A low-impact exercise that you can do almost anywhere, walking is both practical and popular. Another oft-mentioned perk of walking: the only gear you really need is a comfortable pair of shoes. But if you’re doing your daily walks in sneakers that are comfy but well-worn, it might be time to invest in a new pair of dedicated walking shoes.In fact, some experts recommend replacing your walking shoes every 300 to 500 miles. If you walk briskly for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, that translates to a new pair every six to 12 months. Plus, brand-new, well-fitting walking shoes just might put a little more spring in your step and encourage you to walk a bit farther.

The right shoes may help you avoid common foot and ankle injuries, such as plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the fibrous band of tissue on the bottom of the foot) and Achilles tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon connecting the calf muscle to the heel)."But if you have any type of existing foot pain or impairment that makes walking uncomfortable, don’t rely on a shoe to fix your problems," says Dr. Adam Tenforde, director of the Running Medicine Program at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Instead, consult a podiatrist or physical therapist to properly address the problem, he advises.

Sometimes, employees offer to analyze your feet or your old shoes to see if your foot tends to lean inward (pronation) or outward (supination) as you walk. But Dr. Tenforde isn’t convinced this practice is necessary. "Research suggests that for healthy people, matching shoe type to address pronation or supination doesn’t prevent more injuries than wearing a neutral shoe," he says.Here’s some additional advice for finding the right pair of walking shoes.For instance, your foot typically strikes the ground at your heel while you're walking. While running, on the other hand, your foot strikes the ground somewhere around your midfoot. This is one reason why running shoes have become their own category of shoes.

Some of the differences between running shoes and walking shoes aren't of huge consequence on a walk, such as how running shoes tend to be very lightweight and provide more motion control than needed while walking.However, other attributes of running shoes, such as the tendency to have a firmer sole and built-up heel, may actually force you to change the way your foot would otherwise naturally strike the ground while walking — which may ultimately contribute to foot and leg pain.It may sound obvious, but we'll say it anyway: If a shoe doesn't feel immediately comfortable on your foot, it's not a good walking shoe for you.

We're likely all guilty of telling ourselves, "These shoes just need to be broken in a little." But avoid doing so with your walking shoes.If a quick lap around the shoe store or your home is enough to lead to foot discomfort, taking a walk in the same shoes may easily result in painful blisters and calluses.Last, but not least: You're walking, so the shoes you choose should reduce the stress placed on your feet as each hits the ground, as well as provide stability and grip.The insole of a good walking shoe provides cushion with each step, but it should also feel like it's adequately supporting the arch of your foot.

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