High heels with sparkling rhinestones might look beautiful, but wearing them for a long time can seriously harm your feet and back. Whether you're taking a casual walk or going on an outdoor adventure, it's important to have comfortable and suitable shoes.
The right shoes are lightweight, comfortable, breathable, provide good arch support, and offer excellent stability. To narrow down your search for the best walking shoes, we tested over 75 styles. We consulted podiatrists and sports medicine physicians. Plus, over 100 testers wore these shoes on walks, logging over 500 miles and hundreds of hours walking.
Best Overall: Women's Comfortable Sandals
Best Budget: Retro Casual Flower Wedge Women's Sandals
Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Thick Sole Casual Breathable Sandals
Best for Women Over 50: Summer Flat Casual Comfortable Sandals
Best for Travel: Thick Sole Women's Stylish Orthopedic Sandals
Best for Wide Feet: Platform Ladies Martin Sandals
Best Arch Support: Women's Arch Support Flat Sandals
Best for Style: Women's Elegant Low Chunky Heel Comfy Sandals
Best Cushioning: Round Toe Breathable Casual Sandals
Best for Bunions: Casual Ring Buckle Strap Women's Shoes
Best for Beach: Summer Ladies Casual Beach Sandals
Best Wedge: Fish Mouth Thick Bottom Wedge Ladies sandals
Best Stability: Thick Sole Casual Sandals
Best Comfortable: Round Toe Breathable Casual Sandals
Best Durability: Summer Wedge Comfortable Casual Sandals
Best Close-toed: Soft Sole Round Toe Wedge Sandals
Best Lightweight: Ladies Platform Velcro Casual Sandals
Best Innovative: Unisex Breathable Sandals
Best Versatile: Round Toe Platform Velcro Sandals
Best for Standing All Day: Summer Flat Casual Comfortable Sandals
Best Overall:Women's Comfortable Sandals
These orthotic sports sandals are lightweight and perfect for summer. They're great for everyday activities, blending orthotic support with comfort for walking around the house. Our testers have voted them as the best comfy shoes, ideal for quick moments both at home and outside.
With memory insoles, these sandals move with your feet and absorb shock during walks. The biomechanical footbed, designed by podiatrists, stabilizes and realigns your feet naturally. The thick rubber outsole provides excellent traction, keeping you steady even on rainy concrete.
Best Budget: Retro Casual Flower Wedge Women's Sandals
These sandals are both stylish and comfy, and they won't cost you a fortune. They're made with materials that let your feet breathe, and they feel amazing on your feet - like walking on clouds! They're strong but still soft, so they'll last for years. They're a great choice to add to your shoe collection because they're so well-made.
Everyone who tried them out for us loved how comfy and strong they were. Right now, they're on sale for only $34.99, which is a great deal for such comfy sandals. They come in black, white, blue, and brown, so there's a color for everyone. You should give them a try.
Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Thick Sole Casual Breathable Sandals
The testers liked how supportive and comfy the sandals felt right away. They have special built-in arch supports that help relieve pain in the plantar fascia. The sandals also have soft insides and a special pad to cushion your feet, so they're great for wearing all day long.
Doctors who know about feet said the way these sandals are made and the materials they use are ideal for treating plantar fasciitis. So they're a really good choice to help your feet feel better.
Best for Women Over 50: Summer Flat Casual Comfortable Sandals
These breathable and comfortable shoes are perfect for women over 50. They have a soft, non-slip sole that provides comfort and stability, with excellent shock absorption. This reduces pressure on the feet and lowers the risk of falls and injuries, making them ideal for the delicate feet of older women.
The soft lining and foot support pad inside the shoe offer great comfort, helping to reduce fatigue from wearing them for long periods. The simple yet stylish design appeals to many women, making these shoes great for everyday wear. Made from breathable materials, they ensure good ventilation, reducing sweat and odor.
Best for Travel: Thick Sole Women's Stylish Orthopedic Sandals
These sandals feature a thick sole for extra cushioning and support, reducing foot pressure and fatigue during long walks. The open-toe design ensures good ventilation, preventing sweat and odor, while the wrapped heel offers increased support and stability to prevent slipping or injury.
Not only are these sandals comfortable, but they are also fashionable, easily matching various outfits for different occasions. Stay confident and stylish on the go.
Best for Wide Feet: Platform Ladies Martin Sandals
Squeezing wide feet into medium-width shoes often causes blisters and discomfort, worsening conditions like bunions and hammertoes. To determine if you have wide feet, measure the widest part of your foot and compare it to your shoe size. If it exceeds half the size number, you likely have wide feet.
These sandals offer ample width and space, avoiding tightness and discomfort. Made from soft, flexible materials, they allow free movement and provide arch support for stability and comfort. Users have praised their comfort and lack of toe squeezing. They might be your new go-to choice.
Best Arch Support: Women's Arch Support Flat Sandals
These sandals offer optimal arch support and cushioning, distributing weight evenly to reduce pressure and fatigue during long walks or standing. Made from durable, resilient materials, they ensure long-lasting comfort.
They minimize foot fatigue and discomfort, allowing you to stroll comfortably for hours. The soft, breathable materials prevent chafing, making them a perfect choice for women in the summer.
