Everyone has those sneakers they bought just because they looked cool, and at the time, that seemed like a good idea. But if they left you limping in pain after a few days, you probably didn’t find those sneakers so cool anymore. Fortunately, when it comes to the most comfortable sneakers for women, the best pairs combine style with serious cushioning, support, flexibility and a great fit. Ahead, we found 10 options that pass the test for different lifestyle needs.
stylish and supportive.ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
Sizes: 5 to 11| Colors: 20 total, including Nimbus and Black
Swiss brand On released its first sneaker, the Cloudracer, in 2010 with the goal of creating a running shoe with a different feel. Ever since, On has taken the running, walking, hiking and cross training worlds by storm. Sneakers are engineered to provide exceptional cushioning, reactivity and durability—and they also come in colorways that turn heads. The On Cloud 5 is also made 44% recycled materials and is available in a waterproof version.
Sizes: 5 to 11 | Colors: 7 core total, including Mist and Marine Blue
While Allbirds seemed to initially gain traction in the tech-leisure world, the brand has firmly established itself as a widely popular and sustainable fashion brand worn by everyone from Blake Lively to Chris Hemsworth. Allbirds came about in 2016 when New Zealander Tim Brown and renewable expert Joey Zwillinger got together to create a versatile wool fabric for their footwear, a fabric that proved to be exceptionally breathable, forgiving and comfy. The Wool Runners are arguably their most well-known style for the shoe’s understated silhouette and springy cushioning.
Sizes: 5 to 12 | Colors: 11 total, including Summer Song and Black
Founded in 2009, Hoka One One’s name is a loose translation of a phrase of New Zealand’s Maori people, which means “to fly over the earth.” While the brand initially created shoes for mountain trail running, their shoes today are synonymous with lightweight, maximalist cushioning and a rocker profile for enhanced forward movement that’s particular great for redistributing your weight if you’re standing all day. The Hoka Clifton 8 (and the newest version, the Clifton 9) is popular with many experts in the healthcare field, and it’s also a standout for long walks and comes in regular and wide widths.
Cole Haan
Cole Haan Grand Crosscourt Sneaker
Sizes: W5-11, M7-13 | Colors: Varies by site; 2 core colors, including Optic White and Black
Cole Haan is known for its extremely comfortable dress shoes, with styles that transition seamlessly from the office to athleisure. The low-profile, sleek Grand Crosscourt is a bestseller that comes in medium and wide widths and is cut from buttery soft leather that doesn’t require breaking in. This pick also has a padded footbed for all-day cushioning and rubber pods on the outsole for traction.
Sizes: 5 to 13 | Colors: 27 total, including Spa Blue and Black
Brooks got its start creating ballet slippers and bathing shoes (yes, those were a thing). But in the 1970s, Brooks stepped into running shoes, and in 2001 they became a strictly running-focused brand. Today, their laser focus has made the brand beloved by everyone from casual joggers to marathoners. The Brooks Ghost is one of the brand’s top sellers and is known for balanced cushioning and a comfortable upper. The Forbes Vetted team has thoroughly tested this sneaker for running, and our senior fashion editor (and longtime runner), Kari Molvar, strictly relies on Ghosts to help prevent heel pain. The shoe is also endorsed by trainers, sports podiatrists and marathoners for cradling the foot to ensure comfort over long distances.
Sizes: 5 to 12 | Colors: 8 total, including Lemon Sorbet and Black
While Lululemon is best known for yoga, it’s since pivoted to become a wide-ranging fitness brand for a variety of different sports. Its popular Strongfeel shoe has low-profile cushioning and a stable base that’s ideal whether you’re doing burpees and box jumps or lifting weights.
Altra
Altra Lone Peak 7 Trail Runner
Sizes: 5.5 to 12 | Colors: 7 total, including Green and Dark Purple
Altra co-founders Brian Beckstead and Golden Harper met while running cross country at high school and working at the local running store. They conceived their brand in 2011 and quickly became known for their shoes’ signature FootShape design, which features a wide toe box that allows toes to splay, and balanced cushioning, which means the shoe has a flat platform with no drop. This particular shoe, the Lone Peak, is a bestselling trail shoe known for its comfortable cushioning and grippy traction on all surfaces.
Net-A-Porter
Golden Goose Superstar Sabot Leather Slide Sneakers
Sizes: 34 to 42 | Colors: Wide variety of colors, textures and patterns
Even though Golden Goose shoes look like they originated in a skate park, they in fact were founded in Venice, Italy in 2000, so they marry Italian luxury with a cool streetwear vibe. When it comes to shoes, fashionable often translates to painful, but that’s not the case with this Golden Goose style. It’s technically a slide, so it’s a bit more forgiving in the fit, and many iterations have a shearling lining for extra cushion.
