Hi. I would like to buy my partner some good, comfortable walking shoes. I have read not to buy running shoes for walking. He never runs but regularly walks an hour a day. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Best Walking Shoes for Men
Lolee on 29/08/2023 - 17:33
Comments
Love my fresh foam 1080s (new balance)
Lean into the Dad-core aesthetic.
i've got these, (freshfoam x 1080v12) very very comfortable. gum sole will hopefully prove durable. like that they add a good inch or two to height.
Not especially cheap, however
Best shoes are zero drop shoes.
Also, run/walk on the council strip to preserve your joints.
Also, run/walk on the council strip
That is against our local bylaws.
Shoes are going to be hugely personal… you should probably just check with him and not 'surprise' him. I am comfortable in the opposite of the squidgy foam padded shoes many other people recommend- either chunky mountain approach shoes or minimal soled shoes. Physio once saw me in the latter and was instantly "yes keep wearing those shoes, don't buy the fat sneakers everyone is wearing these days".
So shoe preference varies a lot.
You could look at something like the Hoka Anacapa, but they are expensive. Hiking shoes (Salomon, Merrell, Keen etc etc) are designed for walking so are your best first choice but, as others have said, fit is very personal.
Some of the running shoes are also fine for walking, don’t discount them
Some of the running shoes are also fine for walking, don’t discount them
Why shouldn’t they discount them?
Is this not OzBargain??
New Balance 327.
quirky shape and doesn't look that comfortable but damn it's the most comfortable pair of shoe i've ever owned.
New Balance 580 feels similar, but has a bit more padding. both are really nice for walking
The guy who ran the first marathon probably worn a pair of these. He did die at the end though.
He did die at the end though.
Yes, Philippides and then he died of exhaustion !!!
Make a romantic day out of taking him shoe shopping
I hate admitting this, but just go to Athlete's Foot and get one of those fittings done.
I did it once and begrudgingly bought an overpriced pair of shoes - at first I thought I got sucked in by a gimmick (maybe I was…)
Once they died, I bought the same brand (not model) for $60. Straight away, after a few runs my knees starting hurting badly and couldn't run for more than 10 minutes.
I went back to Athlete's foot got my feet fitted again, walked out with a pair of shoes $220 later went for a run and no knee pain. I was shocked.
Perhaps this fits in the "cool story, bro" category, but just my experience - sometimes it's worth paying for something better.
not to buy running shoes for walking
Walking & running are a bit different biomechanically. For example when you walk, you usually land on the heel, and only lift up your leg when your other foot is firmly on the ground. However I suspect the main reason for not buying running shoes for walking is because it's costly. Running shoes wear out after a set mileage so runners don't "waste" the shoes on non-running activities. It's like buying a set of expensive performance Pirelli tyres on a family car that only pickup/drop off kids — it has no problem doing the task, but might not be economical.
That being said, my walking shoes are mostly retired running shoes. The sole is no longer cushy but still great for walking. I've been wearing an old pair of New Balance FuelCell Propel for walking because of its wide base that gives comfort & stability (many running shoes have narrow profile for performance reason I guess). Check out some of those wider shoes from Altra, Hoka or Topo.
i enjoy walking in my trail hiking shoes so maybe look at brands like Merrell, Salomon, Hi-Tec, Keen.
they have midsole plates that provide your feet with stability and some protection which makes them great for walking.
They come in low cut options that look more like normal shoes as well so you don't walk around with rugged high ankle boots.
Should really be asking him as everyone is different. Some people prefer trainers, some lifted or curved shoes, some vibrams, some flats/boats, some even boots. What does he usually wear?