Chic, Comfy Sandals for Walking All Day, According to a Podiatrist

Jun 19, 2026 - 01:13

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Chic, Comfy Sandals for Walking All Day, According to a Podiatrist

podiatrist hero image.jpg OluKai

Sandals are the ultimate summer shoe. But if you've ever tried to get your steps in while wearing a pair, you know how sore your feet can become.

Whether you're traveling or enjoying a local adventure, you need a comfortable and supportive sandal (bonus points if they're also stylish).

E! connected with board-certified podiatrist Dr. David Laurino to find out what the best sandals for walking are.

Sport & Chic Walking Sandals: Teva Women's Hurricane Xlt 2 Ampsole Sandal
Most Supportive Flip-Flop: OluKai ‘Ohana Women’s Water-Friendly Sandals
Elevated Yet Comfortable Sandals: Vionic Yucca Espadrille Platform Sandal

What to Look for When Shopping for Walking Sandals

The key issue with sandals is that they aren't built for walking long distances, says Dr.Laurino. Often, your feet have to work overtime in order to keep the sandal on and in place.

"This recruits muscles you don't normally use, shortens your stride into a shuffle and causes fatigue to travel up to the arch, Achilles, knees and lower back," he explains.

According to Dr. Laurino, "A comfortable walking sandal solves this problem by holding your foot so your foot can stop doing the shoes job."

Here are a 5 expert-approved tips to keep in mind when shopping for comfortable and supportive sandals.

"A contoured footbed with arch support is essential. Not a flat slab. A flat footbed is barely better than walking barefoot. You can test a sandal in the store by folding it in half. It should bend at the ball of the foot only. If it folds in the middle like a wallet, it doesn't have support and your foot will be working overtime."
"A deep heel cup helps center the pad under the heel bone and keeps your foot from sliding around. This is where a lot of "my feet are killing me" walking pain comes from."
"Cushioning should be firm, not mushy. You want shock absorption without losing stability. If the sole compresses flat under your thumb or collapses when you step it'll bottom out on a walk."
"Secure multi-point straps are crucial. Thick straps that anchor your foot in more than one place. Across the toes over the midfoot and ideally around the ankle. Stop the toe-clenching cycle. A secured foot is a less tired foot."
"A grippy sole and roomy toe box so your toes can splay naturally rather than being pinched."

Most Comfortable and Supportive Sandal Styles

According to Dr. Laurino, these are best sandal styles if you're looking for a pair that won't leave your feet sore after walking long distances:

A strap footbed sandal
A sport/hiking sandal with a strap
A supportive recovery slide for lower-mileage days
A structured flip-flop with a molded footbed if you want something casual

The Best Podiatrist-Approved Sandals for Walking

Birkenstock Arizona Soft Footbed

Similar to the OOFOS pair above, Dr. Laurino recommends these slides for lazy recovery days because of their built-in orthotic footbed with dynamic memory foam cushioning to relieve soreness.

Teva Women's Hurricane Xlt 2 Ampsole SandalSandal

"For a sport/multitasking sandal the Teva Hurricane XLT2 has a strap over the toes plus an ankle strap so you're not clenching to keep it on. It also has a cushioned contoured footbed and a deep-tread outsole. It works well in both dry and wet conditions making it ideal for travel."

Vionic Yucca Espadrille Platform Sandal

This sandal from expert-approved brand Vionic blends style and comfort. It delivers chic comfort thanks to stabilizing straps, arch support, contoured cushioning, and a deep heel cup.

OluKai ‘Ohana Women’s Water-Friendly Sandals

This sandal from expert-approved brand Vionic blends style and comfort. It delivers chic comfort thanks to stabilizing straps, arch support, contoured cushioning, and a deep heel cup.

OOFOS OOahh Recovery Slide

"For cushioning and recovery-style comfort OOFOS or Kuru recovery slides absorb impact well and have a contoured arch-supportive footbed. They're great for after a workout or an all-day-on-your-feet day."

Kuru Moment Slide

Similar to the OOFOS pair above, Dr. Laurino recommends these slides for lazy recovery days because of their built-in orthotic footbed with dynamic memory foam cushioning to relieve soreness.

Vionic Tide 2.0 Toe Post Sandal

"For patients with plantar fasciitis the Vionic Tide II is often recommended. It has a deep heel cup, built-in medial arch support and an APMA Seal of Acceptance."

Clarks Orinoco3 Cross

"If you want something dressier that still walks well look to brands like Naot, Finn, or Clarks. They have built in arch support and cushioning into a less sporty silhouette and offer wide widths."

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How We Choose

The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.

As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.