7 Best Cheap Walking Shoes in 2025

The New Balance Fresh Foam 680 v8 packs a lot into its light build and low price. At only at £80, lab results confirm it offers premium comfort and flexibility at a 32.8% discount vs. the average, making it our best cheap walking shoe.

The Fresh Foam 680 v8’s airy construction helps minimise fatigue, especially during long hours of wear. Our scales show it’s only 9.2 oz (261g), which is impressively light for a cushioned shoe.

Its pliable build also contributes to the effortless ride, emerging 41.2% more flexible than average in our bend test. Its combination of lightness and free movement makes it ideal for mindless and easy strolls.

With a calliper in hand, we measured its stack height at 35.4/27.6 mm, shielding our feet from repeated impact. The Fresh Foam feels plush and protective, validated by shock absorption scores of 124 SA in the heel and 103 SA in the forefoot.

A quick safety note: there are no reflective details on the shoe, so reflective apparel is advised for early-morning or evening walks.

Our feet and wallet were happy with the Nike Interact Run. Its high level of flexibility and breathability make it suitable for all-day wear, offering the best lightweight experience among cheap walking shoes. At just £90, it delivers exceptional value with the versatility it showed in our lab—a notable bargain compared to the £120 average walking shoe we tested.

Its malleable midsole creates an effortless ride, which emerged 17.6% more flexible than average in our bend test. This adaptability boosts comfort since we can move without much resistance from the shoe—perfect for strolls, runs, and other activities. 

Minimal weight at a minimal price, the Interact Run is only 8.5 oz (241g), 8.7% lighter than average.

Moreover, its soothing aura can also be attributed to its plush and breathable Flyknit upper, creating a sense of calm and coolness within the shoe. Our smoke test backs this up with the maximum 5/5 breathability rating. Surprisingly, it also achieved the maximum score in terms of durability, which is rare for shoes at this price point and even in general!

Unfortunately, the outsole cannot withstand wear and tear for a long time. It surrendered easily in our Dremel test, so it’s not the most ideal daily beater.

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.

The ASICS Versablast 4 offers a smooth and steady ride through its reliable impact protection and flexible yet stable platform. It’s pure bliss underfoot, and our lab tests reveal that at just £80, it offers the best shock absorption in the cheap walking shoes category.

We measured the stack with our calliper and confirmed it exceeds the average, notably its 36.1 mm heel. Even heavier users will never run out of cushioning with this pair. Testing for shock absorption, it performed impressively with 127 SA in the heel, which is incredibly protective for its price.

Comfort is further enhanced for long hours of wear through the pliable midsole. In our bend test, it emerged 3.9% more flexible than average, making it ideal for relaxed strolls.

Despite the cushioned midsole, we never had any missteps because of the wide platform and the central guidance channel that enhances stability. Measuring 116.9/95.0 mm, it’s indeed broad and hard to lose our balance.

This shoe’s extra layers of comfort and protection come at the expense of a heavier weight. At 10.2 oz (288g), it’s 9.1% bulkier than its counterparts. Those who prefer lighter shoes should look elsewhere.

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.