Dad Shoes Are Back in Style—These 17 Pairs Prove It

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WHAT IN the Steve Jobs–dad shoes are back. Comfort seekers rejoice as the clunky sneakers previously thought to be dorky and downright ugly are now cool again. The billionaire inventor of Apple famously sported New Balance 991s and 992s with his signature black turtleneck and dad jeans. Cue to today, where department stores are stocked with New Balance shoes or Nike shoes in classic dad style, courtesy of the ‘80s/’90s/early ‘00s grails like the 990 series or Air Monarch.

What Are Dad Shoes?

Dad shoes generally refer to practical, comfortable sneakers popularized by fathers or middle-aged men back in the day. Performance-wise, dad shoes are often running shoes or workout shoes with oversized, chunky soles that provide maximum comfort for guaranteed underfoot support and cushioning. Design-wise, dad shoes are known for their bold color combinations that do not concern with fashion trends since dad shoes should put comfort first, style second.

What to Look for in Dad Shoes?

With an emphasis on all-day comfort, today’s best dad shoes need to feature plush cushioning in the footed or midsole to provide cloud-like support for your feet during walking or standing. However, in addition to just walking shoes, the best dad shoes will also be versatile enough for training, (trail) running, hiking, or just going about every day. The best dad shoes should also showcase the classic style, with a chunky profile and a balance of neutral tones and pops of color that ensures versatility for styling, allowing you to effortlessly wear them with various outfits.

Below, our style and footwear experts found, tested, and reviewed the 17 best dad shoes that blend the nostalgia of yesteryears with the demands of your dynamic lifestyle nowadays. From arch-support shoes to cross-training shoes, these best dad shoes will make your old man proud.

MADE in USA 993 Core

The New Balance classics that started it all. Take it from the top: you can’t go wrong with any of the legendary 990 series. This version in particular has the classic silhouette but is updated with a sleeker, more modern profile. Marketed as a 'lifestyle' shoe, it's a great choice for those looking to up their footwear game for casual walks and everyday activities. With a midsole that absorbs impact and provides underfoot cushioning and a footbed that delivers support, this is also one of our best-tested walking shoes. The fit is true to size—it hugs but also gives your toes breathing and wiggle room.

Air Monarch IV Training Shoes

Nike’s Air Monarchs have been credited with being the inspiration behind the trend, so why not rock the OGs in honor of your family's OG? Call them a “modern throwback.” A durable rubber outsole ensures rock-solid traction for safe, reliable training on any surface. Inside, an encapsulated Air-Sole cushion runs the full length of the dad shoe for maximum comfort and support. At this price, they're not as expensive as the high-end alternatives and they're dad-approved, so you know that at the very least, they're comfy. Really, it’s a timeless wardrobe staple that you’ll wear for years to come—mostly for backyard cookouts, we dare to presume.

Clifton 9 Sneakers

Hoka has taken over the chunky-soled market seemingly out of nowhere and for good reason: the signature massive sole lends to maximum comfort.

Perhaps the most recognizable silhouette of all the Hoka shoes is the Clifton, a streamlined wide toe box running shoe with neutral stability and balanced cushioning. It's also one of the cheaper HOKA styles, which makes it a great entry-level runner for those who want to see what all the buzz is about.

The newest model, the Clifton 9, features a higher bed of cushioning than earlier models. This means it's designed to feel good with every heel strike, no matter what kind of runner you are. In addition to more stack height, it's also 4 grams lighter than its predecessor. While the style lacks the heritage of other dad shoes in the list, still, it's dad-approved and very dad-ish.

XT-WINGS 2 Sportstyle Shoes

Having claimed its cult footwear status in recent years, Salomon also has joined the bandwagon of retro sneakers and dad shoes, like the XT-WINGS which has everything you’d expect from Salomon: durable, breathable, and waterproof.

Designed in the vein of a hybrid SUV, the XT-WINGS is geared to be both speedy and stable on pavement, but more importantly, off. They stand out in performance with an oversized chassis that's particularly pronounced in the heel to attenuate shock and cradle the foot. And unlike the flimsy fabric of other dad sneakers, these kicks are wrapped like a roll cage to resist abrasion. Also notable is the Quicklace lacing system; one tug tightens the entire upper with no knots to snag or come undone.

