4 Best Cheap Walking Shoes

Laci
Laci on
4 Best Cheap Walking Shoes
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If you’re looking for a comfortable everyday walking shoe at an affordable price tag, we have exactly the right selection of cheap walking shoes for you. From known brands such as Skechers, K-Swiss, and Reebok, many of these pieces on our list range from £30 to £70.

You can get dependable and stylish walking trainers that are great for casual and fitness walks and all-day wear. 

We’ve tested cheap walking shoes so that you don't have to and so that you know in advance how these shoes feel and perform. We discovered that most of these models are reliable and excellent walking footwear for their price. We proved this while testing the shoes on our feet and in the lab. Take a look at our top recommendations.

How we test walking shoes

From leather or suede shoes to mesh and knit materials, all the models in the selection are vetted with care inside our RunRepeat testing lab. We also do a comprehensive performance test of each pair. That means walking at least 10,000 steps in each shoe.

Here are the steps involved:

  • We invest our funds and time to make this guide. We buy all the affordable shoes from different brands for our tests. This ensures the impartiality of our reviews.
  • After walking thousands of steps in each shoe, we sit down and make an assessment of its real-life feel and comfort, support, cushioning, weight, durability, breathability, and more. Moreover, we subject the footwear to the wear and tear of walking and all-day wear. Then we also take note of their actual value and performance.
  • We carry out procedures that weigh and measure the qualities of the shoes. For example, we turn to our durometer to figure out how hard a shoe's midsole and outsole are. This test, along with the others, requires the splitting of the shoes in half to get more correct values.

Best cheap walking shoes overall

Skechers GO WALK 6
91
Superb!

What makes it the best?

They say you can’t put a price on happiness. It turns out, that with Skechers GO WALK 6, you can, and for only £90! Even though this is 4% cheaper than the average walking shoe, GO WALK 6 doesn’t feel second-rate, especially by the way it pampers our feet with overwhelming comfort. 

For an affordable walking shoe, GO WALK 6 surprisingly didn’t cut back on cushioning. As a matter of fact, we measured it to be 35.3 mm in the heel and 22 mm in the forefoot, which both exceeded the averages by 12.8% and 4.8%. This kept the comfort going on beneath our feet even for whole-day trips.

Moreover, strolling using GO WALK 6 is as flawless and as unhindered as it could be. We realized that the root of this is its flexible construction. Our attempt to bend it using our digital force gauge is effortless, as it only resisted with a low force of 12.9N, which is much lower than the average. This made the shoe 28.3% more flexible than most.

When it comes to airflow, this shoe could be better. This manifested in our lab when we discharged smoke inside the shoe and only a small volume came out, deserving a 2/5 breathability score. If excellent ventilation is a must for you, we recommend picking up shoes with permeable uppers.

Pros

  • Pillow-like comfort
  • Cushioned for all-day wear
  • Amazingly lightweight
  • Surprisingly durable upper
  • Snug sock-like fit
  • Easy on and off
  • Super flexible
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Not breathable
  • Outsole lacks durability
Full review of Skechers GO WALK 6

Best cheap lightweight walking shoes

Skechers Summits
91
Superb!

What makes it the best?

For its super lightweight and dainty build, the Skechers Summits sure offers us tons of comfort. We found it to be one of the best slip-ons for the price. Its Memory Foam insole and marshmallowy soft cushioning make the shoe a love from the first step.

Pros

  • Like walking on soft clouds
  • Super lightweight
  • Easy to put on and off
  • Very affordable
  • Highly flexible
  • Surprisingly durable upper
  • Suitable for casual attire

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Exposed foam wears out fast
  • Memory Foam doesn't last long
Full review of Skechers Summits

Cheap walking shoes with the best arch support

What makes it the best?

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 £130, while this pair only costs £100. 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 tons 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 caliper 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.

Pros

  • Amazing support for overpronation
  • Wide and stable platform
  • Tonnes of cushioning
  • Lighter than the Arch Fit 1.0
  • Perfect for all-day wear
  • Padded and cosy interiors
  • True to size and fit

Cons

  • Very poor breathability
  • Lacks durability
Full review of Skechers Arch Fit 2.0

Best cheap sock-like walking shoes

What makes it the best?

The Skechers GOWALK Flex is a slip-on walking shoe with "comfort" written all over it. We established that it's perfect for people who don't have a single second to lose, as it helps our feet withstand everyday adventures. Even though its price point is really low, this pair exceeded our expectations with its lightness and plushness. But to us, the cherry on top is its simple yet beautiful design. Your wardrobe is gonna love it!

Pros

  • Sock-like fit
  • Well-cushioned for all-day wear
  • Incredibly flexible
  • Pretty lightweight
  • Removable insole
  • Bends naturally with your feet
  • Plush, plush and more plush
  • Minimal design
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Not as breathable as expected
  • Slippery on wet surfaces
  • Poor sole durability
  • Not stable
Full review of Skechers GO WALK Flex
Author
Laci
Laci
Laci is a contemporary dancer turned shoe aficionado. She is the most knowledgeable person when it comes to athletic shoes, size conversions and details people nitpick about footwear. She keeps the RunRepeat content gears turning 24/7. And she walks 20miles/week.