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Comment by pdmfz | Hacker News Reader

What shoes do people here like for walking a lot?

Whatever you have that doesn't hurt simply from putting them on.

If you're walking recreationally (maybe less than 10km in one go) shoes are mostly irrelevant. No, you shouldn't use Wellington boots, I guess.

It really depends on your weight. If you are overweight and not used to walking, comfortable shoes and socks make a big difference.

Nike makes some good walking shoes that skew wider, but definitely read the reviews first to confirm, since they change between model years/revisions. For a while Downshifter was my go to, recently the Revolution 6 has been a good replacement.

It also depends on your feet. My case: I am a (heavy) supinator. If I had to buy a pair of shoes for walking/jogging a long distance I would look for supinator shoes. These tend to have more support on the internal arc of the feet.

However I got pediatric inserts designed by a foot doctor. What he didn't tell me was that for those kinds of inserts it is better to wear a wide shoe which accommodates the inserts, but "neutral". I still was wearing my supinator shoes. So it will not "overcompensate". This advice was from a specialist running shoe shop. When I tried the neutral one he offered me on one feet, and the old "overcompensating" shoe I had, I noticed the lack of stability immediately.

I have a friend whose problem is that their feet sweat more than usual. In their case the solution was shoes with extra ventilation around the soles.

/pediatric/orthopedic/

I've been travelling recently which pushed my daily step count up from ~5k to ~20k for two weeks. I packed 3 pairs of shoes but pretty quickly decided to stick with the Revolution 6.

Also: soles wear out! If you walk/run more, you need to replace your shoes more often.

Broken in combat boots are some of the most comfortable things I've ever worn, and great for walking.

But before they’re broken in, they can cause serious issues on longer walks. Metatarsal fractures are no joke.

It's important to get new shoes regularly. I found out the hard way that both my knees and back are affected by the shoes I use. As shoes age they lose their cushioning which means more vibrations are absorbed by your skeleton leading to pain or uncomfortable feeling in the joints.

Walking on pavement is particularly hard on joints, as every footfall places exactly the same stresses on your legs. It's better to walk on broken ground, which distributes the stress and helps to develop stability through a broader range of motion.

Everyone is recommending different brands but it really depends on your feet, posture and gait - there is no one brand or model that fits everyone. And of course walking surface and climate will impact as well. Dont buy online, go to a good store, ask for advice and try a bunch on.

Any Adidas shoes with Boost

I love ultraboosts but they wear out in <1 year for me

The same shoes I use for almost everything: flip flops. I do 5+ miles a day in them and have for years.

Nothing fancy, just whatever is cheap and catches my eye - I usually go through 2 pairs a year.

I also walk in flip flops. I’d go barefoot if I could.

Yup, I hiked to Everest Base Camp in flip flops. Every part of my body ached except my feet.

My "almost everything" includes a rule of "no risking frostbite" - I was under the impression that the basecamp was above the snow line - am I wrong about that or was it one of those "enough exertion to not worry about it" situations?

A vote here for "On" running shoes, they also do hiking and walking shoes[1]

[1] https://on-running.com/

I have a pair of Hoka shoes for walking and a pair of Salomon shoes for hiking. Both are great.

Brooks, they don't have excessive cushioning (which is bad) like my indoor Nike shoes.

Any athletic shoes that fit properly. Nike, New Balance, Adidas, Puma all have options.

Mephisto. A pair I bought in 1983 (factory rebuilt c. 2005) are my favorites.

Take the litest ones, but not take running shoes if you are not going to run.

Thrift store tennis shoes.

New Balance 880, on my 4th pair in 5-6 years and they are the best

Is 1.5 years of life considered durable for how you use them? That seems kind of short to me, but I don't really know.

As a lifelong runner it's best to do it by mileage not age. Replace them somewhere between 300 and 600 miles (your weight, leg length, form, surface, etc. all influence this). I will add that over time historically the midsole foam usually degrades so age is a factor too. I'd probably suggest tossing them after 1.5 years or so or at least having a fairly fresh pair to compare them to. The above mostly applies to running but should be relevant for walking too.

Yes exactly, I sometimes push them a bit longer then your upper bound as well to save money but you can really tell the difference once you get a new pair.

My current pair is far overdue! Anyone here have experience with the Gore-Tex 880's, are they good?

Most athletic shoes have a short life like that. The trend tends to wear off. Even if it doesn't, you generally loose grip as the compound ages. Also, the insole and other cushioning stuff tends to break down and loose it's ability to absorb shock, which can lead to joint and back pain.

It heavily depends on usage and weight. 10K steps is 1.5 to 2 hours of walking.

I'm quite overweight, and my tennis shoes last me ~6 months in good shape.

I run a lot and keep three generations of shoes:

* Used for running when new, usually for a year.

* In their 2nd year, for walking, gym and casual use.

* In their 3rd year, for gardening, house maintenance and stuff like walks in muddy places.

Love this idea! As long as they last though. For me, by the second year - they are unusable.

If you walk 10km+ per day I'd say 1.5 year is too long to keep them. It also depends on the kind of surfaces you walk on.

Salomon rugged running shoes (trail run/triathlon type)

flip flops (not cheap styrofoam ones with hard plastic loops, but a decent 20$ pair with cloth loops)

Barefoot sock-shoes are my favorite

Vans Old Skool.

Dr Martens.

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