GEL-KAYANO 14

Asics claimed its stake in the running community decades ago and has since resurfaced in style. Born in lake 2000s, the GEL-Kayano is by far one of the best ASICS running shoes. The 14 model has midfoot stability on the inside to keep you from overpronation. Translation? If you tend to roll inwards while you run (and/or have flat feet), the angled feature of the midfoot will gently help keep your foot in place and stable. But despite all that, the shoes still feel light and provide plenty of support and cushion for walking. No wonder dads love them.

Lifestyle Club C 85

The 80s court classic shoe never went out of style. But instead of performance sneakers, they’ve turned into your everyday shoe, like Reebok’s classic Club C sneakers that look as fresh as they were back in the ‘80s. With a die-cut EVA midsole, you get super lightweight cushioning with a leather upper—simplicity and street cred at its finest. The coloring gives a vintage vibe and stands them apart from a typical pair of white kicks (in the coolest way). So the nostalgia is strong with this one, but with some extra lift in the sole. The all-day comfort is also quite strong.

608 V5 Cross Trainer

New Balance's 608 V5 sneakers might be the most iconic 'dad sneaker' out there. The podiatrist-approved sneakers not only work for everyday lifestyle pursuits but for cross-training as well, making them one of the most versatile picks on this list. Take it from the 11,000+ people who've felt compelled to leave glowing reviews, they're a smart buy. Many of the buyers, we’re sure, are dads who appreciate how affordable yet durable they are. Better yet, it’s lightweight with increased forefoot flexibility, and the brand’s proprietary materials provide an enhanced midsole for better heel comfort and support to eliminate foot pain.

Go Max-Athletic Air Mesh

Skechers Go Walk slip-ons are a game-changer in the world of breathable shoes. Crafted with a super lightweight mesh fabric upper, these shoes provide an ideal fit while allowing ample airflow. In our testing, the ventilation has even kept our feet feeling cool all day long. We also love how stable these walking shoes feel, thanks to the cushioned lightweight midsole that helps absorb shock. And the slip-on design makes them extra effortless to put on and take off. Style-wise, it’s dad-approved and mom-approved simply because of how comfortable it is for running errands, getting groceries, or dropping kids off.

Milenio Tech Sneakers

Puma hits the nail on the dad style with its new sneakers: its wild stripes are both a throwback to the early 2000s and a dad-approved motif. But its function is just as dad-approved: the foam in the midsole provides instant comfort as soon as you slide your feet in, and the sockliner is designed to provide soft cushioning with thick heels. These are also versatile for workouts or running, since the upper is made in air mesh to be breathable, and the rubber outsole is extra grippy. Overall, the Milenio Tech is a great choice if you’re looking for a modern take that still delivers bulky comfort.

Revive

The plastic water shoe aesthetic of Kane’s Revive recover shoes has all the sex appeal of an OG pair of Crocs and surely is dad-approved. But, you won’t care when you realize how comfortable and supportive these feel after a long run. With footbed nodes for blood flow and holes throughout its surface to stimulate blood flow, kickstart recovery, and let your feet breathe, these are shoes that are actually good for dads to wear, especially after a hardcore workout or run. No wonder it’s a winner of our Dad Gear Awards.

Response CL Shoes

Like dads, Adidas’ dad shoes look rugged and are reliable, especially for outdoor adventures. Like most dad shoes, the Response CL is a pair of runners but beefed up for the trail and bumpy terrains. The suede upper will don a lived-in look the more you wear it over time, the midsole provides both energy return and cushioning and the traction-enhanced outsole will grip on a variety of surfaces. It’s a pair of dad shoes that’ll get you to play outside.

Eureka Walking Shoe

These are not a pair of classic dad shoes, but are instead a pair of work shoes your dad will love and approve. They’re shoes for dads, with a latex foam footbed that provides generous cushioning to the underfoot to help reduce fatigue even during extended walking or standing. The midsole is not only flexible and light but also absorbs impact, and the overall wide-base construction provides all-day support and stability. Dad will have no problem working 24/7 in these shoes for sure.

