Morning all, I walk to work around 3 miles each day on pavement to work since coming out of lockdown, but I'm struggling to find comfortable and lasting footwear for the purpose.
I think I'm a strider because I'm short, so maybe that's partially to blame, but I wore through a pair of Puma Dallas with memory foam in 3 weeks, the outer sole heel had a hole in it and inside line wore through on the ball. My feet were in bits and the inner covered in blood!
Currently I've gone through some Sketchers 'walking' flex fit in 3 months, just on the liner so far so I've replaced it with a schol.
Any walkers or runners out there able to suggest any brands/models because spending 40-50 every quarter on trainers seems excessive...!
Something from On Running maybe from the Cloud range, I have found them the best trainer brand by far. My wife is a long distance runner/ trail runner and would buy nothing else.
https://www.on-running.com/en-gb/shop/mens/shoes
Give them a try you will not be disappointed, just be careful with sizing as I find I need to go a half size up always on all the models.
Last edited by boring_sandwich; 1st July 2023 at 10:43.
Mrs H swears by Hokka and just got me a pair of Clifton 9s for my birthday - got to admit they are fab for pavement walking though not for cross country
I walk about 30 miles a week and wear the same trainers I used To run in, namely New Balance 1080. I always buy a size up, size 9 feet so buy size 10 trainers and as I have wide feet I buy the 2e width fitting. Not all trainers come with width fittings.
I get 6 months out of a pair, so 2 pairs a year at around £120 a time.
Sounds like you need specific walking footwear / shoes. Try some of the adidas terrex range or merrell. I have been using the terrex AX4 goretex for a few months and am happy with them. No affiliation but sports shoes direct usually have some good prices on all footwear.
Nike Pegasus goretex trail runners, comfy and don’t look like walking shoes so much.
The On’s are comfortable but not as hard wearing as the Nike (in my experience)
I do a lot of town walking and I find dolomite goretex walking trainers very robust
It's less about the shoes & more about how you walk.
What you need is to visit a shop/specialist that has the ability to analyse your gait.
One leg may be a smidgeon shorter than the other. You may be a pronator or a supinator. Until you know you why you walk the way you do buying shoes is a lottery & you may be doing more harm than good.
______
Jim.
Another vote for the Adidas Terrex range.
Light, comfortable and remarkably hard wearing so far .
New balance or Nike Pegasus. Potentially Hokka.
I have both of the former and think Hokka will be my next pair.
These work for me for summer walking:
Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk
Another vote for On from me. I used to use Salomon but would wear through ghe soles quickly. My On trainers have easily outlasted any of my Salomons.
There are plenty of good options out there from Hoka and Keen too.
I find that I burn through a pair every quarter maybe a bit more. I do about 5 miles a day, sometimes more. I think they are supposed to last 300 to 500 miles - Brooks Adrenaline 22
ASICS cumulus 24, been through them all, they are the most comfortable trainer I have ever had.
Had plantar fasciitis and could never quite get rid of it until I got they trainers
Got to go and try some on. I went with a mate who wanted some new walking trainers and had his heart set on the adidas ones mentioned in this thread. He could hardly walk in them and ended up in some Iowa I think. As a personal aside I wear very quickly through new balance and asolo soles though I find the asolo trainers and boots very comfortable
Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
I'm a big fan of Sportiva Boulder X approach shoes and wear them in town as well as on the hill. They are sized short though, you have to buy a half size bigger.
Sent from my SM-M336B using Tapatalk
As mentioned, seek out some professional analysis of your walking style. 3 miles a day is nothing and should be causing you no problems (especially not bleeding feet or wearing out footwear in 3 months). E.g. I walk 8-10 miles a day, admittedly also not far, and my footwear (generally Ecco) lasts for years.
Adidas terrex again, those are insanely durable, love them.
Wild-card option, I quite like the Hi-Tec lightweight hiking shoes for long distances. Retail is about 80 quid but TK Maxx usually have some in stock for half that. That's where my last two pairs came from. Just have to be lucky finding your size.
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/men/sho...oes/p/27143222
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/men/sho...oes/p/27143176
Last edited by kevkojak; 1st July 2023 at 16:22.
As others have said or at least suggested, for every pair of shoes that get a recommendation, you'll find someone else who thinks they're awful.
My problem is that I'm a 9, but most size 9 walking shoes or boots are too narrow.
My wife bought me a new pair of boots for Christmas last year. I tried numerous pairs, but ended up with Scarpa boots, which are super comfortable and actually a 9.5.
A few years before that, I wanted some lightweight boots for hiking in Jordan.
I looked at everything up to about £200, but ended up with a pair of £50 shoes from one of the high street sports shops as they were the only ones that felt comfortable.
