7 Best Lightweight Walking Shoes For Women, 80+ Shoes Tested in 2023
If you prefer well-cushioned and lightweight walking sneakers, we’ve exactly just the perfect selection for your needs. From popular brands like Skechers, On, OluKai, and Vibram, among others, we’ve rounded up the best of women’s lightweight walking shoes out there.
For those who look for heavenly underfoot cushioning and comfort, the Skechers Max Cushioning Elite - Destination Point is definitely for you. If you’re a fan of the stylish On label, the great-looking On Cloud Nexus won’t disappoint when it comes to long walks and traveling.
With tons of really great choices in this category, we’ve thoroughly tested and ranked all the best lightweight walking sneakers for women available today. Use our user-friendly filtering system to narrow down your top choices. Also, check out our favorite picks below.
Table of contents How we test walking shoesBest overallBest for standing all dayBest SkechersBest plantar fasciitisBest flat feetBest valueMost popularComparison
Overview
How we test walking shoes
From a wide array of brands, we’ve vetted with care each and every pair of sneakers inside our RunRepeat testing lab. After taking notes of their material quality, motion control features, and other commercial features, we lace up the shoes for actual long walks covering at least 10,000 steps in a variety of surfaces.
Our process specifically includes:
- Procuring all the lightweight walking kicks for women using our own money. This makes sure our comprehensive reviews and top rankings are free from any brand influence or bias.
- After putting in the mileage, we assess the footwear’s fit, break-in period, cushioning, orthotic friendliness, arch support, insole, durability, versatility, and many more.
- Subjecting the shoes to the wear and tear of traveling, running errands, or walking long hours in the street. We then submit our final evaluation.
- Taking into consideration the feedback given by other shoe specialists and regular consumers who have tried wearing the shoes.
To conclude this guide, we give all the women’s lightweight walking shoes their overall rankings. Refer to our proprietary CoreScore system to see the respective rankings (0-100) of the shoes.
Best women's lightweight walking shoes overall
CoreScore
- Top 6% in walking shoes
- Top 6% in cushioned walking shoes
- Top 3% most popular walking shoes
Pros
- Extra comfortable interiors
- Equally cozy in 40 and 85ºF
- Can be worn without socks
- Lightweight and packable
- Flexible sole
- Removable insoles
- Easy to style
- Machine washable
- Sustainable design
Cons
- No half sizes
- Lacks arch support
Verdict
Despite its simple looks, the Allbirds Tree Runner is very likely to entice you into buying multiple pairs. The merino wool goodness blended with a lightweight, flexible, and foot-hugging design made the shoe a love at first try for thousands of people. Take it on your next trip or wear it around the office, the Tree Runner is going to feel equally at home.
Best lightweight for standing all day walking shoes for women
Skechers Max Cushioning Elite - Destination Point
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$69
Zappos
Running Warehouse
REI
CoreScore
- Top 13% in walking shoes
- Top 19% in Skechers walking shoes
- Top 21% most popular walking shoes
Pros
- Mind-blowing cushioning
- Can be used for jogging
- Helps to ease foot pain
- Needs no break-in
- Accommodating toebox
- Breathable
- Surprisingly lightweight
- Machine-washable
- Good-looking
- Vegan
Cons
- Lacks colorways
- Tongue could be more padded
Verdict
For those who want to get as much cushioning out of a Skechers shoe as possible, the Max Cushioning Elite - Destination Point is the way to go. It offers wearers heavenly underfoot comfort with its 2-inch heel thickness. A relief to many tired feet, the shoe also grabs attention with its visual aesthetic.
Best lightweight Skechers walking shoes for women
Skechers GOwalk Arch Fit - Iconic
Amazon
Free shipping
$60
Designer Shoe Warehouse
Free shipping
$65
Shoebacca
Free shipping & returns
$80
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$85
CoreScore
- Top 28% in walking shoes for plantar fasciitis
- Top 30% in shoes for walking on concrete
- Top 23% most popular walking shoes
Pros
- Podiatrist-approved arch support
- All-day comfort
- Memory Foam padding
- Easy on-and-off
- Sock-like fit
- Comfortable from the box
- Breathable
- Machine washable
- Removable insole
- Affordable
Cons
- Heel sliding
- Heavier than expected
Verdict
The GOwalk Arch Fit - Iconic offers the same versatile, casual style and time-tested pleasurable experience the brand is known for. It is a walking shoe that covers all the essentials when it comes to intense days at work, recovery periods, or long-distance walks.
Best lightweight plantar fasciitis walking shoes for women
CoreScore
- Top 30% most popular walking shoes
Pros
- Comfortable
- Handy slip-on design
- Value for money
- Breathes well and light
- Stylish
- Supportive
Cons
- Inadequate color options
- Limited cinching
Verdict
The Dailyfit DMX from Reebok may speak to you if you love the look of sneakers and after the comfort and support of dedicated walking shoes. This pair has got you covered while you run around all day doing errands or working. Plus, you can cop it at a wallet-friendly price.
Best lightweight flat feet walking shoes for women
Ryka Devotion Plus 3
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$51
Shoebacca
Free shipping & returns
$60
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$74
Designer Shoe Warehouse
Free shipping
$90
CoreScore
- Top 9% most popular walking shoes
Pros
- Long-lasting comfort
- Relieves foot discomfort
- Excellent cushioning and support
- Glove-like fit
- Stylish
- Lightweight
Cons
- Tricky lacing system
Verdict
Money well spent is what many in the consuming public say about the Ryka Devotion Plus 3, thanks to its long-standing support, lightweight nature, and aesthetic design. While there might be a handful of concerns about this Ryka pair, the number of issues that wearers might notice about it is but a drop in the sea of benefits.
Best value
On Cloud 5
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$140
On Running
Free shipping
$140
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$140
REI
Free shipping
$140
CoreScore
- Top 2% most popular walking shoes
Pros
- Perfect for all-day wear
- Unbelievably lightweight
- Can do low-impact workouts
- Amazing in-shoe feel
- Very breathable
- Super easy on-off
- Great flexibility
- Regular laces are added
- Sustainable materials (44%)
Cons
- Lacks durability
- Outsole catches pebbles
Verdict
Numerous owners of the Cloud 5 commented that, thanks to this shoe, they finally understood the hype around this high-class footwear. It is a quality lifestyle shoe that shines as a daily driver and as an athleisure option. If you are someone living on the go, you will be delighted with its weightless construction and the ease of on-and-off. This shoe just disappears on the foot.
Most popular lightweight walking shoes for women
CoreScore
- Top 30% in walking shoes
- Top 25% in On walking shoes
- Top 1% most popular walking shoes
Pros
- Perfect for all-day wear
- Great travel shoe
- Attractive design
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Fits well straight from the box
- High quality
- Weighs below average
- 10% recycled materials
Cons
- Pricey
- Sole catches debris
- Mid-cut is not for everyone
Verdict
On Cloudnova is part of the brand’s athletic lifestyle series which packs all the right things from their running shoes to make a go-to daily beater. The Cloudnova exceeded the expectations of first-time purchasers. It has become many people’s favorite for its comfort and exclusive visual appeal.
