10 Best Walking Shoes for Overweight Men

Finding walking shoes for overweight men is a lot harder than you might expect, and it is not hard to guess why. Overweight walkers need a lot more support and comfort in their day-to-day routines, especially if you are actively running or exercising to try and lose weight again, and that means that specific shoes are far more useful than others. On top of that, the usual requirements still apply to overweight men, so personal preference or particular walking styles can really limit the number of options available to them.

Here are ten of the best walking shoes for overweight men and women that you can buy right now, as well as a short buyer’s guide to help you decide which ones are the best option for you.

View the Best, Below.

• Skechers Men’s Go Walk Evolution Ultra-Impeccable Sneaker
• New Balance Men’s 623 V3 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer
• Skechers Men’s Superior Milford Slip-On Loafer
• Skechers for Work Men’s Felton Slip Resistant Relaxed-Fit Work Shoe
• Nike Men’s Air Monarch IV Cross Trainer
• Skechers Work Sure Track
• New Balance Men’s Made in Us 990 V5 Sneaker
• Skechers Men’s Afterburn M. Fit Wonted Loafer
• Skechers Men’s Expected Gomel Slip-on Loafer
• New Balance Men’s 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer

1. Skechers Men’s Go Walk Evolution Ultra-Impeccable Sneaker

These Go Walk textile sneakers use a reliable synthetic sole to provide greatly improved stability and comfort, with the seamless upper removing any problematic weak points or areas that could snag on things you walk past. The dual elastic panels on the sides give your feet more room to stretch - something that overweight men and women can definitely appreciate - while the knit-based texture details hide plenty of durability. On top of that, a soft padded collar and simple pull-on loop mean that it is very easy to slip these shoes on with no tightening needed. Since they are so lightweight and contain so much cushioning, they can be used as walking or running shoes.

The Go Walk line are some of the best shoes for overweight walkers that need more support both indoors and outdoors but do not want to lose the simplicity of a pull-on shoe or slipper.

2. New Balance Men’s 623 V3 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer

These New Balance trainers are designed for maximum comfort, using a 100% leather upper that contains plenty of injection-molded EVA foam and extra cushioning to keep your feet feeling good. An athletic design and high construction quality mean that you get much better breathability and padding, as well as an improved level of durability to stop the shoes from breaking down quickly. ABZORB impact resistance cushioning backs this up even further by bulking up the cushioning and shock absorption, making fatigue much less of an issue for whoever wears them. Not only that, but the low-top arch means that you still get full mobility, allowing for easier movement on uneven ground.

This is a great choice of trainer for overweight people who want an all-purpose running shoe, giving you great padding options and better comfort as soon as you lace them up

3. Skechers Men’s Superior Milford Slip-On Loafer

These slip-on casual loafers provide a dual-goring inset design and a rear heel-pull tab to make it much easier to wear, removing the hassle of having to loosen or tighten your shoe regularly. A combination of synthetic materials and foam make up the bulk of the body, offering good comfort and protection without hampering your ability to walk properly. This also cuts down on extra weight and makes ventilation easier, meaning that hot days or hard walks get ever so slightly easier to handle. As a shoe for heavy people, there is also a very reliable rubber sole that acts as your protection from tough ground, which will not wear out easily.

4. Skechers for Work Men’s Felton Slip Resistant Relaxed-Fit Work Shoe

These Sketchers shoes are properly padded and reinforced, boasting great comfort and even better durability to make them the perfect option for tough walks. Improved stitching and a straightforward lace-up front closure make it very hard for them to slip off or fall apart while you are wearing them, and the padded collar-and-tongue combination is able to help your feet breathe in bad weather. A mixture of exterior materials leads to extremely simple but effective protection from most conditions, and the soft fabric lining on the inside - as well as the rubber sole - are able to keep your feet happy and away from harm while you walk.

These are simple work shoes that provide plenty of useful features, including the memory foam insoles and the improved rubber outsole - both of which dramatically increase your comfort levels in the long-term.

5. Nike Men’s Air Monarch IV Cross Trainer

These Nike shoes use a leather upper that offers great support and strength, making it much easier for them to endure bad weather and regular use without showing wear and tear. The perforations on the surface act as extra ventilation to keep your feet cool, and the added foam midsole backs this up with much softer steps to make each walk easier than the last. Thanks to the solid rubber outsole design, you also get far better traction on most surfaces, both indoors and out. They are great for a lot of different roles, including walking shoes or exercise gear, and the lightweight nature of the design means that they will not slow you down if you are wearing them for a long time.

