Which Walking Shoe Is Best?

As a shopping editor who’s tested a lot of sneakers in the past few years, I’ve learned the importance of arch support. After all, there’s a reason why podiatrists always recommend sneakers with arch support—especially for people with flat feet, overpronation, plantar fasciitis, or those who stand or walk for long periods of time.

“Arch support helps distribute pressure more evenly across the foot, reducing strain on structures like the plantar fascia…This can improve alignment, decrease fatigue, and lower the risk of overuse injuries,” Bobby Pourziaee, D.P.M., a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, previously explained to Prevention.

Living in New York City, I often experience bouts of foot fatigue after racking up thousands of steps every day—so I was excited to put two best-selling pairs from Skechers and Vionic, which are regularly recommended by podiatrists for their excellent arch support, to a head-to-head test. Both the Skechers Max Cushioning Arch Fit and the Vionic 23Walk 2.0 have earned the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) for promoting good foot health—but after weeks of testing, my arches feel best supported by one pair. Here’s how they stack up.

Cons

• Only available in medium width
• Some reviewers say they run small

Sizes	5-13
Widths	Medium
Colors	3 options
Weight	12 oz

Not only has Skechers landed on many of our podiatrist-approved lists—including our best shoes for walking all day, best shoes for walking on concrete, and more—but they’re also some of my personal favorite walking shoes. That includes the Max Cushioning Arch Fit, which boasts the APMA Seal of Acceptance as well as the title of our best Skechers walking shoe overall, thanks to its comfortable cushioning and supportive arch.

Specifically, these shoes are designed with Skechers’ podiatrist-certified removable insole and is designed to mold to your feet to reduce shock. Combining the brand’s Ultra Flight, Hyper Arc, and Max Cushioning for a plush, lightweight feel, they also feature a breathable monomesh upper along with Skechers’ signature hands-free slip-in technology, which makes the shoes easy to slip on and off without having to bend over or tie laces.

Sizes	5-13
Widths	Medium, Wide
Colors	6 options
Weight	11 oz

Vionic is an orthotic shoe brand that boasts many podiatrist recommendations here at Prevention—in fact, these fan-favorite Vionic 23Walk 2.0 sneakers have landed on our lists of the best walking shoes and the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, in addition to also having the APMA Seal of Acceptance for promoting good foot health.

Like all other Vionic shoes, these sneakers are designed with the brand’s exclusive Vio Motion technology, a removable orthotic EVA footbed that was developed with podiatrists to deliver contoured arch support as well as optimized cushioning, flexibility, and stability. Featuring firm, strategically placed cushioning to absorb shock at the heel and forefoot, they also have a leather upper with a moisture-wicking mesh liner.

Skechers Go Walk Max Cushioning Arch Fit—Areena

I alternated wearing the Skechers Go Walk Max Cushioning Arch Fit and the Vionic 23Walk 2.0 for about three weeks on daily walks, commuting to and from work, strolls through the park, running errands, and other outdoor outings.

Both the Skechers and Vionic shoes come in sizes ranging from 5-13. I ordered my usual size, size 7—and found both of them fairly true to size. However, the feel of the fit was slightly different between the two. For one, the toe box of the Vionic shoes felt slightly tighter and narrower than that of the Skechers; although this didn’t cause any discomfort for me as someone with medium-width feet, I do think that those with wide feet may likely find the toe box a little cramped. Luckily, the Vionic shoes are available in wide options (the Skechers are only available in medium widths—though there’s a variation of the shoe that does come in wide).

Overall, I felt that the Vionic shoes delivered a more structured and rigid fit, while the fit of the Skechers felt softer and more flexible. This makes sense given that the Vionic shoes are designed with a leather upper, which contributed to a more supportive, locked-in fit that feels snug and secure. On the other hand, the Skechers feature a soft, knit-like mesh upper that gives the shoe a more stretchy and flexible feel overall.

