The 7 Best Walking Shoes For Men 2018
The most important consideration in choosing a walking shoe is to find a shoe that is comfortable and correctly fitting. Poorly fitting shoes will lead to blisters, callouses, general discomfort and may even result in tendon damage. Read on if you want to learn more about how to choose best walking shoes for men.
The first point is to ensure that you are looking at shoes designed for walking and then choose one that is appropriate to the anatomy of your foot. To do this you need to identify your foot pronation and arch-type and choose the appropriate shoe design. The information below will help you with this.
- As your feet swell during walking choosing shoes at the end of the day is a good plan.
- You should also put on your walking socks beforehand.
If you are female and somehow landed on this page, I advise you to read my post about the best walking shoes for women.
Comparison Table
Before you buy: Make sure to read the rest of the article first, to learn more about your personal footshape and the fitting shoe types.
Product | Type | Weight | Rating | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Motion control | 447 grams (11,9 oz) | $$$ | ||
 | Stability | 289 grams (10,9 oz) | $$$ | ||
 | Motion control | 274 grams (9.6 oz) | $$$$ | ||
 | Motion control | 468 grams (16,5 oz) | $$$$ | ||
 | Motion control | 374 grams (13,2 oz) | $$$ | ||
 | Cushioning | 227 grams (8 oz) | $$ |
How to Choose the Best Mens Walking Shoes in 2018
Step 1: Determine your foot pronation
When choosing a walking shoe, first consider pronation. Just after your foot lands on the ground, it rolls inward. This is a natural movement which helps the lower leg absorb shock at the initial moment of contact. This movement is called pronation and needs to be considered when choosing walking shoes.
If there is just slight inward movement at the initial moment of contact, pronation is said to be neutral.
Under-pronation is when the inward roll is limited and over pronation is when this rolling is excessive.
Neutral pronation is the ideal motion to reduce the likelihood of injury. The design of walking shoes takes these variations into account by providing different degrees of support based on the nature of pronation.
The maximum amount of support and cushioning is required for over-pronators (massive inward movement) whereas softer, more flexible walking shoes would be appropriate for under-pronators.
What's my foot pronation level?
Examining the sole of a worn shoe will reveal information about your pronation. This should be undertaken by an expert; so ideally bring an older worn shoe. You can also do this at home:
- Take a shoe from yours (doesn't matter if it's an athletic or casual shoe) and examine the wear pattern.
If the inside is more worn than outside: You might be an overpronator.
Outside more worn than inside: You might be a supinator.
Same wear pattern on both side: You are neutral / normal pronating.
Step 2: Determine your foot arch
You can also look at your own foot prints. Wet your foot and stand on sheet of paper. The nature of the footprints reveals whether you are a neutral, over, or under –pronating.
If you compare the footprints from when you are standing to when you are sitting and the standing (weight-bearing) footprint has a larger surface area than the non-weight bearing (seated) footprint then there is probably a need for some support in your walking shoes for pronation control.
Flat arch
High arch
Normal Arch
The motion of our feet is also linked to their arch height:
- Generally, more pronation occurs where the foot arch is lower. The pronation is less when the arch is higher. You can find out about your arch type by examining your footprints. If most of your foot is visible, this indicates flat arches. A limited print indicates high arches.
The Right Shoe Type for YOUR feet
It is important to choose a walking shoe with appropriate support for your arch height. Note: Men are heavier than women. Therefore walking sneakers for men need more cushioning than womens shoes.
For high arches: Cushioning shoes
Walking shoes for high arches should have extra padding and arch support that does not limit motion to ensure shock is absorbed and the arch supported.
Brooks Addiction Walker
- Inexpensive
- Great for walkers with high and normal arches
- Only one color (simple, but looks pretty good)
See more shoes for this foot type:
For flat arches (flat feet): Motion control shoes
For male walkers with flat arches, firm midsoles and pronation control are required (flat feet can cause muscle stress in feet and knees).
See my guides about the best motion control walking shoes and my top 4 walking sneakers for flat feet
Brooks Addiction Walker
- Made out of leather
- Available with V-straps
- One of the best shoes for flat feet and overpronation
- Available in different widths
- Only available in three classic colors
Neutral arches: Stability shoes
Neutral arches provide adequate shock absorbance and support and therefore do not require specific features in the walking shoe.
Asics Gel Tech Walker Neo 4
- The gel cushioning is awesome for people with foot pain or similar conditions
- Not too heavy for a stability shoe
- Good sizing
- May take some time to properly break in
The pressure and stress that can potentially be experienced by over-pronation is reduced by choosing motion control shoes. These have denser soles and slightly thicker heels. Although they appear a little heavier, they are very durable and protect the walker from pressure at the initial moment of contact. Stability shoes are available for walkers who over-pronate just slightly. These have a thinner heal and are lighter. For those walkers with neutral-pronation, cushioned walking shoes are available. These have limited support making them lightweight and flexible.
Differences between Walking & Running Shoes
Walking and running place different demands on your feet and therefore require different types of shoes.
The base of support on walking shoes is on the heel whereas the support for running shoes is more widely distributed. This is because the weight of your body is distributed more evenly on the foot during walking compared to running.
During running, there are times when neither foot is on the ground and then, at maximum impact, the foot needs to support 2-3x the body weight. The outer heal absorbs most of the initial impact which is subsequently distributed through the foot.
Walking is much gentler. The weight rolls from the heal to the toe on each footfall and shock absorbed is much less (1-2x the body weight) than when running. As a consequence, walking shoes are flexible to allow motion through the roll of the forefoot with greater arch support compared to running shoes.
As the heel is the maximum point of impact when running, this is the most cushioned area in running shoes. As more heat is generated when running, these shoes are lighter and constructed of materials that cool more quickly.
Conclusion
Your shoes are one of the most important considerations when buying your walking kit. It is important to take time and care deciding on a pair that is suitable for your feet.
When choosing the best walking shoes for men you need to identify your pronation and arch type and ensure you select the shoe design appropriate for your foot-type.
It is best to try shoes at the end of the day after you have been walking so your feet are slightly swollen. Wear your walking socks and take your time to select well fitting, waterproof and breathable walking shoes.
Your walking shoes may provide up to 500 miles of service. It is important to choose correctly fitting comfortable shoes to protect your feet and legs and to enhance the enjoyment of your walking experiences.
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