If you’re a walker who wants to take your game to the next level, race walking is for you. This discipline of walking is all about speed, so it requires a shoe that can keep up with you.

Race walking shoes are lightweight, with a minimal sole, and offer good traction on any surface. They also have a stiff midsole and arch support, which helps stabilize your body when you’re moving quickly. If you’re looking for a pair of race walking shoes, here are some of our top picks:

New Balance 880v5: This model offers plenty of comfort and stability at an affordable price point. It has a mesh upper that keeps your feet cool, but is still durable enough to handle long walks and races. The outsole features deep lugs that give you excellent traction on any surface. And the insoles have cushioned heel cups for extra comfort while you walk or run briskly around the track or road course.

Nike Zoom Elite 3: This shoe has been designed specifically for race walkers who want lightweight performance without sacrificing comfort or durability. It boasts an ultra-responsive ride courtesy of its low-profile cushioning system and lightweight Flywire cables that support

Best Shoes For Race Walking

It’s undisputed — running shoes have the best cushion not just for marathons but also for your daily casual walks. If you want to have just one shoe to rock your daily jogs and stay comfortable all day long, there are a lot of running shoe options that can double as your pair of walking shoes.

And in this list, we are giving you the cream of the crop in terms of cushion, style, support, and price, which are the top-most priorities when it comes to choosing the right pair of walking shoes.

How we test running shoes

There are a lot of things we consider before we choose the best running shoes for walking. And to make sure we end up with the finest, we put them through a series of tests in our own RunRepeat testing lab. Here we do the following: 

• Cut the shoes into several pieces to measure them via 30+ parameters, including flexibility, strength, cushion, and more
• Log 30-50 miles of running in various terrain and conditions

All the shoes we test, we buy with our own money to avoid brand bias. And to rank our shoes we: 

• Gather thousands of user and expert reviews
• Come up with a CoreScore of 0-100 to rank the shoe against 900+ running shoes for walking

Best running shoes for walking overall

Pros

• All about comfort!
• True to size
• Lots of padding
• Smooth ride
• Really stable, even on light trails
• Breathable
• Great out of the box
• Built for longevity (500 miles, easily)
• Great grip

Cons

• Lacks breathability for hot summer days
• Not the best for long distances

Verdict

One shoe for everything? That’s the Brooks Ghost 14. When we took it out for our runs, it blew our minds. And when we settled into our walks, it’s nothing short of superb. 

The best walking shoes come with the best cushion, and that’s exactly what you get from the Ghost. The foam is very plush and stable, we can stand in it all day long! It’s the exact definition of luxurious. 

Intrigued by the oh-so soft midsole, we ran some tests on the shoe. In our lab, we have found that the Ghost 14 only takes 19.2N force to bend, while the average requires 40.2N. It’s as squishy as squishy can be! 

To be completely honest, we were a bit skeptical about the shoe’s stability because of its softness. But boy were we surprised. Even on trails, it remained stable. We had NO issues with missteps at all. 

Taking everything up a notch is the shoe’s grip. Regardless of the surface, it clings like a pair of claws! 

Like a true Brooks, the Ghost 14 is built to last. Raking in 500 miles in this beast of a shoe is not even a challenge. 

Overall, if you want a versatile, great-value shoe that can pace you through your runs and keep you comfortable in your walks, nothing beats the Brooks Ghost 14.

Best running shoes for walking for flat feet

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21

Pros

• fits true to size
• secure fit
• great stability
• gusseted tongue
• soft but not mushy
• superb durability
• no lace bite

Cons

• not for speedy runs
• could be lighter

Verdict

If there’s one stability shoe that we just can’t get enough of, it’s the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21. It even makes it to our list of best running shoes! 

You might be wondering why. The easy answer is it’s a very unique support shoe that defies all the stability stereotypes. It’s not harsh, and it doesn’t punish the feet. The support it provides is only there when you need it. 

Pretty much, it can be a shoe for neutral pronators in need of a little stability, and it’s just as terrific for those who suffer from flat feet. 

Support doesn’t stop in the midsole. It’s just as present in the upper. It hugs the feet so well, not once did we experience in-shoe wobbling and slips. 

Because we love to put our shoes through the wringer, we took the Adrenaline GTS to a couple of rough wear testing, and if it’s a tank-like design you’re looking for, this shoe will deliver. The outsole is free of wear and tear and the midsole is just as lively. 

At 10.2 oz, it’s heavy on paper and on scale. But with all the benefits it comes with, it’s totally not a deal-breaker for us. Even more, compared to its precursors, it’s much lighter. And we take it as a step in the right direction.

