BBy Bikram Nath·Researched from UK Amazon listings·Updated 2026-10-17·6 products compared
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This guide contains Amazon affiliate links, and we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you — but it never changes our rankings.
What are the best walking shoes to buy in the UK?
Our top pick for Walking Shoes in the UK is the Mountain Warehouse Path Men's Waterproof Walking Shoes.
The Mountain Warehouse Path Men's Waterproof Walking Shoes suit everyday walkers who want a waterproof membrane, a moulded foam footbed, EVA cushioning and a high traction outsole, all stated on the listing.
The Mountain Warehouse Path is our top pick among walking shoes because its listing states a water-resistant upper with a waterproof membrane, a moulded foam footbed, EVA cushioning, a high traction outsole and rubber heel and toe bumpers. For a women's slip-on, the Skechers Go Walk Joy lists Responsive 5Gen cushioning and a Goga Max high rebound insole; for a men's shoe with a stated weight, the adidas Terrex Anylander lists 390 g (size UK 8.5) and an EVA midsole.
This guide compares six pairs from Mountain Warehouse, Merrell, adidas, Skechers, Columbia and Salomon, four men's and two women's, using what each listing states: upper and lining materials, cushioning, outsole and waterproofing. Four listings name a waterproof membrane (Mountain Warehouse, Merrell, Columbia and Salomon), and three of the six are sold as hiking or trekking shoes (adidas, Columbia and Salomon).
Buying guide
What should you look for in Walking Shoes?
1Waterproofing: the Merrell Moab 3 GTX and Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather name a GORE-TEX membrane, the Columbia Woodburn 2 WP an Omni-Tech waterproof, breathable membrane, and the Mountain Warehouse Path a water-resistant upper with a waterproof membrane. Columbia notes that its laces and zippers are not waterproof. The adidas and Skechers listings do not mention waterproofing.
2Cushioning: Mountain Warehouse lists a moulded foam footbed and EVA cushioning, adidas an EVA midsole, Columbia a Techlite lightweight midsole and Skechers Responsive 5Gen cushioning with a Goga Max high rebound insole. The Merrell and Salomon listings do not describe a midsole or cushioning.
3Grip: the outsoles listed are a Vibram TC5+ rubber sole (Merrell), Traxion (adidas), Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber (Columbia), All Terrain Contagrip (Salomon, which says it grips even when wet or slippery) and a high traction outsole (Mountain Warehouse). The Skechers listing does not describe its outsole.
4Uppers: pigskin leather and mesh (Merrell), textile with a reinforced toe cap (adidas), a mesh/leather combination (Columbia), leather with a moulded toe cap and full-foot mud guard (Salomon) and breathable mesh with a padded collar (Skechers). Mountain Warehouse describes a water-resistant upper without naming its material.
5Fit and weight: the Skechers Go Walk Joy is a slip-on, and the adidas Terrex Anylander lists a regular fit with lace closure. The adidas is the one shoe here with a weight in its feature list: 390 g (size UK 8.5), with a 10 mm midsole drop.
Our process
How do we choose our picks?
We don’t lab-test products ourselves. Instead we synthesise current Amazon UK listings and published specs into clear, honest recommendations. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, but that never changes which products we rank.
Current UK availability
We check each pick against live Amazon UK catalogue data rather than last year’s model lists. Stock moves fast, so a listing can sell out after we publish.
Published specs
We compare manufacturer specifications so each pick is right for a real budget and use-case.
UK-specific fit
We factor in UK voltage and plug/fitting standards — details that generic global lists miss.
The Mountain Warehouse Path Men's Waterproof Walking Shoes suit everyday walkers who want a waterproof membrane, a moulded foam footbed, EVA cushioning and a high traction outsole, all stated on the listing.
