my left foot, (UGH) so to find shoes I can actually walk all day in is amazing.
So it just depends on your own preferences. You can get these in 5 different colors, and the normal sizes are available.
Reebok Women’s Skyscape Harmony
Now this pair from Reebok I really do like. I like the style, and these could just as easily be used for people who have to be on their feet all day, as they could for going for a walk in the evening.
Here is a list of features for the Reebok Women’s Skyscape Harmony walking shoes:
- Synthetic
- Rubber sole
- Heel measures approximately 1″
- Fabric upper Slip-on design with cushioned removable MemoryTech insole, EVA foam midsole, Synthetic sole provides traction & durability
The prices vary, but are really low on some of the options.
There are plenty of buyers for this model, and there are 7 distinctive colors available, so hopefully one will suit you. It was interesting to note that a few buyers bought these to wear as slippers around the house.
Skechers Women’s Go Walk Aspire
These remain a consistently high selling model in this range.
These are actually designed to help develop a really good strong walking stride, and that certainly makes them different from many of the others on our list.
Here are some of the features of the Skechers Women’s Go Walk Aspire:
- Fabric
- Imported
- Manmade sole
- Slip-on walking shoe featuring cushioned footbed and pull-on port at counter
- Resalyte midsole to absorb impact
- Pod-treaded outsole
Although limited to just 4 colors, they are good choices of colors, and will suit most outfits.
A consistent 4.5 star rating has been maintained with good strong sales of this model.
These are very soft and very light, and on Amazon right now you can get some really great prices on these.
Reebok Women’s Daily Cushion 2.0 RS
The clue is once again in the name. Reebok are stating that these cushioned shoes are ideal for walking every day, and as such are built to last, but these could easily double as runners.
Many times buying a pair of shoes simply comes down to the style you prefer, and this cushioned pair of Reeboks you’ll either love or hate.
Features include:
- Leather
- Rubber sole
- Beveled heel
- Cushioned footbed
- Leather and textile upper
- Perforations and overlay details
- Mesh lining
The white in this one I love, and the black one I really do not like. In many ways simply changing the appearance makes these look like two different shoes…I found that quite amazing.
The rating is again high at 4.5 overall, and all the usual sizes are available.
Saucony Women’s ProGrid Integrity ST2
This model from Saucony is at number 10 on our list, but has a very similar 4.5 rating, which is comparable with many others on our buying list.
This one is in fact one of the biggest sellers on the market. I own a pair of these, and I just love the look of them.
They are very comfortable and light, and I have been using them on and off for about 2 years. They still show very little sign of wear, so are a durable product.
Features Include:
- Full-grain leather
- Rubber sole
- Non-marking walking shoe with padded tongue and collar and durable XT-900 material in high-wear portions of outsole
- Grid cushioning unit
- Walk-Trac comfort outsole
- Stretch Zone is a comfortable stretch section to ensure ideal fit
- Walk-Trac comfort outsole for cushioning
- Non-marking outsole
Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk Joy Walking Shoe,Taupe,85 M Us |
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Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk 3 Slip-On Walking Shoe, Navy/White, 7 M Us |
Skechers Women’s On-The-Go Joy 15506 Oxford Boot, Black, 75 M Us |
Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk 4 Kindle Slip-On Walking Shoe,Black,10 M Us |
Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk 4 Pursuit Walking Shoe, Black – 8 B(M) Us |
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