6 Best Walking Shoes for Heavy Walkers

By Paul Freary 

Walking is one of the most effective, accessible and easiest forms of exercise, particularly for individuals who carry a little extra weight. It’s gentle on the joints, can be done anywhere, and doesn’t require special equipment other than a good pair of shoes.

However, not all running shoes are ideal for walking, especially if you need extra support, durability, and comfort.

Here are what I think are the most important things to look for in a pair of shoes.

Cushioning and Shock Absorption

Every step generates impact, and for heavier individuals, this force is amplified. Look for running shoes with enhanced cushioning that distributes pressure evenly across the foot. A supportive midsole will protect the heels, knees, and hips, reducing discomfort during longer walks.

Stability
 
General stability in footwear is a consideration for people carrying extra weight. Stable footwear helps keep the feet in proper alignment, reducing stress on joints and lowering the risk of injury. A firm heel counter and a wider base underfoot are especially valuable for added steadiness.

Cushioning, Comfort and Durability

While plush cushioning feels nice at first, it can compress quickly under greater weight. Look for shoes that provide resilient cushioning, soft enough to absorb impact but firm enough to last. Premium running shoes often use foams designed to withstand more miles without flattening out.

Wider Fit and Roomy Toe Box

Feet can naturally spread more under heavier loads, so width options are important. Many brands offer wide or extra-wide fittings that reduce pinching and hotspots. A roomy toe box allows toes to splay naturally, improving balance and comfort on longer walks.

With these points in mind, here are my selections of shoes that work well for walking for heavier people.

Walking Shoes for Heavy Walkers

1. Brooks – Glycerin Max

One of my favourite shoes for anyone and any use scenario, the Brooks Glycerin Max, yet again continues Brooks’ ability to deliver in terms of fit, feel and overall comfort.

In this maxxed-out model, Brooks has improved the midsole cushioning yet again to a new Tuned DNA material. This nitrogen-infused foam is now produced by using differently sized cells in both the heel and forefoot. In the heel, larger cells help give the shoe great cushioning and shock-absorbing quality. This is evidence in walking as well as running. In the forefoot, smaller cells give a springy, more responsive feel, which, when combined with the deep forefoot rocker, gives the foot a smooth and efficient toe-off that is clearly noticeable when walking, encouraging the foot along the road.

I love the fit of Brooks shoes generally, and the Glycerin Max is no exception, being probably the best in the range. The engineered mesh upper is breathable and plush around the foot, with lots of neat padding in the tongue, ankle collar and Achilles area, which welcomes the foot and makes it a great place to be for long walks and day-to-day activity.

With such deep cushioning, shoes need a rocker shape simply to allow that big stack to flex and roll more efficiently when running and walking. The Glycerin Max has a rather aggressive rocker in the forefoot, but I quickly became used to it and found it very effective.

I have also had great success with the Glycerin Max in recommending it to people, especially those who are heavier, who have found the cushioned feel welcoming and durable, and the overall geometry of the shoe effective in keeping their feet balanced and comfortable over longer periods of time.

For the heavier person, the Brooks Glycerin Max makes a great choice as a walking shoe.

2. New Balance – Fresh Foam X More v5

The New Balance answer to maximum cushioning is the Fresh Foam X More v5. As its name suggests, it simply offers more cushioning and is the brand’s deepest cushioned shoe in its range.

The Fresh Foam X midsole is New Balance’s most effective and efficient cushioning material for training shoes, and thanks to its good ratio of weight to cushioning ability, it’s a great choice in a walking shoe for heavier people.

The deep midsole has a slightly broader base than other shoes from the brand, and that more flared design naturally adds some stability to the shoe. The rocker isn’t as aggressive as some in this lineup, but it suits the overall feel of the shoe here and works very well, providing a smooth ride when walking.

I particularly like the upper of the More v5; the feel of the mesh is more closely knitted, giving the shoe a premium fit and feel with neat, plush padding and a welcoming fit around my feet.

The shoe is true-to-size in terms of most New Balance models, as well as being available in width fittings. As is often the case, you may need to seek the width options out online.

I also like the overall styling of the More v5, it’s a little more subdued and subtle, looking less like a regular running shoes and makes wearing it on a day-to-day basis a little more inconspicuous; a feeling that has been popular with many people I’ve recommended it to.

In summary, it’s a great-fitting shoe for walking for heavier people and those wanting a shoe for regular daily use.

3. Saucony – Triumph 23

I have been a fan of the Saucony Triumph for several years, the shoe always offering a high stack of cushioning that delivers in a plush and durable manner. The last few versions of the Triumph have moved to the brand’s PWRRUN PB foam, the same cushioning material used in their faster, racing shoes.

