Comfort is everything when it comes to shoes. Whether you’re tackling your daily grind, hitting the gym, or strolling through the city, the right pair of kicks can make or break your day. As a sneakerhead who’s tried everything (almost), I can confidently say that comfort and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
This guide breaks down some of the most comfortable sneakers for every occasion. Take classics like the Air Force 1—sleek, timeless, and ideal for all-day support. Or game-changers like adidas Ultraboosts, designed to deliver unmatched comfort and energy with every step.
What I'm trying to say is that there are stylish sneakers out there for every purpose—dive into this guide to explore some of my favorites.
The Most Comfortable Shoes
Choosing which shoes are most comfortable isn't that simple with so many models and brands to choose from, each one offering something different to each occasion. Let's begin with lifestyle sneakers...
Lifestyle Shoes
My go-to shoes for daily wear have changed several times over the years, with fashion trends playing a role in that, but the comfort of different models playing the biggest part.
At one stage in time, I almost exclusively wore Nike Roshe trainers, but nowadays I've broadened my collection and have found other shoes to be more versatile and, crucially, more comfortable for daily use.
Although I've dabbled in everything from adidas Sambas to Vans, the shoes I gravitate towards the most when I'm going out and want to be comfortable are:
For me, these shoes blend underfoot support with upper padding superbly, which coincides with them all coming with fairly large midsole layers. In Nike's case, support is taken a step further with the inclusion of Air technology. These handy bubbles provide an extra layer of cushioning underfoot for even greater levels of comfort, especially over long periods of time.
My experience with high-tops is more limited, although I have tried out Converse Chuck 70s and Nike Blazers over the years. Blazers have the slight edge on Chuck 70s for me, as they come with a little extra padding in the upper and in the tongue.
That said, I'm pretty confident there are high-tops out there that are comfier than the Nike Blazer. The Jordan 1 High, for example, definitely looks as though it might have the edge—I just can't comment on them personally having never worn them. Speaking of which, here are some shoes that, although I haven't tried them, seem to be regarded as some of the most comfortable around according to online discourse:
Sports Shoes
For sports, whether that's training, running, or anything else active, adidas Ultraboosts reign supreme for me. Boost technology, in general, is incredibly comfortable and provides exceptional energy returns when used for sport.
I have worn a few different adidas shoes with Boost technology, namely a couple of different NMDs, but I have generally found the Ultraboost line to be the most comfortable of all the Boost-infused sneakers.
Although I am a big fan of Ultraboosts, I will admit I haven't explored too many other sports shoes to gain a full understanding of which sneakers stand out as the most comfortable in this field. I'd say HOKA, Salomon, and ASICS are all pretty noticeable in their absence here, but after doing a little digging into online forums, the following trainers seem to be known for their comfort, and, therefore, should be considered when browsing sports shoes:
What Shoes Are Most Comfortable?
This is a tricky one to answer as sneaker technology gets better and better each year, so there are now so many shoes out there that feel like you're walking on clouds. However, there are shoes I tend to gravitate towards more for comfort than others out of my current collection, and so I deem them to be the 'most comfortable'.
As hinted at, the Air Force 1 is often my go-to shoe for daily wear as I really do think Nike has nailed it with the cushioning, padding, and overall shape. That said, the New Balance 550 comes close. The main reason why they don't quite beat Air Force 1s is because they seem to fit a little more snugly by comparison.
For sports, adidas Ultraboosts take the win in my eyes. As I said before, though, there are many great sports trainers that I have yet to try that are known for their comfort. Any of them could quite easily knock the Ultraboost off its podium; however, until I test these shoes out, Ultraboosts remain in the top spot.
Of course, what shoes you find most comfortable all comes down to personal preference, as not everyone's feet are the same. Some people have small narrow feet, while others require wide-fit shoes for maximum comfort. RealSport101 has a few size comparison guides to help here, including Nike vs adidas, Nike vs HOKA, and adidas vs New Balance sizing.
Before wrapping up, I'll reiterate that I've not tested every single shoe in existence. This is simply one sneakerhead's opinion on what shoes I've found most comfortable over the years—hopefully my experiences will help you find comfortable shoes too.