By Jillian Tracy, CNN Underscored

Published 10:43 AM EDT, Mon April 21, 2025

New Balance Men's Fresh Foam 680v8

Podiatrist and current president of the American Association for Women Podiatrists, Dr. Elizabeth Piselli, said if you don’t have any active issues with your feet, like plantar fasciitis, these New Balance 680 sneakers can be a great option for every day running or walking. The men’s version of these shoes comes in three widths: standard, wide and extra-wide, and sizes up to a US 15, all with soft underfoot support to help feet rebound with each step.

Hoka Women's Transport

Piselli said that if you are looking for more durable shoes, try a pair made with Vibram soles, like these Hoka Transport sneakers. The addition of the more rugged Vibram soles means these shoes have better traction across a variety of surfaces, giving you better grip on things like dirt and gravel as well as concrete and asphalt.

What to look for in a cheap sneaker

Even if you’re looking at lower cost options, Piselli said you should never compromise on the fit and durability of your shoes. “You can supplement arch support with orthotics but durability and fit cannot be swapped,” Piselli said. You might also be able to find quality-built sneakers at a reduced price by shopping styles that are not the most current releases. Shopping slightly older styles can be helpful for runners or anyone who puts a lot of miles on their shoes and needs to replace them every couple of months.

To check the quality of a shoe, Piselli said you can do what she calls the “bend and twist test”: pick up the shoes and try to bend them in half and twist them as if you’re wringing out a towel. You don’t want sneakers that bend anywhere but at the toe joints. Even at the toes, you don’t want shoes to bend more than 45 degrees since your feet don’t need all that excess range of motion to move comfortably. “If the shoes twist at all, they’re not supportive enough and will likely fail in the first month of wear,” Piselli said. “If you are able to deform the shoes at all with your hands, they’re likely not supportive enough as there is more force applied on the shoes with your legs and feet.”

Condensed from the original article which can be found here: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/fashion/best-cheap-sneakers