I'm walking in them now as a matter of fact.
If you walk a lot, I think wearing shoes/boots out is simply a price you pay, like driving a lot of miles and needing tyres more often.
Sure, you can buy hard wearing tyres, but at the cost of poor grip, same with shoes, except the cost I often comfort in my experience.
M
Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
Sandwich is right. On are very comfortable indeed. I do 15,000 steps everyday and find Skechers very comfortable but find they wear out too quickly. On running are more expensive but last loads longer.Originally Posted by boring_sandwich
New Balance 1080 for me as well. Extremely comfortable and don't wear out too quickly (walking and running). Can be a bit pricy though.
In fact my latest pair just turned up:
I walk at least 5 miles a day. After wearing out “normal” trainers I am a firm fan of Salomon walking shoes and boots. You can go as far toward the hiking look as you wish or stick closer to the trainer look. I’m getting through a pair a year roughly. Currently in rotation I have shoes and boots. Picked up at one of their outlet stores. Hate paying retail.
That’s impressive that you can get that much mileage out of one pair of shoes. I will have a look at Ecco. I also walk 8-11 miles a day , 5 days a week on Tarmac and only get 2 months out of a pair!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Another vouch for Adidas Terex, very comfortable and I’d say quite hard wearing on the soul.
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Adidas Terrex here as well - super comfy and hard wearing
Ecco ult-trn for me.
I would suggest figuring out your gait. It is a personal matter.
I overprinate. So I prefer running shoes which support the arch. Soon as I worked this out it was a game changer. I use them for jogging mainly (when I ever do it) but also for walking.
The best I have found at Asics Gel Kayano. Nike React Infinity are also a good support shoe for me and I walk in these.
Therefore, given the amount you are spending, I would strongly suggest working out your gait. You can probably do it by just doing some research. I was clearly over pronating, I didn't need an analysis to tell me that. You may well be different. Which will point you to a pair of neutral or other shoes. In general, going for decent running shoes should be good for walking. Perhaps a waterproof pair (trail type) for winter would be another option.
Link below is really helpful in explaining it.
https://www.runnersneed.com/expert-a...-analysis.html
Loads of options thanks, I think I need to get my walk analysed.
I put some Scholl gel inserts into my sketchers 3 weeks ago and I noticed today a hole in them.
Always in the same place on the ball.
Suggests over pronation I would say. More weight on the ball and your weight on the inside of your foot. Same issue as me hence the shoes above which I mentioned could be a real help, not just for lasting longer, but for comfort and support too. Worth trying on in a shope and walking around a few minutes to see how they feel.
Do they still do the gait analysis nonsense in running shoe shops?
"You're over-pronating in your left foot sir, buy these expensive specially designed shoes that will correct it."
What will the effect on my right foot be then?"
"...errr..."
OP, a visit to a physio or podiatrist may well help and perhaps custom orthotics might be in order. For what sounds like quite an extreme problem there might not be an off the peg solution.
The podiatrist I saw had me walk barefoot across his clinic floor and sorted me out from there.
Hoka or Merrell from my experience. Neither are cheap but you get what you pay for.
I've got the On Running Cloud running trainers but the shape of the soles make stones stick in them. Do off-road ones do the same?
Trail running shoes or better still proper waking shoes offer far more support than running shoes for anything other than perfect surfaces.
For walking? Hoka Bondi.
I run upto 60km a week on average, and include 20km walking as well. Bondis are my choice for slow recovery runs and walking. They have a decent outsole that is durable, and the EVA based midsole provides good durability - better than fancy Pebax or CMEVA foams. I have a wide foot. Bondis also come in a version with anti-slip/mark soles for medical workers who are on their feet all day - the basic structure of the shoe is comfy and supportive (enough) shoes for long hours of walking and standing.
New balance freshfoam or ON clouds are superb comfort for walking.
The terrex are a great walking shoes if you’re out walking in the woods or scrambling etc but not even In the same stratosphere for comfort compared to the NB or ON.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We walk approx 6-8miles a day in the week, slightly more at the weekend. I’ve had varying boots/trainers, NB, Terrex etc and nothing really lasts too long mainly because I scuff the heels, wearing them out quickly.
The Hoka Anacapa boots I am currently using have a curved heel which gets rid of the scuffing problem, mid goretex walking boot( trainer style), the comfiest boots I’ve had with a nicely cushioned sole. On my second pair, were originally £160, picked up the second pair from End for £95. They do come in varying colours, boot, mid boot , trainer and they are the only boots/trainers that I have managed to get a full year out of. I prefer the mid boot because of the extra support at the ankles. It’s recommended to go a size up, so I’m a 10 and 11 in the Hoka.
Last edited by melhick; 3rd July 2023 at 08:52.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
