Gear Review: Avia Comfort Performance Shoes
I don’t know about you, but I am very passionate about my shoes. When I find a pair of comfortable shoes, it’s life-changing. They make every walk a little more joyful. When I bought my first pair of Hoka Cliftons, I couldn’t stop talking about them. But when you spend your life with foot pain, great shoes are a big deal—and I’ve learned that they’re worth spending a little more.
But, still, there’s a side of me that really wants to get a good deal—to find a great pair of shoes that doesn’t cost a fortune.
When I started hearing the buzz about Walmart’s Avia sneakers, I was, admittedly, skeptical. Dupes of my favorite budget-busting shoes for a (tiny) fraction of the price? They couldn’t be good, right? They had to be like the Nokas you can buy on Temu—the ones that feel great for the first couple of miles before you realize that you’re better off using them for grocery runs and errands instead of serious walking.
After a while, I decided that I’d just go to the store and try them on. No commitment. Just…check them out. And I soon found myself in the Walmart shoe department, surrounded by a number of different sizes and colors and styles—with prices ranging from just $19.98 to $24.98. And I ended up taking home a pair of Comfort Performance shoes for just $22.98—which is less than 15% of the price of a pair of new Cliftons.
I spent a lot of time agonizing over my choice, but I went with the Comfort Performance shoes because of the cushioning. They felt a lot like my Hokas—and they look a lot like them, too, with the same chunky sole. They were, however, a little narrow in the toe box—and I ended up sizing up a half size, just for a little extra comfort.
Since then, my Avias have become my treadmill shoes—and considering how terrible our weather has been lately, I’ve spent a lot of time on the treadmill. Like my Hokas, my Avias didn’t really require a break-in period. They were cushy and comfy from the start. And after several miles of walking—from easy paces to faster paces, inclines to weighted walks—I don’t have a single complaint. These shoes are (shockingly) incredibly comfortable. I haven’t had any new foot or leg pain since I started wearing them—and I’ve been so impressed that I’m thinking about picking up another pair for outdoor walks.
My only warning is that this style is cut high at the heel. That was a bonus for me—because I like having the extra support—but if you’re still clinging to your low-cut socks like the rest of us old people, you’ll have to pay attention to the height of your sock. I once walked a little too long with a sock that hadn’t been pulled up high enough in the back, and the friction made for a raw spot at the back of my heel for a couple of days. So I’d definitely recommend choosing to wear higher socks with these shoes.
Of course, I don’t expect these shoes to last as long as my original Hokas (which I still keep for sandy walks up at the lake, all these hundreds of miles later). But I’ve already put more than 80 comfy, cushy miles on them—and if they hold up for just a couple hundred miles, I will have still saved a lot of money. So if you’re looking for some good walking shoes on a budget, stop by the shoe department on your next Walmart run—and you might just find some new favorite walking shoes.
Pros:
– Great price
– Comfortable cushioning
– Look like your favorite Hokas
Cons:
– Narrow toe box
– Higher cut back can cause issues with low-cut socks
You can find Avia Comfort Performance Shoes in-store and online from Walmart.
