Can You Wear New Balance Running Shoes for Walking? Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Walking Shoes, Apparel, and Gear Can You Wear New Balance Running Shoes for Walking? By Wendy Bumgardner Wendy Bumgardner Wendy Bumgardner is a freelance writer covering walking and other health and fitness topics and has competed in more than 1,000 walking events. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 04, 2020 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Michele Stanten Reviewed by Michele Stanten Michele Stanten is a walking coach, certified group fitness instructor, and running coach. She is the author of Walk Off Weight and The Walking Solution. Learn about our Review Board Print LeventKonuk / Editorial RF / Getty Images Walkers wonder whether New Balance running shoes are good for fitness walking. Shouldn't you wear New Balance walking shoe models rather than their running shoe models for walking? While there are differences between running shoes and walking shoes, many models of running shoes are excellent choices. Walkers have been wearing New Balance running shoes for decades and many find it their go-to brand. Walkers need shoes that flex in the forefoot and they do not need as much heavy cushioning as is often found in comfort shoes or cushioned running shoes. But many New Balance running shoe designs are excellent for training and walking longer distances such as the 10K, half-marathon, and marathon. You will also benefit from these designs if you use the run/walk technique for races and charity runs. Why Not Choose New Balance Walking Shoe Designs While New Balance also produces shoes they label as walking shoes, if you walk briskly you will probably prefer their running shoes. Shoe companies generally put their best technology into their running shoe models while the walking shoes lag behind. Often the walking shoes are not flexible enough for fitness walking, especially for long distance. While New Balance has some athletic walking shoe designs, their running shoes are often a better choice for brisk walking. Speed up With the Right Walking Shoes Features New Balance has a full range of styles for walkers who need motion control, neutral lightweight training shoes, stability shoes, and trail shoes. They also have a few advantages. First, very few athletic shoes come in widths, but New Balance has shoes in a full range of widths: x-narrow, narrow, medium, wide, x-wide, xx-wide. These are available in shoes for men, women, and children. New Balance lasts are also an advantage. Finding the right fit goes beyond the size and width of a shoe. The shoe last also matters. A shoe last is the form on which a shoe is constructed and determines its shape. New Balance uses a variety of different lasts for its running and walking shoes. The lasts differ in heel width, toe box width, toe box depth, and instep height. New Balance provides a chart of their shoe lasts so you can check which models may be best for your feet. Made in the USA New Balance Styles Most athletic shoes produced by other companies are manufactured overseas, but New Balance has five manufacturing plants in Maine and Massachusetts and a commitment to purchase materials from domestic suppliers. They label their shoe models "Made in the USA" when the domestic value is at least 70 percent. They produce over 4 million pairs of shoes each year that carry this label. What to Look for in New Balance Running Shoes You can check shoes to ensure they meet the criteria for good fitness walking shoes. Flexible Sole Walkers need shoes that can bend in the forefoot. If you are looking at a New Balance shoe at the store, remove any shape-holding inserts and see if the shoe bends or if it is stiff and inflexible. Low Heel Drop Some running shoes have built-up heels for stability for runners who strike with the forefoot. Walkers strike with their heel, so they need a minimal heel drop. Often this will be listed in shoe features and you should look for a heel drop of 8 millimeters or less. Ask the shoe clerk for a low heel drop shoe. No Flared Heel Because walkers strike with their heel, they don't want a flared heel. A slightly undercut heel is best, but hard to find on running shoes. Look for shoes with minimal heel flare. Good Fit You must be fitted at a serious running shoe store. If you are lucky enough to have a New Balance shoe store in your area, that is also a great place to shop for fitness walking shoes. The staff of those stores can give you a good assessment and fitting. A big advantage of New Balance is that they have a full range of models and widths and you should be able to find the perfect shoe for your gait and foot shape. Top Picks for Walking Shoes New Balance running shoe designs are usually among those featured in each of the categories for the best shoes for different walking needs: Motion control shoes: These shoes are designed for people who overpronate. Stability shoes: These are designed for men and women who need more support and they are more durable. Cushioned shoes: If you walk long distances or on hard surfaces, cushioned shoes can help prevent fatigue. Neutral performance training shoes: If you have a normal gait, these shoes are lightweight but just right for walking briskly. Racewalking shoes: These shoes are for those who use the racewalking technique and need a very flexible and light shoe. 6 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kong PW, Bagdon M. Shoe preference based on subjective comfort for walking and running. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2010;100(6):456-62. doi:10.7547/1000456 Pollard CD, Ter har JA, Hannigan JJ, Norcross MF. Influence of Maximal Running Shoes on Biomechanics Before and After a 5K Run. Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(6):2325967118775720. doi:10.1177/2325967118775720 New Balance. New Balance and Manufacturing in the US. Sun X, Yang Y, Wang L, Zhang X, Fu W. Do Strike Patterns or Shoe Conditions have a Predominant Influence on Foot Loading? J Hum Kinet. 2018;64:13-23. doi:10.1515/hukin-2017-0205 Malisoux L, Chambon N, Delattre N, Gueguen N, Urhausen A, Theisen D. Injury risk in runners using standard or motion control shoes: a randomised controlled trial with participant and assessor blinding. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(8):481-7. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-095031 Holowka NB, Wallace IJ, Lieberman DE. Foot strength and stiffness are related to footwear use in a comparison of minimally- vs. conventionally-shod populations. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3679. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21916-7 By Wendy Bumgardner Wendy Bumgardner is a freelance writer covering walking and other health and fitness topics and has competed in more than 1,000 walking events. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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