Walking Shoes Vs. Cross-Training Shoes

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What To Look For

Cross-trainers are, as the name implies, the jack-of-all-trades in athletic shoes. These shoes are designed to be comfortable and durable for just about any purpose, although they are optimized for no purpose in particular. Walking shoes, on the other hand, are optimized for power walkers. If you are a power walker or a person who walks long distances on city streets every day, you want walking shoes for their tailored performance.

Common Pitfalls

Many people buy cross-trainers as a general purpose street shoe, but this is not always the best choice. If you plan to play a little basketball, do some running or occasionally go trail hiking, the cross-trainer is the right shoe for you. However, the cross-trainer is heavier than the walking shoe and offers more cushion than someone walking on level terrain needs. For everyday comfortable street wear, walking shoes are better.

Where To Buy

If you have a set of feet that corresponds well to standard sizes, order either cross-training shoes or walking shoes online and put the Internet's combined product selection and bargain-hunting power to work. However, if you are one of those people who is a size 10 for one shoe company and a size 10 1/2 for another, you should go to a brick-and-mortar shoe company to guarantee a good fit and avoid the hassle of mailing a bad fit back to the company.

Cost

Athletic cross-training shoes typically cost in the $50 to $90 range (2010 prices), while cross-trainers made by hiking boot companies are more expensive, in the $100 to $130 range. Some walking shoes are as cheap as $30, but are more often between $40 to $70. More rugged hiking boot-style walking shoes, which are usually made at least partially of leather, are in the $100 to $130 range.