While the formulation of the foam is tweaked a little for this, the daily use training shoe, it still benefits from the soft and highly energised feel of the material and provides a great shoe for walking, especially for heavier people.

While at 37mm deep, the cushioning in the Triumph 23 is considered high, although not as high as some of the maxxed out shoes featured here, it still manages to provide a great feel under the foot and keep stable.

A gentle rocker aids forefoot flexibility and encourages a smooth roll from the foot when walking. On toe-off, the PWRRUN PB foam adds a little spring and together makes the shoe feel a little more engaging.

The fit is true to size in terms of both length and width, and I find the engineered mesh upper to have a nice degree of stretch, giving it a little wiggle room and making it a little more forgiving and accommodating for a wide range of foot shapes.

Another nice bonus with the Triumph 23 is the outsole. I find it provides good coverage of the shoe and provides excellent traction on a variety of surfaces. While it’s not a feature that is particularly called out by Saucony, it’s very effective and durable.

The Saucony Triumph 23 is a very comfortable and durable shoe that I think makes a great choice for walking for the heavier person.

4. Mizuno – Wave Sky 9

Mizuno, while a very established brand, continues to produce great shoes, yet they often go undiscovered. I think the quiet evolution approach often contributes to this, where other brands shout about great leaps in technical features. Nevertheless, the latest update to the Wave Sky is a model that needs to be tried to fully appreciate.

The cushioning of the Wave Sky 9 has been increased by a whopping 6mm since the previous generation model, transforming the shoe into a super-stacked, highly cushioned model that’s more than capable of handling the demands of the heavier person for walking and daily use.

Cushioning is now a double layer of nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT foam, a soft and springy foam that also proves very durable. The brand’s familiar Wave enhances the stability of the cushioning and again adds to its effectiveness for the heavier person.

The stretchy, woven upper fits true to size and hugs the foot without being restrictive and manages to be plush and highly breathable, making it good for all-day wear and extended periods of time on the feet.

More than anything, I like the general fit and feel of the Mizuno Wave Sky 9 on the feet and have found it a very popular shoe for heavier walkers. It’s a shoe that ticks all the boxes in a shoe suiting this criteria and manages to do so in a neat overall, discreet package.

5. HOKA – Bondi 9

The HOKA Bondi is a shoe that is often recommended as a good walking shoe for anyone. The Bondi 9 is no different, and its recent improvements and revisions have made it an even more suitable shoe, particularly for the heavier person.

The main updates in the Bondi 9 over the previous model are the increased cushioning thickness and new midsole cushioning foam. The depth of cushioning is up by a couple of mm, but it’s the use of a new super-critical EVA that really stands out. The super-critical foaming process makes the shoe a little lighter, feels more cushioned and adds to the durability of the shoe’s cushioned feel.

Of course, the familiar HOKA rocker-shaped geometry is present, and that promotes a great forward motion when walking. This is a great feature for the heavier person as it encourages a smooth forward motion. The new midsole is also more durable, so better able to cope with the increased demands of more weight.

The Bondi 9 fits true to size compared to other HOKA models, but is a little slimmer in the midfoot, so many people might be advised to try before you buy and opt for the wide fit version.

The upper is a rather simple design, but it feels nice around the foot and being a HOKA, the shoe is available in a wide variety of colour options, so it’s a versatile option that’s suitable for many people, especially heavier people, for day-to-day use and walking.

6. Puma – MagMax 

Another super-stacked shoe and perhaps another shoe that flies under the radar a little is the Puma MagMax. Its 46mm deep cushioning is one of the highest around, but thanks to a broad base, it provides a stable footing and is great for the heavier person.

The nitrogen-infused foam is a soft and almost bouncy material, and here in such a deep stack, it manages to do a great job and remain super durable.

For me, what makes the Mag Max a great choice for walking is the combination of a high stack and an 8mm drop from the heel to toe. This manages to give the foot a little extra forward roll and makes for a smooth ride and feel.

Combine this with the deep cushioning on heel strike, and the shoe just soaks up impact and guides the foot along its way in a no-nonsense manner. The midsole cushioning is also a little broader, and this wide base adds great stability to the shoe, adding to its suitability for the heavier person.

The woven upper has a nice stretch-like quality to it, and this helps the shoe accommodate various foot shapes without compromising on comfort. The Mag Max 2 fits true to size in terms of both length and width, so you shouldn't encounter any issues here.

A bonus with Puma shoes is the use of the Puma Grip rubber on the outsole. This rubber material has managed to become the industry standard for great grip and traction on a variety of surfaces, and good coverage on offer here makes it a great shoe for walking and daily use.