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Walking is good for you—like, really good for you—but the best walking shoes for men haven't exactly always screamed “sex appeal.” Until now. Given the explosion of interest in running’s less strenuous cousin over the past couple years, walking shoes have, ahem, stepped up their game.
The Best Walking Shoes Shopping Guide
- The Best Walking Shoes for Men, Overall: Hoka Challenger 7 Sneaker, $160
- The Best Walking Sneakers for Men: New Balance M1906RCH Sneaker, $182
- The Best Retro Walking Shoes: Mephisto Rush Walking Shoe, $389
- The Best Hiking Shoes for Walking: Norda 001 Sneakers, $285
- The Best Cult-Favorite Walking Shoes: Tarvas Explorer Sneaker, $275
- The Best Stylish Walking Shoes for Men: Salomon Speedverse PRG Sneakers, $140
- The Best Shoes for Walkers on the Mend: OOFOS OOahh Sport Recovery Slide, $71
And now these semi-sporty hybrids have suddenly become the key to unlocking new sights in your city. Remember when you were able to walk for hours on end without tell-tale aches, or needing to call it a day before happy hour? Turns out, you still can—all it requires is the right soles to set you straight.
Today's walking shoes are still packed with all the cushion-heavy outsoles, breathable uppers, and vital arch support you need for a long day on your feet, but now they’ve got the style to match. Some borrow design details from sleek modern runners, some take their cues from retro silhouettes, but all of the ones here will help you get that daily step count in while looking primo with just about anything you’ve got on. Whether you’re heading out for an hours-long stroll or just making a quick trip to the bodega, these are the 13 best walking shoes for men to lace up (or step into) right now.
Looking to replace your grimy white sneakers with a fresh pair of pristine kicks? Need to secure a pair of hoop shoes that'll look just as good on the hardwood as they do on the street? From the best sneakers on sale to the top-shelf products that'll keep them looking brand new, all the intel you need is right here.
The Best Walking Shoes for Men, Overall: Hoka Challenger 7
Hoka's Fitness-Award winning sneakers are beloved by runners and fashion heads alike. The Challenger offers a smooth, luxurious walking experience—no matter the distance or terrain involved. Yes, the shoe is engineered with the brand's thick, cloudlike EVA midsole, a grippy outsole with a design borrowed from gravel-ready tires, breathable mesh uppers, and an ultra-soft memory foam collar for a more custom fit. But it's also—dare we say it?—downright sexy, which is a rarity in a market largely dominated by sneakers that place function high above form.
Why We Love Them: The most serious long-distance backpackers don't wear hiking boots any more—it turns out a pair of lightweight trail running shoes gives enough support and grip without weighing you down. I'm not planning an Appalachian Trail thru-hike any time soon, but I made the ATR 6 [the Challenger's predecessor] my go-to shoe for off-road travel this year anyway. As a bonus, they're totally serviceable running and walking big miles on pavement, which really cuts down on the need to pack multiple pairs when traveling. —Chris Cohen, GQ Deputy Site Director
The Best Walking Sneakers for Men: New Balance M1906RCH
Long before they were fashionable, New Balance had the comfort shoe market cornered. The Boston-based brand has been churning out some of the chunkiest, most daddy (in a good way!) sneakers around for over a century, and every shoe in its 990 series has rightfully achieved icon status. Almost any pair of NBs will treat your feet with the dignity they deserve, but this one—with 360 mesh uppers and a specialized sole to maximize shock absorption—is particularly suited for long days on the move.
The Best Retro Walking Shoes: Mephisto Rush
So you've got a swankier-than-usual event to attend and would rather walk than take the train (because it's a beautiful day and/or you'd like to keep your blood pressure stable). Doesn't mean you have to turn up looking any less the part! Mephisto's slick Rush sneakers will keep you looking dapper, while the buttery smooth nubuck leather—set on top of an ultra-cushy, foam outer sole—will make sure your arches feel just as good as they look. Long gone are the days when beauty equaled pain–or stowing an extra pair of shoes in a bag and having to make a dash for the bathroom before anyone registers you'd arrived.