Version
Men's
Upper
Water-resistant upper
Lining
Lightweight mesh
Cushioning
Moulded foam footbed; EVA cushioning
Outsole
High traction outsole; rubber heel and toe bumpers
Waterproofing
Water-resistant upper and waterproof membrane
What we like
+Water-resistant upper with a waterproof membrane, per the listing
+Moulded foam footbed and EVA cushioning, which the listing says absorb impact
+Rubber bumpers reinforce the heel and toe areas, per the listing
+Mesh lining that the listing says promotes airflow
Worth noting
–The listing does not name the upper material
–The listing states no weight in its feature list
–The listing states no warranty term
£39.99Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 19:00 (London time). Details
The Merrell Moab 3 GTX Men's Shoes suit men who want a GORE-TEX waterproof membrane, a pigskin leather and mesh upper and a Vibram TC5+ rubber sole, as the listing states.
Version
Men's
Upper
Pigskin leather and mesh
Lining
100 percent recycled mesh
Outsole
Vibram TC5+ rubber sole
Waterproofing
GORE-TEX waterproof membrane
Toe Protection
Protective toe cap
Tongue
Bellows tongue that the listing says keeps out debris
What we like
+GORE-TEX waterproof membrane, per the listing
+Vibram TC5+ rubber sole and a protective toe cap
+Pigskin leather and mesh upper
+100 percent recycled laces, webbing and mesh lining, per the listing
Worth noting
–The listing does not describe the midsole or cushioning
–The listing states no weight in its feature list
–The listing states no warranty term
£85.44£145.00−41%Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 19:00 (London time). Details
The adidas Terrex Anylander Men's Hiking Shoes suit men who want a stated weight (390 g at size UK 8.5) with an EVA midsole and Traxion outsole; the listing does not mention waterproofing.
Version
Men's
Upper
Textile with reinforced toe cap
Lining
Textile
Cushioning
EVA midsole
Outsole
Traxion
Weight
390 g (size UK 8.5)
Midsole Drop
10 mm (heel: 27 mm / forefoot: 17 mm)
What we like
+States a weight of 390 g (size UK 8.5)
+States a 10 mm midsole drop (heel: 27 mm / forefoot: 17 mm)
+EVA midsole and Traxion outsole
+Contains a minimum of 20% recycled and renewable content, per the listing
The Skechers Go Walk Joy Women's Slip-On Trainers suit women who want a slip-on walking shoe with Responsive 5Gen cushioning and a Goga Max high rebound insole, as the listing states.
Version
Women's
Upper
Breathable mesh with padded collar
Lining
Soft fabric
Cushioning
Responsive 5Gen cushioning; Skechers Goga Max high rebound insole
Closure
Slip on, with heel panel overlay and top loop
What we like
+Responsive 5Gen cushioning and a Goga Max high rebound insole, per the listing
+Slip-on design with a top loop at the heel
+Described by Skechers as lightweight and flexible
+Breathable mesh upper with a padded collar
Worth noting
–The listing does not describe the outsole
–The listing does not mention waterproofing
–The listing states no warranty term
£41.99£59.00−29%Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 19:00 (London time). Details
Columbia Woodburn 2 WP Men's Low-Rise Hiking Shoes
The Columbia Woodburn 2 WP Men's Low-Rise Hiking Shoes suit men who want an Omni-Tech waterproof membrane, a Techlite midsole and Omni-Grip non-marking rubber, as the listing states.
Version
Men's
Upper
Waterproof mesh/leather combination
Cushioning
Techlite lightweight midsole
Outsole
Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber
Waterproofing
Omni-Tech waterproof, breathable membrane; laces and zippers not waterproof (per listing)
What we like
+Omni-Tech waterproof, breathable membrane, per the listing
+Techlite lightweight midsole
+Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber outsole
Worth noting
–Columbia notes that its laces and zippers are not waterproof
–The listing does not describe the lining
–The listing states no weight in its feature list and no warranty term
£67.00£90.00−26%Amazon.co.uk price as of 17 Oct, 19:00 (London time). Details
Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather GORE-TEX Women's Hiking Shoes
The Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather GORE-TEX Women's Hiking Shoes suit women walking on wet or rough ground who want a GORE-TEX membrane and an All Terrain Contagrip outsole, as the listing states.
