7 Best Running Shoes For Walking in 2024

The Adidas Ultraboost Light provides the ultimate overall walking experience from a running shoe. That’s because of its cloud-like comfort and cushioning, sock-like fit, and terrific durability, which set it apart from other running shoes when it comes to walking.

As great as the Ultraboost Light's boost midsole is for running, it might be even better for walking. With a softness of 15.5 HA, which is 36.7% softer than the average road running shoe, the Ultraboost Light delivered serious comfort during our casual strolls, not to mention a good amount of responsiveness. Moreover, the midsole is sufficiently cushioned in the heel. We measured its heel stack height at 30.1 mm, and it kept our feet well-protected with each step.

Meanwhile, the sock-like upper held our feet perfectly in place for the duration of our walks. And that upper can also withstand the wear and tear from miles of walking. It did brilliantly in our toebox and heel padding durability tests, scoring 4 and 5 out of 5, respectively, with 5 being the most durable.

However, the Ultraboost Light's traction is suspect on wet surfaces. We found the grip to be lacking on a damp patch of cobblestone, so be cautious while walking on wet spots.

Slipping our feet in the Ghost 15 has a similar homey feeling to tucking ourselves under a blanket and lying on our soft pillow and bed. It’s all about exceptional comfort, freedom of movement and a protective outsole — making it our most comfortable walking-running pair.

Our durometer confirms its velvety touch, measuring 33.5% softer than average. Its heel measures 36.3 mm, 2.9 mm higher than average. This makes it more suitable for walking since most naturally land heel-first. Its forefoot falls slightly below average, resulting in a heel-to-toe drop of 13.2 mm (vs. the 8.8 mm average). The top of our foot is hugged by a tongue that’s 96.6% thicker than average.

Our movements feel natural with the unopposing midsole. Our flex test shows it's 40.3% more flexible than average, explaining why it’s easy for us to move. This makes us feel more relaxed when taking our strolls.

Its outsole feels tough, looking new even after our test walks. Our durometer confirms the 84.4 HC rubber is harder — and therefore more durable — than the 80.0 HC average.

Its focus on padding tipped the scales. At 9.8 oz (279g), it’s heavier than the 9.5 oz (268g) average.

In our quest for the ultimate cushioned walking-running shoes, we rigorously tested various contenders, both in and out of the lab, until we discovered ASICS Gel Nimbus 26. This shoe epitomizes maximalism in every aspect, enveloping our feet with luxurious padding from all angles.

The plushness of the upper material is unparalleled, offering a level of comfort that surpasses anything we've experienced before. Testing this feature was a delight, as the premium material proved to be both stretchy and airy. Our breathability tests confirm its exceptional ventilation, earning a commendable 4/5 rating. Furthermore, it elevates comfort to new heights with its exceptionally soft heel padding.

Even with the visual bulk, we’re blown away by the amount of foam it has. Our measurements with the caliper unveiled a towering stack height of 40.4 mm, boldly surpassing race limits. On top of this, the heel includes the PureGEL technology to facilitate gentler landings. Forefoot strikers also won’t have much ground feel with its above-average 32.0 mm stack. Our durometer readings reaffirm its commitment to comfort, registering a softness level of 18.5 HA.

What we noticed is that the shoe lacks the natural feel some athletes are looking for. While our bend test shows an average 30.2N flexibility for running, it’s quite stiff compared to the average for walking (19.2N).

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 is our clear top pick for the best stability shoe for walking. It has an impressive level of cushioning, comfort, and breathability, which other stability shoes just can't compete with.

Rock-solid stability is the Adrenaline GTS 23’s big claim to fame, and with good reason. Its guide rails on both sides of the shoe did a fantastic job of helping prevent our feet from making excess movements. And the wide landing platform provided additional stability and gives us more confidence on each step. We measured the forefoot midsole's forefoot and heel width to be 4.5 mm and 7 mm wider than average.

The Adrenaline GTS 23 shoe doesn't sacrifice stability for comfort, though. We felt the shoe had a good blend of softness and stability during extended walks. And our durometer confirmed the midsole foam was indeed nicely balanced with a softness of 19.5 HA, which is 20% softer than the average running shoe. 

But perhaps the Adrenaline GTS 23’s standout feature is its exceptional breathability. We gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 in our breathability test as the smoke we pumped in almost instantly escaped through the large ventilation holes in the upper. And our feet were kept capably cool on our walks thanks to that breathable upper.

Unfortunately, that upper lacks durability, particularly in the toebox. The mesh material was significantly damaged we put a Dremel to it, which is why it scored a lowly 1 out of 5. So for those looking for a walking shoe that has more durability, look elsewhere.

Among all the daily trainers out there, the Hoka Clifton 9 is clearly the best choice for walking. That’s because of its light weight, soft and energetic midsole cushioning, and great fit, which other daily trainers just can’t compete with.

The Clifton 9 is among the lighter daily trainers around at just 8.78 oz (249g). That's a good 1.3 oz (38g) lighter than the average daily trainer, and it sure felt that way as we hardly had to exert much effort lifting our feet while walking.

And the overall walking experience is made all the more enjoyable by its fantastic midsole foam. Not only is it 16.7% softer than the average road running shoe, but it is also more responsive. There is also a good amount of cushioning, especially in the forefoot, which has 2.4 mm more stack height.

The fit of the upper is excellent, with the semi-gusseted tongue providing a secure lockdown. The tongue, which we measured to be 0.8 mm thicker, and the heel collar are also generously padded and add to the comfortably snug fit.

But the Clifton 9 is not quite wide-foot friendly as its toebox width at the widest part and at the big toe are 2.1 mm and 1.8 mm narrower than average, respectively. However, Hoka does offer a wider option of the shoe.

The Nike React Pegasus Trail 4 is the perfect trail shoe to use for walking thanks to its impressive lightness, outstanding comfort, and great grip for both roads and trails. 

The Pegasus Trail 4 is feather-light on feet. It weighs just 9.59 oz (272g), which is 0.8 oz (23g) lighter than the typical trail shoe. That significantly reduced weight makes it significantly easier to pick up our feet on our trail walks.

Meanwhile, the cushioned and responsive React midsole makes it a real treat to walk on, not only on trails but also on roads. There is 12% more stack height in the heel, while the midsole, which is 24% firmer than average, has the right amount of responsiveness on hard surfaces.

We also found the grip to be great for a road-to-trail shoe. Its updated tread pattern, which features three different types of lugs, works especially well while walking on hard-packed and gravely trails.

However, the Pegasus Trail 4 lacks the traction for the most challenging terrain. With its average 3.4 mm lugs, we do not recommend this shoe for walking on soggy or muddy trails.

After intensive testing in and out of the lab, we found the Winflo 10 from Nike to be the ideal budget shoe for both walking and running, with a $100 price tag vs. the $136 average. What a steal for all that it offers: full-length Air cushioning, a flexible midsole, and a durable outsole.

Underfoot is a plush and gentle sensation throughout. We weren’t surprised when our durometer revealed it was 31.5% softer than average. It effectively protected us from landing impact, babying our legs for long days on foot. Moreover, its versatile design allows for seamless transitions between walking, running, and even cross-training, owing to its malleable construction. Its minimal resistance encourages our natural movement, a fact supported by our bend test, which showed it to be 25.2% more flexible than the average.

The outsole withstood countless miles with barely any scratches. Our lab results indicate a durable outsole boasting harder and thicker rubber than average, measuring 87.4 HC and 4.3 mm, respectively. 

However, with its focus on comfort, it lacks the energy and explosiveness that more advanced runners want.