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Your sneakers can make or break you. Lace up comfortable sneakers, and you instantly feel a sense of support and move through the world better. On the other hand, wear the wrong shoes, or worse, an ill-fitting pair, and you’re looking at blisters, pinched toes, or general foot pain. (Yeowch!) Selecting sneakers from the many available options to you right now is difficult, but the most popular sneakers among Well+Good readers have impressed you—yes, you—the most in 2024.
Most, if not all, the beloved sneakers are tried-and-true picks that are easily recognizable, or known by name. Take, for example, On and Brooks Running, just to name a couple. And as always, the super-popular Cariuma and Hoka were in high demand. Whether you’re shopping for walking, running, or everyday sneakers, there are plenty of options to suit your lifestyle and preferences. What’s more? Most of the choices found on the list cost less than $150, with the cheapest option at a flat price of $95.
Below, find a round-up of sneaker top-sellers that Well+Good readers and editors loved in 2024. Considering how popular these sneakers are, you might already own a pair or two yourself.
Shop the most popular sneakers of 2024
The Brooks Ghost 16 is a favorite among runners or anyone who walks long distances. It’s lightweight, well-padded, and comes in four widths (narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide), making it one of the best shoes for people with bunions or wide feet.
It’s no surprise that longtime-favorite Cariuma was popular among Well+Good readers. Cariuma’s Oca Lows are “lightweight,” according to Well+Good Social Producer Taylor Bell, who put the pair through the paces. “I was able to wear them for more than eight hours without discomfort,” she says. It’s a more sustainable option as well. It features a cork footbed and laces made from recycled plastic. A big bonus: The shoes “look good with everything,” says Bell.
Hoka has been a fan favorite for some time, and with each year that passes, more people discover why it’s so beloved. The Hoka Gaviota 5 offers maximum support and stability—something to which Well+Good Senior Lifestyle Writer Rachel Kraus can attest. “The landing is soft, the rocker sole feels natural, and my (very low) arches are bolstered,” she says, adding: “The base is dramatically wider than the foot bed, which makes me feel balanced and safe.”
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Well+Good readers love the Kizik Athens, a walking shoe you can easily slide your feet into, hands-free. It features a slip-on heel cage that compresses when you step into the shoe and later bounces back into place. Better yet, it’s comfortable. Well+Good contributor Jamie Sanders found the pair to be as comfortable out of the box as she did 12,000 steps later. “No blisters” or “tightness around the toes,” she wrote. Plus, the Athens comes in wide sizes.
If you know of Klaw, you probably know of its most popular (and only) shoe style, the 528. Since launching in 2022, the APMA-approved sneaker has sold out time and time again. Well+Good Commerce Editor Francesca Krempa loves the orthopedic-looking Klaw 528s, which, she says, are “stupidly comfortable.”
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14, like its predecessor, is as beloved as a versatile shoe for everyday strolls or runs. Much like its previous iteration, the Fresh Foam X 1080v13, it has plush cushioning and a mesh upper that allows for airflow. However, it’s firmer and thus more supportive and, at 10 ounces per shoe, quite substantial—perfect for folks who want a shoe with a stable base. The pair is also available in a wide size range and multiple widths, ranging from narrow to extra wide.
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Named as one of the most comfortable running shoes by Well+Good editors, the On Cloudmonster continues to impress our readers. The design—as the name suggests—has a cloud-like footbed with maximum cushioning. Readers aren’t the only ones who recommend the Cloudmonsters. Board-certified podiatrist Stephanie Annie Lubin, DPM, MS, told Well+Good in a previous interview that it also makes one of the best sneakers for knee pain and overpronators.