Finding walking shoes that offer comfort AND style was once an almost-impossible task. But, thankfully comfort shoe brands have definitely upped their style game so there are now plenty to choose from. This article has the most comfortable walking shoes for women for you.
Good shoes for walking all day
I’m sure you love to get out and explore when on a trip or vacation.
You may be heading out for a short sightseeing or shopping trip. Or you may be heading out for a longer hike which means you will be walking for hours.
But, when you walk too long, you may end up with blisters and sore legs and feet if you aren’t wearing the right footwear.
Lightweight shoes with good sole support and padding are a lifesaver, or at least, a foot saver.
Best walking shoes for women
Here are the most comfortable walking shoes I’ve found. They are also fashionable, pack well and are versatile enough to dress up or dress down.
Before I share, I wanted you to know that I mainly chose shoes that are also cool for spring and summer walking weather so you can wear them with shorts or a dress for evening.
But there are also a few more heavy-duty walking shoes and sneakers here in case you are thinking about some serious walking or hiking.
Ecco
If you’re heading off on vacation this summer or you live in sunny climes, you will want a comfy pair of walking sandals that are good for both sightseeing and running errands.
The Yucatan Sandal by ECCO have a more casual style than some other sandals you could choose, so these ones would be best as a tourist sandal if you are planning on doing a lot of hiking or sightseeing.
ECCO Yucatan Sandal
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
naot walking sandals
There are so many good options now when it comes to walking sandals which are comfortable and on-trend.
While it may previously have been easy to spot which sandals were “normal” and which were comfort brands, that is not the case any more.
It has partly been helped for the trend for platform soles seen on the runways in recent years, meaning that comfort sandals which have a bit of a platform heel are actually bang-on-trend.
Naot makes wonderfully comfortable walking shoes in a variety of fashion-forward styles.
This style is especially great because of the different metallic shades, adjustable ankle strap and the slight wedge that gives you a little bit of extra height without sacrificing comfort.
Naot Kayla Sandal
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
earth sandals
If you are on the hunt for the most comfortable sandals to wear this summer, another good brand choice could be Earth.
If you have a day where you will be doing some sightseeing, but you still want to look fashionable, then the Leah Sandal could be a could option.
It has a contoured footbed and is designed for everyday comfort, but it also has fashion-forward detailing with its laser-cut styling.
Earth Leah Slingback Sandal
(Nordstrom / Amazon)
teva
For some serious walking or sightseeing, the Teva Hurricane sandal has a cushioned heel tab, and great traction on uneven terrain. It comes in a huge range of color choices and reviewers say they are comfortable, supportive, and adjustable at three points for a good fit.
Teva Hurricane XLT 2 Sandal
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
keen sport sandal
Another choice if you’re planning hiking or long walks during the summer. The Keen sandals (below) come in 33 color choices, and feature arch support together with a compression-molded midsole for extra cushioning. They have thousands of great reviewers, including one which describes them as the ‘most comfy shoe ever’.
KEEN Whisper Sport Sandals
(Amazon / Zappos)
mysoft
The air cushion design of the mysoft walking sandals (below) reduces impact with each step. The straps are completely adjustable to your foot width.
mysoft Air Cushion Walking Sandal
megnya hikiing sandal
The woven straps on the Megnya hiking sandals (below) give them a slightly bohemian look that is perfect for beach vacations. Reviewers say they offer great arch support, and are a good alternative to more expensive brands.
dream pairs
Dream Pairs are a great purse-friendly sandal if you are looking for a budget pair of sandals. Plus, the tie dye on the hiking sandals (below) is very much on trend. Reviewers say they are lightweight, very comfortable, and great for arthritis.
DREAM PAIRS Comfortable Hiking Sandal
Stylish walking shoes
sandals from FLY London (similar options here and here)
Many of you search for a stylish pair of walking shoes that you can wear on a vacation.
You want a pair of shoes which is comfortable for seeing the sights, but which is also versatile enough to take you to a bar or restaurant.
I would think about what will go with the rest of your vacation capsule.
Opt for a color which will go with everything you are packing. Think about metallics, black, white or blush as these will match pretty much anything, meaning you won’t have to pack too many shoes.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you will know I’m a huge fan of FLY London.
They offer fantastic support, but they also have great styling. They stand out from the crowd, in a good way.
The Yaji style has a leather interior and upper. The heel height is 3-inches, but because there’s a platform it’s really more like walking in a 1.5-inch heel, making them comfortable for sightseeing, retail therapy and lunching.
FLY London Yaji Sandals
(Amazon / Zappos)
Good walking shoes that are stylish for vacations
Another brand to look at when looking for stylish vacation shoes is PIKOLINOS. You’ll find a range of open and closed toe sandal styles as well as boots and pumps.
I love that all of the styles are named after destinations across the world.
This one is the PIKOLINOS Mahon platform sandal. You don’t necessarily have to be heading the Menorca to wear them, although that would be nice!
PIKOLINOS Mahon Platform Sandal
(Nordstorm / Amazon / Zappos)
Most comfortable walking shoes for women – espadrilles
Another good option if you are on vacation and prefer a closed toe rather than open-toe sandals is an espadrille.
I often find espadrilles only look ‘right’ when worn in sunny climes or close to the beach, but these ones by Soda have a more structured style because of the leather upper. You could opt for blush leather for a softer, more romantic look or black or navy for a city break. They have a cushioned footbed and a grippy sole.