This mesh upper also made the Skechers shoes generally feel more breathable compared to the leather material of the Vionic—especially while I was walking out in the summer heat. However, the Vionics surprisingly never felt too hot or uncomfortable on my feet even with the leather construction, thanks to the moisture-wicking mesh liner that’s designed to help reduce friction against skin.

Skechers Go Walk Max Cushioning Arch Fit—Areena

The very first thing I noticed when I initially slipped on the Vionic 23Walk 2.0 sneakers was the firm, contoured arch support in the footbed—the arch felt very pronounced, with a firm and dense feel underfoot. As someone who’s used to more neutral sneakers with softer cushioning, I admit that it took me a while to get used to the firm, pronounced feel of the arch in the Vionics. The brand actually says that the shoes may require a break-in period, recommending that you wear them “for just a few hours for the first days to allow your feet to adjust to the new level of orthotic comfort and support”—noting that you’ll find the shoes “completely comfortable and supportive” within one to two weeks. Thankfully, I did find that they felt more comfortable and slightly softer as time went on. Even after the break-in period, though, I’d say the Vionics still deliver a firmer feel that’s designed to be more supportive and responsive.

On the other hand, the Skechers Max Cushioning Arch Fit shoes delivered a softer, more plush feel with its combination of Ultra Flight, Hyper Arc, and Max Cushioning technologies. I personally preferred this softer feel underfoot compared to the Vionics—the cushioning of the Skechers felt immediately lightweight and cloud-like from the first time I tried the shoes on, with no break-in period needed. Additionally, the arch support that these shoes provided with their podiatrist-certified Arch Fit contoured footbed felt more natural and comfortable, hugging the curve of my feet more naturally without feeling too dense or pronounced.

Skechers Go Walk Max Cushioning Arch Fit – Areena

Stability is where the Vionic 23Walk 2.0 shines, though. Its Vio Motion is specifically designed to promote stability, with a contoured insole and deep heel cup helping to stabilize the foot and align your entire body as you walk. This design helps actively correct and reduce overpronation (inward rolling of the ankle), which in turn helps reduce strain on your knees, hips, and lower back. While I don’t overpronate, I definitely noticed how stable and secure these shoes felt with every step—they felt like they locked my foot into place, with the deep heel cup cradling my heels snugly but comfortably. I also never noticed any pain in my feet or body after walking in these shoes, even with long distances.

In contrast, the Skechers Max Cushioning Arch Fit isn’t a dedicated stability shoe—but it does have several design elements that help promote a stable ride. Those include the insole, which helps distribute pressure evenly across the foot, as well as the curved rocker bottom that helps promote smooth heel-to-toe transitions. And even though these shoes have a more soft and flexible fit and can be easily slipped on and off, they still provided a secure fit thanks to the Heel Pillow technology, which securely locks your foot in place to reduce heel slippage.

Overall, I think both the Skechers Go Walk Max Cushioning Arch Fit – Areena and the Vionic 23Walk 2.0 are great choices for comfortable walking shoes with exceptional arch support. However, I would say the two shoes deliver a very different feel and serve different needs.

If you’re looking for a pair of reliable, daily walking shoes with a soft, cloud-like feel and natural-feeling arch support—or you specifically want hands-free shoes that are easy to slip on and off—I definitely recommend the Skechers shoes. Personally, as someone who prefers a soft, plush feel underfoot, the Skechers are my winning sneaker. The cloud-like, lightweight cushioning and natural-feeling arch support immediately felt comfortable on my feet with no break-in period required—and stayed comfortable even after logging miles of walking through New York City streets.

However, the Vionic 23Walk 2.0 is a better choice if you’re looking for a firmer, more supportive shoe that’s designed for stability—or you’re in need of orthotic-grade support for plantar fasciitis, overpronation, flat feet, or heel pain. Though the firm, contoured arch wasn’t my preferred feel, these shoes were still comfortable and super supportive, even after miles of walking. If you are in need of orthotic support, these are absolutely for you.