The Best Dressy Walking Shoes: Paraboot Michael
The French-made Michael showed up in 1945, when everyone was sacrificing resources for the war effort, and yet almost 80 years on, there’s absolutely nothing stingy about what some (okay, we) are calling the “Most Important Shoe in Menswear Right Now.” It’s simple, durable, comfortable—and wildly stylish as a result of all that function-meeting-form. Thick leather uppers are secured to a shock-absorbing natural rubber lugged outsole with waterproof welting to ensure everything stays nice and dry. The two-eyelet lace-up system makes for easy on/off access a fit that can be tailored to the width of your foot. If you're going to be pounding the pavement for long distances while needing to handle both business and pleasure, it’s hard to beat the Michael.
Why We Love Them: The Paraboot Michael is among the most comfortable and least blister-inducing 'dress shoes' I've ever experienced right out of the box, primarily because the moc toe makes for a naturally wider to toe box, and the rubber gum sole has more give to it than standard issue leather hard-bottoms. No, they don't feel like you're walking on a bed of marshmallows by any means—but compared to other dress shoes, these break in extremely fast and for that reason are some of the very best for walking. I clocked close to 10k daily steps in these for the first few wears, and didn't have to soak my feet or apply any bandaids. —Martin Mulkeen, GQ Global Commerce Director
The Best Everyday Walking Shoes: SAS Journey
SAS makes slept-on footwear gems with an orthotic bent and a beautifully basic design sense, and you’ll see them in only two places: old folks homes and low-key style circles. While the brand’s Journey model looks like a kids drawing of a sneaker in the best way possible, it’s the top-tier craftsmanship that’ll hook you: A breathable mesh upper that's been reinforced with leather so it molds to your feet without losing the shoe’s natural footshape. A D-ring lace-up system for quick lacing. A heel stabilizer to make sure you're hitting your stride correctly. And widths from slim to triple-wide, so your feet feel right whether you’re strolling the sidewalk or sprinting to catch the train.
Why We Love Them: I’ve owned several pairs of dad sneakers in my day, but the Journey Mesh basically sons all of them. The orthopedist-friendly kicks have an extra-thick sole and ultra-wide toe box giving them the proportions of a shoe you’d pay a serious premium for if they had a fashion house logo stamped on the insole—but which legitimately makes them one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. They’re basically the perfect shoes to wear alongside high-waisted, wide leg pants as you shuffle across town to a 4:30pm dinner reservation. —Jake Woolf, Contributing Writer
The Best Hiking Shoes for Walking: Norda 001
Canadian-born Norda brings the performance cred, designing footwear and clothing for extreme athletes. The brand leans heavily on a sustainably-constructed Dyneema, a technical wonder fabric that’s ridiculously strong for being ridiculously lightweight, as well as breathable, too. With the help of a grabby Vibram outsole, Dyneema makes the 001 into an all-terrain shoe without the usual trail-runner heft—they’re almost 50 grams lighter per shoe than those New Balance above. That adds up to your legs moving an extra 990 pounds over a 10,000-step day.
Why We Love Them: I first got interested in this new trail running brand for tech-y reasons: the uppers of their shoes are made from Dyneema, an ultra-lightweight and durable material you'll see on fast sailing yachts and in cutting-edge backcountry gear. But what won me over in the end was their versatile good looks—if you're not planning a trail ultramathon this year, they also looks sensational with some cut-off 501s. —CC
The Best Cult-Favorite Walking Shoes: Tarvas Explorer
These Tarvas Explorer sneakers may not be as well known as some of the other picks on this list, but that’s kind of the point—and you’ll be double converted once you take them for a spin. Crafted in Finland, the Explorer pairs a silky-smooth suede upper with a water-resistant rubberized canvas mudguard that wraps around the entire shoe. But the killer app may be what’s inside: a full leather lining, which will breathe nicely and keep the Explorers in good shape while their odometer runs up the miles.