Waterproof walking shoes
If you live somewhere where the weather is changeable or you are visiting a vacation spot which has a rainy season, you will want to make sure that the shoes you choose can withstand wet weather.
KEEN is always a good brand option when looking for comfort shoes. If you need a shoe which can keep out the rain, you may want to take a look at the Terradora waterproof hiking shoes.
KEEN Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Shoe
(Amazon / Zappos)
Slip on walking shoes
Of course, you don’t necessarily want a sandal. Depending on where you are walking, you may prefer a closed-toe slip on.
A ballet flat could work well for a city break, so long as you make sure it does offer some arch support. Or you could choose a slip-on which is a comfortable, sneaker style.
Skechers Go Joy slip-ons have a huge amount of good reviews on Amazon.
Skechers Go Joy Walking Shoe
(Amazon / Zappos)
Lightweight walking shoes
One of the most important considerations when looking for walking shoes, particularly if you want a good pair for a vacation, it how much they weigh.
Not only do you not want to weigh your feet down too much when sightseeing, you also won’t want your shoes to weigh too much in your luggage.
Skechers Go Walk Lite-Eclipse Boat Shoe
(Amazon / Zappos)
Aleader shoes
Another great lightweight option if you prefer a lace-up style are the ALEADER shoes.
These will go with pants, jeans, skirts and dresses so are a very versatile option for your closet.
ALEADER Energycloud Lightweight Shoe
Black walking shoes
Many of you will be searching for a good pair of black walking shoes because of the versatility black offers.
Not only does black go with pretty much everything in your closet, but you don’t have to worry about cleaning black in the same way you would as if you were wearing white canvas sneakers.
I can see the Dr. Scholls Shoes Madison slip-on sneaker being an easy-to-wear, stylish option. They come in black, but also navy, pink, burgundy and mustard if you fancy a different color.
Dr. Scholls Shoes Madison Slip On Sneaker
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
Most comfortable women’s boots for walking
The Basel Boot by Lucky Brand has a well-cushioned footbed if you need a bootie with arch support.
These are a great option if you are on a city break rather than heading somewhere warm and sunny.
They come in many colors, including tan and gray which would be nice for spring and fall, but my favorite is the burgundy which have contrast detailing on the heel.
Lucky Brand Basel Boot
(Nordstorm / Amazon / Zappos)
Best sneakers for walking
If you are doing some serious walking, or you prefer a more casual option that you can wear socks with, you may like to opt for a pair of sneakers.
The Naturalizer Morrison style is a versatile option that you could style with many pieces in your summer closet, from shorts to skirts. It has a contoured footbed with arch and heel support for comfort.
Naturalizer Morrison Sneaker
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
Nike’s gym sneakers (below) are another good choice. They’re very light, yet also durable, and wearers say they’re comfortable straight out of the box. Some say they run small, so you may want to go half a size up.
Ryka’s walking sneakers come in a vast array of color choices, so you’re sure to find your favorite. The footbed is designed to return energy and there’s a moulded sole for extra comfort. One reviewer said these are the perfect choice for a trip to Europe, while another who is on her feet all day says they’re incredibly comfortable.
Rykä Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe
(Nordstrom / Amazon / Zappos)
Finally, the Orthofeet sneakers (below) are easy to get on and off thanks to the no-tie feature, and they’re especially designed to be comfortable for foot conditions including plantar fasciitis and bunions.
Orthofeet Francis No-Tie Sneaker
(Amazon / Zappos)
shop the most comfortable walking shoes here:
Want more tips on comfortable shoes?
- Check out a full list of the best shoes with arch support.
- The best sneakers for plantar fasciitis
- Comfortable shoes for summer
- How to wear your flat shoes
Don’t forget to tell us in the comments below what the best walking shoes for women are that you have found, whether for vacation or day-to-day wear.
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I have a very narrow foot and have found SAS made in america leather flats in many styles to be classy and very comfortable. They also carry them on-line!
I have pretty much tried most of those and know about all of them, I’ve been trying a new brand of sandals called Allegria. I’m a hairdresser us 33 years and have always had burning pain in my feet. I’m amazed at how the shoes fit and help my posture. They have a lot of new styles for Spring in the mix cited to have a few pair.
I tend to agree about the aesthetics—these aren’t very attractive to me. I happen to like nicer leather sandals in brown or white (summer) and Hush Puppies Chaste leather ballet flats for anytime and my black Sam Edelman riding boots have been the most comfortable for walking/traveling in the winter. When I throw in a pair of comfortable tennis shoes, I can go almost anywhere in some basic semblance of style.
The shoes you show are lovely – HOWEVER – I have narrow feet and none of these shoes will fit me. It’s a real problem. The shoe companies seem to think everyone has medium width feet
Check Italian designers – many of these are specially producing for a narrow feet. I’ve personally had narrow feet before my kids were born; now I’m on another side
I am still looking for good ones, but already found a few.
Nice selection of shoes … looks like I’ll need to update my rotation soon!
Thank you for such a lovely selection. I can’t choose one style. I like the variety you offered and would wear nearly all of them. Except the lace up ones which are very nice but maybe too trendy for my style. It’s refreshing to see a blog showing ACTUAL practical shoes and not pushing uncomfortable ballerina flats and trendy designer shoes as “comfortable”. Would love to see more like this!
I love Danskos for comfortable casual shoes. I don’t always love the way they look, but they are getting better at incorporating some style. I buy Cole Haan for dressier shoes because they do stylish designs with more comfort than most brands.
Oooh.. nice choices!