If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Footwear News may receive an affiliate commission.
Who buys two pairs of the same shoe? The idea of this would normally baffle me, even though I own well over 150-plus pairs of shoes, until I realized how crucial Nike Motiva walking shoes were for all-day foot comfort when walking on hard floors. Today, the Google Hot 100 list confirmed my thoughts, as the Swoosh brand’s first true walking shoe was dubbed a top holiday gift for 2024 — and I couldn’t agree more.
New York is a walking city, but as podiatrist Dr. Scott M. Whitney, DPM, mentioned when I recently visited his office to have my feet examined, most New Yorkers prioritize fashion over function. I, too, am guilty of clocking over 30,000 steps in a single day, making moves across the fast-paced city in designer footwear that offers little support or comfort for my aching feet. Sometimes, we need to learn a lesson the hard way. But that day, as I power walked my way to the podiatrist’s office, I had an extra pep in my step while sporting my new Nike Motiva walking shoes.
As Footwear News previously reported, the demand for quality walking shoes for women and men surged during the pandemic, yet it remained a mostly untapped opportunity in the athletic market. To our excitement, the Nike Motiva shoe launched in May 2023 for women, which according to demographics, makes total sense (women outweighed men in walking workout studies). By August 2023, I was finally able to get my tired feet in a pair of the Motiva walking shoes for men to put them to the new release to the test. Now, over a year later with a second pair in my shoe closet, I honestly can say testing the Nike Motiva Walking Shoes was one of the best decisions — and purchases — I’ve ever made.
Will this fast-walking New Yorker put his curated collection of designer Oxford shoes, Chelsea boots, and sleek leather loafers away for good? No, certainly not — but these Nike walking shoes have become a go-to footwear workhorse for pounding the pavement on those especially active days when I need all the support I can get.
How We Tested the Nike Motiva Walking Shoes
Product Tested: Nike Motiva walking shoes
Tester Foot Type and Problems: High arches; significant leg length discrepancy: left foot supinates, right foot neutral; mild plantar fasciitis; medium foot width
Testing Time Period: Multiple days a week for over a full year with two different pairs of Motiva Walking Shoes.
Terrain Tested: Concrete pavement, carpeted floors, grass hills, dirt road, and gravel paths
Pros: Lightweight, overall comfort, stabilizing, foot propelling, true-to-size fit, wider toe box than most Nike shoes, durable
Cons: Not ideal for running long distances, less breathable than other Nike shoes
Editor Testing & Review: Nike Motiva Walking Shoes
Unboxing the Nike Motiva Shoes, your eyes immediately gravitate to the striking Comfortgroove outsole; the innovation that works in tandem with Nike’s Cushlon 3.0 full-length foam midsole to soften the impact of your steps. As other Nike Motiva reviews have noted, the exaggerated rocker and Comfortgroove technology can feel strange at first as the shoe propels you forward, but once you trust it, you’ll be delighted by the plush comfort and ease of movement — it begins to feel natural, and you’ll miss it when you switch to other shoe styles.
Some other noticeable details when you first see and feel the Nike walking shoe include the padded foam collar, the internal half-bootie that connects to the shoe’s tongue, and a firm heel cup, which together makes the shoe more comfortable and easy to slide on, while also providing much-needed support with a snug fit as you take strides with cushioned bliss.
To see how comfortable Nike Motiva Shoes really are, I wore them while taking my dog to the park — and I’m not talking about your typical, leisurely park stroll. My not-so-leash-trained, energetic dog (that somehow channels the strength of a large sled dog) pulled me through the city streets, down gravel paths, up grassy hills and along dirt trails on a multi-hour adventure through Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t experience a moment of discomfort while maintaining stability on the varying terrains.
Dr. Whitney was quick to point out what made the Motiva a great walking shoe for my feet. The higher heel-to-toe drop and rocker bottom prevented any strain on my high arches, especially as a fast-walking heel striker. (Thanks to years of wearing fancy dress shoes on a daily basis, I suffer from mild plantar fasciitis.) Though I have borderline neutral-width feet, I was also happy with the roomy toe box that’s less common in Nike sneaker styles.
The Motiva isn’t necessarily for everyone, but there’s no one-shoe-fits-all footwear solution. Yes, the textile upper is less breathable than Nike Flyknit technology, but I imagine that flexible fabric wouldn’t be great for foot stability, and thankfully, my feet only sweat during the most intense workouts. The Motiva’s bold silhouette and performance shoe appearance doesn’t make it the most versatile sneaker for all occasions. However, as a longtime fashion editor, I found the University Red and Obsidian colorway to be a perfect pairing for all-black casual attire and complimentary to light indigo denim outfits. Now available in black and off-white colorways, there are more subtle Motiva options for those who don’t favor bold footwear style.
In short, the Nike Motiva walking shoes feel like the equivalent of a spa day for my typically tired, aching feet; the not-so-guilty pleasure of a step in the right direction towards the proper foot care this city guy truly needed.
Update: Testing the Nike Motiva Walking Shoes One Year Later
This year, Nike released more subtle colorways of the Motiva walking shoe, which I took as a sign to finally purchase a second pair after a couple of brutal months where I spent one way too many days in constricting dress shoes with little-to-no arch support. Not only did my arches ache and throb daily, but my toes needed some breathing room, so I knew it was time to commit to my new Motivas and wear them on my feet for two-weeks straight.
Unlike the first time I wore Nike Motiva walking shoes, the unexpected propelling motion from the exaggerated rocker bottoms didn’t feel as awkward with the first wear (possibly because my feet were so damaged at that point). In an off-white colorway, these chunky sneakers were perfect to pair with wide-leg trousers and straight-leg jeans, so while I ran across town, stood on set for photo shoots, and sprinted from meeting to meeting, I was able to pair these everyday shoes with all of my business casual looks and my casual weekend fits. Truthfully, the Motivas didn’t seem to catch the eyes of co-workers in the same way a pair of shoes would in a particularly bold color or pattern (remember, we’re footwear editors, so everyone checks out each other’s shoes in the office). While the silhouette of the Motiva might seem a bit extreme due to the outsole and ample cushioning, they have a much more naturally look when you put them on with your daily attire.
The results of my Motiva recovery experiment: my feet felt like they had finally received the much-needed vacation that was long overdue, from my toes to my arches to the heels — no fancy massages needed. Now, especially after a day in a pair of lace-up oxfords or patent leather loafers, I have my Motiva shoes ready for the next morning to hit the ground walking.
Why Trust Footwear News
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.
Meet the Author Who Tested the Nike Motiva Walking Shoes
Adam Mansuroglu is the Director of Commerce for Footwear News and WWD, overseeing strategy for shopping content on both brands, along with writing and editing shopping guides, product reviews, and shopping trend stories for all types of footwear, from designer shoes to athletic sneakers for both men and women. Prior to his current role, Mansuroglu was a fashion editor and stylist at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Style Editor at BestProducts.com, and Senior Style & Gear Editor for Men’s Health Magazine, where he edited the annual Men’s Health Sneaker Awards. Mansuroglu has been tapped as a shopping expert for editorial websites such as Wirecutter, and his writing has also appeared in Out Magazine, Esquire and other publications. Mansuroglu selected the shoe to review and independently paid for the shoes by purchasing them on Nike.com. He purchased a second pair to update this in-depth review in November 2024, as Google’s Hot 100 list featured the shoe as a top holiday gift to give this year.
