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Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
The allure of a "walkable neighborhood" is that everything I need is steps away from my front door. However, choosing the best walking shoes for women to get me there comfortably means taking a few things into consideration. Proper arch support is key, as well as extra heel cushioning — not just chunky soles that are only for show — plus, they ought to be noticeably lightweight. Our team has found that the Rykä Devotion X manages all this, and even better: they cost $80.
By walking for over 50 miles in 25 different walking shoes, freelance author Rachael Schultz named the Rykä Devotion X her favorite affordable option. They're designed for fitness walking, which makes them better for your stride than running shoes. Running shoes often have a meta-rocker that propels your foot forward, meaning your step will be out of rhythm with your gait if you're walking in them all day. A proper walking shoe will instead stabilize you in your natural gait.
They're cushioned around the heel cups with extra foam padding.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
If you feel weak in the ankles after a long day of walking, you need a shoe that gradually builds support throughout its footbed. These sneakers have a deep heel cup that's padded with EVA propietary foam that really responds to the shock of stepping onto concrete. I like that the drop in the heel is matched by the insole padding that lifts my arches, and finally tapers out in the roomy toe box with a well-ventilated mesh upper.
They're a place of active recovery for sore feet.
Samantha Crozier/Business Insider
"I'm not usually a sneaker person. In fact, I reached for these because my feet were aching and exhausted from testing for my true passion — an article on the most comfortable heels. Because these are specifically designed for walking, the superior shock absorption took away any fatigue my feet would usually feel after strolling a few miles. By far my favorite feature of these is the layers of foamy padding on the outsole. It actually feels like walking on pillows — and each step is so bouncy these are downright buoyant. The perfect shoe for recovery after testing uncomfortable heels that don't make the cut for my article." — Samantha Crozier, style editor
The removable insoles demonstrate how much arch support and heel cushioning goes into the design.
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They hug your foot and fit true to size.
The Devotion X Walking Shoes come in standard and wide widths. And because the material is so flexible, our team of style editors with both narrow and wide feet were able to find a comfortable fit. My size 8 foot is narrow and I like to lace my sneakers loosely to keep my blood circulating, but they still slip on and stay on without much adjusting. Even when your feet swell in the heat, these shoes can conform to any changes in size and shape.
Rachael Schultz/Business Insider
"After a 3-mile walk, I found these shoes to be incredibly comfortable. The knit upper is very soft and formed to my foot shape, so these shoes felt like a light hug but not at all tight. They were also extremely breathable and kept my feet from building up heat after multiple miles," writes Rachael.
Cons to consider
"The main downsides are that if you underpronate (supinate), the stability design for these shoes might throw off your biomechanics," continues Rachael. "Also, while the construction matches the price point here, these shoes aren't the most durable with minimal reinforcements in the knit upper, so if you wear through your shoes quickly, a budget option might not equal value for you."
The bottom line
The Rykä Devotion X Walking Shoe doesn't only earn our approval — it also boasts the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association. If you suffer from sore arches, weak ankles, and a step that rolls inward, these help will your feet feel more stable and supported. Our team especially agreed that their heel cushioning is their strongest point, but the knit upper isn't thick enough for regular hard wear. Still, we rarely see a thoughtfully engineered sneaker like this priced under $100.
