The Columbia Megavent Trail Shoe covers a lot of ground, and with its attractive price tag, you're hard-pressed to find a better bang for your buck. While these shoes are perfect for walks and hikes, they're also great for water sports, such as kayaking, windsurfing, and canoeing, where put-ins and take-outs require solid footing. WIN a prize a day! As far as hiking shoes go, the Salomon Women's Ellipse is hard to top. This shoe has a protective runner heel and rugged toe cap, which makes it ideal for moving quickly in the mountains. The performance-focused design features webbing construction to wrap your feet for a strong hold, and a lightweight feel and sleek design so you can stay quick on your feet. (Check out these hiking shoes for women for more protective yet stylish options.) If you're looking for a walking shoe that won't let you—or your back—down, but that's also stylish, the Brooks Addiction Walking Shoe is where it's at. The shoe, which comes in ivory, white, and black, is designed to fit and feel like a running shoe, but the cushioned "energy-returning" midsole provides hours of comfort, making it just right for long walks around the park or cruising the city. 

This lightweight waterproof shoe blends trail running and multisport seamlessly, making it a top versatile outdoor shoe. Its mesh body construction and seamless skeletal frame offer solid but breathable support and lightweight protection, while the synthetic overlays prevent water and debris from seeping in. We'll be lacing these up for our next run on the beach. nike tennis shoes sydney These all-terrain, waterproof shoes are essential for hiking and trail running. nike shoes 2014 tennisDon't let their rugged, durable look fool you—they feel just as light as a running shoe. running shoe stores in atlanta(Grab your Keens and hop on one of these American Hiking Trails You Must Do Before You Die.) Thanks to its lightweight feel and impressive airflow, the Everlong Trail Shoe has gotten great reviews from runners and hikers alike.

These sneakers come with a cushioned heel for comfort and reflective logos to increase visibility, making them ideal for those evening trail runs or long mountainside hikes. (Psst: These stunning trail running Instagrams will inspire you to go conquer a trail near you.) If you're in need of a shoe that won't let you down at your weekly kickboxing class and can also provide comfort and style for everyday wear, then take a look at Skechers Shape Ups S2 Lite. The shoe features Skechers' signature rolling sole, which makes you feel like you're "walking barefoot in sand" no matter what you're doing.  Shoes don't get much cooler or rugged-looking than these waterproof hiking shoes from Adidas. These durable sneaks feature shock-absorbing cushioning for comfort, as well as a Gore-Tex lining for next-level breathability. Slip these super lightweight sneakers from Tanly on for a walking tour of your favorite city. The stretchy fabric allows the shoes to mold to your feet while the foam lining gives a small bounce to your step.

You are using a web browser we don't support. Please use the latest version of one of these browsers. Walking Shoes: How to Choose Good walking shoes for fitness or travel have design characteristics similar to those found in running shoes, trail-running shoes, light hikers or multisport shoes. It's mostly their casual styling that sets them apart. Running shoes lend themselves particularly well to walking because they are well padded, lightweight and very breathable, which makes them more comfortable for walking at an up-tempo pace. They often have built-in motion control, cushioning or stability technology—nice modifications if your foot type has any of these needs. For more information, see our article, Running Shoes: How to Choose. That said, in most cases, many shoe types can be worn as walking shoes if you know what to look for. Shop REI's selection of walking shoes and running shoes. Walking style: If your approach will be more casual, your options are wide open.

Pick a shoe style that most closely matches where you'll be doing most of your walking. Pick a running, multisport or casual shoe. On nature paths or dirt roads? Go with a trail runner or light hiker. Flexibility and support: To gauge a shoe's appropriateness for use as a walking shoe, try these tests: Pick up a shoe by the heel and toe and bend the toe upward. Does the shoe bend at the ball of the foot or at some random point halfway along the arch? It should bend under the ball of the foot. Twist the shoe sole from the heel to the toe. Does the sole feel like a wet noodle, or is there some resistance to twisting? As a walker, you want to feel light to moderate resistance. Cushioning: Walking causes less impact to your feet than running does. As a result, a true walking shoe doesn’t require as much cushioning in the heel as a traditional running shoe provides. Walking shoes often focus on providing cushioning under the ball of the foot. Waterproofing: Will you go out even if the weather is bad?

A waterproof shoe will likely be important to you, so a trail-running shoe could be a good option. Trail-running shoes often have waterproof uppers, plus sturdy soles and ample support features. Some people prefer shoes without waterproof liners, especially in hotter or drier climates, because of their increased breathability and quicker drying times. Shoe weight: If fitness is your goal, look for the low weight and support of a running shoe. (Remember, running shoes are designed for linear motion. They’ll work fine for walking on pavement or a treadmill. Just don't use them for any activity that requires abrupt side-to-side motion or quick lateral cuts.) Fit trumps all other considerations: technology, reviews, fashion or recommendations from friends. A proper fit will keep you from getting bruised toenails or heel blisters. You won't regret buying a shoe that fits you well. A good fit can be defined as snug everywhere, tight nowhere and with enough room to wiggle your toes.

Try the following two fit tests: Walk down an incline. As you descend the incline, stomp and scuff your feet. Try to get the tips of your toes to touch the front inside of the shoes. Assuming you've laced the shoes snugly, the shoes shouldn't let you move that far forward. Shoes stretch and widen slightly with use over time. If your toes can already touch the front of the shoes when the shoes are new, try on a different pair. Walk uphill on stairs. If the shoes pass the downhill test, try them on some stairs. Walk up a few flights of stairs, two stairs at a time. You should check for heel lift. If your heels are consistently lifting off the insoles more than about 1/8 of an inch, this may be a heel blister waiting to happen. If you're unsure, you might try socks with more heel padding or substituting an aftermarket insole. It's important to stop or minimize the up-and-down movement of your heels inside the shoes. You can take 10,000 footsteps in a typical day, and that repeated heel shifting can cause blisters.

Running Shoes: How to Choose When to Replace Your Shoes We stand behind everything we sell. If you are not satisfied with your REI purchase, you can return it for a replacement or refund within one year of purchase. REI's guarantee doesn't cover ordinary wear and tear or damage caused by improper use or accidents. If your item has a manufacturing defect in its materials or workmanship, you can return it at any time. See our limited warranty. At REI, we live and breathe the outdoors, and we're passionate about sharing our expertise with people of all skill levels. Whether you're new to the outdoors or a seasoned explorer, we'll take the time to understand your needs and help you find the right gear for you. Anyone can shop at REI, but for a one-time $20 fee you can become an REI member and enjoy a lifetime of benefits. These include an annual member refund, typically 10% back on eligible purchases.* *10% is typical but not guaranteed. Your refund is based on eligible purchases, which exclude REI gift cards, services, fees, REI Adventures trips, REI Garage, and discounted items.