Feet hurting? Check out my list of the best walking shoes for college below!
Walking about 2-4 miles on campus a day in the humid heat was part of the culture shock that I had during my freshmen year.
I learned from my trip to Washington D.C. not to wear Converse for long-distance walking, but finding the best walking shoes for college was a hassle at first. What made things worse was that I was not used to walking that much.
After lots of testing, I’ve found these to be the 10 of the best walking Shoes for college!
10 of the Best Walking Shoes for College
Table of Contents
Throughout college, I did intense research before I bought any pair of shoes. Shoes can be so expensive, especially when you’re on a budget.
I also learned again that just because a shoe is cute does not mean they belong on your feet when you have to walk a couple of miles.
So here are all the shoes that I think are the best shoes for walking on college campuses and overall good walking shoes for college.
What To Look For in College Walking Shoes
Comfort
First and foremost I recommend finding shoes that are known for their comfortability. When you first buy shoes, you’ll need to break them in but comfort should be number one for any walking shoe. You will see and read the word, “Comfort” so many times in this blog post (and overall my blog) because to be comfortable is my main goal.
Affordability
I personally do not like to spend more than $100 on shoes. I would shop for shoes on Poshmark, which I no longer recommend because— *sighs* most of the shoes that are “barely worn” have been worn for a while and the cushion for the heels aren’t as great as buying new.
I recommend buying shoes on sale or using student discounts, which is what I did all throughout college. I did go over my budget a few times when I really wanted a pair of shoes that were worth it.
Material
Finding the perfect material is vital for looking for your college walking shoes. I personally look for shoes that have a breathable type of fabric for my shoes because I just like them. I don’t like buying shoes that feel tight or bulky either. Lightweight material is what you should look for in a walking shoe. The heavier the shoe, the more work your legs and feet have to do.
Overall: any shoe designed for running or walking. When looking for shoes, I always looked up “Adidas running shoes” or “Nike running shoes” because there are designed for long walking distances.
10 Walking Shoes For College
1. Adidas Cloudfoam Pure Shoes
Adidas’s Cloudfoam Pure Sneakers are top on my list due to their design.. Running shoes typically are more comfortable for walking for long distances from my experience.
I also love the design of the Cloudfoam because they are not bulky, which is the main thing you should avoid at all costs with walking shoes. The Cloudfoam also comes in several colors and variations that you can find a pair for sure for walking on campus.
2. Adidas Ultraboost
Adidas Ultraboost collection runs a bit pricey, but they are WORTH IT. I love the multiple designs and colors that Adidas has for these shoes, but they have such great support.
They are also so plush, but can also feel heavy at times. I recommend them because of the breathable fabric and comfort. However, I do not recommend wearing these on a rainy day. Trust me, don’t do it.
The Ultraboost collection has tons of amazing designs. I’m willing to go over my budget for these shoes because of how great they look and also how everyone loves them in every review I’ve read.
3. Adidas Edge Lux
So I also walked A LOT when I studied abroad in Greece (10 miles a day) and one of the girls had these shoes. Once I got home, I bought them and used them for my final two years during college.
I loved these shoes and bought them every time I needed new walking shoes for campus. Their cushion soles were perfect for walking all day on campus for me.
The Edge Lux is the best walking shoes for college students in my opinion.
4. Nike Revolution 5 Running Shoe
I wish I found these shoes earlier. There is an upgrade from my old Nike Tajun Running Shoes. I love not only the design and material of the Nike Revolution 5 but also their comfort. The Nike Revolution 5 Running shoe is so lightweight and comes in so many amazing colors. Definitely recommend them.
5. Nike Tanjun Running Shoes
In Japanese, “Tanjun” means “simple,” according to the Nike website. I can confirm that these simple shoes were some of the best I had. I had these shoes my freshmen year and was one of the tops shoes for college girls that I saw on campus. I loved these shoes so much that I wore them out.
I found them in my closet at home and remember how I literally wore these shoes down. I had no problem with these shoes other than them getting soaking wet during rainy days. These are probably on the top of my best tennis shoes for college students list.
6. PUMA Women’s Pacer Next Cage Sneaker
I couldn’t forget PUMA for my walking shoes for college students list, especially the Pacer Next Cage. Aside from the cute design, I want these shoes for how great the soles feel.
These shoes are great for everyday activities too. However, some reviews say that it might be difficult to get your foot into the shoe and might take some work. But I definitely recommend checking out these shoes.
7. TOMS Canvas Shoes
Another popular shoe on my college campus was Toms. Toms are great slip-on shoes for walking around campus.
Toms are the best walking shoe to slip on to run errands around campus or to just clean your dorm. Here are my favorite pairs of Toms.
8. Birkenstocks
These were super popular on campus. They were one of the first walking shoes for college students that I Iearned about as a freshman. I never heard of them before, but everyone was wearing them during the warmer seasons.
Everyone was so obsessed with these shoes that I felt left out my freshman year.
I recommend them because the knock-off at JCPenney wasn’t as comfortable as the real Birkenstocks I had on during my trip in Greece.
9. Reebok Daily Fit DMX
Another recommendation I have for good walking shoes for college girls is the Reebok DailyFit DMX.
This shoe combines slip-on shoes’ ease of access with walking shoes’ longevity. Plus, it has moving air cushioning which is what you’ll need for long walks.
10. New Balance Fresh Foam Shoe Collection
Okay, I’ve heard that New Balance is slowly coming back as a cool shoe. I always knew them as “Dad shoes.”
But there have a few shoes that people are talking about. I personally want these from New Balance. I added them to this list due to their benefits and great reviews that even convinced me to put them on my “To Buy List.”
Final FAQ:
What shoes are college students wearing?
I went to a more “preppier” university so shoes like Birkenstocks were popular. I didn’t really look at people’s shoes that much. I’m in no way a sneakerhead, but I know that New Balances are slowly coming back and no longer being a middle aged person shoe. I mainly saw Nike and Adidas as popular shoes amongst college students.
What is a walking campus?
A walking campus is a college campus where you have to walk to get to most buildings and classrooms. For example, at LSU, even if you were a guest, you had to walk a lot. Parking is horrible and strict on most walking campuses. You will not be able to park close unless you have certain credentials (e.g. handicap or higher up employee aka Dean or President).
Why, can’t I just bring my car to campus and just drive everywhere?
You can try and get told by campus parking to move, get a ticket, or be blocked by a parking bar. Seriously, you will get a ticket if you try or even towed in some instances. IDK why colleges do that, but most universities have so many people on campus so they have to have some rules about parking.
Are Converse sneakers good for walking?
Like I mentioned in the intro, I learned the hard way walking in D.C. for a whole week in high school. Conserve are cute to wear if your class walk isn’t that long. I remember wearing these freshmen year to my classes that were not far from my dorm. I do not recommend them or any “trendy” shoe for long walking distances (especially Adidas’s SuperStar Shoes OMG don’t) or any shoe that looks or feels bulky. I wore those shoes freshman year once for a full day of walking and couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t stand on my feet because the shoes’ sole is flat. When looking for a pair of walking shoes, look for a pair that is designed for comfort.
That’s all my advice about walking campuses and walking shoes!
This blog post gave you 10 college walking shoes to buy!
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