Best walking shoes for spring hikes in 2024

The best walking shoes are flexible, comfortable and breathable – but they don’t need to cost a fortune. One of the cheapest brands in our member survey landed a customer score of 82%.

Four of the top five brands cost less than £100 a pair, according to members, but Decathlon Quechua walking shoes are by far the best value. Members paid £44 on average for shoes from the sporting retailer, and it was rated third out of 19 brands in the survey.

However, two walking-shoe brands scored higher: Grisport (86%) and Meindl (84%). But are these brands worth the extra cost? Meindl's shoes are around triple the price of Decathlon Quechua's. Read on to find out.

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Best walking shoes – as rated by Which? members

Walking shoes are great for the drier months as an alternative to weighty walking boots, which are necessary when it’s wet underfoot. See the table below for the brands that members rated highly.

Best walking shoes overall by brand

Grisport walking shoes, 86%

Member average price paid: £81

A recurring comment from wearers of Grisport shoes was how comfortable they were from the get-go: ‘No break-in period needed,’ said a few. While walking shoes aren’t typically designed for harsh weather conditions, a few members mentioned they’d worn theirs in all weathers and the waterproofing had never let them down. With such feedback, it’s no surprise that it topped the table. Grisport is not the cheapest brand at £81 per pair (what members paid on average), but it’s far from the priciest (Ecco, £155). With four-star ratings across almost every category, from fit to breathability and value for money, Grisport walking shoes are an excellent investment.

Verdict: Top-of-the-pack quality at middle-of-the-pack prices

Shop Grisport walking shoes at Cotswold Outdoor, Amazon or direct at Grisport

Meindl walking shoes, 84%

Member average price paid: £137

Meindl walking shoes are pricey but, as one member put it, ‘'While not the cheapest, Meindl has a well-deserved excellent reputation. I have been using mine daily for nearly two years with no sign of deterioration despite being soaked, covered in mud, and used over stony terrain.’ It makes sense that it secured a solid four out of five stars for how durable its footwear is. Plus, it was the only brand to score the full five stars for comfort in the survey – a glowing testament – no doubt helped by its Comfort Fit range, suitable for wide feet. Owners said: ‘Feels like you have a pair of slippers on’. Respondents’ only gripes were that they don’t tend to excel when wet – it scored three stars in this area – although, arguably, walking shoes are better suited to dry conditions, while boots fare better in the rain.

Verdict: Excellent dry-weather footwear, but Grisport is better value

Shop Meindl walking shoes at Cotswold Outdoor, Blacks or Go Outdoors

Note: You can explore styles and stockists directly on Meindl's UK website but you can't purchase their walking shoes here.

Best walking shoes under £50

Decathlon Quechua walking shoes, 82%

Member average price paid: £44

Decathlon Quechua is a third of the price of Meindl, yet still offers decent-quality footwear, according to our members. However, it didn’t score as highly as Meindl across various areas, including shock absorption, comfort and flexibility. But for the price, they performed excellently, especially for fit and grip – which is likely why they gained four out of five stars for value, compared with Meindl’s three stars. One owner said they bought theirs to ‘make do’ until they could find exactly what they were looking for, but ended up sticking with them. They said: ‘They were below budget, but I love them and have stopped looking now’. For £44 on average, you can’t knock them.

Verdict: Brilliant boots on a budget – but Grisport are superior if you’re willing to splash out

Shop Decathlon Quechua walking shoes at Decathlon directly only

Best of the rest

Hotter walking shoes, 81%

Shop Hotter walking shoes at Hotter directly, M&S or Next

Keen walking shoes, 81%

Shop Keen walking shoes at Amazon, Cotswold Outdoor or Go Outdoors

Note: Keen's online store no longer ships to the UK but you can explore all UK stockists on Keen 

Cheap walking shoes under £50

The cheapest brand in our survey was Cotton Traders (£38), but it was the lowest-rated with a 68% customer score. Still, it achieved four stars out of five for value for money. A few members complained that the soles didn’t last long, even after only using them on easy terrain and for short regular walks. Overall, 79% of people were satisfied with their Cotton Traders walking shoes. Comparatively, Karrimor garnered a 76% score and similar star ratings, but 92% of Karrimor shoe owners were satisfied. Karrimor is a little pricier at £43 per pair on average. However, given that Decathlon Quechua shoes are better for fit, grip and water resistance, and aren’t much more at £44, they are your best bet for a cheap-and-cheerful pair.

Decathlon Quechua walking shoes, 82%

Average price paid: £44

Shop Decathlon Quechua walking shoes at Decathlon directly only

Karrimor walking shoes, 76%

Average price paid: £43

Shop Karrimor walking shoes at Karrimor directly, Amazon, or Sports Direct

Hi-Tec walking shoes, 70%

Average price paid: £49

Shop Hi-Tec walking shoes at Go Outdoors, Hi-Tec directly, or Blacks

Regatta walking shoes, 69%

Average price paid: £43

Shop Regatta walking shoes at Amazon, Decathlon, or Regatta directly

Cotton Traders walking shoes, 68%

Average price paid: £38

Shop Cotton Traders walking shoes at Cotton Traders directly