Best Comfortable Walking Shoes for Women
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Comfortable Women's Walking Shoes
Best brands in the very best comfortable walking shoes for women are featured here. As a teacher who spends long days on her feet, comfortable shoes are crucial. For the past few decades, literally ALL of my shoes would be considered high quality comfortable walking shoes. Why? Happy feet are too important. So whether it's work shoes or even dress shoes, comfort is queen!
You CAN be wearing shoes that keep your feet happy AND at the same time are stylish and attractive. Comfort does NOT have to be ugly. I own and wear every brand listed here and in some cases have several pairs. For example, I think I have at least FIVE pairs of Merrill footwear now, including my favorite boots.
Your feet need your support.
Put them in quality containers.
Comfortable Women's Shoes - Best Brands
Did you know that in an average lifetime your feet will walk, run, hop, skip and jump around 100,000 miles? Brand names in comfortable shoes make a huge difference! Sure they cost more than the discount shoes, but my feet are WORTH it and so are yours. Cut costs on fashion in clothing like blouses and pants and such, for as long as they fit, they won't give you pain just by wearing them. Shoes WILL!
Another advantage to quality brand name shoes is that they will LAST! If you buy cheap shoes regularly, you'd likely spend the same amount of money (or even less) on ONE quality pair that will last for years and years before showing any wear. Some of these brands are even guaranteed for life.
Is it Wise to Shop Online for Footwear?
Quality women's shoes such as the brands found here are reliable for size. Normally we might consider trying on shoes to be a MUST prior to purchasing. However shoes made by more high end manufacturers tend to run very true to size - much more so than do other brands. I've bought the brands on this page online for years, and rarely have had a problem with the wrong fit.
These brands come in sizes expressed both in American and European numbers, and once you know yours - it will not likely differ. That's because these quality brands do tend to stick with a quite uniform model in sizing. Save your feet and shop online shoes. You are on your feet so much already. It's not necessary to be on your feet for most kinds of shopping.
Merrill - Best Walking Shoes for Women
You can't go wrong with a pair of Merrill Shoes or boots in comfort to last and last. For more than 26 years, Merrell has been providing outdoor enthusiasts with quality performance footwear. Originating in Vermont, Merrill began creating high quality hiking boots and was popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Over time, the concepts of "outdoor" has broadened to include all types of activities and environments, both natural and urban.
I particularly love Merrill for their incredibly comfortable athletic shoes and boots. My favorite brands tend to change somewhat, but lately Merrill has been my favorite. I have 2 pair of Merrill boots, 2 pair of Merrill athletic sneakers and even some Merrill Sandals.
While I have a pair of Keen hiking boots I love, I often prefer my Merrill hiking shoes - especially for warm weather. A friend raved about this particular style, the Moab 2 Vent hiking shoe. They are lightweight but sturdy with good support and no need to break them in, very comfortable shoes for hiking from day one. The vents allow some air flow, making them a better choice for hikes on hot days.
ECCO Women's Comfortable Shoes
At ECCO, form follows function & comfort over conformity. Ecco brand shoes originated in Denmark when a guy named Karl Toosbuy started a revolution in footwear. Tired of having his feet mold to his shoes, he felt that the foot should lead the shoe and not the other way around.
I know from experience these shoes can be relied upon for extreme comfort, having worn them regularly for over 10 years of being on my feet as a teacher. Ecco offers a wide selection of styles in dress and casual shoes as well as boots and sandals.
CLARK - Women's Comfortable Shoes
Clark has both style and comfort down to a science. Clark Shoes began in England with a flash of inspiration and the invention of the very first sheepskin slipper. Since then their state-of the-art facilities and love of shoes has brought them to be not only the number one shoe brand in the UK, but also the world's largest casual and smart shoe company. Consider Clark as a brand when searching for comfortable women's dress shoes or shoes for work. Among many styles, the one most popular for comfort is called the Cloudstoppers - a black slip-on loafer.
Dansko - Comfortable Shoes for Work
Dansko footwear are very comfortable shoes, sandals and clogs with an artful look. Nurses and teachers swear by Dansko footwear as their favorite shoes for being on their feet without discomfort worry for the entire day.
In fact, many Dansko collections have been awarded the the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance. This is the leading professional organization representing the nations Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, and the seal is used to designate footwear, hosiery and other foot related products that promote good foot health. Dansko shoes make you WANT to walk!
Birkenstock Comfortable Sandals for Women
While you likely know of the famous Birkenstock sandals, did you know that Birkenstock now manufactures shoes of all different styles? Yes, work shoes and casual footwear are now available with the same contoured foot-bed that made the Birkenstock sandals so popular.
Birkenstocks originated in Germany, but are now made in the USA. This shoe company began over 40 years ago when the founder, Margot Fraser, wanted to share the comfort and health benefits of Birkenstock footwear. She had visited a German resort a few years earlier and tried on her first pair or Birkenstocks. She was extremely impressed at how good they felt and did some research, finding that the original Birkenstock contoured foot-bed was invented and manufactured in Germany by Konrad Birkenstock in 1897.
In fact, the family has been shoemakers for over 230 years - more than two centuries of creating and perfecting a tradition of walking comfort. Then Margot began importing Birkenstock footwear from Germany in 1966. That was when Birkenstock was born. The business grew every year and today, Birkenstock USA has enjoyed enormous success and continues to grow with many different styles of sandals and shoes.
New Balance - Best Walking Sneakers
New Balance makes excellent quality athletic shoes. Best as a source for athletic wear more so than casual or dress shoes, New Balance is a company of note in that at least some of their shoes are made in the USA. I prefer shoes that are American made.
