The feet absorb as much as 1.5 your body weight when walking. This is why overweight women tend to have aching feet more often than women within their ideal weight do. It is important to find the best walking shoes for overweight women to support and protect the feet from excessive wear.
Here are some walking shoes you may want to consider if you have yet to lose those pesky extra pounds.
1. ASICS Women’s Gel-Cumulus 17 Shoe
Some people consider running shoes to be the best walking shoes because they are designed to take a lot of abuse. This pair comes in a wide variety of funky colors, which is always an advantage for the stylishly inclined. This particular pair of lace-up running shoes is made of synthetic materials with rubber soles. It has a network of breathable mesh and padded tongue and collar.
The shoe is designed particularly to stabilize feet prone to over- or underpronation (rolls inward). Overweight women may need to add to or replace the insoles for more robust support. The forefeet padding may lack some cushioning for running but are adequate for walking. The biggest issue reported with this ASICS model is that the uppers are not durable. They develop holes within a few months of use. Inaccurate sizing is also an issue. Overall, this is a comfortable shoe to wear for walking for a limited time.
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Features:
- Synthetic
- Medium-thick rubber sole
- Forefoot and rearfoot GEL cushioning
- Fluid ride
- Impact guidance system
- Breathable mesh upper
- Padded collar and tongue
- Lace-up
- Shaft measures about 2.5 inches from arch
Pros:
- Improved midfoot structural integrity
- Boosted gait efficiency
- Moderate level of cushioning
- Highly breathable
- Mild arch support
- Great shock attenuation
- Revamped seamless upper construction
- Low risk of blistering and irritation
Cons:
- Not suitable for overweight women who need strong cushioning and support
- Size problems
2. New Balance Women’s W1540V2 Optimum Control Shoe
Another running shoe repurposed for walking, this is also a lace up made of synthetic material and rubber soles, but it is only available in one color. It has breathable meshes and plush tongue and collar. The footbed is removable foam and features ENCAP midsole with soft EVA cushioning. It comes in wide sizes that are appropriate for most women with wide feet up to 4E. It may be necessary to add to or replace the insoles for heavier women. Some users compare it unfavorably with V1 of this model for fit and comfort. It is reasonably durable and keeps cool even with heavy use. It may be more suitable for running than walking for long periods.
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Features:
- Synthetic
- Lace-up design
- Rubber sole
- ROLLBAR posting system
- Soft EVA cushioning
- ENCAP midsole
- Removable foam footbed
- Dual-density foam collar
- Plush tongue
- Mesh upper with synthetic overlays
Pros:
- High breathability level
- Mild arch support
- Great cushioning
- Durable
- Quality outsole
Cons:
- Size issues
- Poor toe box design
- Price
3. Skechers Women’s Shape Ups Strength Fitness Walking Sneaker
This is specifically designed for walking as exercise. The uppers are leather while the soles are rubber, and have a platform about 1 inch high. It is breathable and comfortable with meshes and linings for shock absorption. The construction of these shoes allows the wearer to walk without pain and to get a workout at the same time. It does affect the gait in such a way that walking requires more effort. It is ideal for heavy women that want to lose weight, but not recommended for women that only want a comfortable pair for walking.
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Features:
- Leather
- Leather and mesh upper
- Rubber sole
- Boot opening measures about 10 inches around
- Platform measures about 1 inch
- Heel measures about 1 ¼ inches
- Shaft measures about 7 inches from arch
- Padded collar and tongue
- Black and white designs
Pros:
- Sporty design
- Comfortable midsole
- Sturdy leather
- Breathable mesh
- Thick curved sole
- Padded linings
- Great shock absorption
- Designed for high arch
- Very high cushioning level
- Suitable for wide feet
- Impressively durable
Cons:
- Size issues
- Price
4. PENGCHENG Women’s Running Walking Tennis Shoes
Rock out wherever you go with these fantastic shoes. They’re versatile and are great for a variety of activities, including walking. This sporty footwear offers a set of the excellent features that all suit overweight and obese women, ensuring their feet will be happy even after an 8-hour work day. Their modern sporty look just begs to be taken out for a long stroll in the park. If you need a unique combination of classic comfort and contemporary look, these versatile PENGCHENG shoes are for you.
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Features:
- Rubber
- Lightweight design
- Rubber sole
- Polyester mesh upper
- M-shaped lug design
- MD sole
Pros:
- Elastic, versatile design
- Flying embroidery
- Enhanced stability and flexibility
- Non-slip rubber sole that prevents falling
- Breathable upper mesh
- Soft and comfortable
- Great cushioning level
- Excellent ventilation
- Perfect for walking, casual, running, tennis, and other sports activities
- Maximum ground contact
- Available in three colors: white, black and dark blue
- Price
Cons:
- Weak arch support
- Size issues
5. TZTONE Unisex Breathable Quick-Dry Hiking Shoes
Just like #4 PENGCHENG athletic shoes, the TZTONE footwear is fantastically versatile and can satisfy all your walking and sports needs. This pair is affordable, relatively durable, and absolutely amazing for overweight women. Available in a wide range of designs and colors, you’ll surely find your favorite one. Despite being the hiking shoes, they are ideal for daily wear thanks to their excellent breathability, cushioning, and quality.
