Travelers Are Comparing These $60 Sneakers to On Running Shoes Twice the Price—and Walking 10 Miles in Them

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On a recent flight to Switzerland, I noticed that half of the people on my plane were sporting the same style of holey-soled sneakers that are technically designed for distance running. I was puzzled by this shoe choice at first, but eventually, it clicked for me: the shoe brand that these fliers were sporting, On Running, is Swiss! Besides that, big travel days can sometimes feel like running an ultramarathon, so it would make sense to opt for a shoe that can carry you the whole way through—regardless of whether there’s a literal finish line at the end.

Unfortunately, these clever, air-cushioned shoes come with a hefty price tag; even the most basic pair of On Running sneakers will cost you nearly $150. That’s why Amazon shoppers were thrilled to find a far more affordable lookalike that offers the same amount of compression and bounce, but at less than half the price.

Nortiv 8 Sneakers

These Nortiv 8 sneakers are just $60 and have been compared to shoes in a much higher price range—not just from On Running, but also from podiatrist-approved brands like Brooks, Hoka, Asics, and Saucony. Their standout feature is a thick, perforated outsole that compresses when you step and rebounds for a more powerful takeoff. This increasingly popular design is meant to reduce impact and spring you forward with each stride. It also has a curved rocker shape that’s similar to certain Hoka styles and enables smooth, rolling steps.

Together, these features create the “comfiest shoes ever,” according to Amazon shoppers. Even people with plantar fasciitis, bunions, and other painful foot conditions have rated them five stars. One reviewer who was nearly nine months pregnant and suffering from heel spurs at the time of purchasing these wrote that they could “walk the whole day,” even in their “delicate, painful condition.” Meanwhile, a shopper who spends 10 hours on their feet every day wrote that their lower back pain has “diminished significantly” since switching to Nortiv 8 sneakers. “I have already ordered my second pair.”

Nortiv 8 Sneakers

The uppers of these Nortiv 8 sneakers are made of “soft and flexible” Jacquard mesh, “so they don’t feel as constrained as some shoes,” one reviewer wrote. The all-fabric makeup means they’re also super breathable, which helps prevent blisters and lingering foot odor.

Shoppers say they can walk over 10 miles at a time in these shoes, both at work and while traveling. One reviewer who has worn them on 15 theme park trips shared that they were “amazed” by how supportive and comfortable they were. “I have used name-brand, high-priced shoes up until now and had so many aches and pains in joints and calves,” they continued. “Most of [the] pain is gone after walking 10-plus miles a day in the parks.” Another shopper said they “walked miles and miles” on a trip to New York, “without a single blister” and “no extra back pain.”

Right now, you can save on certain colors thanks to Amazon’s nine-percent-off deal. The shoes come in six colorways, and while they aren’t available in wide sizes, reviewers say they’re plenty roomy, even for wide feet. “I am so happy they fit my wide foot,” wrote one nurse who spends all day on their feet.

Looking for more comfy walking shoes that are comparable to On Running styles? We gathered five more options with the same hollowed-out sole design, below—starting at $38.

More On Running Lookalikes to Shop:

Skechers Glide-step Atlus Slip-ins

Wrezatro Slip-on Sneakers

K-Swiss Tubes Slip-on Sneakers

Allswifit Hands-free Sneakers

Ezkrwxn Running Shoes

At the time of publishing, the price started at $60.

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