Best for Style: Women's Elegant Low Chunky Heel Comfy Sandals
These women's low-heeled sandals are delicate and elegant, with every detail carefully designed. Their stylish look and fine details make them perfect for both casual and formal occasions.
They are very comfortable, made with soft materials and lightweight soles that absorb shocks. This design gives stability and reduces pressure when walking or standing for a long time. The smooth lining prevents pressure points and rubbing, ensuring great comfort. These sandals are a great choice for anyone who values both style and comfort.
Best Cushioning: Round Toe Breathable Casual Sandals
The key to these sandals' comfort is their innovative footbed and sole design, which provide excellent shock absorption and cushioning. This reduces impact on your feet and joints while walking or standing.
Made from high-quality materials, these sandals offer long-lasting cushioning and durability. Whether you're walking in the city or on nature trails, every step feels like walking on clouds. Available in vibrant colors like pink, blue, and purple, they are perfect for summer photoshoots!
Best for Bunions: Casual Ring Buckle Strap Women's Shoes
These sandals have wide toe boxes that give your toes plenty of room, reducing pressure on bunions and preventing rubbing. Made from soft, flexible materials, they fit comfortably to your foot and stretch to accommodate bunions without extra pressure. Adjustable straps let you customize the fit around the bunion area for added comfort.
Best for Beach: Summer Ladies Casual Beach Sandals
These stylish flat beach sandals are inspired by ethnic designs and have become very popular lately. They have a sleek and elegant look that never goes out of style. With a thong-style design, they're great for summer beach trips and casual outfits. They're a must-have in women's closets, perfect for everyday wear and beach vacations, adding a special touch to any outfit. They're versatile and durable, suitable for wearing anytime without losing their appeal.
Best Wedge: Fish Mouth Thick Bottom Wedge Ladies sandals
Comfy wedge heels shouldn't hurt your feet, right?
These black wedge sandals are classic and comfy. Their soft insoles keep your feet dry and cool. They're designed to support your arches, distributing weight evenly and preventing foot pain, even during long walks. These shoes are perfect for comfort and versatility.
Best Stability: Thick Sole Casual Sandals
These sandals have the thickest soles among all the sandals on this list. Surprisingly, despite their sturdy soles, they're really lightweight. They also have a cushioned midsole that supports your foot well. Some might find the sole a bit too thick, but we found it made us feel really stable and comfortable especially while hiking. The mesh upper keeps your feet cool, and you can adjust the laces for the perfect fit.
Best Comfortable: Round Toe Breathable Casual Sandals
Orthopedists highly recommend these sandals for their exceptional comfort and support. Ready to wear right out of the box, they feature a soft microfiber-lined footbed and padded straps to prevent chafing. They remain comfortable and supportive even after months of use, offering strong traction and arch support. The footbed balances cushioning and support for long days on your feet. Suitable for both dry and wet climates, they have moisture-wicking linings to keep your feet dry and odor-free.
Best Durability: Summer Wedge Comfortable Casual Sandals
Looking for a pair of sandals that could last a lifetime? Try this one! With a premium upper and a dense rubber sole, they're definitely worth the investment. The traction on the outsole keeps your feet secure, even in wet conditions, making them perfect for hiking.
Best Closed-toed: Soft Sole Round Toe Wedge Sandals
Planning for an adventure? These sandals are your go-to for all sorts of outdoor fun. They're easy to slip on and their closed-toe design gives your feet extra protection. With their grippy rubber outsoles, you won't slip and slide. Plus, the cutout panels keep your feet cool. They're perfect for hiking, especially in rocky areas where you need that toe protection.
Best Lightweight: Ladies Platform Velcro Casual Sandals
These sandals are really strong and comfy no matter where you wear them. Most importantly, they're super lightweight, making them feel like you're walking on air. But don't let that fool you—they've got a serious grip, even on wet surfaces. Made with the lightest material and most breathable sole, they're ideal for hot summer days and travel.
Best Innovative: Unisex Breathable Sandals
Priced just under $50, these ultra-comfortable unisex shoes are hailed as "worth every penny" and "the best shoes ever". They've been garnering attention for their innovative design and convenient hands-free, slip-on construction. You can easily slide your foot in without bending over—a huge convenience when you're rushing through the TSA security line or quickly putting your shoes back on after a long flight.
Best Versatile: Round Toe Platform Velcro Sandals
These comfy and chic sandals are like the Swiss Army knife of warm-weather travel—they go with almost any outfit. While sandals usually lean casual, these ones have stylish upper straps that elevate their look without compromising on comfort or ease. Just slip them on, and you're ready for anything from a beach day to a dinner outing in no time.
Best for Standing All Day: Summer Flat Casual Comfortable Sandals
These sandals combine style and comfort. The sole is designed to match the natural curve of a woman's foot, with a raised arch to reduce pressure on the soles. You can stand for over 12 hours without feeling tired or sore.
The straps and footbed cushion are made of soft suede, which prevents blisters and absorbs sweat to keep your feet dry in summer. The outside of the straps is smooth leather, easy to clean with a damp cloth to look like new.
