As recommended by readers of Electric Speed, June 2026

• Oooh, I have shoe recs! I attend my fair share of conferences and trade shows, and always reach for the same two pairs of (stylish) flats: my Madewell Remy Mary Janes and my Rothys slingbacks. I’ve clocked miles walking up and down convention center floors in these puppies. Both come in a ton of different colors so you can add a little flair to your outfit, and—perhaps most importantly—both pack down in my carry-on to almost nothing. —Emily Lane
• I am an attorney by day and writer by night and I bought Rothy’s flats to go to court. Now I wear them for EVERYTHING because they are so comfortable, professional looking, and you can throw them in the wash! —Abby Russo
• I’m just back from a conference so this is a timely question I have an answer for: I like the Dansko Larisa flats. They have a little bit of footbed structure, the leather is soft, and they look professional. In the winter, my go-to boot is also Dansko, the Becka. I haven't tried these at a conference yet, but I routinely walk a mile to work & then wear them all day with ease. —Caitlin Palo
• Having spent time in the shoe business in my far away past, shoes are always on my mind. In balancing style with comfort (so I don’t look like a dowdy pensioner) Adidas animal prints are a great solution. —Diana M. Wilson
• If I can get away with a shoe as informal as FitFlops that’s what I’d wear. I have a “wardrobe” of 5 colors of a flipflop style sandal. They are the only thing I could wear all day standing. They have a deep supportive sole with a terrific arch support. —Rhonda Wiley-Jones
• Wearing the Brooks Glycerin Max shoes feels like walking on clouds. —Nikita Kostyuk
• 1. Woden’s Ronja Icons (Danish brand)—stylish and comfortable. 2. Brooks Glycerins—new ones not as good as earlier ones for support, but ok. 3. OrthoFeet - not so stylish but good support. —Cynthia I.
• OrthoFeet! Such a variety of styles, and since I have/had plantar fasciitis, Achilles heel syndrome (?), and Morton’s neuroma, they are all comfortable and just a dream to walk on without feeling like you are going to tip over, like Skechers do. —Antoinette Arsic
• I used to run the 10K in an hour, so good running shoes always mattered to me. Then, as I got older and stopped running due to injuries, good walking shoes became my thing. The best I’ve ever worn are Skechers, in particular their Go Walk Hyper Burst—imagine walking on pillows. —W.M. Johnstone
• I recently purchased on Amazon Skechers Women’s Arch Fit Arcade Meet Ya There Sneakers. This was my first time purchasing Skechers as I usually prefer traditional sneakers. I bought them for an upcoming trip where I did a lot of walking, and they were super comfortable. They slip on easily; they have great arch support; and they are well-cushioned. I like them so much that I recently bought another pair in a different color. (They offer several.)  —Samantha
• The best shoes when you’ll be doing a lot of walking are Skechers with memory foam insoles. Super soft and comfy! —Nancy S. Thompson
• I have a pair of Skechers that look like regular shoes but treat my feet like sneakers. Nice support. —Chris Foster
• I had a lot of trouble with my feet in recent years, and when insoles didn’t work I ended up trying a lot of shoes. Some of the brands that are often recommended didn’t work for me—like Skechers*—but two absolutely did: Allbirds and Asics (I got Kayanos). These are the most comfortable shoes I’ve found. I wear the Allbirds at home like slippers; they’re super lightweight and fit like a glove. Lots of support and very soft. The Asics I wear out and about—they're also lightweight, and so so cushy! Highly recommend both brands for people who need extra comfort, whether for conference-going, running errands or touring a big city. I also think that these kind of shoes style well with different outfits. I wear them with slacks as readily as dresses. *Actually, I did get a pair of Skechers sandals, and they’re quite comfy. Their sneakers don’t work for me, tho 🤷‍♀️ —Jenny Beaumont
• On Memorial Day I worked set-up and check-in for a 5K run/ruck/walk, walked one mile, and did tear-down. That was two-plus hours standing on concrete before my walk (also on concrete sidewalks) and another hour and a half carrying gear back to vehicles. My feet never hurt, my gimpy knees didn’t twinge at all, and my lower back felt strong and secure. I wore Hike Footwear Lorana Sneakers – Ergonomic Barefoot Shoes for Everyday Wear. But I could have worn any one of my half dozen Hike Footwear styles and been comfortable all day because they place your foot in its natural position. And with your feet having closer contact to the ground, these shoes also help stabilize your balance. —Suzanne Gochenouer
• Aerosoles. I used to work retail for a major department store that has since been bought out by another department store. I was on my feet 8 hours a day for 5 days a week. Aerosoles saved my feet! They’re on the pricey side but worth it. Also, Keen shoes, again pricey but worth every penny and they last forever! One more, Duluth Trading Company shoes. I worked for them for 5 years. Either the Lifetime Leather shoes, Merrell, or Dansko. —Amy Denton
• I love my Bend leather sneakers by Birkenstock. They stay clean, look good with pants or skirts, and are comfortable enough to wear for days on end. Highly recommend. —Megan E. Freeman