You can wear these shoes all year long, including the snowy weather. From swimming, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, and boating to gardening, yard work, car washing, and other chores, you can do literally everything in them. Not to mention that this model ensures comfortable walking, jogging, running, and hiking. The best news is these walking shoes are totally affordable.
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Features:
- Polyester
- Rubber sole
- MD middle sole
- Mesh and suede leather surface
- Stretchy laces
Pros:
- Perfect for any weather and season
- Ultra light
- Super breathable
- Great perspiration, abrasion resistance, shock absorption, heat insulation, and strong resilience,
- Convenient and quality sturdy design
- Easy to clean and dry quickly
- Versatile and unisex
- Available in an abundance of colors, patterns, and designs
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Weak footbed support
- Poor arch support
- Size issues
6. DREAM PAIRS 160480-W New Women’s Light Weight Easy Walk Casual Athletic Shoes
Ready to take on the road, car trip, sidewalk, hiking, or wherever you may want or need to roam, the DREAM PAIRS will ensure your feet stay happy while you’re walking. Even though this model is very cheap, they’re durable and can serve your for up to a year if you wear them carefully. This model isn’t suitable for obese and overweight women who need a strong arch support or suffer from serious foot and ankle issues. There are six colors to choose from to fit your casual outfit.
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Features:
- Textile
- Full ground contact design
- Full length compression molded EVA midsole
- Cushioned insole
- Flexible sole
- Breathable mesh vamp
- Non-marking outsole
- Soft lining
- Padded collar
Pros:
- Flexible non-marking outsole
- Extremely lightweight design
- Well breathable mesh upper
- Affordable
- Padded collar ensures support
- Manmade materials
- Laces for great fit
- Comfortable
- No slip laces
- Good toe box room
Cons:
- Despite being athletic footwear, use these shoes for walking only to increase their durability
- Weak to moderate cushioning
- Size issues
7. JARLIF Women’s Lightweight Jogging Training Running Shoes
When you are on a tight budget, finding a lightweight, sturdy, durable, quality, and comfortable pair of the walking shoes for overweight women is a real challenge. Your cheap pair can tear apart in a few weeks and cause you tons of foot issues. This is not the case with the JARLIF versatile shoes, which excellent for a variety of activities, including running and tennis. This footwear offers good arch support, great cushioning, safe walking, and overall support effect. There’s a money back guarantee, if the pair won’t suit your walking needs.
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Features:
- Knit fabric tech
- Fabric and synthetic
- PU and rubber sole
- Air cushion
- Soft insole
Pros:
- Sturdy, lightweight, and flexible
- Diverse sizes
- Great level of cushioning
- Moderate arch support
- Breathable mesh upper
- Contemporary design
- Excellent for walking, jogging, running, tennis, and more
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Not detected but there are still possible size problems
8. Wonvatu Women Men Breathable Fashion Running Shoes
Just one glance at this pair of the Wonvatu athletic shoes and you’ll become obsessed with it. First of all, this budget-friendly model boasts awesome features that you can compare with more expensive footwear and find little to no difference at all, except the materials the shoes are made of. If you want to stand out from the crown without running into a shoe debt, the Wonvatu shoes will do the trick. As an overweight woman, you need to walk long distances each day. If you don’t feel like walking or running, the design of this footwear will turn your from a lazy couch potato into a sporty girl. The more you walk, the more pounds you drop.
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Features:
- 4 different designs
- Microfiber
- Double bottom
- PU air cushion design
- Secondary shock rebound layer
- Internal shock rebound cylinder
- High elastic MD damping materials
Pros:
- Flexible, comfortable, and durable
- The use of the interaction principle of mechanics
- Extremely lightweight
- Sporty style and glaring color
- Good cushioning and arch support
- Cheap yet sturdy and durable
- High quality breathable material that helps to reduce foot sweat
Cons:
- No liner inside
- Size issues
9. Adidas NEO Women’s Baseline W Fashion Sneaker
Adidas has long been known for its high quality footwear so our list won’t be complete without this manufacturer’s shoes. These fashion retro inspired sneakers are actually an ideal choice for overweight women looking for a comfortable pair of shoes for accomplishing daily errands and work out to burn fat.
