7 Best Cheap Walking Shoes in 2025

The ASICS Gel Pulse 15 packs a lot into its light build and low price. Priced only at £100, lab results confirm it offers premium comfort and stability at a 16.0% discount vs. the average, making it our best cheap walking shoe.

The Gel Pulse 15’s airy construction helps minimise fatigue, especially during long hours of wear. Our scales show it’s only 8.4 oz (237g), 10.6% lighter than the standard. Its pliable build also contributes to the effortless ride, with a near-average flexibility score in our bend test.

We measured its stack height at 35.3/27.2 mm, protecting our feet from repeated impact. The forefoot feels plush, and our shock absorption test backs up this sensation with a high 106 SA score.

Ideal for mindless and easy strolls, the Gel Pulse 15 has a wide base that enhances our stability. Using our calliper, we verified its massive platform at 118.8/97.9 mm, leaving no room for missteps.

Its breathability is a middle-of-the-road 3/5. Those who prefer uppers with a premium touch and strong airflow should search for other options.

After our extensive on-foot travel and in-lab trials, we concluded that the Skechers Summits was the best lightweight pick for the budget-conscious out there. While the £70 price tag (much lower than the £90 average) is truly enticing, its lightness and comfort truly make it even more exceptional.

We could carry the Summits on our feet for sustained periods without breaking a sweat thanks to its feathery light construction. It registered an amazing 6.95 oz (197g) weight on our digital scale, making it 23% lighter than most.

Summits also felt so wonderful even when we walked for miles in it. Using our HA durometer, we measured the firmness of the midsole, and it displayed a 21.1. This number made the Skechers Summits 16.3% softer than the standard. This level of softness helped in keeping pain at bay.

During our thorough evaluations, we learned that Summits was not the most resistant to serious wear; its outsole quickly showed signs of being beaten up. We verified this through our durability test, in which we used our Dremel tool to introduce abrasion to the outsole. It left a 2.5 mm pit, which is 56.3% deeper than average.

After conducting lab and wear tests, Arch Fit 2.0 is our top cheap walking shoe with the best arch support. The average walking shoe in our database is £120, while this pair only costs £90. For such an affordable price, it offers high value through its stable and comfortable platform. It’s even ideal for those with overpronation and lower-leg issues.

Rising to a 39.2/24.0 mm stack, there's tonnes of cushioning for repetitive landing and arch support. AF2 delivers premium comfort and impact protection, with a 15.2 mm drop that saves our ankles and Achilles from strain.

Despite its monstrous foam, the ride feels extremely stable due to the firm and vast platform. Our calliper shows a wide 114.5/90.0 mm space to securely find our footing. Upon landing, we don’t experience any ankle rolls because the foam doesn’t compress easily — perfect for those who need heavy support. Our durometer confirms it’s a balanced 30.4 HA, 21.1% harder than average. 

Establishing its stability further is the rigid platform, which our bend test shows is 18.6% more resilient than average. To balance this, AF2 makes use of flex grooves so that it bends in the right places.

While this pair aced our stability tests, it failed our Dremel tests and scored lower than average. We recommend exploring other pairs if durability is a priority.

For only £70, we enjoyed the no-frills nature of the Nike Promina, offering a Motiva-like experience at a discount. It features a gentle rocker that feels smooth and effortless, paired with a flexible forefoot and a breathable upper that makes the whole experience enjoyable. Among cheap walking shoes, it stands out with the best rocker.

Every time we land on our heels, we’re transitioned easily to our forefoot care of the Promina’s grooved rocker. It’s less aggressive than the Motiva and feels more natural on foot.

Speaking of natural, its forefoot bends easily with our foot flexions. In our bend test, it only needed 13.2N to reach 30 degrees, boosting its comfort for daily wear.

The upper wraps our feet without foregoing airflow, soothing our toes with the breeze. In our smoke test, the air steadily flowed out, so we rated it a high 4/5 breathability score.

While Promina is light in the pocket, it’s heavy on the feet. Due to its thick platform, it weighs 10.8 oz (306g), 6.3% above average.

The Reebok Walk Ultra 7 DMX MAX offers a one-of-a-kind experience through its air-moving cushioning, allowing us to walk long hours with our feet feeling happy and secure. It’s made of durable leather, proven by our lab tests, and has a sturdy foothold stabilising the ride. For its £80 price point, it’s 32.3% below average and is our best cheap walking leather shoe.

Our feet were encased by a robust leather that barely got damaged in our Dremel test, receiving a high 4/5 toebox durability score. The leather adds stiffness to the shoe’s construction, which helps in keeping our feet centred. It took much effort to twist the shoe with our hands, so we rated it with the highest 5/5 torsional rigidity score.

To offset all the rigidity, we’re welcomed with a highly cushioned platform underneath. The stack is one of the tallest we’ve ever measured among walking shoes at 41.1/30.3 mm. It features the DMX MAX cushioning, which has two large air pockets in the midsole. These chambers soften impact and boost comfort.

This pair features an unusually rounded platform that may feel wobbly for long hours of standing. We recommend those with mobility issues to find a more stable shoe.

For only £90, the ASICS Gel Excite offers a good mix of stability and adaptability, supported by a high-quality outsole. In the lab, we discovered its impressive wear resistance despite being priced 28.6% below average. Therefore, it’s our best durable, cheap walking shoe.

Gel Excite 10 proves it can handle the occasional off-road paths because of its strong bite and durability. In our Dremel test, we managed to shave only 0.8 mm, 20.0% less rubber compared to the average. Meanwhile, in our traction test, it scored a solid 0.67, showing it’s 45.7% grippier than its pricier counterparts!

What also maintains our stable footing is the massive midsole that enhances our surefootedness. Our calliper confirms it is indeed wide at 120.5/91.1 mm.

Gel Excite 10 felt pleasant on our strolls, promoting natural strides through its fluid midsole. In our bend test, it emerged 32.0% more flexible than average, making it comfortable for long hours of wear and versatile for gym workouts.

It incorporated lots of good qualities in its design, but left out responsiveness. Those seeking a pep in each step won’t find that kind of excitement here. 

While the average walking shoe costs £120, we got the Adidas Ultrarun 5 for only £80! At such a steal price, lab results show it offers a generous room at the balls of our feet and is set up for cruising walks with its high drop and minimal rocker. Among cheap walking shoes, it’s best for wide feet.

Using our solidified gel mould, we measured the widest part to confirm the roominess we experienced. True enough, our calliper recorded 97.6 mm, 2.3 mm wider than average.

The cushion felt well-balanced, with a moderate stack height of 34.3/24.8 mm. With a resulting drop of 9.5 mm, its set-up is ideal for walking since we land with our heels first.

We discovered Ultrarun 5 features a low rocker, with its subtle forward-rolling ride making it ideal for relaxed strolls.

However, we were disappointed to find its heavy 10.4 oz (295g) figure on the scale. With its moderate stack, we expected less weight to drag around during our walks.