When it comes to walking well, every detail matters—and it all starts from the ground up. At WalkActive, we’re passionate about helping you walk better with a technique that’s scientifically designed to improve posture, reduce joint strain, and enhance your health. But even the best walking method needs the right tools—and your shoes play a huge role in how you walk, move and feel.

Whether you’re heading out on your daily WalkActive session, walking the dog, commuting to work, or preparing for your next 5K challenge, your choice of footwear can make or break the experience. So, what should you look for in a good walking shoe—and how does it support your WalkActive journey?

It’s All About Fit and Feel

Your walking shoes should feel comfortable the moment you put them on. A good fit isn’t just about avoiding blisters—it’s about encouraging better movement. Look for a shoe that hugs the heel snugly, leaving enough room around the toes to allow them to spread naturally. If your toes feel cramped or your heel slips with each step, your posture and stride will suffer—something we work hard to improve in all WalkActive programmes.

Cushioning: The Right Balance

Many people assume more cushioning is always better—but too much can actually dull your connection with the ground. Walking requires a smooth roll-through from the heel to the toe, and the right cushioning should support that motion without making the shoe feel heavy or spongy. Ideally, your walking shoes will have a moderate amount of cushioning and a small heel-to-toe drop (between 3–8 mm). This encourages a natural gait, helps maintain rhythm, and reduces unnecessary strain on your joints—especially the knees and hips.

Stability Without Stiffness

Stability in a walking shoe doesn’t mean rigidity. A supportive heel counter (the cup at the back of the shoe) should hold your foot in place and stop it from rolling in or out. But at the same time, the front of the shoe should bend where your foot naturally bends—around the ball of the foot. This flexibility is important for healthy movement patterns, which we reinforce through the WalkActive Method’s posture and stride training.

Joanna Hall, creator of WalkActive, often says: “Your feet are your foundation—if your shoes are working against you, your whole body feels it.” That’s why our method teaches proper foot strike and propulsion, and good shoes help reinforce this by allowing your foot to do what it’s designed to do.

A WalkActive-Approved Shoe Checklist

When assessing whether a walking shoe is right for your WalkActive journey, use this expert checklist as your guide:

  • ✅ Secure heel: The heel should sit snugly with minimal slippage.
  • ✅ Room in the toe box: Your toes should have space to spread and move naturally.
  • ✅ Low heel-to-toe drop: Ideally 3–8 mm to support forward propulsion and gait.
  • ✅ Flexible forefoot: The shoe should bend where your foot bends—at the ball.
  • ✅ Moderate cushioning: Enough to protect, but not so much that it dulls contact with the ground.
  • ✅ Lightweight: Reduces fatigue and allows for better technique across longer walks.
  • ✅ Neutral stability: Offers support without over-controlling the natural foot motion.
  • ✅ Durable materials: The shoe should hold its shape over time and support alignment.

This list can help ensure that your footwear supports—not hinders—your journey to better movement.

Why It All Matters

The WalkActive Method is more than just walking—it’s a biomechanically sound, posture-enhancing way of walking designed to help your body function better. And while the technique comes from expert coaching, your shoes are what help you apply it in the real world.

When your footwear works with your body, you’ll walk taller, feel lighter, and reduce the risk of strain and fatigue. That’s especially important in our self-paced programmes like Learn The WalkActive Method, where we focus on building long-term technique, or Walk Better: Live Better, which supports mobility and joint comfort at home. And if you’re keeping up your cardio with WalkToTheBeat, well-fitting shoes will help you move to the rhythm with ease.

Take the Next Step

Choosing the right walking shoes is a small act that can make a big impact. Combine them with expert-led technique and you have a truly powerful solution for improving your fitness, posture, and wellbeing.

If you’re not sure where to begin, take our quick WalkActive Quiz to find your perfect starting point and get personalised recommendations.

Your journey to better walking starts from the ground up—make sure your shoes are walking with you, not against you.