Wool Runners

Perhaps not the kind of dad shoes you had in mind, Allbirds’ Wool Runners do have a dad-ish quality to their style: the eight-lace holes with contrast stitching. Moreover, it’s their versatility and performance that make the Wool Runners dad-approved shoes. Made in merino wool, the shoes feel lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking. and anti-odor resistant merino wool. They're ultra-comfortable and fit snug, so they feel kind of like fuzzy wool slippers, but they look a bit more dressed up than the usual sneakers.

Jazz Original

In 1981, Saucony went on a mission to create the arguably best running shoes. They worked with podiatrists, reduced the weight, made a signature grippy outsole, and the result was a pair of running shoes that offered balance and could handle impact for long-distance running. That’s pretty much all the convincing you need for these runners whose combo of style and substance was already approved by dads all the way back in the early ‘80s.

Solstice XT 2

You can tell Altra understood the assignment when designing these trainers: dad style, but monster performance. The XT 2 comes in a naturally balanced fit with a caged reinforcement on the upper and a protected toe box provides added durability and stability. With a firm midsole and cushioned support for more than just inward rolling of the foot, this shoe was designed with squats, jumps, weight-lifting, and HIIT workouts in mind. Yet, besides for cross-training, it's also plenty capable on the roads, making it a great choice for speed workouts and shorter runs.

Walker

The recognizable dad style is strong with these Vionic walking shoes. With an orthotic footbed that helps stabilize and support your walk, these shoes realign the feet back to their natural position after each step to provide maximum comfort. The midsole also absorbs shock to relieve stress on the feet. The heel counter, lastly, provides stability, no matter how fast you walk. All in all, these are the dad shoes for logging the mileage on foot.

Eliot Runner

These runners don a minimalist dad-shoes style but boast maximalist dad-shoes performance when it comes to running. The lightweight mesh upper is breathable but also sturdy to stabilize your feet. The insole is soft and thick, which, coupled with a firm midsole, provides excellent energy return to help you run faster with each step. The cushioning is our favorite part: it’s responsive and resilient. While these are technically road runners, we found that they’re also versatile enough to work as trail runners.

How to Choose Dad Shoes

Cushioning and support: The best dad shoes should prioritize comfort by having ample cushioning in the midsole, footbed, and heel area. This will provide support and impact absorbing during wear and walking to reduce fatigue. In addition, since most dad shoes are running or athletic shoes, they should also have arch support for proper foot alignment and minimizing discomfort, especially if you'll be wearing the shoes for extended periods.

Design: The hallmark of dad shoes is the chunky, oversized sole. But the sole should still offer flexibility and responsiveness for walking and running. In addition, dad shoes should not be minimalist in design: there should be some sort of color-blocking or wild colorways.

Material: Dad shoes are often made in high-quality materials such as leather, suede, or mesh that contribute to the longevity of dad shoes, and help the footwear withstand extended periods of wearing, walking, and running.

Activity: What you do in dad shoes matters, since dad shoes are often athletic shoes that cater to a variety of activities. The classic, iconic dad shoes are often running shoes that can also be worn for walking long distances, but many are also retro sneakers for cross-training or working out. In general, more often than not, dad shoes are great for everyday wear and walking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to style with dad shoes?
While they appear to be built for the sidelines of mini-league games, dad shoes are surprisingly suitable for many occasions. Fortunately, today’s styles have been updated to offer a laid-back style as well as comfort. We like the idea of wearing relaxed jeans or trousers with a tee and statement jacket for the full nostalgic effect. Or, opt for a balanced look by pairing them with slim-fitting jeans or trousers to contrast the chunkiness of the shoes. You can also elevate the look a bit with a polo shirt and a pair of chinos for a relaxed yet put-together vibe. We've even seen and approved dad shoes with button-down dress shirts and dress pants for office fits.

Why are dad shoes becoming popular?
Dad shoes have become more popular these days due to their blend of everyday comfort, performance, nostalgia, and countercultural aesthetics. The style is part of the ugly chic trend that’s anti-minimalism, while their oversized soles and retro designs evoke a sense of nostalgia. But perhaps the real motivation to wear dad shoes today is because they’re so damn comfortable. With cushioning, underfoot support, and an easy fit, dad shoes are perfect for everyday wear and can be hardcore enough for running and training.

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