I live in a walkable neighborhood, where most of what I need is steps away from my front door. But for the past 2 years, whenever I've ventured out of my little bubble to places that require miles of walking, I've always brought along my Rykä Devotion X sneakers.
These are the best walking shoes for women under $100 you're going to find anywhere. They have cloudlike cushioning that doesn't feel too squishy, a breathable knit upper that stretches to fit wider widths, and other supportive design features you'll usually only find with walking shoes upwards of $150.
Last year I wore mine on a 10-day trip across 3 cities in Europe, and even though I had more fashionable picks in my backpack, I kept returning to my Rykäs. Especially on the slick, uneven cobblestone alleyways, these helped me keep my footing.
Fitness gear expert Rachael Schultz first put me onto the Devotion X sneakers. Her foot shape is different than mine (I'm slightly narrow with a second toe longer than my big toe, while Rachael is wider and more even in the forefoot), so it speaks volumes that we both loved how they fit. That's why I recommend these to anyone with achy arches who's racking up more than 10,000 steps a day.
They are 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.
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 Rykä sneakers have a deep heel cup that's padded with EVA proprietary 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.
Our style editor Samantha Crozier also found the Devotion Xs to be great recovery shoes. "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," she writes.
"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."
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. 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.
"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," writes Rachael. The way to tell if you supinate is to check soles of your most-worn shoes. If they look more worn down at the outer edges, you likely need a more rigid pair like the GEL-Nimbus 28s.
The bottom line
The Rykä Devotion X Walking Shoe doesn't just 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, then these shoes will help your feet feel more stable and supported on long walks. The price is hard to beat, and after 2 years of steady wear, mine are still in great shape.
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