13 Best Walking Shoes for Flat Feet | 2025 Picks

Having flat ft doesn’t imply you’re destined for a lifetime of discomfort. With the best sneakers, you’ll be able to reliably stroll all day lengthy, run all of your errands, or do something you’d like for hours on finish with out feeling that tell-tale ache in your arches, heels, or elsewhere.

The important thing to discovering the perfect strolling sneakers for flat ft is to search for pairs with good (however not an excessive amount of) arch help, a secure design, and a few flexibility—sufficient that it bends, however doesn’t fold in half. Under, consultants in podiatry and bodily remedy share their finest ideas for purchasing for flat foot-friendly strolling sneakers, plus choices which can be simply begging to be worn in your every day walks.

Our prime picks

1. Greatest General: Hoka Arahi 7, $145
2. Runner-Up: Kuru Atom, $159
3. Greatest Price range Decide: Ryka Devotion X, $110
4. Greatest for Most Cushioning: Hoka Gaviota 5, $175
5. Greatest for Plantar Fasciitis: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24, $140
6. Greatest for Extensive Toes: New Stability 1540 V4, $180
7. Greatest for Standing All Day: Asics GT-1000 13, $110
8. Greatest for Strolling Lengthy Distances: Eager WK500, $135

Store strolling sneakers for flat ft

You’ll most likely have to strive on a number of pairs to find out what feels finest on your ft. However you will get a leg (or foot) up in your search by beginning with this checklist. Our picks embrace expert-recommended manufacturers like Hoka and Chaco, in addition to SELF editor–examined and –accredited choices.

Greatest General: Hoka Arahi 7

Each Dr. Gremillion and Dr. Piekarska suggest Hoka sneakers—the latter describes them as “secure but comfy”—and most of the model’s sneakers have gained a seal of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Affiliation (APMA) for his or her foot-friendly designs.

The Arahi 7 is an effective possibility for flat ft as a result of it’s designed to stop overpronation (a.okay.a when your ft and ankles roll inward as you stroll, a typical drawback for individuals with low arches), which may result in heel ache, in keeping with Dr. Piekarska. We additionally like this type for runners with flat ft, particularly in case your ft are on the slim facet.

“I really like sporting my Arahi 7s once I’m in a frame of mind to get stuff performed. They’re actually comfy and cushioned, however with a stack that’s rather less voluminous and extra responsive than different Hoka fashions. I really feel a extra grounded and prepared roll,” says one SELF tester. “Not able to roll, although, are my arches, that are held firmly in place on this stability shoe.”

Runner-Up: Kuru Atom

Kuru’s best-selling Atom sneaker incorporates a deep heel cup that hugs the again of your foot and a curved, contoured arch for additional help the place you want it most. Our tester was impressed by how agency (but comfy) the arch was, noting that it felt nice on lengthy walks on laborious pavement, with one caveat: “It appears like its placement is a bit of too far again within the shoe—the higher finish of my arch didn’t get fairly the identical quantity of help as the remainder of it.”

For all its sturdiness, the Atom stored our tester’s ft cool and recent after lengthy durations of wear and tear, because of its breathable mesh higher. It’s considerably missing in padding, particularly within the forefoot, which is why it falls wanting our prime decide. But when construction takes precedence over cushioning for you, the Atom might very nicely be your private finest general.

Greatest Price range Decide: Ryka Devotion X

Ryka’s best-selling (and AMPA-approved) Devotion X reveals you don’t need to shell out for the fanciest pair of strolling sneakers available on the market to get good arch help. Its insole has a built-in arch, and its midsole gives further construction across the center of the foot. As a fitness-walking-specific shoe, it additionally doesn’t skimp on consolation: There’s additional padding within the forefoot and heel to assist take up the affect of your steps, and the mesh higher helps maintain your ft cool on hotter days.

Greatest for Most Cushioning: Hoka Gaviota 5

One other extremely supportive and APMA-approved possibility from Hoka is the Gaviota 5. With extra cushioning than the Arahi, it’s corresponding to the 2023 SELF Sneaker Award–profitable Hoka Bondi—however with a deal with stability over plushness, for people with flat ft who nonetheless love a extremely cushioned shoe. The Gaviota’s H-Body design gently retains your foot within the right alignment—a win for overpronators.