This is a great pair of shoes for any overweight people who worry about their shoes becoming too hot or starting to slow them down, since they eliminate both problems at once with some simple design tweaks.

6. Skechers Work Sure Track

These exercise shoes are made with reliable synthetic materials that provide plenty of comfort and utility, as well as a solid rubber sole that can endure a wide range of terrain types and weather conditions. Despite being such a simple design, the smooth and reliable leather is able to stay steady against a variety of hazards, with the simple lace-up closure making them very easy to adjust at any time. Thanks to the FlexSole shock absorbing system, the design can handle sudden impacts well, and the inclusion of perforated panels on the sides gives you much greater breathability in hot or humid weather.

These shoes are easy to put on and give you plenty of comfort-focused benefits to make sure that your feet are kept safe, something that might help a lot if you are currently overweight.

7. New Balance Men’s Made in Us 990 V5 Sneaker

These New Balance sneakers follow a classic design but use updated materials, combining a modern upper with classic lower materials to mix durability and comfort well. The strong rubber outsole and molded footbed give you more underfoot protection and comfort, while the all-day construction means that it will never feel out of place in your schedule no matter when you end up wearing them. Apart from the great design, they also include a very simple internal design that overweight men can fit into quite easily and boast a 50% mesh upper to make cooling or sweat removal far simpler during long and intense exercise routines.

This is a great pair of shoes for taking on unexpected challenges, like long walks or harder parts of your weight loss routines, but they also serve as great casual shoes for your normal day-to-day activities.

8. Skechers Men’s Afterburn M. Fit Wonted Loafer

These sports shoes are designed with a memory foam insole that offers far more comfort for overweight men, using a slip-on closure that does not look like a conventional slip-on shoe. The design takes inspiration from a range of other different walking shoe and running shoe types, keeping the same high quality aspects and mostly-synthetic exterior that you would expect from good exercise shoes. A strong outsole and great heel area provide much better traction, while the perforations in the mesh layer mean that you stay cool for longer and do not need to worry about sweating while you exercise. They are also fairly durable, making them a good long-term choice.

These shoes are simply good at what they do, giving you great running shoes for overweight men and women that do not rely on big gimmicks or specific closure types to feel comfortable.

9. Skechers Men’s Expected Gomel Slip-on Loafer

These slip-on loafers are extremely comfortable and great for staying cool, providing you with extra cushioning thanks to the memory foam used inside. This relaxed fit makes them great shoes for overweight people or good shoes for flat feet, but they are also very soft and flexible, something that can make them appealing to nearly anybody. The low-neck design and simple body make it perfect for getting more motion control and keeping yourself feeling mobile, especially during casual exercises or long walks where you want comfort more than physical protection. Thanks to the elastic in the design, this stretching does not deform the shoe permanently, and it can always go back to normal when you are not wearing it.

These shoes may seem basic, but this makes them one of the best choices of walking shoe for overweight people who need to stay comfortable and move quickly but do not necessarily care about getting more protection that they will not use.

10. New Balance Men’s 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer

These New Balance trainers offer cushioning from every angle, using a New Balance Comfort Insert to create a layer of underfoot memory foam that does not make it hard to move around quickly. The ABZORB heel crash pad reduces fatigue and lessens pain from sudden slips or missteps, while the tough rubber sole gives you all the traction you need in a standard walking shoe. Thanks to the many perforations on the outer surface, as well as the careful use of breathable mesh, you can stay cool in hot weather but will not immediately catch a chill in cold conditions. The dual-density collar foam also helps retain heat when needed, as well as protecting you from debris that could drop into your shoes during runs.

This is another pair of walking shoes for overweight walkers that combines great comfort with an excellent all-round design, making these some of the best shoes for overweight people that might want a jack-of-all-trades option

Buyer’s Guide

Choosing shoes for overweight walkers is not as easy as picking a single brand, especially if you are buying for both overweight men and women. In fact, men and women generally have very different shoe options, and unisex ones are not always a solution to that problem. If you need shoes for overweight walkers (or yourself, if you are overweight), then you need to figure out the best kind of shoe for overweight walkers like the people that you are buying for.

Every walking shoe for overweight people has a particular role or set of features, so finding one of the best may be a case of thinking about what the recipient (even if you are buying for yourself) would want. A running shoe and walking shoe may be similar, for example, but running shoes can offer more shock absorption at the cost of less comfort when you are just standing still.

Comfort

Comfort is everything when it comes to walking shoes for overweight walkers. Not only do overweight walkers often require more arch support and comfort just to get around safely, but their added weight means that their feet are taking a lot more of the pressure. Relieving the fatigue with good support and comfort makes a huge difference.

