12 Best Dad Shoes of 2025

<p class=”body-dropcap”>Here we’re thinking <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/g65002267/best-new-balance-sneakers/” target=”_blank”>practicality and comfort</a>. We’re thinking muted colors, wide fits, and <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/g64154603/best-walking-shoes/” target=”_blank”>cushion for days</a>. While we do still have some chunk (old habits die hard, I guess), we’re introducing some of those other dad-like shoes that are a <a href=”https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=5b79e9536f91571437702a09232037735b6c2ea3de7e389e8ebdf67c879c79c8JmltdHM9MTc1MTUwMDgwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=353136d8-48ed-6619-1dba-23f349c4675f&psq=esquire.com+chunky+sneakers+site%3aesquire.com&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXNxdWlyZS5jb20vc3R5bGUvbWVucy1mYXNoaW9uL2c2MzU4ODQzMS9iZXN0LWxvdy1wcm9maWxlLXNuZWFrZXJzLw&ntb=1″ target=”_blank”>bit slimmer</a> but are no less apt for fatherly activities. </p><p class=”body-dropcap”>These are the kind of shoes you buy one time and realize you, in fact, never need to go shoe shopping again, because you’ll just keep wearing these sneakers until your significant other or loving child says, “Hey, Dad, these shoes have holes in the bottom and are tearing at the toes. I bought you the new version instead because I know you won’t buy them yourself,” and you say thanks, that’s nice, but the updates just don’t quite hit the same, and instead you hunt on eBay for the <em>exact </em>iteration you bought that first time. You’ll love them like that. <em></em></p>” data-next-head/>

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Best Hike-y Dad Shoe

Adidas Terrex Skychaser AX5 Gore-Tex Hiking Shoe

Terrex Skychaser AX5 Gore-Tex Hiking Shoe

If you’re still thinking huge and chunky for dad shoe, this isn’t exactly that. But Adidas’s Terrex Skychaser is durable. Practical. In dark, tough colors that don’t show stains as obviously. Plus, they’re waterproof. Smart dads know.

Best Retro Dad Shoe

Reebok Classic Nylon Shoe

Classic Nylon Shoe

These Reeboks have everything the quintessential dad shoe requires: a not-quite-sleek silhouette, some random colors, and a sole that reads, “There are tattered jeans above this.

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Most Stylish Dad Shoe

Autry Reelwind Sneaker

Reelwind Sneaker

We’ve got that old-school runner shape but in a crazy-comfortable shoe with high-quality materials.

Best Outdoorsy Dad Shoe

Merrell Moab Speed 2 Shoe

Moab Speed 2 Shoe

To some shoe-wearing dads, shoes mean outdoor practicality. We can get on board with that, particularly if they are done up in a less sad color than brown or dirt tan.

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Best Everyday Dad Shoe

Converse Omega Trainer

Omega Trainer

There’s something about a plain, minimalist gray shoe that screams comfort that’s pretty dad-coded. But these mean it in a good way. Easy, well priced, and comfy.

Best Dad Running Shoe

Asics GT 4000 Sneaker

GT 4000 Sneaker

I think my actual dad owns these actual shoes, and they are pretty tame when you think of how egregious a dad shoe can get. These are soft and stretchy, and for some reason this slightly muted blue feels extremely dad.

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Comfiest Dad Shoe

Hoka Bondi 9 Sneaker

Bondi 9 Sneaker

With its unmatched stability, comfort, and form, it’s no wonder the Bondi 9 is a favorite around these parts. These are cushioned for days and excellent for lots of standing or walking.

Best Casual Dad Shoe

Salomon Unisex Sportstyle Shoe

Unisex Sportstyle Shoe

The exact kind of shoe that my dad would wear on a begrudging run to the grocery store on behalf of my mother, who is in dire need of olive oil or whatever.

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The Most Dad Dad Shoe

Nike Air Monarch IV Training Shoe

Air Monarch IV Training Shoe

Dads are king of the household—you know, like the monarch. Nike hits the nail on the head yet again. These are extraordinarily dad, so proceed with caution.

Best Shock-Absorbing Dad Shoe

Saucony Shadow 5000 Shoe

Shadow 5000 Shoe

Here’s a rhapsody in blue (and green and white) that’s shock absorbing, comfortable, good-looking, and all that jazz.

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Most Iconic Dad Shoe

New Balance Made in USA 990v5 Core Shoe

Made in USA 990v5 Core Shoe

New Balance never went away, but it did have a comeback of sorts a few years ago. The brand became cool again, garnering the same kind of fanfare that it received in 1982, when its 990, the dad shoe to end all dad shoes, was released.

Best Everyday Dad Shoe

New Balance Made in USA 993 Core Shoe

Made in USA 993 Core Shoe

New Balance is so synonymous with dad shoes that it deserves two slots on this list, especially for the 993, a shoe made famous by Steve Jobs.

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Why You Can Trust Esquire

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We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s roundups is carefully chosen by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

Here we’ve compiled the dad shoes we’ve tried, tested, and loved, as well as the dad shoes that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own use. They’re cool, comfortable, and, well, dad-like. We’ve put in the research, we’ve worn these ourselves, and now we’re recommending them to you because they’re just that good.

No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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