Are These the Most Comfortable Walking Shoes of All Time?

But first, a quick introduction to this new shoe brand. AHNU is the brainchild of the same brilliant minds behind HOKA. The goal was to create the ultimate everyday sneaker—something chic enough to wear to work or around town, but supportive enough to truly be comfortable all-day, even for those with common foot issues like bunions or plantar fasciitis. And by all accounts, they’re totally acing it.

AHNU currently sells five shoe styles—the Sequence 1.1 Sport, Sequence 1.1 Suede and Sequence 1, which is available in three different rises all with the same signature supportive base. The newest, and the one tested by myself and Executive Editor Dara Katz, is the Sequence 1.1 Suede which combines the technologically advanced sole of the Sequence 1 with a chic suede upper making it feel a bit more versatile for everyday than the OG leather-and-mesh design.

Though Katz and I both can’t resist a comfortable walking shoe, our specific needs are actually quite different. Katz would describe her feet as “flat, wide and always in pain,” whereas I’m dealing with bunions, the occasional flare-up of plantar fasciitis and frequent muscle soreness from running. AHNU’s tech-forward design promises to address all those concerns to leave your feet feeling happy and healthy even after a full day of walking.

The Sequence 1.1 Suede specifically combines thick foam with a propulsive rocker silhouette and a carbon plate (yes, just like the ones in all those marathon super-shoes) to keep you moving smoothly along with just the right amount of pep in your step. And for both Katz and myself, it really lived up to the task.

“I didn't have any preconceived notions about these shoes,” admits Katz, “but they really stood up against some front-runners in the foot support department. For longer walks, I actually found them more comfortable and more supportive than my Brooks and New Balance.” I, too, found the AHNU design to be notably more comfortable than my usual go-tos. As someone who gets blisters just thinking about new shoes, I really loved that these required absolutely no break-in period and didn’t hit my ankle bones in any kind of way. They also sit nice and snugly around my heels for a secure fit all day long.

Speaking of fit, this is something that all too often really limits my shoe options. My feet are slightly wide in the front but narrow at the heel, meaning wide width shoes are often far too roomy, but many more designs are too tight in the toes. But the AHNU sneakers have ample room up front to give my toes some breathing room. Both Katz and I also found the sneakers run true to size. I typically wear a size 10, but always size up for brands like New Balance, Nike and Adidas. For AHNU I took my usual size 10 and they fit perfectly right out of the box.

But, of course, no shoe is truly perfect. As Katz notes, “They are kinda bulky looking, but that's the name of the game for supportive walking shoes.” The thick soles may not be for everyone, although we did agree that the suede upper does a lot for making these kicks feel chic enough for everyday wear. And while we both opted for the dusty rose pink hue, they also come in black, olive green and beige.

“The suede material dresses them up a little, she adds, “which is nice, so that when you show up to drinks in a sneaker you feel like you tried!” They may even garner you a wave of compliments, like the one I received from a stranger in line at the local public library. She too has been on the hunt for a cute shoe that wouldn’t leave her feet feeling tired by the end of a long shift—maybe AHNU is just the ticket for her, too.