Why We Love Them: Tarvas hawks shoes that are more likely to elicit double-takes from menswear buffs than sneakerheads—and that's exactly why I love 'em. The Explorer is the Helsinki-based brand's flagship silhouette, and the pair of shoes I field ID requests on most frequently. They're ridiculously comfortable, reliably low-key, and a genuine steal for the craftsmanship involved. —Avidan Grossman, Style Commerce Editor
The Best Slip-On Walking Shoes: Merrell Jungle
It’s not hard to understand while Merrell’s legendary camp shoe that was inspired by a hiking shoe translates almost flawlessly into a perfect walking shoe. The Jungle Slip-On’s roomy toe box keeps blisters at bay, the chunky outsole brings 360-degree grip, and the suede upper helps the shoe transition from dusty trailhead to casual drinks. Wide feet? No problem: the shoe comes in an extensive range of widths. And don’t discount the joy of quickly kicking off your kicks the moment you’re back in the door.
Why We Love Them: If you're a trailblazer, you know all too well how hard it is to find a pair of shoes you can comfortably walk around in post-trip to the national park. These suede mocs give you all the foot protection and stability you require on the trail without compromising on the comfort (and style) you want when you're back in civilization. As a casual hiker, I appreciate the versatility (and lighter packing load). —Michella Oré, Former Style Commerce Writer
The Best Stylish Walking Shoes for Men: Salomon Speedverse PRG
A surprise fashion-crowd favorite, the Salomon Speedverse is the rare walking shoe with plenty of city-ready appeal. It's packed with uber-functional tech to dominate the trails—a bungee-style lace-up closure for a micro-adjustable fit, a heavily-padded collar to spare your ankle, a built-for-speed midsole—that will work just as effectively in a concrete jungle, and look completely at home anchoring a pair of wide-legged cords. For anyone unwilling to sacrifice for style, this is the walking sneaker that proves you really can have it all.
The Best Slip-Resistant Walking Shoes: Birkenstock A630 Clog
You can tell it’s rained in New York City when you see these clogs clomping up and down the sidewalks. The A360 is the brawnier brother to Birkenstock’s podiatrist-approved Boston clogs, designed to keep your feet dry, stable, and slip-free. In addition to the German brand’s legendarily comfortable cork latex footbed, a cupped heel locks your foot in place, helped by a little bit of heel elevation. (We'll take any extra height, thank you.) What this clog lacks in athletic ability it makes up for with sheer practicality.
Why We Love Them: Staying upright when it's pouring outside is paramount, but that shouldn't mean your only option is a bulky pair of boots. The A360 clog is a standout because it keeps your feet dry without draining the style out of your entire fit, a real function-meets-design situation. They're also backed by science to improve your walking posture to ensure you can, well, walk longer. As someone who has reached the millennial age of prematurely creaky joints, this is the real selling point. —MO
The Best Shoes for Walkers on the Mend: OOFOS OOahh
This GQ fitness award winner is sweet relief in footwear form. OOFOS’s patented footbed reduces stress on your back and feet, with plenty of arch support courtesy of the sole’s cushy memory foam. (If you're thinking to yourself, these actually look kinda cool, that was also "built-in.") Last year, avant-garde designer Takahiro Miyashita gave these slides a fresh update, but even sans the designer cosign, the OG version remains a no-brainer for warm-weather wandering.
Why We Love Them: Started out as my bodega-run slides, quickly became my bodega-run-turns-into-leisurely-stroll slides. I can't overstate how comfortable they are, or how GQ-coded they look with scrunched white socks and swishy cargo shorts. —AG
The Best Walking Shoes for High Arches: Kane Revive
For athletes of all kinds, from marathon runners to gym rats, recovery is an essential, yet often overlooked, part of day to day life. The Kane Revive is a podiatrist-approved walking shoe designed for maximizing support, getting you back on your grind as fast as possible. Kane’s chief medical officer, foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Dan Geller, DPM, gave us the lowdown on what makes the Revive such a good shoe for walking: “The Revive’s cushioning provides arch structure for all-day support and cushion to ease the stress of pounding the pavement. The shoe’s wide base creates great stability while standing and walking and the ventilation allows for ample air flow and helps mitigate sweat and swelling.” Where the Revive really stands out, though, is in its unique footbed. “The tiny nodes in the footbed are unique to Kane and help create a massage sensation and likely help stimulate muscle recovery.”
