If you’re not a fan of running, biking or swimming, brisk walking is one of the best ways for adults to fulfill the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week.
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adults → ’re → activity
It gets your blood pumping, and delivers benefits like improved sleep quality, increased bone strength, boosted energy levels and regulated blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.
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blood → get → Association
And all you need is reliable walking shoes, whether you’re getting steps in outdoors or on a treadmill.
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you → need → treadmill
To help you find a comfortable, supportive pair of women’s walking shoes, I consulted podiatrists about what to look for while shopping.
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I → help → what
I also rounded up a handful of options to consider, including expert picks and sneakers tested by the NBC Selected staff.
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I → round → staff
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The best women’s walking shoes of 2026
Before putting together this list, I asked podiatrists and NBC Selected staff for their recommendations.
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I → want → recommendations
I also noted which sneakers have the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance — shoes earn this stamp of approval after they’re reviewed by a group of APMA podiatrists who find them to promote good foot health.
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them → note → health
Most of the shoes in our list come in a variety styles, so if you’re looking for something specific, like a certain color or pattern, browse the full selections online.
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you → come → selections
Remember that you’ll need to break in any shoes you buy before wearing them across long distances or for long periods of time, says Dr. Jacob Wynes, a podiatric surgeon and an associate professor of foot and ankle surgery for the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
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Wynes → remember → Medicine
He recommends doing this by wearing them for a couple hours a day for about a week.
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He → recommend → week
“These are the most comfortable walking shoes I’ve tried.
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I → try → ?
They make me feel like I’m walking on clouds,” says former NBC Selected editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez.
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Rodriguez → make → clouds
The shoes are made with thick, plush foam cushioning, and they’re bouncy — NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown compares the feel to mini trampolines or bed springs.
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Brown → make → trampolines
Nike’s Motiva shoes also have a wavy-patterned outsole that helps them absorb the impact of your steps and grip the ground, according to the brand.
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them → have → brand
Plus, their rocker shape propels you forward while walking.
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shape → propel → you
Ryka’s lace-up sneakers are one of the lower priced options on this list, and they don’t compromise on quality.
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they → lace → quality
The shoes are specifically designed around the shape of women’s feet, so Ryka gave them a narrower heel, a roomy toe box and soft cushioning in the midsole.
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Ryka → design → midsole
They also have a grippy rubber outsole, arch support built into the insole and extra cushioning in the forefoot and heel.
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They → have → forefoot
NBC Selected associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris says they soften her landings, too.
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they → say → landings
“These sneakers absorb the shock from my steps really well, which is important to me since I deal with shin splints that can be irritated by too much pressure,” she says.
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she → absorb → pressure
Dr. Miguel Cunha, a podiatrist and founder of Gotham Footcare in New York City, recommends Hoka’s Bondi sneaker for its maximum cushioning and breathability.
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Cunha → recommend → cushioning
The midsole is made from an even layer of soft, lightweight foam, which helps diffuse impact across the feet while walking and gives the shoe its minimal heel drop.
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which → make → drop
The sneaker also has an internal heel counter, a piece of supportive material in the back that stabilizes the heel and reduces your risk of getting blisters, experts say.
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experts → have → blisters
Dr. Olga Shvets, a podiatrist at Central Park Podiatry in Yonkers, New York and Bay Ridge Family Podiatry in Brooklyn, New York, also recommends highly cushioned Hoka sneakers like these for anyone whose job requires them to stand for long periods of time, like nurses and teachers.
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job → recommend → nurses
It’s rare that I find a sneaker I’m equally happy to walk and run in, but this one is cushioned and comfortable enough to support me across both types of exercise.
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one → ’ → exercise
The sneakers feel soft under my feet, are slightly springy and have plush foam that protects my joints and absorbs impact.
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that → feel → impact
The shoes’ curved outsole also lets me easily roll through strides, especially when I’m speed walking or jogging.
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I → let → strides
Anyone can wear these sneakers, but Shvets says she specifically recommends them to her elderly clients because they have a rounded toe and grippy rubber bottom that helps prevent falls.
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that → wear → falls
She also likes that the insole is removable, so you can add custom orthotics if needed.
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you → like → orthotics
Best for long distances
I’ve been a fan of Brooks’ Glycerin sneakers for years and can rely on them whether I’m walking three or 10 miles.
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I → rely → miles
Their bouncy, nitrogen-infused foam keeps my feet comfortable for hours, and while the cushioning is on the softer side, I never feel like I’m sinking into it.
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I → infuse → it
There’s noticeably more cushioning in the shoe’s heel rather than its forefoot and toe, which is why it has a higher heel drop of 8 mm — I don’t mind the feeling this creates, and I appreciate that there’s more shock absorption in the heel since that’s where my foot hits the ground first while walking.
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foot → ’ → ground
Even when my feet swell in the heat or across long distances, the shoe’s upper never makes them feel squeezed or restricted due to the breathable material it’s made with.
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it → swell → material
I also like the stabilizing broad base of the Glycerin 23s.
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I → like → Glycerin
“I always recommend these shoes because they deliver a soft heel strike and take some stress off the feet,” says Cunha.
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Cunha → recommend → feet
have high sidewalls and a broad platform, which stabilizes your feet and encourages them to roll through each stride, thus reducing fatigue and preventing injury, according to the brand
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which → have → brand
The sneakers are made with soft, lightweight cushioning throughout, giving you rebound with each step.
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sneakers → make → step
They also have a padded heel collar to help secure your feet in place while walking.
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They → have → place
These sneakers are designed to support walking workouts and speed walking, according to the brand, but Brown says they’re also a dream to wear while running errands.
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they → design → errands
“They’ve been comfy since the first wear — there was no dreaded break-in period,” she says.
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she → be → wear
…and 94 more, not listed.
The Aporia
