I’m looking for the best pair of comfortable walking shoes to help with all-day comfort, support, and durability while touring Disney parks. I came across this list of walking shoes, from different trusted resources like the New York Times and Wirecutter etc., and the Hoka Bondi 9 and New Balance shoes both caught my attention. Has anyone here used either of them? Which one would you recommend, or is there another model that’s even better?
5 Likes
@mubashir113 why is this thread in site feedback?
1 Like
I am a big New Balance fan. I have tried so many brands, but keep going back to New Balance.
I have tried on Hoka but they didn’t feel right to me.
My wife swears by Sketchers, but I am not a fan.
4 Likes
To clarify: you want shoes, not sandals? Which gender?
1 Like
Same. Go Walk 4 which are difficult to locate these days. 
I need cushioning and flexibility.
My DH had very flat feet - he needed support.
The worst shoes for me were the ones with thick soles and HUGE arch support. 
Altho @ryan, New Balance used to have some cushiony, flexible sole shoes that were great in the parks. Discontinued. 
2 Likes
I moved this thread to the Walt Disney world category.
3 Likes
I’ve had some feet issues in the past. I can walk all day at WDW with my Brooks Ghost series running shoes. (Whatever the current version is.) For added comfort, recently I have been replacing the insoles with special inserts (medium support) that I buy at a running store. They make a huge difference in the fatigue factor. I’ve tried Hokas, but they hurt my arches. My daughter loves her Asics Gel Nimbus running shoes. You can usually find older versions of the Brooks and Asics running shoes on Amazon for less money if you are not picky about colors.
3 Likes
I go back and forth between Hokas, which have a lot of padding but can feel stiff, and Topo Terraventure or Topo UltraRacer—Topo’s trail runner shoe (even tho I am not a trail runner.) The Topo shoes have a wider toe bed but narrower heel, which are a good fit if you need a wider toe bed but don’t have a wide foot.
3 Likes
I too wear Brooks Ghosts. I used to wear Nike but I reached an age that I can no longer wear them for a lot of walking.
4 Likes
Go to a store in your area that specializes in running shoes and carries the brands you are interested in. It will help you immensely. One of my friend convinced me I should get Hoka’s, but after trying them on they just did not feel right. I ended up going with Brooks which have been great for me. You have to find the shoe that is right for you. You will find there are a lot of differences between brands. One of my other Doctor friends is on his feet all day and swear’s by Hoka’s, I swear by Brooks - each one is right for us. A good shoe store will steer you right.
For my Disney vacation shoes I always wear Gore-tex shoes which are water resistant - with the rain storms and water rides I find that important. Any Brooks shoe that says GTX, is Gore-tex upper. I do not know about other brands.
4 Likes
The only way to find the perfect shoes for you is to try them on. It’s a very individual thing and it may be a shoe on some top 10 list, but it feels horrible on your foot. If you have a good running shoe store in your town, I’d start there.
4 Likes
Thanks, everyone! It really sounds like the best approach is to visit a good running shoe store and try on a few different brands instead of ordering based only on reviews.Brooks seems to be getting a lot of love in this thread, especially the Ghost series, but it’s also interesting to see how many people prefer Hoka. I hadn’t really thought about the Gore-Tex versions either, and that’s a great point with all the rain and water rides at Disney.I appreciate all the advice. I’ll try on a few different pairs before making a decision and hopefully find something that’s comfortable enough for those long park days!
6 Likes
Just gonna throw out there that I recently bought Allbirds Tree Dasher and I love them. So much support without being too tight or constricting. Very light. I’m interested in trying their walking shoe next.
@mubashir113 I recall you’ve created a couple of topics now and I’m curious what kind of trip you have planned? Number and ages of people in your party, etc.
7 Likes
Everyone’s feet are different. What’s super comfortable for one person could be extremely uncomfortable for someone else. I get my walking shoes from REI and Fleet Feet and literally try on every shoe in the store before I find one that works for me.
7 Likes
I bought on clouds and they honestly got rid of my foot pain. I have my second pair arriving any day now.
5 Likes
YES! All of this. I hated the Hokas I had. I usually stick to Brooks Glycerine but always go to the running store to try them out. I can return them within 30 days if I don’t like them.
Good socks make a huge difference too. I love Feetures.
7 Likes
I have On Cloud 6 for everyday wear but find them too flat/uncushioned for long days. I wore my Cloudmonsters to Disney and amazingly had no foot or shin pain. Brooks are on my list to try next.
My spouse prefers Hokas for long days.
5 Likes
Another vote for Brooks Ghost! @DumboRunner helped me buy the Ghost 17 Chip 'n Dale version. I wore them for a week last month at WDW because they completed my outfit! 
And they were VERY comfy! 
I do have a pair of Hoka but they hurt my feet sometimes!
I’m usually Team Teva sandals because my toes are happy!
8 Likes
Another vote for Team Teva! Teva Hurricanes are my amusement park shoe of choice.
I wear New Balance 1080’s for actual running.
1 Like
If you are buying just for parks. One idea is to get a vivid color. Our last trip, one of shoes was ruined in transport. I am someone that needs to have at least three completely different styles of shoes for a walking vacation. So, I bought a pair in Florida and was focused on the feel, not the look. I ended up with vivid pink shoes. Family said it made it VERY easy to find me. I’d initially hated the color. Now those shoes remind me of that great and glorious trip.
5 Likes