Chelsea boots STEVE MADDEN Merilyn SM11001689-03007-287 Bone Leather | 4 Best Cheap Walking Shoes

They say you can’t put a price on happiness. It turns out, that with Puma Ralph Sampson Boots 70 Mid RDL FS 374962 01, you can, and for only $85! Even though this is 4% cheaper than the average walking shoe, GO WALK 6 doesn’t feel second-rate, especially by the way it pampers our feet with overwhelming comfort. 

For an affordable walking shoe, GO WALK 6 surprisingly didn’t cut back on cushioning. As a matter of fact, we measured it to be 35.3 mm in the heel and 22 mm in the forefoot, which both exceeded the averages by 12.8% and 4.8%. This kept the comfort going on beneath our feet even for whole-day trips.

Moreover, strolling using GO WALK 6 is as flawless and as unhindered as it could be. We realized that the root of this is its flexible construction. Our attempt to bend it using our digital force gauge is effortless, as it only resisted with a low force of 12.9N, which is much lower than the average. This made the shoe 28.3% more flexible than most.

When it comes to airflow, this shoe could be better. This manifested in our lab when we discharged smoke inside the shoe and only a small volume came out, deserving a 2/5 breathability score. If excellent ventilation is a must for you, we recommend picking up shoes with permeable uppers.

After conducting lab and wear tests, Arch Fit 2.0 is our top cheap walking shoe with the best arch support. The average walking shoe in our database is $117, while this pair only costs $90. For such an affordable price, it offers high value through its stable and comfortable platform. It’s even ideal for those with overpronation and lower-leg issues.

Rising to a 39.2/24.0 mm stack, there's tons of cushioning for repetitive landing and arch support. AF2 delivers premium comfort and impact protection, with a 15.2 mm drop that saves our ankles and Achilles from strain.

Despite its monstrous foam, the ride feels extremely stable due to the firm and vast platform. Our caliper shows a wide 114.5/90.0 mm space to securely find our footing. Upon landing, we don’t experience any ankle rolls because the foam doesn’t compress easily — perfect for those who need heavy support. Our durometer confirms it’s a balanced 30.4 HA, 21.1% harder than average. 

Establishing its stability further is the rigid platform, which our bend test shows is 18.6% more resilient than average. To balance this, AF2 makes use of flex grooves so that it bends in the right places.

While this pair aced our stability tests, it failed our Dremel tests and scored lower than average. We recommend exploring other pairs if durability is a priority.