Courtesy of Retailer
WALKING IS a great way to step into a steady exercise regimen. By now, you probably know that 10,000 steps per day has become the widely accepted daily target, but that’s not necessarily true. One small study from the University of Texas found that when active people took 5,000 or fewer steps in a day, they were less able to metabolize fat in an artery-healthy way the next day. But if you’re going to be ramping up your activity, you’re going to need some supportive, comfortable shoes. And that starts with following a few guidelines to ensure your shoes are the perfect fit.
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“Most important is making sure that your feet are properly measured not only in length but in width,” says Mark J. Mendeszoon, DPM, FACFAS, podiatrist at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties in Ohio. “Shoes should be purchased at a local running store or shoe store that has the personnel and expertise to properly fit you. Not every shoe will fit the same, as there could be minor defects/changes that can affect the way the shoes work on your feet. And as there are several categories of shoes, it’s important that you are evaluated by the professionals.”
Best for Neutral Gaits
Ride 15
Saucony
Read More
Best Lightweight Shoe
Fresh Foam X 1080v12
New Balance
Read More
Once you find the right pair, keep in mind that you should replace them after you’ve racked up miles.”It is important to realize that shoes are generally good for 500 to 600 miles,” says Dr. Mendeszoon. “Please do not use your walking shoes for every day activities as that can break down the shoes at a quicker rate and that’s cause more problems as you continue to exercise.”
Read more: Best Compression Socks
Ready to get stepping? Here are 22 of the best walking shoes.
Best for Neutral Gaits
Saucony
Ride 15
Weight
9 ounces
Closure
Lace-up
Material
Rubber outsole, textile upper and footbed
Cushioning Type
PWRRUN cushioning
Best Lightweight Shoe
New Balance
Fresh Foam X 1080v12
Weight
10 ounces
Closure
Lace-up
Material
Synthetic sole, mesh upper
Cushioning Type
Fresh Foam midsole cushioning
Weight
10.1 ounces
Closure
Lace-up
Material
Rubber sole
Cushioning Type
DNA LOFT cushioning
Best for Low Arches
Hoka
Arahi 6
Weight
9.30 ounces
Closure
Lace-up
Material
Rubber outsole, mesh upper
Cushioning Type
EVA J-Frame™
Most Cushioned
AT
GEL-NIMBUS 24
Weight
10.2
Closure
Lace-up
Material
Synthetic and mesh
Cushioning Type
FF BLAST Plus
Allbirds
Men’s Wool Runners
adidas
Solarboost 4 Shoes
Brooks
Addiction Walker 2
Asics
GEL-Contend 5 Walker
Reebok
Floatride Energy 3.0
Under Armour
HOVR™ Phantom 2 IntelliKnit
Walking is actually a really effective form of exercise. Powerlifting legend Mark Bell is a huge fan, as is Will Smith. You can also use getting your steps as an amazing weight loss tool. This guy lost 60 pounds with walking and bodyweight workouts. And this guy lost 200 pounds by walking and eating a CICO diet. And all you have to do is start adding to your daily step count.
“Starting slow and working your way up is better than overdoing it and giving up,” Chris Gagliardi, a certified personal trainer at the American Council on Exercise (ACE), previously told Men’s Health. An easy way to approach it: Commit to going for a quick, 10-minute walk after dinner, and slowly increase the time as you become more comfortable with daily movement.
Step counting also helps. “If you’re only getting 3,000 steps on a typical day, don’t try to get 10,000 steps the next day. That can be really discouraging. Aim for 5,000 every day for a week. Then go up to 7,000 the next week,” walking coach Michele Stanten, founder of MyWalkingCoach.com and author of The Walking Solution, previously told Men’s Health.
For the past two years, we consulted with Men’s Health’s Fitness editors and writers on the top walking shoes for men. Experts including our fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S. and fitness editor Brett Williams, NASM, put countless men’s walking shoes through the wringer to evaluate their fit, support, and effectiveness. We also considered top-reviewed men’s walking shoes that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.
Brett Williams, NASM
Brett Williams, a fitness editor at Men’s Health, is a NASM-CPT certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts, and running.
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