What kind of shoes does a spy wear? 🥸 Sneakers, of course! Sorry for the groaner...maybe that joke just didn't have enough traction. Or maybe it was a slipper. 🥿
Seriously, though, shoes are important, and your choice of walking shoes has a huge impact on your whole body’s health and comfort. But how do you know which shoes will take the best care of your little piggies? One recent survey of podiatrists - foot and ankle experts - shed some light on this troublesome toe target, so let's see what they had to say.
Here are Five Fast Facts on the best walking shoes:
- 🚫 What Not To Do - Some common shoe mistakes are buying shoes that are too narrow, shopping in the morning (before your feet swell from use), using one pair of shoes for everything (instead of rotating to let the foam recover), waiting for "breaking in" instead of buying instant comfort, and mistaking mere softness for real foot support. Also, don't hang onto dead shoes too long - they're not vintage wines, you know!
- 🏆 Top Of The List - Brooks is the best overall brand in our survey. Nearly every expert had tried at least one Brooks sneaker, and three of their models have the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance. Apparently, Brooks has become the footwear equivalent of “Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM.”
- 🥈 A Close Second - Hoka is a close second as the brand most worn by our foot pros, praised for being lightweight yet supportive for everyday activity, without feeling like you've got mattresses strapped to your feet.
- 👍 Tried And True - New Balance is an icon of walking shoes. They've been around forever, and are celebrated for durability, stability, wide toe spaces, and "foamy" models that are good for foot health (and foot happiness).
- 💲 Tips To Save - Try buying last year’s model (which is probably almost identical), buy during end-of-season sales, and embrace freaky colors (which are often discounted to move inventory). Being eccentric with your shoe choice is not the same as weird. 😉
🔥Bottom line: So maybe dump those fashion sneakers, or canvasy slip-ons, or whatever trendy thing you just saw on Instagram. Instead, go with something that real foot pros use themselves, and you almost certainly won't regret it. Walking should not feel like punishment, and you just might resolve a bunch of discomfort or alignment issues you didn't even know you had! If you're willing to do a bit of sole searching, we think you'll agree it’s worth it.
What are your favorite walking shoes?
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