The 16 Best Walking Shoes for Women This Summer 2022 — Nike, Allbirds, Saucony, New Balance and More

Browse through ET's top picks of comfy sneakers that were made for walking.

Jul 17, 2022 - 21:04

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The 16 Best Walking Shoes for Women This Summer 2022 — Nike, Allbirds, Saucony, New Balance and More

It's never a bad time to take stock of our health goals. Whether you are trying to stay fit, get healthy or spending more time walking outdoors, having all of the gym equipment and attire you need is important. While some people want an intense workout and others prefer a yoga class, we've gone back to basics with walking.

Walking is one of our favorite — and one of the healthiest — forms of exercise. Plus, it's a fun social activity that will get you outside to enjoy the warm weather with friends this summer.

But that doesn't mean walking is always easy-breezy. We've all been there: the foot pain kicks in — your toes cramp and you have aching pain in the soles of your feet or shooting pains lifting through your arch or heel. That usually means it's time for a new shoe. In fact, these are the biggest signs that you need to replace your workout shoes with a good walking or hiking shoe. So, how do you find the right shoe?

What you are looking for is a shoe that is breathable and comfortable all day long with ample cushioning for your heel and arch support. The best part about walking shoes is that with such great lateral support and cushioning, they can double up for most of your workout needs. So no matter what fitness activity you plan on taking up this summer, check out the best walking shoes for women that also happen to be sleek and stylish, below.

The Best Walking Shoes for Women:

Allbird

This über comfortable shoe from Allbirds is super soft, but provides stiff support if you want to use it as a running shoe.

$135

Zappos

If you've never tried a Hoka, the lightweight shoe is known for extra wide design and extra cushioning, but the Bondi 7 is the most cushioned model with full-length compression-molded EVA midsole. These are designed to be comfortable for hours of use.

$160

Zappos

If you're looking for women's athletic shoes for wet weather, the Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof shoe is great for hiking and walking on rough terrain. It's designed with a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry.

$135$95

Nordstrom

This versatile athletic shoe can be used for a long run, walk or strenuous 12-hour shift on your feet thanks to Nike's foam cushion.

$120$73

Zappos

For the best comfortable walking shoe, you really can't go wrong with a Ryka. This lightweight shoe uses the Anatomical Precise-Return™ insole for heel and arch support and the active foam adds additional shock and impact absorption.

$100$71

Zappos

Brooks has released a walking version of Addiction, one of its most beloved running styles. Not only does Brooks Addiction Walker footwear have a round toe with a bumper, a padded tongue and collar, but it has good arch support. Additionally, the outsole is totally slip-resistant -- just in case your walk gets vigorous, fast.

$140

REI

If you need more stability when walking or hiking downhill, these Salomon X Ultra Hiking Shoes were built for just that.

$150$112

Amazon

Skechers is a go-to brand for a breathable, cushioned walking shoe. Just slip these on and get to walking.

$30 AND UP

Amazon

The Ryka Devotion 2 is a walking-style sneaker with pillow-soft cushioning and firm heel support that provide the utmost in comfort. These affordable athletic shoes include memory foam, a rubber outsole and shock absorption, and they come in myriad colors to match your workout gear and personality.

$65 AND UP

Athleta

The Athleta Saysh One Sneaker has the comfort and support to become your everyday walking shoe, but can also handle some low-impact workouts.

$150

Zappos

As its name implies, the Asics GEL-Nimbus 23 walking shoe has gel cushioning in the midsole and built-in shock absorption, which make your steps feel soft and steady. This comfortable women's shoe also features breathable mesh, lace-up closure and a padded tongue -- all of that will come in handy if you’re hiking in the woods or walking on uneven pavement.

$150$110

Amazon

This walking sneaker doubles as a trail running shoe. This New Balance women trail shoe features a rounded toe box and rubber sole for traction and foam inserts for comfort.

$50 AND UP

Zappos

People love the comfort of Ryka walking shoes, but if you like to walk on rough terrain, you might want to consider the Sky Walk Trail from Ryka. They have a memory-foam insole to help provide arch support through the stride along with a molded EVA midsole for stability and a durable outsole for reliable traction and shock absorption.

$85

Amazon

These shoes offer three-zone comfort that will help relieve high arches, bunions, lower back pain and prevent plantar fasciitis.

$68 AND UP

Zappos

If you're looking for tennis shoes made for a wide foot, these are stability shoes have enough cushion to avoid foot pain like plantar fasciitis.

$130$89

Zappos

If you're looking for a walking boot to get you through summer hikes, let us introduce you to the Teva Ember Commute Waterproof. This shoe provides all the comfort of a walking sneaker but it's crafted with leather and suede and has a rugged lug pattern for excellent traction in unpredictable terrain. These are also waterproof shoes thanks to the bootie membrane that keeps out all things wet.

$140$90