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Walking is good for you—like, really good for you—but the best walking shoes for men haven’t exactly always screamed “sex appeal.” Until now. Given the explosion of interest in running’s less strenuous cousin over the past year, walking shoes have, ahem, stepped up their game. They’re still packed with all the cushion-heavy outsoles, breathable uppers, and vital arch support you need for a long day on your feet, but now they’ve got the style to match. Some borrow design details from sleek modern runners, some take their cues from retro silhouettes, but all of the ones here will help you get that daily step count in while looking primo with just about anything you’ve got on. Whether you’re heading out for an hours-long stroll or just making a quick trip to the bodega, these are the 16 best walking shoes for men to lace up now.
The Best All-Purpose Walking Shoe
Hoka’s singature sneaker is beloved by serious walkers and serious aesthetes alike. The most cushioned shoe in the brand’s thick-soled repertoire, the Bondi 7 offers a consistently smooth, luxurious walking experience—no matter the distance involved. Yes, the shoe is engineered with the brand’s standout EVA midsole, breathable mesh uppers, and an ultra-soft memory foam collar specially designed to cradle your heel. But it’s also—dare we say it?—downright sexy, a rarity in a market largely dominated by sneakers that place function high above form.
The Best Dad-Approved Walking Shoe
Long before they were fashionable, New Balance had the comfort shoe market cornered. The Boston-based brand has been churning out some of the chunkiest, daddest (in a good way!) sneakers around for over a century, and every shoe in its 990 series has rightfully achieved icon status. Almost any pair of NBs will treat your feet with the dignity they deserve, but this one—handcrafted in England from pigskin suede and designed to maximize shock absorption—is particularly suited for long days on the move.
The Best Trail-Ready Walking Shoe
A surprise fashion-crowd favorite (and GQ’s 2019 sneaker of the year), the Salomon XT-6 is the rare mountaineering shoe packed with plenty of city-ready appeal. It’s packed with uber-functional tech—bungee-style lace-up closures, a heavily-padded collar, treaded rubber outsoles—to help you dominate the trails, but will look just as at home anchoring a pair of wide-legged chinos.
The Best Old-School Walking Shoe
Before Nike became a global sportswear behemoth, it was a tiny Oregon upstart selling sneakers with soles [literally made on a waffle iron[(https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a21841/nike-waffle-iron/). The Challenger hearkens back to the best of that era, with an eye-grabbing design, distinctly retro silhouette, and surprisingly comfortable construction. They might not stand up to inspection going full-speed on the track anymore, but they’ll perform like a charm on a long stroll through the park.
