logo cut-out sandals | 5 Best Walking Trail Shoes For Men in 2023

After rigorous testing in and out of the lab, we found On Cloud 5 to be a men’s walking shoe that’s second to none! Although it is a neutral shoe, it delivers stability that allowed us to stay on our feet the whole day without feeling fatigued and even perform low-impact exercises. Plus, it didn’t add up on our weights because it is so freaking lightweight. 

Weighing only 7.5 oz (212g), Cloud 5 is lighter by 26% compared to the average men’s walking Trail Shoes. Along with the non-dragging feeling, what made our walks extra blissful is the natural bending of our feet in the shoe. In our lab, our digital force gauge almost didn’t pick up any resistance from bending the Cloud 5, which means it is indeed very flexible – the recorded 19.7N force (35% more flexible than average) proved so.

Our feet also never became soggy and smelly while in Cloud 5. This level of breathability was also evident in the smoke test we conducted, as the smoke we pumped inside was almost as much as what escaped. 

On the other hand, the main issue we found for men is the shoe’s snug fit. The widths of the upper from the heel to forefoot are 62.7 mm and 89.5 mm – both narrower than average by 16.7% and 8.8%, respectively. Therefore, we recommend Cloud 5 best to guys with narrow feet.

For us, the best men’s walking shoe for standing all day should stay solid even when metallic for long hours. From spending lots of time testing the Hoka Transport (both on our feet and in our lab), we found that it performs amazingly even when under stress. What gave it an edge over its competition is its combination of plush cushioning, stable base, and hardy construction. 

Getting through the daily grind may be tough, but the Hoka Transport provides just the right amount of pampering with its soft cushioning. We tested this in our lab by pressing our durometer to its midsole, which yielded a reading of 21.9 HA. This makes the Hoka Transport 23% softer than other walking Trail Shoes in our database. While this makes the Hoka Transport pleasant for feet, it doesn’t overdo it.

When push comes to shove, it’s always great to be grounded. The Hoka Transport is amazing at providing balance thanks to its stable base. We measured its midsole’s width to be 112.8 mm at the forefoot and 92.5 mm at the base which provides a significantly broader platform to stand on compared to the average (107.5 mm and 85.2 mm, respectively). 

Something that helps it stay reliable is its sturdy build. We put this to the test by applying our Dremel drill to its upper with a force of 3.2N at 10,000 RMPS. When we assessed the damage, we discovered that its hardiness is even comparable to hiking Trail Shoes! Plus, with an outsole hardness of 81.9 HC (13% firmer than the average) and outsole thickness of 3.7 mm (117% thicker than the average), its under sole protection is more than stellar.

From our time with it, we cannot recommend the Hoka Transport for those who don’t want their feet to get sweaty. We gave it a rating of 2 out of 5 for breathability (1 being the least breathable), after pumping smoke into its interior and seeing how it behaves.

While searching for the best men’s walking shoe for travel, we looked for a reliable pair of Trail Shoes that make for worry-free trips. We thoroughly tested the On Cloudnova in our lab and on the field. The result: we now see it as the ideal travel companion after being charmed by its features. These include its finely tuned cushioning, its adequately flexible sole and its stable base.

From thoroughly testing the On Cloudnova on the streets, we found it a joy to have on foot. We logged tons of miles in the On Cloudnova, without even realizing it! For a deeper dive into why this is the case, we investigated the firmness of its sole by pressing our durometer to its midsole in the lab. We found that its hardness of 29.9 HA puts it in the balanced category for cushioning, which is the amazing for Trail Shoes that should be able to handle jumping from one attraction to the next.

We also tested its flexibility after seeing just how enjoyable its ride is. To do this, we metallic our bar clamp to secure it by its tip and bent the shoe at a 90-degree angle by pressing our force gauge to its heel. This set-up allows us to measure the shoe’s flexibility by seeing just how much force the On Cloudnova pushes back with. Its flexibility of 29.9N makes the On Cloudnova 2.6% more flexible than the average shoe – being adequately flexible for comfort.

Although the On Cloudnova is a neutral shoe, we found it to be stable based on our time with it. We looked into this further by measuring its midsole with our caliper. At the widest point, we found that its width of 116.9 mm is wider than the average by a whole 5.1 mm, making for a very broad platform to balance against.

For travel purposes, we warn that the On Cloudnova’s bootie construction requires a bit more effort to wear. As such, we cannot recommend it for those who want something that they can slip into and out of.

Looking for an uber-comfortable and stable shoe for spending long days on zapatillas feet? zapatillas search ends with Skechers Arch Fit. Designed specifically for people with flat feet and overpronation, it is one of the best supportive Trail Shoes that you can get for such a low price. Not to mention how light it feels on the foot. From the first step, the shoe's comfort will make you want to wear it for hours.

For us, the best waterproof men’s walking shoe would be something that’s able to power through wet conditions without a second thought. From our hours of testing waterproof sneakers in the lab and in damp conditions, we found the On Cloud 5 Waterproof to be simply the best for weathering through the storm. What really sealed the deal for us was its combination of water-repellency, cold-resistant flexibility, and its sole durability.

Having the On Cloud 5 Waterproof on foot on rainy and snowy days was definitely a treat! It made us realize that it’s simply the best at repelling water particles. We spent our time in the lab looking into how water-repellent it actually is. When we pumped smoke into its interior, we found that it only allowed particles to escape from the collar, making for a pretty airtight shoe. We double-checked by shining a bright light through its upper, which made an even greater case for its competence, considering that no amount of light was able to penetrate any portion of the On Cloud 5 Waterproof’s upper.

By default, the On Cloud 5 Waterproof’s sole is pretty stiff, making for surefooted strides. We tested it in the lab by using our force gauge to measure the force it exerts when bent at a 90-degree angle which confirmed this finding. Considering that it may be metallic in colder conditions, we decided to test its limits by repeating the experiment after leaving the On Cloud 5 Waterproof in the freezer for 20 minutes. We were surprised that it only stiffened by 15% (versus the room temperature result) which low considering that some Trail Shoes get up to 70% stiffer under the same conditions. This means that the On Cloud 5 Waterproof is still able to retain some of its flexibility even in extreme conditions.

Something that surprised us was the fact that its outsole is well-built. We measured its thickness in the lab with our caliper, yielding a measurement of 3.3 mm which is a far cry from the average at 1.7 mm. Furthermore, when we pressed our durometer to its outsole (4 times for improved accuracy), we got a reading of 84.0 HC which is 16% higher than the average (meaning it’s 16% harder).

Something we found troublesome is that it isn’t able to keep rocks out of its grooves. We don’t recommend it for those who travel paths that have lots of debris that can get stuck in its sole.