Best black shoes for walking all day

You don't have to be a marathon runner to be fit — walking is actually one of the healthiest forms of exercise. But before heading out the door, you want to be armed with the best walking shoes you can buy. To start, look for a comfortable shoe that supports your arches and cushions your heel — and it doesn't hurt if it actually looks cute!

With so many factors to consider, the pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute partnered with medical experts to put popular shoes to the test, evaluating over 1,000 data points collected over 200 hours of walking. We teamed up with Jordan Metzl, M.D., a sports medicine physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Emily Splichal, D.P.M., a podiatrist at the Center for Functional & Regenerative Podiatric Medicine in New York City, to find the shoes that are comfy to wear and healthy for your feet.

Our top picks:

• Best Overall Walking Shoes

  FuelCore Nergize v1 Training Shoe New Balance Read More

• Best All Day Standing Walking Shoes

  Energize Sneaker Ryka Read More

• Best Slip On Walking Shoes

  Infinity Glide Sneakers Avre Read More

• Best Walking Shoes for Foot Pain

  Ghost 14 Brooks Read More

• Best Walking Shoes for Wide Feet

  Stretchable Plantar Fasciitis Sneakers Orthofeet Read More

• Best Walking Shoes for Travel

  Tree Runners Allbirds Read More

• Best Cushioned Walking Shoes for Women

  Bondi 8 Hoka Read More

Whether you’re walking long distances for exercise, travel or work or just running errands, you’ll need the right pair of shoes to keep you on your feet all day pain-free — read more about our picks for the best walking shoes you can buy, plus everything you need to know to shop for the right fit — at the end of this guide. Looking for more shoe recommendations? Check out our guides to the best running shoes and the best walking sandals for your money.

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Best Overall Walking Shoes

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Best All Day Standing Walking Shoes

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Best Slip On Walking Shoes

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Best Walking Shoes for Foot Pain

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Best Walking Shoes for Wide Feet

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Best Walking Shoes for Travel

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Best Cushioned Walking Shoes for Women

How to buy the best walking shoes

When trying on walking shoes, here are the best steps to take to ensure you find a winning pair:

✔️Pick them up before trying them on. Avoid super heavy styles that’ll keep you bogged down. One exception: If you have flat feet and need more support, a heavier style might be preferred to offer sufficient control.

✔️Give the shoe a twist. Dr. Splichal says to twist the sneaker as if you're wringing out a towel. Our experts recommend styles with more twistability (i.e. less control) if you can handle it: It helps you develop stronger muscles from your feet to your glutes.

✔️Try on as many styles as possible. There’s no one-size-fits-all shoe. Each brand — and even each style — will vary in sizing and fit, which can have a big impact on your foot.

✔️Find the right fit. Wiggle your toes to make sure the shoes are not too tight and walk a few laps around the store so you can avoid shoes that pinch or squeeze your feet. If you have any existing foot pain, Dr. Metzl suggests going with the pair that "makes the pain go away when you’re walking around the store," as that's a good indicator you've found a winning shoe.

✔️Choose comfort over everything. Dr. Metzl stresses that comfort is key. Regardless of the product claims, you should be "as objective as you can for support and comfort." And trust your instincts — your feet will know which shoe is right. If your toes feel cramped or your heels are rubbing while you're testing the shoes, ditch them: It'll only get worse the more you walk in them.

What to look for when shopping for walking shoes:

Sneaker terminology can be extremely confusing, so it's tough to know what actually matters when shopping. Some of these keywords may be extremely important to some shoppers and not to others. GH fitness pros explain all of the main walking shoe terms, so you know what to look for before purchasing.

✔️Heel drop refers to the difference in height of the midsole at your heel and at the ball of your feet. Most walking shoes tend to have a lower heel drop (around 4-8mm) that's more similar to being barefoot while running shoes have a larger difference (10mm+). It comes down to personal preference, so check out your current pair of shoes and measure the heel drop to see what you like or dislike.

✔️Pronation is when your ankle leans inward and supination is when your ankle leans outward. Ideally, your ankles would have neutral alignment, but many people are pronators or supinators. Some styles are designed specifically for each type of ankle alignment while many are for neutral.

✔️Rocker style shoes feature a thicker sole with a rounded heel compared to a traditional sneaker. They're available as either a rocker sole (sole curves up to the toes) or a heel-to-toe rocker (sole curves up to the toes and also back to the heels). These styles are beneficial to some, but can take time to get used to and aren't suggested for older adults. As with all shoes, discuss best options with your physician.

✔️Surface types may be listed for the shoes, which refers to where the shoes can be worn: road, track, treadmill, trail etc. This is most important for trail shoes to ensure that the outsole has proper traction to keep you safe.

✔️Cushioning can vary immensely for different walking shoe styles. Thick cushioning can help absorb impact to help protect your feet and joints. How much cushioning is best is heavily debated among walkers and runners. Generally, very cushioned walking shoes are best for those with specific injuries who need more support and extreme long-distance walkers.

How we test walking shoes

In recent evaluations, we've tested over 50 different styles of walking shoes, leading to over 1,200 data points collected. We sent shoes to consumer testers with a range of shoe sizes and foot shapes as well as evaluating each pair in Lab. Testers walked for at least two hours before giving feedback. In the end, testers walked over 300 hours total while evaluating walking sneakers.

Here is an example of a sneaker sawed in half before being reviewed by podiatrists and other footwear experts to analyze the efficacy and longevity of the materials.

Can you wearing running shoes walking?

Generally, yes.

The same shoes you love to wear running can also be worn on a walk. Walking and running shoes can include different design features, but some styles are designed for both activities. Therefore, it's most important that the shoe is comfortable and supportive on your foot when walking for exercise. Running shoes tend to have more control to brace for impact on the sole, while walking shoes have a bit more flex and bend. Many walking sneakers have added foam, which is especially important for people who are heavier and put more weight on the shoe because it’ll return some of the force back to your body. Dr. Splichal recommends only running in running sneakers, especially ones with more cushioning for long-distance running.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has been a leading expert on footwear for years. Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst. She’s been at Good Housekeeping for over three years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for a variety of fitness products including the above walking shoes, running shoes, hiking shoes, yoga mats, workout leggings, sports bras and more. With a degree in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience, particularly focused on athletic wear.

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