Sizes: 5 to 13 | Colors: 5 total, including Bright White and Black
Rothy’s shoes are constructed from the brand’s signature thread, which is woven from plastic bottles. While it sounds like plastic would be rigid and torturous to wear, Rothy’s are flexible, breathable and shockingly comfortable, which may be why they’ve sold so many pairs of their iconic shoes. For added comfort, this sneaker offers a contoured footbed and extra padding at the ankle. Even better? When your light-colored shoes get dirty, you can machine wash these so they look new again.
Sizes: 5 to 12 | Colors: 2 total, including White and White/Black
Named after the Portland Trail Blazers, the Nike Blazer first gained notoriety in 1973 as a basketball sneaker before evolving into a popular skate shoe. While Nike as a brand continues to dominate with technical styles for different athletic pursuits, the Blazer has firmly ensconced itself as streetwear classic for stylish sneakerheads. It doesn’t have the cushion of Nike Air or Zoom styles, but its rounded toe box allows toes to spread out and the classic lacing system creates a precise fit.
What To Consider When Choosing The Most Comfortable Sneakers
What You’ll Be Wearing Them For
What is comfortable varies from person to person, but a sneaker’s intended usage is key to determining if a shoe will be comfy over the long run. “While some shoes can transition well from the gym to the street and vice versa, not all shoes are suitable for both activities,” says Anel Dzafic, owner and head trainer at Countdown Fitness. “For example, running shoes designed for outdoor activities may not be ideal for gym workouts that involve lateral movements, such as HIIT or CrossFit, as they may lack the necessary support and stability.” If you try to wear a street shoe with limited padding for a long run you can likely look forward to significant joint pain. Similarly, a running shoe with a rocker sole won’t provide stability for things like weightlifting and it will probably be too casual for the workplace.
Fit
If you have a particularly wide foot, you may want to consider brands that offer wide styles, like Brooks and Cole Haan. Another feature that can significantly impact comfort is how a shoe accommodates feet in the toe area. When trying shoes for walking and running, pay particular attention to whether the forefoot of the shoe allows toes room to splay, which will offer comfort and it will create more efficiency and power in your gait.
Cushioning And Arch Support
Most people equate comfort with cushioning and arch support, so this is likely where you’ll want to focus your attention when buying comfortable sneakers. In general, it’s a good idea to look for soles and midsoles made from springy, low-density foams—like those used by Hoka and Brooks—that offer extreme cushioning to buffer joints from impact and also have the benefit of being lightweight. While less important for streetwear, arch support is key if you’ll be spending lots of time on your feet, or if you’re an avid walker or runner.
Upper Materials
Another thing that can impact comfort is the upper material of the sneaker, but it sometimes comes with tradeoffs. Performance mesh is generally flexible and forgiving, but it’s not very durable. A wool fabric, like that used by Allbirds, is highly breathable, which is critical to keep feet from sweating. The recycled plastic fabric from Rothy’s is flexible and washable, in addition to reducing environmental impact. Leather uppers can sometimes be stiff, but they are typically very durable.
What Is The Most Comfortable Sneaker?
Our pick for the most comfortable sneaker overall is the On Cloud 5, for its lightweight foam and the brand’s CloudTec cushioning, which boasts soft landings and springy takeoffs. This shoe is also made from antimicrobial breathable mesh, so your feet will be comfortably cool even if you’re putting in lots of miles. It offers lots of versatility, too, since it’s a running shoe that doubles as a lifestyle shoe, so you can wear it for training runs, long days on your feet, dog walks, or doing errands around town. To note: Most reviewers suggest going up a half size in these.
Why Is Sneaker Comfort Important?
Comfort in a workout or lifestyle shoe may be more crucial than you think. “Comfortable shoes help maintain proper posture and gait during exercise, which can reduce the risk of injury and strain on the joints,” says Dzafic. “Wearing ill-fitting shoes or shoes with insufficient cushioning and support can cause discomfort, pain, and even injuries, such as ankle sprains, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis.” Furthermore, the more comfortable your shoes, the more likely you may be to exercise. “When you have comfortable shoes, you are more likely to look forward to your workouts, and it can help you stay motivated to reach your fitness goals,” says Dzafic. Proper footwear can also help prevent injury by providing support and stability during physical activity, he says. “If you’re doing high-impact activities like running or jumping, your shoes need to have ample shock absorption to protect your joints and reduce the impact on your feet.”
What Type Of Sole Is Most Comfortable?
It varies from person to person, but usually a style with springy cushioning and medial arch support receives high marks for comfort from most people. If you have high arches, arch support is particularly important to keep feet from collapsing inward, and it can also improve posture and mobility. Rocker soles have also become incredibly popular because they allow increased gait efficiency and reduce stress on joints and pressure on the ball of the foot.
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