Although the price varies, you know what you are paying for. The biggest drawback here is the size – just like other models on the list. Select carefully and determine your current foot size before making your final choice. An added bonus: there are five trendy colors to choose from.
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Features:
- Leather and synthetic
- Rubber sole
- Padded collar and tongue
- Three stripes branding
- Shaft measures about low-top” from arch
Pros:
- Gorgeous design
- Quality materials
- Extremely comfortable
- Durable
- Great cushioning level
- High breathability level
Cons:
- Size issues
- Little to no arch support
- Can be too narrow for wide feet
10. Ifrich Women’s Mesh Slip-On Walking Platform Shoes
Sort, overweight women will fall in love with the Ifrich walking shoes at first sight. This model seems a bit bulky, heavy, and hard to wear, but in reality, you’ll get an amazing pair of shoes that will aid you in any daily activity. There are three color designs to consider and there’s a good but not strong arch support level so be careful. The lightweight design will ease the burden and pressure you put daily on your feet and ward off a variety of foot problems, including blisters and irritation.
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Features:
- Leather and fabric
- PU sole
- Platform measures around 1.5 inches
- Rocker bottom
- Lycra mesh upper
- Thick and high outsole
Pros:
- Ultra lightweight
- Comfortable slip on design
- Excellent air permeability
- Good arch support
- Incredible cushioning level
- Alleviate the discomfort and pain related to plantar fasciitis
- High flexibility level
Cons:
- Not recommended to wear during the rainy and snowy days
11. ONEMIX Women’s Air Cushion Running Shoes Lightweight Walking Shoes
The mesmerizing design and affordable price of the ONEMIX walking shoes astonish. The pair features extra cushioning, making it the right choice for overweight women who walk a lot each day. You can also work out in these shoes but be careful with the inside sole lining –it can come off after several uses. With a pair of ONEMIX shoes, you’ll also receive a pair of socks and an extra pair of shoe laces as tiny bonuses. If you believe you can’t afford them, you’re mistaken. There are plenty of deals available these days., after all.
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Features:
- Synthetic
- Sturdy rubber sole
- Anti-slip sole
- Soft deodorant insole
- 360 air cushion sole
Pros:
- Premium materials
- Great breathability and durability
- Extra cushioning
- Good arch support
- Wafle rubber outsole
- Enhanced traction
- Includes two gifts: quality pair of socks and an extra pair of shoe laces
- Three breathtaking color options
- Incredible cushioning level
- Flexible and lightweight
- 3 month warranty
Cons:
- Low quality inside sole lining
- Size issues
6 Things to Consider When Choosing the Walking Shoes for Overweight Women
While all these models are perfect for overweight women, you may still need something more suitable for you. With a great variety of diverse toe box designs, cushioning, arch support levels, breathability factors and many other aspects, it’s tricky to choose the model that will prevent the foot pain and promote comfortable walking instead. Here’s what you should consider to find your most favorite walking shoes.
1. Know your walking needs and footwear goal
Looking for something when you have no idea what you want is a road to nowhere. Decide on whether you need an expensive pair of walking shoes that you’ll be wearing day by day or you simply need a pair that you’ll wear once in a while. This way, you won’t only save some cash, but your time too.
2. Say yes to highly breathable walking shoes
Okay, these shoes cost pretty money, but overweight women often experience serious foot problems because of wearing the poorly breathable footwear. The mesh material tends to provide excellent breathability, so make sure you choose the walking shoes with the mesh upper.
3. Know your arch support level
If you have flat feet or any other foot problems, you may need a certain arch support level. Since overweight women face many foot issues, it’s often recommended for them to choose the shoes with medium arch support, unless they have flat feet. If you have severe overpronation, look for the walking shoes with motion control to help you fix the pronation and provide the desired support for your arch.
4. Say no to heavy walking shoes
There’s a widely-spread belief that overweight women must wear bulky and heavy weight shoes. On the contrary, these women need lightweight shoes that won’t put any extra pressure on your shoes and prevent the foot pain. Opt for the lightweight shoes made of durable materials and feature good cushioning and support levels.
5. Determine your cushioning level
Generally, overweight women need the walking shoes with the high cushioning level. Depending on your weight (sorry, girls for telling you this), choose the walking shoes that will be able to absorb most of the pressure and shock that will come from walking and standing.
6. Pay attention to the outsole
Finally, check out the outsole of your walking shoes. The wrong outsole is often the major cause of foot pain in overweight and obese women. Choose the shoes that feature a rubber outsole – best if it’s very thick. It will prevent a fall and help you maintain balance as you stand and walk.
The best walking shoes for overweight women would be the ones that provide support and encourage walking for weight loss. With these criteria in mind, the best choice is the Skechers Women’s Shape Ups Strength Fitness Walking Sneaker.