This Is What Walmart Sneakers Do Better Than Hokas

For years now, we’ve been trying to find the best footwear options for Disney World vacations, because walking miles upon miles each day is NOT for the weak.

Trust us, we’ve tried out some awful shoes in the parks we wouldn’t recommend to our worst enemy (high on that list are ANY shoes that aren’t broken in — not fun, 10/10 do NOT recommend), but we’ve also found some gems along the way. One of the pairs we recommend the most is HOKA shoes, but there’s one thing that always gets us — the price. We know, we know, good quality has to cost a pretty penny…or does it?

Picture this: there we are, in Walmart, looking at the Avia Women’s Athletic Jumbo Lite Shoes that we’re about to buy. Our reporter was admittedly feeling a little nervous, wondering how in the world a pair of $29 sneakers would feel walking miles in the park the following day.

This is the same reporter who we had try out the HOKA Clifton 10s earlier in the year, and they loved them, but she was much less nervous about those. While that price tag is HIGH, we’d done the research and heard all the reviews — yes, they’re pricey, but they’re worth it for the comfort and quality.

The next day arrives, and our reporter slips on the Avia Women’s Athletic Jumbo Lite Shoes, half dreading the day and already thinking about the blisters to come, but then the strangest thing happens — the shoes are a slim fit with a cushioned heel that makes every step bouncy and light. They recall the HOKA Clifton 10s sitting in their closet, remembering the similar feeling they got from those. Alright, so off to a good start, but they wonder if the feeling will last as they head into the park to start their long day of walking.

Everyone on our team (and yes, we mean EVERYONE) was shocked when we saw our reporter’s review of the Avia sneakers after the whole day was over — they worked like a CHARM. Even straight out of the box from purchasing, our reporter ended the day with no blisters or pained feet. Our only complaint was that the toe is a little narrow, so if you’re not a fan of that, you may want to stay away, and like any shoe, wearing them in before your trip is recommended, as they’ll form to your foot’s shape as you wear them more.

So then we asked them to make the ultimate comparison — could these random shoes from Walmart, that, again, cost UNDER $30, really compete with the HOKA Clifton 10s they’d loved so much earlier in the year? Well, we’ll let you do the comparison. Here are their notes, practically side by side:

HOKA Clifton 10s (Price Tag: $110-$154)

• Tons of support in the heel
• Bouncy with each step
• A great fit for those with high arches
• They made my trip easier
• Only con is the price, which is hard to swallow

Avia Women’s Running Shoes (Price Tag: $26-$29)

• Lots of heel support
• Bouncy, light steps thanks to said support
• Completely worth it for our trip
• Only con is we recommend wearing them in a little before a Disney trip, but even out of the box, no blisters or painful feet

Now listen, we totally get if you’re reading this going, “There’s no way, they have to be lying,” because we’d be hesitant if we read this. too. But this is 100% true. We don’t like paying $100+ for shoes when we don’t have to, and we know you don’t either. Money is tight for a lot of people, but you also don’t want to ruin your Disney trip by wearing the wrong shoes — we GET IT. So do yourself a favor and grab a pair of these Avia Sneakers, save yourself $100+, and have the peace of mind you’ll still be getting great quality shoes for your next vacation.

Check out the Avia Sneakers here!

If you don’t mind, we’ll be adding these into our regular shoe rotation, and hoping we see more of them around the parks, because we really are grateful this brand, at this price, AND at this quality, exists. Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest product tests and our honest reviews.

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