Why We Love Them: When I first got my hands on a pair of Kanes, I was a bit skeptical. They’re so light, I thought there was no way they’d actually provide any support. Turns out I was dead wrong—I can’t stop wearing them. It might help that the Crocs look is certified style gold these days, but the ample arch support and plush foam sole make for a shoe I look forward to putting on after a hard run. —Will Porter, GQ Contributor
The Best Walking Shoes for Wide Feet: Asics Gel-Kayano 31
The Asics Gel Kayano has been one of the most supportive, stable walking (and running) shoes for years. Now on its 31st iteration, it’s pretty clear that the shoe has a devout following. The chunky max-cushioned midsole is plush, but not so mushy that it lacks support on long walks. You may think that softer is better, but firm support is superior when it comes to walking. Dr. Geller pointed out that too much cushion can “create inefficiency and, ultimately, fatigue.” The Gel Kayano also has a 10-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, which promotes a smooth, efficient stride and it comes in wide and extra wide lengths, making it ideal for any size foot.
Why We Love Them: Normally I wouldn’t want to recommend a max-cushioned running shoe for walking, but after spending some time with the Gel Kayano, it’s a no-brainer. It might sound nice to walk in shoes that feel like marshmallows, but after a few miles, you’ll appreciate the firm support and substantial heel-to-toe drop. —WP
Walking Shoes for Men FAQs
At GQ Recommends, we pride ourselves on delivering galaxy-brain insights on the freshest, flyest footwear on the market, from forum-breaking kicks to shit-kicking boots. We'd like to think we know a good-looking shoe when we see one—but podiatrists we are not.
So to help curtail our more fashion-y instincts (and explain to us what the hell we should be looking for in a walking shoe) we tapped Dr. Paulina Piekarska, a foot and ankle surgeon at Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopedic Institute at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, to weigh in. Dr. Piekarska proved to be a font of information, so we figured we'd pass along a few of her insights here, where you can reference them the next time you need a pair of shoes expressly for hoofing it. Happy walking.
“In general, you want to look for stability, particularly when it comes to the sole of the shoe,” Dr. Piekarska says. “I know there was a trend years ago to make ultra-flexible, minimalist shoes that mimic barefoot walking [editor's note: the doctor is right!] but the potential long-term implications of walking unsupported are pain, and at worst, deformity.”
Unlike your style, the soles of your shoes should be rigid. “You want torsional strength, meaning you should not be able to take your shoe and twist it or bend it in the middle,” Dr. Piekarska notes.
Short answer: It depends. Long answer: “Cushioning helps to attenuate or minimize ground forces," Dr. Piekarska says, "but when a shoe is too soft, it can compromise stability.” In other words, if you feel like your foot is “sinking” into the shoe, you might end up overexerting yourself. Those overly-cushy kicks demand more energy and muscle strength to keep your foot stable while you run or walk. A happy medium is a better bet.
“When you have a wide feet, bunions, hammertoes, or spurring, you want to go with shoes that have a mesh toe box,” Dr. Piekarska says. “An accommodative toe box is less likely to rub on any bony prominences and cause redness, irritation, pain, or blisters." As you might expect, shoes with leather uppers take longer to deform and can “disrupt your walking regimen as your feet recover”. Which is exactly why the leather shoes we included above have wider toe boxes, so when you need to ditch the meshy stuff, your dogs won't howl the whole day through.
What to Look for When Buying a Walking Shoe
Proper Sizing: “The shoe needs to fit your foot. This sounds obvious but as a foot doctor, I see lots of folks wearing either the wrong shoe size, both length and width,” Dr. Geller says. “This leads to blisters, chafing, contractures of toes, and stress to the joints.” Like he said, this sounds like a no brainer, but not every shoe fits the same. Check the size chart and measure your foot for the most accurate size choice.
Stability: As Dr. Piekarska told us earlier, a good walking shoe is a stable shoe. The key is finding something that fits your foot shape, evenly distributing support across the entire foot to promote a natural stride. Dr. Geller added, “Knowing your foot type allows you to select a shoe with the right amount of arch support and/or cushioning to attenuate the ground reaction forces.”
Cushioning: The right walking shoe straddles the line between minimal and maximal. Ultra-minimal shoes that mimic walking barefoot can cause pain over time, while shoes that go big on pillow-like cushioning won’t provide proper support across the entire foot. Take a second to read about the foam a brand uses—not all foams are created equal. When in doubt, a firm sole is probably better than a squishy one.