Shoes in this brand are not only sustainable, but they're also extremely comfortable," says Perkins. It’s designed to flex with your foot as you walk, promoting natural movement while providing cushioning where needed. Scroll down for reviews of our top picks among cushioned shoes, racing shoes, stability models, and trail shoes. Super lightweight and breathable, the GrandPro Rally Court combines canvas uppers with a luxuriously cushioned memory foam footbed for soft, cushioned landings. The new two-piece outsole (the V1 and V2 had one) allows it to flex more easily with the midsole, and the surface has a dense colony of lugs for grip.

It’s important because a higher drop can lead to more heel striking and also transfers some strain away from the lower leg and up toward the knee.High tops will give feminine midi dresses a much-needed dose of attitude, while platform soles will add height, without the blisters. If your joints are already aching before you even start your day, it might be time to put on some shoes designed with recovery in mind.

Its shoes include the daily trainer Blissfeel 2, a shoe that we’ve compared to the likes of the Nike Pegasus and Brooks Ghost. The fit is slightly wider than average through the mid-foot and toe, leaving room for thicker socks or simply extra toe space. GuideRails add a fraction of extra weight to the shoe, but this didn’t give the Hyperion GTS a black mark from our wear-testers. Like Brown, tester Stephen Kazmierczak described the Hyperion GTS as having a similar feel to a racing flat. Its synthetic upper provides paper-thin coverage that hugs your foot much like a track spike or racing flat.

Altra has tinkered with its upper to ensure that its roomy toeboxes allow for natural foot movement and toe splay, but not too much motion that it feels sloppy. Truly, these sneakers just seemed to get more comfortable over time, adapting to the contours of our feet the more we wore them. The footwear requirements for greasy floors and potentially hazardous spills are very different from your regular workplace. In other words, walking shoes are not just a fitness gear item—they can be part of your everyday footwear rotation, too.