This newest model of the Gaviota improves on earlier fashions with a barely wider match, elevated airflow by the higher, and a fair softer really feel. Between its plush padding and simple breathability, the Gaviota will maintain a spring in your step, even on lengthy days spent working throughout city.

“As somebody who overpronates, I can verify that the Gaviotas are extremely stabilizing whereas additionally offering that walking-on-a-cloud really feel I search for in a Hoka,” one SELF tester says. “I additionally like how breathable they’re and the roominess of the toe field—no foot sweat or toe claustrophobia over right here.”

Greatest for Plantar Fasciitis: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24

Nicholas Japs, DPT, a bodily therapist at St. Vincent’s Medical Middle in Bridgeport, Connecticut, beforehand really helpful the Brooks Adrenaline GTS for individuals who cope with plantar fasciitis. It has a bigger heel-to-toe drop than different sneakers on our checklist, which helps take extra stress off your heel and can (hopefully) relieve among the ache that comes with the situation.

Past that, it’s a really well-cushioned, supportive sneaker, with two items of agency foam on both facet to assist maintain your foot aligned whilst you’re on the transfer. One SELF staffer considers the Adrenaline her “workhorse” sneaker, explaining that she wears her pair for all the things however pace coaching: “I overpronate whereas I run, and these give me the help I wanted to construct up my mileage pain-free.”

Greatest for Extensive Toes: New Stability 1540 v4

In the event you’re able to embrace the dad shoe development (which is actually simply an excuse to put on tremendous cozy strolling sneakers), New Stability is a good model to browse. Designed to offer most construction, consolation, and movement management (to stop rolling), the 1540 V4 will help maintain flat ft completely satisfied—all whereas assembly your normcore aspirations.

Bonus: It is available in three widths, so in the event you typically wrestle to discover a shoe with sufficient room within the toe field, we extremely suggest giving this one a strive.

Greatest for Standing All Day: Asics GT-1000 13

A earlier iteration of the GT-1000 gained a Sneaker Award final yr, wowing our tester with how cozy it felt—even for hours at a time. “These are very gentle, breathable, and springy, and mould to your foot effortlessly. My finicky arches liked them,” they stated. The GT-1000 13 is much more structured, because of some new stability options within the midsole.

This pair of sneaks is right for standing all day: As SELF has beforehand reported, it’s necessary on your footwear to offer sufficient help (often within the type of sturdy, stiff insoles) in the event you’re going to be in your ft for lengthy durations of time. Whether or not you’re headed to a live performance or working a protracted shift, the GT-1000 13 will assist forestall foot fatigue and ache.

Greatest for Strolling Lengthy Distances: Eager WK500

Eager’s WK500s have a curved sole, which is extra frequent in trainers and offers these strolling sneakers a particular, rocker-like form. The impact? Fixed motion. One SELF staffer, who logged severe steps sporting the earlier version (the WK400s) over a number of years, particularly appreciated the curved sole whereas she was speeding to sort out a number of errands round her neighborhood.

“I’m a reasonably quick walker as it’s, however I really feel like I’ve tiny jetpacks strapped to my ft once I put on these sneakers,” she says. “When you begin transferring, they actually enable you to construct up and keep your momentum.” The up to date WK500 weighs practically two ounces much less, which provides to that light-on-your-feet feeling.

Greatest for Strolling and Operating: Nike Construction 25

Alicia Canzanese, DPM, ATC, a board-certified podiatrist, athletic coach, and former collegiate monitor athlete, beforehand really helpful the Nike Construction to SELF, noting that it’s a light-weight and supportive stability shoe (which means it’s designed with help by the arch to stop pronation). That’s a uncommon combo to come back by, and it’s the primary cause why this sneaker is nice for strolling and working—it’ll really feel sturdy whilst you stroll, however gained’t weigh you down once you decide up the tempo.