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Perfect for walking long distances all summer.

We updated this guide in July 2022 to ensure all products were in stock with accurate pricing listed.

Through the summer, whether you're trekking distances on your daily commute, exploring new terrain on a family vacation or running errands, you need a pair of walking sandals that look cute and can keep up with your busy lifestyle — without hurting your feet. By now you probably know that typical flip flops just won't cut it.

Dr. Jordan Metzl M.D., a sports medicine physician at the Hospital For Special Surgery in New York recommends trying out many different walking shoes before buying to find the pair that fits you best. Remember to trust your feet: No matter what the brand claims, the walking sandals must be comfortable for you.

The pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab have a history of testing walking shoes and sneakers, and relied on our related expertise on brand performance, shoe fit and construction to select the best walking sandals to support your arch and stay comfortable all day. These picks are from brands we love and trust, styles with rave reviewers and designs that have innovative and fashionable features.

Keep scrolling to shop the best walking sandals for women then continue reading to learn more expert advice on how to shop for walking sandals to find the most comfortable pair. Going on a trip? Pair these sandals with a travel dress and a fanny pack for the ultimate vacation look!

Vionic makes orthotic shoes, but they're such fashionable designs, you can’t even tell. One tester of the brand says "Vionic shoes keep my feet pain-free all day without having to wear ugly orthotics." These sandals have a super soft microfiber wrapped footbed and rubber outsole with a leather upper. We love that these are available in both medium and wide widths. Offered in multiple styles and shades, these shoes can go from day to night with ease.

This cozy pair of sandals has a sole that is made from the same material as yoga mats to provide extra cushioning while the fabric straps keep your foot in place without irritation. Reviewers have worn these sandals everywhere from Europe to Costa Rica and have given them over 15,000 five-star reviews. Our pros note that these are not orthotic sandals, so other picks would provide more arch support, but we do love the foam cushioning.

These Birkenstock sandals have been around for decades and have a loyal following, including GH Institute General Manager Laurie Jennings who has been buying pairs of these sandals for "over 15 years!" Among 27,000 Amazon reviews, many love that they're available in over 80(!) shades and there's a waterproof style too. The contoured footbed conforms to the shape of your foot, making these sandals comfier with age.

Expert hikers and everyday trailblazers adore these durable hiking sandals from Teva. The contoured footbed is designed to support your arch while providing cushioning to absorb impact, great for uneven terrain. Lisa Bain, Executive Director for Good Housekeeping Health News Room, loved wearing this pair while traveling, saying "even on cobblestone streets, which can kill one's feet and ankles, they were super comfy the whole time." GH Fiber Scientists recommend looking for a durable rubber outsole like this pair for extra grip, but the toe box isn't covered so these are not well suited for more adventurous hikes. Plus, the synthetic and polyester webbing upper is designed to dry quickly. Say goodbye to wet, sweaty feet!

These sandals are a must if you are constantly on the go. The cork and latex footbed is designed to fit your arch without a long break-in period; plus, it's wrapped in suede that will adjust to your specific foot shape. These stylish sandals come in nearly 40 colors, including sea green, black patent leather and silver. Whether you are touring the sights all day or dancing all night, these luxe walking sandals will keep up with whatever adventure you have planned next.

From water parks to river exploring, these sandals are up for any water adventure. Keen’s “Metatomical Footbed” design is meant to provide arch support and comfy cushioning. Since the rubber sole extends upward, your toes are kept secure and protected, which is an absolute must for hiking sandals according to our GH Lab pros. The bungee lace detail ensures a snug fit and the polyester upper is waterproof so these sandals won’t weigh you down after any water activities. We love that these are machine washable, too!

Plantar fasciitis is a type of foot pain that is caused when the tissue connecting your heel and toes becomes inflamed. Our pros appreciate that these walking sandals by Dr. Scholl's feature a contoured midsole that keeps the pressure off your arches – very important to look for in plantar fasciitis shoes. With a tiny wedge and adjustable straps, reviewers rave that these are the "best summer shoes, hands down!"

Platform sandals are a comfy way to get added height without the stress on your arches from a heel. This pick from Teva is a favorite of GH Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Product Reviews Analyst, Jodhaira Rodriguez. She loves that the straps are "super adjustable," ideal for narrow or wider feet and it offers 2 inches of additional lift. One Textiles Lab analyst raves that these are her "go to summer sandals" as they're comfortable even after walking multiple miles with a stylish appearance.

When walking for exercise, opt for a style that will keep your foot stabilized. This pick has a lightweight EVA molded footbed and a durable outsole, which is why Kaitlyn Pirie, GH Senior Editor in the Good Housekeeping Health Newsroom, loves this pair. She raves that they don't cause blisters and have excellent traction on uneven terrain.

Whether you have bunions, hammertoe, or just wider feet, these slides are designed to be comfy. Coming in either narrow, medium, or wide, there is a pair meant for your feet. Our pros were impressed that there are three adjustable straps to ensure a snug fit. The orthotic footbed is designed for support while the rubber outsole makes walking in them a breeze.

When you have flat feet, you want sandals that are the same width of your feet, fit your arch to provide proper alignment and have a deep heel cup to prevent ankle rolling. This pick from Birkenstock checks off every box. The anatomically designed latex cork sole will break in to match your foot, but will require a bit of time to get a perfect fit. Once they fit though, you'll never want to take 'em off. One tester raves that "they're comfortable for walking and versatile with tons of style options."

If you feel like you're swimming in your sandals, GH footwear pros recommend looking for sandals designed for women with narrow feet. These sandals by Munro are available in a whopping six different widths, including super slim and narrow. With a velcro ankle strap, these sandals stay in place when on the move. The brand and online reviewers recommend ordering half a size up, as they tend to run a bit small.

The Textiles Lab tests all types of shoes, including sneakers, heels, sandals and boots. Our pros will even saw shoes in half, so that podiatrists can analyze the footbed to see if they give proper arch support. While walking sandals isn’t a category we test regularly, our pros have tried out multiple of the styles in this round-up first hand. Using our expertise on brand performance, shoe fit and construction, we were able to find styles that will support your arches and look great for all day wear.

After interviewing multiple podiatrists and physicians, we continue to hear that comfort should be prioritized when shopping for shoes. Innovative features just don’t matter if your feet hurt! Below are features to look for when shopping for walking shoes to ensure they’ll not only feel comfy, but stay in excellent shape wear after wear.

✔️ Adjustable straps: For the best fit — and one that's customizable as your feet swell through the day — you'll want adjustable straps. Some styles have one adjustable strap, but adjustable straps on the back and across the top help the sandals fit even better.

✔️ Contoured footbed: Many fashion sandals have a completely flat footbed, but for sandals that you'll wear walking all day, choose footbeds with arch support and cushioning materials like foam.

✔️ Durable materials: Leather is pricier than syntethic materials, but it tends to last well over time while feeling soft and supple. When it comes to athletic styles, nylon is an excellent option.

✔️ Width: If you struggle to find shoes that fit well, look for styles with multiple width options such as wide and narrow.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has been a leading expert on footwear for years. Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst. She’s been at Good Housekeeping for over three years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for walking shoes, workout shoes and running shoes testing over 50 different sneakers. With a degree in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience, particularly focused on athletic wear.