Notice that each New Balance athletic shoe style has a model number that appears on the heel of the shoe. The higher that number, the higher the comfort and quality. Last time I bought a pair I was going to buy a lower number that was on sale until I tried on one of those with a higher number on the other foot. HUGE difference that is well worth the extra money. Your feet will thank you. I call mine 'clouds' cause that's just how they feel on my feet, like walking on a cloud.
KEEN - Comfortable Sandals for Women
Best active wear & waterproof sandal on the market! KEEN began with the invention of an unusual sandal that protects the toes. When you need your feet protected for active wear but want a more open style, this is the best sandal on the market. Later KEEN expanded to many styles of comfort shoes for rugged wear. My favorite pair of hiking boots are Keens.
KEEN developed a unique, waterproof system for shoes that breathes, letting vapor out while letting water in. Beyond sandals, KEEN now makes boots and athletic shoes with lightweight insulation, superior support and traction and a three-layer system to keep feet warm and dry. KEEN footwear makes a run in the woods feel like a walk in the park.
Check out this hilarious KEEN Shoe Review found on Amazon: "9,999 shoes later, I found my love! ... I don't care if they had bright flashing fuschia blinkers and a whoopie cushion to boot. These shoes rock." December 11, 2007 Horndogger "H.Doggy" (Alaska) LOL
Fly London Dress Shoes and Boots
Many women find Fly London shoes and boots to be the most comfortable shoes ever, even for those with problem feet! Fly London shoes and boots are made with a wedge support that cushions the foot and protects it while at the same time providing an attractive and fashionable style. My favorite in this brand is a pair of Fly London black dress shoes. Sleek, sophisticated and yet very flattering! They add a little height but the angle of the wedge platform is not so severe as to be uncomfortable. They're made of high quality leather. The front of the shoe is cut into a deep V shape, which flatters and elongates your legs.
Skechers - Best White Nurses Shoes
Skechers makes several attractive styles of comfortable women's shoes. Skechers tend to be very lightweight and yet they have good foot support and are attractive. While they'd not be my first choice for athletic shoes, Skechers makes a comfortable slip-on for just kicking around that I wear almost daily.
Friends who are nurses swear by a particular brand as the best white nurses shoes. The Skechers Women's safety shoes are THE most popular brand among nurses.
Crocs - Comfortable Sandals for Women
Crocs shoes have come a long way since they first manufactured a waterproof gardening sandal. I remember when Crocs became all the rage, and I simply found the original style to be an ugly shoe. However now they've now come out with a wide variety of styles that are both comfortable and attractive.
Crocs are also a good choice for those who suffer from the painful burning of foot neuropathy since they are so light weight and cool to the touch.
Naot - Comfortable Shoes for Work and Play
A friend gave me my first pair of Naot shoes. She suffers terribly from neuropathy, so comfortable shoes are vital for her. For her, even though the Naot brand is comfortable, the shoe felt too heavy on her feet and made the burning from foot neuropathy even worse. So Naot shoes did not work well for her, but I found them to be perfect. Rugged yet comfy support and attractive.
By the way, if you also suffer from foot neuropathy, my friend found the Crocs slides work best for that. They are very light weight compared to other brands and so the shoe doesn't aggravate her foot burn symptoms.
SAS Brand Comfortable Women's Shoes
SAS stands for San Antonio Shoemakers. SAS is an American shoe manufacturer that was founded in 1976 in San Antonio, TX . They specialize in hand-crafted shoes and also women's handbags. So many women swear by the comfort and support in their shoes. Aside from the incredible comfort, I also like that they are one of the few brands that are made in the USA.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2009 Carolan Ross
Comments:
Carolan Ross (author) from St. Louis, MO on January 16, 2014:
@anonymous: Both Fly London and Dansko have comfortable women's shoe styles that can be worn with dressier outfits. When I was teaching full-time, I wore Danskos most of the time.
anonymous on April 28, 2013:
Let's see: I have worn the Naot's; I have some ecco boots. And I bought the birkenstock inserts for my other shoes. I would say you have a good list here. I can tell you know the best shoes. I'm currently looking for a flat shoe that is semi stylish yet comfortable. Not sure which brand. I know I want to wear them with dressier clothes. Any recommendations?
Virginia Allain from Central Florida on January 04, 2013:
I have really wide feet and nothing ever fits me right. I'll have to look these over carefully. May be the solution for my poor aching feet.
Peggy Hazelwood from Desert Southwest, U.S.A. on October 19, 2012:
Great choices here!
anonymous on November 24, 2011:
Great lens! I just love those shoes that are so smooth that makes you feel like heaven. Foot Comfort Shoes
squid2hub on September 14, 2011:
Nice lens
K Bechand from NY on August 27, 2011:
too funny "in comfortable shoes" ... a figure of speech that I just learned in the past few years ...
anonymous on March 30, 2011:
Had a friend who was on holiday in Scotland from Canada. He bought, I believe, a pair of Clark shoes. Something was wrong with them so he contacted the store in Scotland, they said, "Send them back." He did, they then sent them to Eastern Europe, where they were made. They then were sent back to the store in Scotland, and the store sent them back to Canada. Well traveled shoes.
Senora M on January 23, 2011:
Cool lens. I need some more comfy shoes!
anonymous on April 24, 2010:
I love going barefoot! If I could, I'd never wear shoes. But, the next best thing is comfortable shoes. You have a great selection here to choose from. I'm saving it to favorites for the next time I need to buy a great pair of comfy shoes. 5*s from me (and my happy feet.) Thank you!
Joan4 on February 10, 2010:
Easy Spirits for me! I do love comfy shoes!
Lee Hansen from Vermont on November 16, 2009:
Merrell footwear is great - I also really like my Easy Spirit Fastbreaks. No more aching arches and tired legs!