Version
Women's
Upper
Leather with a moulded toe cap and full-foot mud guard
Outsole
All Terrain Contagrip
Waterproofing
GORE-TEX membrane
Stability
Advanced Chassis for lateral stability (per listing)
What we like
+GORE-TEX membrane, per the listing
+All Terrain Contagrip outsole that Salomon says grips even when wet or slippery
+Moulded toe cap and full-foot mud guard
+Advanced Chassis that Salomon says brings lateral stability
Worth noting
–The listing does not describe the midsole or cushioning
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 17 Oct, 19:00 (London time) and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Editor's Note
None of the six listings states a warranty term or a width fitting. The adidas listing is the one that puts a weight and a midsole drop in its feature list; the Merrell and Salomon listings describe their uppers, soles and membranes but not their cushioning.
Our Take
As a default, the Mountain Warehouse Path: a waterproof membrane, a moulded foam footbed, EVA cushioning and a high traction outsole, all on the listing. For a GORE-TEX men's shoe, the Merrell Moab 3 GTX lists a pigskin leather and mesh upper and a Vibram TC5+ rubber sole; for a women's slip-on, the Skechers Go Walk Joy lists Responsive 5Gen cushioning.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
What are the best walking shoes for men?
The Mountain Warehouse Path Men's Waterproof Walking Shoes are our top men's pick: the listing states a water-resistant upper with a waterproof membrane, a moulded foam footbed, EVA cushioning and a high traction outsole. The other men's shoes here are the Merrell Moab 3 GTX (GORE-TEX membrane, Vibram TC5+ rubber sole), the adidas Terrex Anylander (390 g at size UK 8.5, EVA midsole) and the Columbia Woodburn 2 WP (Omni-Tech membrane, Techlite midsole).
Which walking shoes are waterproof?
The Merrell Moab 3 GTX and Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather GORE-TEX list a GORE-TEX membrane, the Columbia Woodburn 2 WP an Omni-Tech waterproof, breathable membrane, and the Mountain Warehouse Path a water-resistant upper with a waterproof membrane. Columbia notes that its laces and zippers are not waterproof. The adidas Terrex Anylander and Skechers Go Walk Joy listings do not mention waterproofing.
Which walking shoes are shock absorbing?
The Mountain Warehouse Path is the shoe in this guide whose listing mentions shock absorption: Mountain Warehouse says its EVA cushioning delivers shock absorption and that its moulded foam footbed absorbs impact. The adidas (EVA midsole), Columbia (Techlite midsole) and Skechers (Responsive 5Gen cushioning) listings describe cushioning without a shock absorption claim.
Which walking shoes are made for women?
The Skechers Go Walk Joy and the Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather GORE-TEX are the women's shoes in this guide. Skechers lists a slip-on with a breathable mesh upper, a padded collar, Responsive 5Gen cushioning and a Goga Max high rebound insole; Salomon lists a GORE-TEX membrane, an All Terrain Contagrip outsole and a moulded toe cap.
Which walking shoes are lightweight?
The adidas Terrex Anylander is the walking shoe here with a weight in its feature list: 390 g (size UK 8.5). Skechers describes the Go Walk Joy as lightweight and flexible, and Columbia calls the Woodburn 2 WP's Techlite midsole lightweight, without giving a weight in their feature lists.
What outsoles do walking shoes have?
Five of the six listings name an outsole: a Vibram TC5+ rubber sole on the Merrell Moab 3 GTX, Traxion on the adidas Terrex Anylander, Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber on the Columbia Woodburn 2 WP, All Terrain Contagrip on the Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather GORE-TEX and a high traction outsole on the Mountain Warehouse Path. The Skechers Go Walk Joy listing does not describe its outsole.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. UKPicks earns a small commission from qualifying purchases made via links on this page. This does not affect our editorial recommendations or the price you pay.
