This article is part of our Get Fit for '26 series, in which our writers talk about the wellness and fitness challenges and experiences they've taken on, and the ones set to shape the year ahead. You can read all the articles in the series here.
Okay, so granted, I’m a little bit behind when this Japanese walking craze first blew up. But I’m the kind of person that likes to wait until the craze has died down on a trend before seeing what all the hype was about.
Not long after it was the talk of the fitness trend town, Clarks – a UK brand I still mostly associate with school shoes – decided to launch the Pace, a ‘performance walking shoe’.
With the Pace’s arrival, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give this Japanese walking a try. What better way to do it than with a shoe that’s supposedly primed for more than just ambling down to the shops to grab some milk? Could performance walking gear (and the Clarks Pace) be the biggest fitness trend of 2026? Let's find out.
What makes a performance walking shoe?
As a running journalist, when I’m heading out for a walk I tend to grab the nearest, most comfortable, carbon plate-free pair of running shoes (and you can check out some of my reviews in our best running shoes buying guide) to slip on. They generally do seem to do the job. According to Clarks, I should be wearing something better equipped for the job.
Clarks’ Global Head of Product Dawn Porto, says walkers who walk for fitness wear running shoes created for running and are, “not getting the right support for how their body actually moves”.
That’s where the Pace wants to be your perfect fitness walking friend, by offering support that’s geared towards the specific movement of walking. Clarks claims it’s scientifically engineered to help you walk further for longer as well.
So what’s actually delivering that in the shoe? First up, a dual-density layer of EVA-based C360 foam that sits in the middle of the shoe. That cushioning is combined with what Clarks calls its Infinity energy capsules. These provide protection against impact and a stable foundation for when you get moving. Those capsules also compress and rebound to propel you forward.
Other features include a heel clip for increased stability at the rear of the shoe and a rubber outsole to deliver strong grip and traction across a range of terrain. Clarks also claims there’s no break-in period needed to start putting big walking mileage in them, with strong comfort right out of the box.
In terms of that development process, Clarks deduced that walking required less cushioning at the heel than running, with a greater focus on the forefoot. It opted for a lower heel-to-toe drop than most running shoes to better match a walker’s gait rather than a runner’s one. The shoe’s also roomier, which better allows for the foot to expand, to accommodate a slower gait. That’s compared to a typical running shoe, where a more secure fit is required for the more dynamic movement.
The 'Japanese walking' workout
As mentioned, I decided to use the Pace while trying out Japanese Walking for the first time. This involves interval walking, where you alternate the intensity of walking speeds for brief periods, such as three-minute bursts. How long you do that is entirely up to you, but the ‘standard’ recommendation is to do it for at least 30 minutes to reap the full physical and mental benefits. It’s also outlined in more detail here: 7 ways to walk for fitness, which we published as part of our Get Fit for ‘26 series. I measured my progress with a Garmin watch (and you can check out our list of the best Garmin watches here, as they're perfect for this sort of workout thanks to ).
Over the past month I’ve swapped my go-to comfy pair of Brooks Ghost 17 or New Balance Rebel V5 for the Clarks Pace for extended walks and errands. How did the shoes fare? I’d describe my time in the Clarks Pace as ‘interesting’.
Starting with the fit, and what you get is a stretchy, predominantly knit upper that fits snug around the middle of your feet and around the heel. Up front is a pretty roomy toebox, with good volume particularly on the top of the toes. I didn’t find it tight or cramped to wear in the same UK size 8 I usually opt for in regular shoes and most running shoes.
The laces are thankfully pretty standard ones, that sit on top of a tongue that offers good, but not overly generous padding that comfortably stays put on the top of the foot. Unlike a lot of the running shoes I use for walks, the padding around the heel collar is much thinner than I expected. It certainly offers a different feel to most other walking shoes, but having run in a lot of shoes with minimal heel collars, it didn’t cause any problems on the move.
A bit further back in that heel area and you’ll find the shoe stiffens up to add support and help to keep your feet locked in place. This is ideal when you plan to keep them on all day.
The midsole is made up of two different layers of the same foam. The one that sits below the insole is a Pebax-based one that’s noticeably softer than the one further down. It runs from the middle of the shoe all the way to the front of it. The second layer foam is firmer and starts at the back of the heel, joining that softer foam further up front.
That promised sensation of the Pace propelling you forward is something I did notice on those faster walking intervals. The geometry of the shoe, including the segmented outsole, does help to promote a little prod forward at breezier walking paces and replicate some of the rockered feeling you get in many running shoes. It definitely wants to get you quicker through your walking gait without feeling awkward when you put the brakes on and slow things down.
When I took that walking beyond the 30-minute mark, I found them perfectly comfortable for extended periods on my feet. There was no break-in period needed. They offer a different sensation to most walking shoes, which for some will take a bit of adjustment.
The outsole performance in general has been fine in most walking scenarios. While there isn’t rubber placed across the entire sole of the shoe, there’s generous coverage at the front and heel areas. When I’ve walked on dry pavements the grip has performed as expected.
When I’ve been caught up in a couple of downpours however, I’ve had problems. I did find myself slipping and losing footing on occasions. Adding a different outsole design would certainly improve things in more challenging walking conditions.
Should you buy?
The Clarks Pace was absolutely up to the task for my first foray with Japanese Walking, barring some slipping and sliding on rainier walks – especially when it came to upping walking speeds. They look nice, feel good to walk with a bit more purpose and also buck the trend of most walking shoes that look like they’re built for countryside rambles.
Did it do enough to convince me that I’d be better wearing a performance walking shoe over a running shoe? I’m not sure I’m won over.
There are a fair few shoes from the likes of Hoka, Nike and New Balance among others that can provide a similar feeling, while also being usable if you swap walking for running.
Priced at £99 (around $135 / AU$200), the Pace certainly isn't cheap, and you could pay a bit more on in some instances, roughly the same, for a running shoe that can double as a walking one as well.
I am interested to see where Clarks takes the Pace next. There will always be people that prefer to walk than run to keep fit. If Clarks can bring some design elements and features to the table to cater for fitness walkers even more, I wouldn’t hesitate putting them on again for interval-based training that’s very different to the type I head to a running track for.
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