My mom recently retired, so she has a lot more time to focus on the walking routine she’s wanted to do—and it’s one of our most recommended forms of exercise for women 50 or older. She’s always been incredibly active, though, and the one who taught me how important it was to create an exercise routine. While her goals haven’t changed drastically, her requirements for the right shoes have.
As she’s gotten older, she’s noticed just how much the cushion and support in a sneaker can affect the pain in her body, particularly her feet. She walks over 10 miles each week, so the right shoe is vital. (This week, she’ll be clocking in at around 15 miles!) When I asked her what her absolute favorite pair is, she raved about the Hoka Clifton 9 shoe, which is just $95 right now.
Hoka Clifton 9
Zappos
My mom has multiple generations of Hoka Clifton sneakers because she loves them. (She uses her old Clifton 7 pair in wet or slushy weather.) “The best feature of these shoes is the cushion—It’s springy and plush,” she says. Because of that, these shoes “make walking fun.” They give her energy for quicker movements and support her body after long walks. With these shoes on, her feet are consistently pain-free. That wasn’t always the case, though, and she tried a different sneaker a few weeks ago for one of her walks and felt pain during her recovery. She returned to these Hokas for her next walk and felt immediate relief.
Other highlights my mom appreciates are the breathable upper, which is key for hot summer days, and the lightweight design. Despite the thicker cushion, they don’t get in the way of her steps or feel heavy on her feet. She loves them so much that she bought my dad a pair, and he can’t stop wearing them, whether for weekend walks or daily errands. He noticed that same burst with each step, a feature he hadn’t experienced before and couldn’t go without again.
“The shoe’s entire form is unique,” my mom said after I asked why it was such a standout. “I haven’t experienced the same comfort and support from another sneaker yet.” And that’s saying something—my mom has probably worn hundreds of sneakers in her lifetime, thanks to her active lifestyle.
The Clifton is one of Hoka’s longest-standing models because its pillowy design is so well-loved. Take it from my mom, my dad and EatingWell’s rigorous testing process—we ranked it as one of our favorite walking shoes after trialing 50 different pairs. They also have the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance. You can shop it at Zappos today before it sells out.
Hoka Clifton 10
Hoka
And, as a quick PSA: Hoka recently launched the Clifton 10—an updated version of its 10-year-old model—and it still has all of the features my mom loves, including the plush cushion and the neutral support. I’m still in the early stages of testing it, so I’ll have to report back soon with my finalized thoughts.
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At the time of publishing, the price was $95.