Best cushioned running shoes for walking

Hoka One One Clifton 8

Pros

• Comfy, comfy comfy
• Fits true to size
• Smooth rockered ride
• Great durability
• Grippy outsole
• Lightweight for a daily trainer
• Great lockdown
• Good value at 0

Cons

• Runs warm
• Doesn’t love to go fast

Verdict

The king of comfort is here. The Clifton 8 from Hoka is so darn soft, we didn’t want to take it off! 

It’s obvious. What makes the Clifton a star is its pillow-like plushness. It pampers the feet so well, it almost felt like we were walking on clouds. 

Because it’s superbly cushy, we thought it would lag behind in bounce. But, it’s got a few tricks up its sleeve – it’s peppy, and rolling through our strides was seamless. 

At 33.7mm stack, we were taken aback. We thought we’d be slipping off the platform, but nope. It’s as stable as it can get. Because of its wide base (115.5mm in the forefoot and 96.1mm in the heel), we never felt tippy. 

And due to its high stack, we thought it would drag our feet down. But again, it surprised us. At 9 oz, it’s definitely not heavy on paper. More importantly, it never felt clunky during our test runs. We were just breezing through the streets like it was nothing. 

We have logged 50 miles in the Hoka One One Clifton 8. And it sure doesn’t disappoint in the strength arena – the midsole is not bottoming out and the outsole almost looks completely untouched.

Best road walking running shoes

Brooks Glycerin GTS 19

Pros

• True to size
• Good cushioning
• Breathable
• Smooth transition
• Durable

Cons

• Not very versatile
• Slight heel slipping

Verdict

The Brooks Glycerin GTS 19 is a great every-day runner’s shoe that offers good cushioning on a stable platform and will go the distance. The Glycerin GTS 19 doesn’t offer anything that is mind-bending or earth-shattering. It’s simply consistent.

Running shoes for walking with best style

Adidas Ultraboost 21

Pros

• Sock-like fit
• Fantastic peppy ride
• Really durable
• Heel stays put
• Great midfoot lockdown
• Good grip
• Stretchy upper for wide feet
• Fun daily trainer

Cons

• Loose on sharp turns & faster runs
• Sweaty on hot summer days
• Heavy

Verdict

Adidas shoes need no introduction when it comes to style. They MADE style. And now on its 21st version, the Ultraboost continues to be the talk of the town with its looks. 

Because there’s so much rave about the Ultraboost 21, we just had to try it out. And it sure killed in the style department! It’s sleek and modern, you don’t have to put much effort to turn some heads. 

Even better, it’s not just a killer in style, it’s also a beast in performance. It’s got the right mix of pop, plush, and stability. 

Because it has more Boost, it’s among the cushiest Ultraboosts we’ve ever put on. And it’s very bouncy, it was like springs underfoot. 

With all the softness we got from its midsole, we had to see how tough its outsole is. And after a few tests, we found out that the Continental rubber is 72.8HC, meaning it leans toward the softer side. But what really took us by surprise is that 30 miles later, it’s still not scratched. 

After some heavy miles on both asphalt and cement, we are confident that it can withstand the test of time. Expect to log 300-500 miles before retiring it in your closet. 

At 11.9 oz, the Adidas Ultraboost 21 is one heft of a shoe. But all the weight it comes with is in the name of responsiveness, comfort, and stability.

Best value running shoes for walking

Nike Revolution 5

Pros

• True to size
• Secure ankle fit
• Good for long walks
• Doubles as a gym shoe
• Cheap
• Clean minimalist design
• Great for beginners (<10 miles/week)

Cons

• Stiff
• Short laces

Verdict

The Nike Revolution 5 may be cheap in price, but it sure isn’t in performance. 

This shoe didn’t just astonish us with its price, it also blew us away with its first-rate lockdown. Seriously, it cupped our feet so well, they never slid out of the shoe. 

It may not be marshmallowy soft, but if you want a balanced sensation, this shoe can meet the bill. It’s neither too plush nor too rigid – it’s simply the best of both worlds. In this shoe, you get both coziness and support. 

Given this, it’s an easy pick for around-town walks, daily jogs, and easy runs. 

For the wide-footed fellas out there, fret not. We have large feet too, but the Nike Revolution has a very accommodating upper, making foot entry very easy and efficient. 

To top it all off, all of the Revolution 5’s support and comfort are loaded in a very stunning shoe. For $65, its looks is along the ranks of the more expensive shoes on the market.

Most popular running shoes for walking

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38

Pros

• Wider than Pegasus 37
• Very stable ride
• Peppy toe-off
• Hugs your feet
• Padded upper
• Very durable (400-500miles)
• Grippy even on dirt roads
• Legit workhorse
• Doubles as a gym shoe
• A joy to run in

Cons

• Runs warm
• Above-average weight

Verdict

With plenty of flex, a vented, breathable mesh upper, and a price tag at $60, the Nike Downshifter is a serious bargain for a daily trainer.