Walking can cause fatigue, even just casual walking, and that means muscle pains. Walking shoes for overweight walkers need to avoid this problem, as do running shoes, since fatigue makes it very hard for somebody to keep walking. Even if they do keep walking, walking on sore or fatigued muscles can cause temporary damage, or sometimes even permanent walking problems.

Cushioning

Cushioning can come from many places: a removable sock liner or shock absorption layers, for example. The best walking shoes for overweight walkers are the ones that keep them comfortable, so most of the best shoes are the ones that offer the best possible cushioning. The extra weight placed on each shoe while an overweight person is walking means that extra cushioning is almost always necessary.

Sometimes, a rearfoot gel cushioning system is the best idea. Walking shoes with a rearfoot gel cushioning system are often able to give a much softer and more fluid fit, especially if the gel can move to match the person wearing the shoe. Designs like the Asics Gel Venture 6 and Asics Gel Contend 4 are good examples, although, between the Gel Venture 6 and Gel Contend 4, some people may prefer one (like the Asics Gel Contend 4) over the other.

Arch Support

Arch support is any kind of support that focuses on the arch of the foot. Without good arch support, problems like plantar fasciitis start to arise. Considering that plantar fasciitis often results in major pains while walking and sometimes serious medical treatment, it is best to prevent things like plantar fasciitis from happening ahead of time by using good support.

Of course, arch support also needs to fit the person using it. If you are a low-stability walker who needs to be very careful with every step, then using the wrong kind of walking support can cause major problems to your foot development and health. Walking shoe designs often rely on stability: walker or runner, you want to be supported property.

Protection

Comfort and protection are often connected. Shoes for heavy-set people generally need to be more durable, and that sometimes leads to major protection improvements. An EVA midsole, a durable rubber outsole, and sometimes even impact guidance system’ material combinations are all features that can appear, even on walking shoes.

With overweight women and men, it is not always easy to know how much protection is best for their situation. A durable rubber outsole is very common, and an EVA midsole can be easily justified, as can shock absorbing layers. However, most overweight women or men will not need more extreme features unless they desperately want them – it depends on the situation.

A wide toe box is another common sight on some walking shoes, but specific walking shoes for overweight individuals might lack them in case they cause problems when paired with large feet. A removable toe box does not have this problem, just like a removable sock liner, although unlike a sock liner, you also can’t always use every toe box in every shoe that accepts one.

Branding

It is easy to think that the best walking shoes are the ones that everybody promotes, but that is not always the case. For example, the Skechers Men’s Equalizer Persistent Slip-On Sneaker or the Saucony Cohesion might appear a lot during your searches, but it can be promoted as part of an affiliate program. These allow sites to gather profits that they earn from qualifying purchases made through one of their links, so they will push the shoes that give them the most profit or are the best money-maker.

However, branding can impact color options, something that can matter to a lot of people. Some people are very into their color options and will insist that they get shoes of a certain type, which can be for the best if they are under a lot of pressure to try and avoid being singled out if they are working on losing their weight through exercising in public places.

Conclusion

If you are still on the hunt for the best walking shoes to give to somebody who is overweight, remember that even the best walking shoes are not always obvious at first. The extra weight an overweight individual deals with can mean that a certain pair of walking shoes might end up being less effective than you first thought, and even a suitable walking shoe can sometimes struggle if you weigh a lot.

It can help to sometimes look at a full-length review or breakdown of some of the best walking shoes you come across. Even if you do not find answers in the entire full-length piece, you can sometimes leave a reply about specific details (such as info about the forefoot and heel or about motion control) to get answers if you are not sure which walking shoe to pick.

Finding the best is not always about choosing a single option straight away, either. You are allowed to have multiple “best” shoes lined up, but at the end of the day, you just need to choose the best between them at some point. For many people, a large part of finding the best option is by starting with a very broad idea and narrowing it all down, slowly coming closer and closer to the best remaining option as you filter out more things you do not want or need.

Expert Tip

A walking shoe is not a set design: there can be hundreds of individual walking shoe types to choose from, and each walking shoe might offer something completely different, so tracking down the best walking shoes often involves a lot of comparisons.

Did You Know?

A walking shoe does not always have to be used as a walking shoe, and many of them can end up being your best running shoe if they have the right design. The average walking shoe is just casual footwear, so most walking shoes are fairly versatile and multi-purpose.

Sources:

Amazon pages for every shoe

Top 15 Best Walking Shoes for Overweight Walkers 2020