6 Best Trail Walking Shoes, 20+ Shoes Tested in 2023

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6 Best Trail Walking Shoes, 20+ Shoes Tested in 2023
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Be ready and let the next adventure on the trails begin with these high-performance trail walking shoes. If you like taking a stroll in the woods like many of us here at RunRepeat, we have exactly the perfect list for you of walking sneakers for the trails. 

From a wide array of known and trusted brands like Adidas’ Terrex Voyager, Vibram’s Furoshiki, or Reebok’s Ridgerider series, just to name a few, these are walking shoes that are designed for the rugged trails and urban pavements, providing superb traction and water-repellent technology.

For all your trail walking footwear needs, we’ve rounded up and tested the best of trail-ready shoes available today in the market. Check out our top recommendations in various categories.

How we test walking shoes

From walking shoes intended for flat feet and plantar fasciitis to waterproof models, we’ve vetted and rated all the shoes for this selection. To identify the best pieces, we took the shoes to the local trails and some rugged paths to check their real-life performance.

The selection process involves:

  • Buying all pairs of walking shoes for the trails using our own funds. This keeps us 100% brutally honest when publishing our in-depth reviews and top rankings of all the sneakers in the database.
  • Evaluating each model’s actual fit, cushioning, water-resistance technology, supportive features, stability, motion control features, surface traction, and durability. We cover at least 10,000 steps for each shoe. We then come up with our final assessments.
  • Scrutinizing all footwear through mechanical tests to assess their overall value and performance.
  • Gathering more useful info and data from feedback given by other shoe experts and reviewing health-conscious community who have tried the shoes.

To conclude our guide, we assign all the trail walking shoes their respective ratings. Go straight to the highlighted CoreScore to find all the best-rated sneakers (from 0 to 100) on the list.

Best trail walking shoes overall

Adidas Terrex Voyager 21
Adidas Terrex Voyager 21

Corescore

90
Great!
4.5 / 5 from 3,676 users
N/A

Pros

  • Good for light trails
  • Reliable for long walks
  • Shocking comfort
  • True-to-size
  • Breathable
  • Has great grip
  • Unbelievably light
  • Stylish and fun colorways
  • Easy to slide on and off
  • Eco-friendly

Cons

  • Mesh is fragile
  • Long laces need tucking in
  • Takes up luggage space

What makes it the best overall?

Adidas Terrex Voyager 21 is a must-have for traveling. Whether going on a vacation in the tropics or off to rugged terrain in the countryside, these reliable travel shoes have it all for your needs. The breathable meshed upper is secured with a bungee lace system, while the Traxion outsole provides grip and support like no other. Bonus: it is partly made of recycled materials!
Read our full review of Adidas Terrex Voyager 21 here

Best trail walking shoes for for standing all day

On Cloud Hi Waterproof
On Cloud Hi Waterproof

Corescore

81
Decent!
4.1 / 5 from 372 users
N/A

Pros

  • Perfect waterproofing
  • Keeps the foot warm
  • Secure lockdown
  • Quick lacing
  • Quality-made
  • Protective
  • Good-looking

Cons

  • Tight and stiff
  • Lacks traction

What makes it the best for for standing all day?

A slick high-top for cooler weather, the On Cloud Hi Waterproof keeps the foot dry and warm. This Swiss-quality shoe is 100% waterproof and can withstand rainy, slushy, and even snowy conditions. It fits snugly but is very supportive with its ankle-high collar.
Read our full review of On Cloud Hi Waterproof here

Best heavy person trail walking shoes

Reebok Ridgerider Leather
Reebok Ridgerider Leather

Corescore

87
Good!
4.4 / 5 from 1,535 users
N/A

Pros

  • Comfortable fit
  • Highly durable
  • Great quality-price ratio
  • Suitable on various surfaces
  • Nice brawny-looking design
  • Easy to clean
  • Excellent gift idea

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Lacks arch support

What makes it the best for heavy people?

The Reebok Ridgerider Leather suits the outdoors, be it for walking around the neighborhood or easy trails in the woods. It features a full-length rubber outsole with prominent lugs that help bite the ground during treks. Meanwhile, the leather upper provides a protective and supportive wrap. Despite calls for better arch support, the Ridgerider Leather has been commended for the comfort it offers during long walks.
Read our full review of Reebok Ridgerider Leather here

Best New Balance trail walking shoes

New Balance 669 v2
New Balance 669 v2

Corescore

86
Good!
4.3 / 5 from 9,533 users
N/A

Pros

  • Comfortable everyday wear
  • Appealing design
  • Easy to put on and take off
  • Good quality-price ratio
  • Ample cushioning

Cons

  • Requires familiarization with lace loops
  • Inadequate undefoot support

What makes it the best New Balance?

Most wearers marveled at the sufficient comfort the New Balance 669 v2 offers when worn on urban pavements and forest trails. Its design appealed to several purchasers too. On the downside, the need to add custom inserts to have more underfoot support has become an issue to some. Despite that, its positive traits coupled with moderate price won the admiration of many.
Read our full review of New Balance 669 v2 here

Best value

Reebok Ridgerider 6
Reebok Ridgerider 6

Corescore

89
Great!
4.4 / 5 from 2,784 users
N/A

Pros

  • Road-to-trail design
  • Cozy in-shoe feel
  • Affordable
  • Great value for money
  • Excellent grip
  • Lightweight
  • Good-looking

Cons

  • Not for slippery surfaces
  • Non-removable insole

What makes it the best value?

The Ridgerider 6 from Reebok is a walking shoe that shines on rugged trails and urban pavements. It is highly praised for its running shoe-like comfort and durability comparable to that of a hiking shoe at a very budget-friendly price. The insole problem can be quickly remedied by adding your own set.
Read our full review of Reebok Ridgerider 6 here
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.