We've Got Your Best Shoes for Walking on Concrete

Comfort Shoes, Walking Shoes - By Ed Forteau on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 09:58

When you're walking on concrete, you could be doing any number of things. You might be strolling with your dog through the neighborhood, or you might be bar-hopping during your best friend's bachelor party. So many situations in life call for a good pair of shoes for walking on concrete that it's easy to forget we could all use a good pair of walking shoes. In this article, we'll show you how to find them.

The first place to start is with your criteria. Before you buy a good pair of shoes, you need to know exactly what you want out of them. We humbly submit some of the following as ideal criteria for the best shoes for walking on concrete:

1.  Comfort. Concrete is flat, hard, and sometimes even cold. Your shoes needs to work against this disadvantage by fitting well with your foot and providing a layer of comfort between you and the ground. What if you have a spontaneous Saturday with an old friend and your shoes don't feel good? You'll be in pain all day and will have blisters all weekend. This is a no-no.

2.  Expression. No, you don't have to make your shoes into a work of art - that's heading into some cheesy territory - but you will want to buy shoes that reflect your personal style and project the image you want to project.

3.  Durability. It's one thing to use your shoes for walking from your car to your house; it's another to spend a lot of time in your concrete-walking shoes. You need something that can take a pounding day after day, year after year.

Other factors might be important to you, like your budget or price range, but keep in mind that in the case of shoes, you often "get what you pay for." You'd be betraying criteria #3 if you went for the cheaper option that won't last as long, and it's better not to have to buy a new pair of concrete walking shoes after three months.

Now that we know what we're looking for, it's time to try out a few brands.  Here is our list of the best shoes for walking on concrete:

The Dansko Kari (Women) - A non-heel shoe that features a casual brown color for everyday errands as well as professional settings, the Kari is a great choice for women who need a comfortable and stylish shoe without any frills. It's easy, it's simple, and it simply works for a variety of "concrete walking" situations.

The KEEN Torino Lace (Men) - Waterproof leather helps improve durability despite the weather, and the casual look can go great with an ordinary shirt and shorts or a more casual/professional look.

The Mephisto Fitco (Men) - Mephisto's Fitco brings upper scale style to a casual shoe that looks as natural at the restaurant as it does when you venture a little bit off the beaten path.

Chameleon Arc Stretch from Merrell (Women) - Active women could use a good casual shoe that doesn't sacrifice comfort at all - the Chameleon Arc Stretch from Merrell definitely fits the bill.

MBT Shoes (Men & Women) – These are rocker bottom shoes that work as casual or athletic shoes.  They are a bit on the expensive side, but are a great shoe if you are on your feet all day, or have back pain.

Naot Shoes (Men & Women) - Our Top Shoe Brand for walking on concrete is Naot.  These attractive shoes require no break-in period.  They come with an insert that forms to your feet over time.  They are very light weight, and cushioning from the insole and midsole greatly reduces the impact that occurs when walking on concrete (or any other hard surface) like no other shoe on the market.

You can find any of these shoes at our favorite shoe retailer.  Click the link to go there now.  This week click the link and save an additional $10 on any $100 shoe purchase with our favorite shoe retailer. Offer only available to visitors of WalkingShoesReview.com (online orders only).  Offer may end at any time, without notice.

The best shoes for walking on concrete are the ones that match both your personality and your needs. Be ready for your next concrete-walking situation - whether the concrete takes you to your garage, an antiques fair, or to the restaurant.